US-12625223-B2 - Proactive recording of locations for backtracking

Abstract

Methods, non-transitory machine-readable mediums, and system to provide historical positioning information are described. In an embodiment, a device detects one or more conditions in user contextual data that trigger collection of a set of historical positions for a lookback window, the device receives at least one historical position from the set of historical positions for the lookback window, the device classifies the at least one historical position based on one or more features as a candidate location for a backtrack route, and the device determines to provide the at least one historical position as part of the lookback window based on the classification.

Inventors

• Michael P. Dal Santo
• Christine Zhu
• Adam M. Driscoll
• Brandon J. Van Ryswyk
• Richard B. Warren
• Jared K. McGann

Assignees

• APPLE INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230411

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system to perform classification on an electronic device, the system comprising: one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are to perform operations to: detect one or more conditions in user contextual data that trigger collection of historical positioning information comprising a set of historical positions for a lookback window; receive at least one historical position from the set of historical positions for the lookback window; classify the at least one historical position based on one or more features as a candidate location for a backtrack route; and provide the at least one historical position as part of the lookback window based on the classifications.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of an in transit motion classification, a threshold period of time without network access, a sparse environment classification, or a threshold distance from a frequented location.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are to perform additional operations to: receive a request for the lookback window from an application in response to the request, classify one or more historical positions in the set of historical positions in the lookback window to locate a most recent candidate historical position to begin the backtrack route; and truncate a subset of the historical positions in the set of historical positions prior to the most recent candidate historical position.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are to perform additional operations to: delete the subset of the historical positions from the electronic device.
5. 5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the application has an entitlement to request the lookback window.
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are to perform additional operations to: analyze user context data to determine a set of conditions are met for proactively obtaining historical positioning information in an extended mode, wherein the extended mode comprises duty cycling position information requests to obtain intermittent position fixes.
7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more features comprises at least one of: distance of the at least one historical position from a frequented location, a density of structures classification at the at least one historical position, an access point density at the at least one historical position, a motion classification of the electronic device at a collection of the at least one historical position, a change in a mode of transport classification of the electronic device between a time of the collection of the at least one historical position and a current time, or a user activity of the electronic device at the collection of the at least one historical position.
8. 8 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions to cause one or more processors of an electronic device to perform operations comprising: detecting one or more conditions in user contextual data that trigger collection of historical positioning information comprising a set of historical positions for a lookback window; receiving at least one historical position from the set of historical positions or the lookback window; classifying the at least one historical position based on one or more features as a candidate location or a backtrack route; and provide the at least one historical position as part of the lookback window based on the classification.
9. 9 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of an in transit motion classification, a threshold period of time without network access, a sparse environment classification, or a threshold distance from a frequented location.
10. 10 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors perform operations further comprising: receiving a request for the lookback window from an application; in response to the request, classifying one or more historical positions in the set of historical positions in the lookback window to locate a most recent candidate historical position to begin the backtrack route; and truncating a subset of the historical positions in the set of historical positions prior to the most recent candidate historical position.
11. 11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors perform operations further comprising: deleting the subset of the historical positions from an electronic device.
12. 12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the application has an entitlement to request the lookback window.
13. 13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors perform operations further comprising: analyzing user context data to determine a set of conditions are met for proactively obtaining historical positioning information in an extended mode, wherein the extended mode comprises duty cycling position information requests to obtain intermittent position fixes.
14. 14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more features comprises at least one of: distance of the at least one historical position from a frequented location, a distance of the at least one historical position from a current position, a density of structures classification at the at least one historical position, an access point density at the at least one historical position, a motion classification of the electronic device at a collection of the at least one historical position, a change in a mode of transport classification of the electronic device at the collection of the at least one historical position and a current time, or a user activity of the electronic device at the collection of the at least one historical position.
15. 15 . A method performed by an electronic device comprising: detecting one or more conditions in user contextual data that trigger collection of historical positioning information comprising a set of historical positions for a lookback window; receiving at least one historical position from the set of historical positions for the lookback window; classifying the at least one historical position based on one or more features as a candidate location for a backtrack route; and provide the at least one historical position as part of the lookback window based on the classification.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of an in transit motion classification, a threshold period of time without network access, a sparse environment classification, or a threshold distance from a frequented location.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving a request for the lookback window from an application; in response to the request, classifying one or more historical positions in the set of historical positions in the lookback window to locate a most recent candidate historical position to begin the backtrack route; and truncating a subset of the historical positions in the set of historical positions prior to the most recent candidate historical position.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: deleting the subset of the historical positions from the electronic device.
19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the application has an entitlement to request the lookback window.
20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: analyzing user context data to determine a set of conditions are met for proactively obtaining historical positioning information in an extended mode, wherein the extended mode comprises duty cycling position information requests to obtain intermittent position fixes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/339,863, filed May 9, 2022, entitled “Proactive Recording of Locations for Backtracking,” which is herein incorporated by reference. FIELD Embodiments described herein relate to provision of location services. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Hikers, pedestrians, and cyclists, typically, do not plan on getting lost, and as a result, prior route information may not be readily available on a user's device when a user needs the prior route information and/or network access is unavailable such that positioning information cannot be obtained. Even if a user has access to map data, the user may not know where they are located relative to a trail in the map data during a hike, if they have ventured off the trail. As such, techniques to assist user's in finding their way back to a familiar location or providing a way for emergency services to locate a user are needed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network operating environment for mobile devices, according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for location services according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an extended mode approach according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a location services approach according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a lookback window according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flow chart for location services in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a lookback window according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 depicts a user interface for location services in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 9 depicts a user interface for location services in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary API architecture, which may be used in some embodiments. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a device architecture for a mobile or embedded device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a computing system, according to an embodiment. SUMMARY Methods, non-transitory machine-readable mediums, and system to provide historical positioning information are described. In an embodiment, a device detects one or more conditions in user contextual data that trigger collection of a set of historical positions for a lookback window, the device receives at least one historical position from the set of historical positions for the lookback window, the device classifies the at least one historical position based on one or more features as a candidate location for a backtrack route, and the device determines to provide the at least one historical position as part of the lookback window based on the classification. In an embodiment, the one or more conditions are at least one of an in transit motion classification, a threshold period of time without network access, a sparse environment classification, or a threshold distance from a frequented location. In another embodiment, the device receives a request for the lookback window from an application, in response to the request, classifies historical positions in the set of historical positions in the lookback window from a last classified historical position in the set to locate a most recent candidate historical position to begin a backtrack route, and truncates historical positions in the set of historical positions prior to the most recent candidate position. In an embodiment, the device deletes the truncated historical positions from the electronic device. In another embodiment, the application has an entitlement to request the lookback window. Embodiments may provide a device analyzes user context data to determine a set of conditions are met for proactively obtaining positioning data in an extended mode, where the extended mode includes duty cycling position information requests to obtain intermittent position fixes. In an embodiment, the one or more features include a duration of time for the lookback window, a distance from a frequented or trusted location, a timing for obtaining the historical positioning information prior to and after entry of a motorized-vehicle or electric-vehicle, a density of structures classification, an access point density, a motion classification, a mode of transport classification, or a user activity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments provided herein describe obtaining positioning information from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as a global positioning system (GPS), when one or more backtracking conditions are met. One or more backtracking conditions are a set of conditions that allow for an inference that a user is on a route that is unfamiliar, in the wilderness, part of an exercise session, unable to recharge their device for an extended period of time, and/or engaging in any other activity that may require retracing the steps taken on the route. Based on the set of backtracking conditions that