# US 9,521,519 B2 · Mobile communication devices and context-based geofence control methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,519 B2 - Document ID: US9521519B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/754,067 - Filed: 2015-06-29 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-02 - Assignees: Mediatek Inc. - Applicants: MediaTek Inc. - Inventors: Tsung-Yu Chiou; Chih-Hsiang Hsiao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521519B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/022: {with dynamic range variability} - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 52/0209: {in terminal devices} - H04W 52/0251: {using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity} - H04M 1/724: User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A mobile communication device including a positioning unit and a processing unit is provided. The processing unit provides position information of the mobile communication device. The processing unit detects an approach to a first geofence according to one or more contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turns off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turns on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile communication device, comprising: a positioning unit, configured to provide position information of the mobile communication device; and a processing unit, configured to detect an approach to a first geofence according to at least one contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turn off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turn on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence, wherein the contexts comprise at least one cellular context, at least one personal context, and at least one multimedia context, and the processing unit is further configured to prioritize at least one of the cellular contexts, the personal contexts, and the multimedia contexts over the other contexts, for detecting the approach to the first geofence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to turn off the positioning unit when detecting that the mobile communication device has entered a second geofence according to one or more of the contexts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the first geofence is associated with a predetermined spot or area, and the processing unit is further configured to perform a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the mobile communication device has entered or left the first geofence, or approached the first geofence within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the first geofence is associated with a dynamically determined spot or area, and the processing unit is further configured to perform a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the mobile communication device has approached the first geofence within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the cellular contexts comprise at least one of the following: an identity of a cell which the mobile communication device is currently camped on; and an identity of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to which the cell belongs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the personal contexts comprise at least one of the following: an operation mode of the mobile communication device, which indicates whether the mobile communication device is operating in a flight mode or a power-saving mode; an event in a calendar application executed by the mobile communication device; and mobility information of the mobile communication device, which indicates a moving speed of the mobile communication device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the multimedia contexts comprise at least one of the following: an image in which at least one landmark is taken; a radio broadcast in which at least one place name is announced; and a video stream in which at least one landmark appears or at least one place name appears or is announced. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises at least one of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) module and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module. ### Claim 9 A mobile communication device, comprising: a positioning unit, configured to provide position information of the mobile communication device; and a processing unit, configured to detect an approach to a first geofence according to at least one contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turn off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turn on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence, wherein the first geofence is associated with a position of another mobile communication device, and the processing unit is further configured to perform a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the two mobile communication devices are approaching or moving away from each other within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 10 A context-based geofence control method, executed by a mobile communication device comprising a positioning unit for providing position information of the mobile communication device, the context-based geofence control method comprising: detecting an approach to a first geofence according to at least one contexts associated with the mobile communication device; turning off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence; turning on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence; wherein the contexts comprise at least one cellular context, at least one personal context, and at least one multimedia context, and the processing unit is further configured to prioritize at least one of the cellular contexts, the personal contexts, and the multimedia contexts over the other contexts, for detecting the approach to the first geofence. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, further comprising: turning off the positioning unit when detecting that the mobile communication device has entered a second geofence according to one or more of the contexts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the first geofence is associated with a predetermined spot or area, and the context-based geofence control method further comprises: performing a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the mobile communication device has entered or left the first geofence, or approached the first geofence within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the first geofence is associated with a dynamically determined spot or area, and the context-based geofence control method further comprises: performing a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the mobile communication device has approached the first geofence within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the first geofence is associated with a position of another mobile communication device, and the context-based geofence control method further comprises: performing a task when determining, via the positioning unit, that the two mobile communication devices are approaching or moving away from each other within a predetermined distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the cellular contexts comprise at least one of the following: an identity of a cell which the mobile communication device is currently camped on; and an identity of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to which the cell belongs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the personal contexts comprise at least one of the following: an operation mode of the mobile communication device, which indicates whether the mobile communication device is operating in a flight mode or a power-saving mode; an event of a calendar application executed by the mobile communication device; and mobility information of the mobile communication device, which indicates a moving speed of the mobile communication device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the multimedia contexts comprise at least one of the following: an image in which at least one landmark is taken; a radio broadcast in which at least one place name is announced; and a video stream in which at least one landmark appears or at least one place name appears or is announced. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The context-based geofence control method of claim 10, wherein the positioning unit comprises at least one of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) module and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module.