Apparatus for locating a vehicle and methods utilizing the same

A mobile device, comprising:

• a motion detector having a power-saving mode and a detection mode, in the detection mode, the motion detector being configured to detect a motion of the mobile device to obtain a motion signal;
• a processor, configured to:
• process the motion signal to obtain a vibration frequency and a vibration regularity of the mobile device;
• determine a device activity status of the mobile device according to the vibration frequency and the vibration regularity;
• and
• generate a control signal in response to determining that the device activity status switches from a first activity status to a second activity status;
• and
• a wireless positioning module configured to identify a first location of the mobile device in response to the control signal and to identify a second location of the mobile device prior to identifying the first location of the mobile device such that the motion detector is triggered to operate in the detection mode to detect the motion of the mobile device in response to the second location residing within a parking area.