Method and apparatus for determining the altitude of a mobile device

A mobile device comprising:

• at least one environmental sensor disposed on the mobile device to directly detect a change in pressure and movement;
• a processor to:
• determine whether a preliminary altitude measured by an altimeter is indicative of a change of an actual altitude of the mobile device based at least in part on the detected change in the pressure and a determination of whether the detected movement comprises a vertical movement component, and
• adjust a calibration of the altimeter at least partially in response to the change in the pressure and a change in temperature, and further in response to an absence of the vertical movement component.

A method comprising:

• detecting a change in pressure, by a pressure sensor;
• detecting a change in movement, by a motion sensor;
• detecting a change in temperature, by a temperature sensor;
• determining whether a preliminary altitude detected by an altimeter is indicative of an change of an actual altitude or a detected environmental change based at least in part on the detected change in the pressure and a determination of whether the detected change in movement comprises a vertical movement component;
• and
• adjusting a calibration of the temperature sensor at least partially in response to the change in the pressure and the change in the temperature, and further in response to an absence of the vertical movement component.

A device comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
• initiate measurement of a preliminary altitude of a mobile device, by an altimeter;
• determine whether the preliminary altitude measured by the altimeter is indicative of a change of an actual altitude of the mobile device or a detected environmental change based at least in part on a detected change in pressure and a determination of whether detected movement comprises a vertical movement component, wherein the detected change in pressure and the detected change in movement are determined by at least one environmental sensor of the mobile device;
• and
• adjust a calibration of the at least one environmental sensor at least partially in response to the change in the pressure and the change in the temperature, and further in response to an absence of the vertical movement component.

A device comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
• initiate measurement of a preliminary altitude of a mobile device, by an altimeter;
• detect a change in pressure indicated at least partially by a pressure sensor;
• detect a change in movement indicated at least partially by a motion sensor;
• detect a change in temperature indicated at least partially by a temperature sensor;
• determine whether the preliminary altitude determined by the altimeter is indicative of a change of an actual altitude of the mobile device or a detected environmental change based at least in part on the detected change in the pressure and in the temperature, and a determination of whether the detected change in movement comprises a vertical movement component;
• and
• adjust a calibration of the temperature sensor at least partially in response to the change in the pressure and the change in the temperature, and further in response to an absence of the vertical movement component.

A mobile device comprising:

• means for directly detecting a change in pressure and movement by at least one environmental sensor of the mobile device;
• means for determining whether a preliminary altitude measured by an altimeter is indicative of a change of an actual altitude of the mobile device or a detected environmental change based at least in part on the detected change in the pressure and a determination of whether the detected movement comprises a vertical movement component;
• and
• means for adjusting a calibration of the at least one environmental sensor at least partially in response to the change in the pressure and the change in temperature, and further in response to an absence of the vertical movement component.