BACKGROUND

Service providers and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. For example, one area of development has focused on location-based services that rely on data captured from location sensors (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) or equivalent sensors) using mobile devices (e.g., smartphones). Usually these devices rely on fixed/timed-based intervals for sensing or providing their locations as the devices move around. However, determining a location generally requires use of battery resources to drive positioning sensors and to compute the location based on the sensor readings. Moreover, communication or transmission of this data can also require additional battery and/or network data resources. Accordingly, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges to providing efficient power saving schemes for a device and its sensors.

SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Therefore, there is a need for providing dynamic location sampling mechanisms to minimize power and/or resource consumption when collecting, processing, and/or transmitting sensor data particularly in resource constrained devices such as mobile devices or other battery-operated devices while maintaining functionality and accuracy.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises calculating an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The method also comprises determining a sampling rate for a location sensor of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The method further comprises configuring the location sensor to collect location data using the sampling rate.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to calculate an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is also caused to determine a sampling rate for a location sensor of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus is further caused to configure the location sensor to collect location data using the sampling rate.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, an apparatus to calculate an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is also caused to determine a sampling rate for a location sensor of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus is further caused to configure the location sensor to collect location data using the sampling rate.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus also comprises means for determining a sampling rate for a location sensor of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus further comprises means for configuring the location sensor to collect location data using the sampling rate.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises initiating a capture of a current location of a vehicle on a road segment by a location sensor based on a keep-alive sampling rate. The location sensor, for instance, is configured to operate at a sampling rate that is reduced from a default sampling rate in addition to the keep-alive sampling rate. The method also comprises determining a predicted location of the vehicle based on an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at an end node of the road segment. The estimated time of arrival is based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The method further comprises reconfiguring the location sensor to operate at the default sampling frequency based on determining that the predicted location differs from the current location by more than a threshold distance.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to initiate a capture of a current location of a vehicle on a road segment by a location sensor based on a keep-alive sampling rate. The location sensor, for instance, is configured to operate at a sampling rate that is reduced from a default sampling rate in addition to the keep-alive sampling rate. The apparatus is also caused to determine a predicted location of the vehicle based on an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at an end node of the road segment. The estimated time of arrival is based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is further caused to reconfigure the location sensor to operate at the default sampling frequency based on determining that the predicted location differs from the current location by more than a threshold distance.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, an apparatus to initiate a capture of a current location of a vehicle on a road segment by a location sensor based on a keep-alive sampling rate. The location sensor, for instance, is configured to operate at a sampling rate that is reduced from a default sampling rate in addition to the keep-alive sampling rate. The apparatus is also caused to determine a predicted location of the vehicle based on an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at an end node of the road segment. The estimated time of arrival is based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is further caused to reconfigure the location sensor to operate at the default sampling frequency based on determining that the predicted location differs from the current location by more than a threshold distance.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for initiating a capture of a current location of a vehicle on a road segment by a location sensor based on a keep-alive sampling rate. The location sensor, for instance, is configured to operate at a sampling rate that is reduced from a default sampling rate in addition to the keep-alive sampling rate. The apparatus also comprises means for determining a predicted location of the vehicle based on an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle at an end node of the road segment. The estimated time of arrival is based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus further comprises means for reconfiguring the location sensor to operate at the default sampling frequency based on determining that the predicted location differs from the current location by more than a threshold distance.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises calculating an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The method also comprises determining a data transmission frequency for a transmitting device of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The method further comprises configuring the transmitting device to transmit data from the vehicle at the data transmission frequency.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to calculate an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is also caused to determine a data transmission frequency for a transmitting device of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus is further caused to configure the transmitting device to transmit data from the vehicle at the data transmission frequency.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, an apparatus to calculate an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus is also caused to determine a data transmission frequency for a transmitting device of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus is further caused to configure the transmitting device to transmit data from the vehicle at the data transmission frequency.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at an end node of a road segment from a beginning node of the road segment based on historical traversal time data for the road segment. The apparatus also comprises means for determining a data transmission frequency for a transmitting device of a vehicle traveling the road segment based on the estimated time of arrival. The apparatus further comprises means for configuring the transmitting device to transmit data from the vehicle at the data transmission frequency.

In addition, for various example embodiments of the invention, the following is applicable: a method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on (including derived at least in part from) any one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at least one service, the at least one service configured to perform any one or any combination of network or service provider methods (or processes) disclosed in this application.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based, at least in part, on data and/or information resulting from one or any combination of methods or processes disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising creating and/or modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based at least in part on data and/or information resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes) can be accomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile device side or in any shared way between service provider and mobile device with actions being performed on both sides.

For various example embodiments, the following is applicable: An apparatus comprising means for performing a method of any of the claims.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

