FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to location determination for mobile wireless devices and accessories. More specifically, embodiments relate to techniques to facilitate the context-based disabling of wireless radios, such as an ultra-wide band radio, on a wireless device or accessories upon detection that the device is on an airplane.

BACKGROUND OF THE DESCRIPTION

A portable multifunction device can incorporate voice and/or data communication functionality that enables the device to establish a network connection with a voice and/or data network. In some jurisdictions, flight regulations require passengers on commercial flights to disable some communications functionality on those devices. Communications functionality is disabled, for example, to limit the potential inference to airplane flight or communications systems that may be caused by radio transmissions of passenger devices. To facilitate the at least limited use of such devices on airplanes, many portable multifunction device include a mode, typically called “airplane mode,” in which at least a portion of the radio transmission functionality on the device is disabled or limited, while allowing other functions of the device (e.g., a music player) to be used. Where flight regulations require entry into airplane mode during flight, entry into the airplane mode is a manual determination performed by a user of the portable multifunction device. Devices can differ in the number and type of radio frequency transmitters that are included on the device. Additionally, the specific set of communications functions that are disabled automatically when entering airplane mode can vary across devices.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device comprising a set of classifiers that can determine whether the electronic device is likely on an airplane. Upon a determination that the electronic device is likely on an airplane, one or more wireless radios on the electronic device (e.g., an ultra-wideband ranging radio, a cellular radio, etc.) may be disabled or a prompt can be displayed to enable a user to place the device into airplane mode.

One embodiment provides for a method comprising, on an electronic device having a wireless processor coupled with a wireless radio, scanning a wireless radio environment near an electronic device to gather wireless radio environment data. The method additionally includes gathering sensor data detected by sensors of the electronic device, retrieving location metadata for one or more location estimates for the electronic device, and providing the wireless radio environment data, sensor data, and location metadata to a coarse airplane classifier on the electronic device. The coarse airplane classifier can determine a classification for wireless signals detected during the scan of the wireless radio environment. The classification can indicate whether a wireless signal detected during the scan is associated with an airplane. The method additionally includes reporting hardware addresses for wireless signals detected within the scan of the wireless radio environment and classifications associated with the wireless signals to a server. The server can use the reported data to generate map metadata including reporting hardware addresses for wireless signals and an associated classification that indicates whether a wireless signal is likely associated with an airplane.

One embodiment provides for an electronic device comprising a wireless processor coupled with a wireless radio, the wireless processor to determine, via the wireless radio, data for a wireless radio environment near the electronic device, sensors to gather sensor data from a physical environment near the electronic device, a location determination system to determine a geographic location of the electronic device, a memory, and one or more processors to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors retrieve location metadata for the geographic location of the electronic device, where the location metadata includes map tile metadata and an airplane hardware address tile. The airplane hardware address tile includes a set of hardware addresses associated with a wireless access point of an airplane. The one or more processors are further to process the data for the wireless radio environment, the sensor data, the location metadata, and the airplane hardware address tile via a real-time airplane classifier on the electronic device to determine whether the electronic device is likely on an airplane and disable one or more wireless radios on the electronic device based on a determination that the electronic device is likely on an airplane.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all embodiments in this disclosure. All systems and methods can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects and embodiments summarized above, and also those disclosed in the Detailed Description below.

