Selecting wireless access points for geofence monitoring

摘要

Methods, program products, and systems for monitoring geofence exits using wireless access points are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, the mobile device can select, from multiple wireless access points, one or more wireless access points for monitoring a geofence. Selecting the one or more wireless access points can include determining multiple geographic regions corresponding to the geofence. The mobile device can select the one or more wireless access points based on a maximum total number of wireless access points to be selected and an access point allowance for each of the geographic regions. The access point allowance can indicate a maximum number of wireless access points to be selected for the geographic region. The mobile device can detect a potential entry or exit of the geofence by monitoring the selected one or more wireless access points using a wireless processor.

主权项

1. A method performed by a mobile device, comprising:
selecting, from a plurality of wireless access points, one or more wireless access points for monitoring a geofence, including:
obtaining representations of a plurality of geographic regions corresponding to the geofence, wherein each geographic region is a portion of a geographic area enclosed by the geofence; andselecting the one or more wireless access points based on a maximum total number of wireless access points to be selected and a respective access point allowance for each of the geographic regions, each access point allowance indicating a maximum number of wireless access points to be selected for the corresponding geographic region, the access point allowance being distributed among the geographic regions in a grid in which an access point allowance of a geographic region that is located closer to a center of the geographic area enclosed by the geofence is higher than an access point allowance of a geographic region that is located farther away from the center; determining a tentative location of the mobile device relative to the geofence, including monitoring the selected one or more wireless access points, wherein during the monitoring, the mobile device accommodates a wireless scan capacity of a processor performing the monitoring by distributing the wireless scan capacity among the geographic regions according to the grid and the access point allowances, the grid causing the mobile device to distribute more wireless scan capacity to monitoring wireless access points that are detectable in the geographic region that is closer to the center of the geographic area; and upon determining the tentative location of the mobile device relative to the geofence by the wireless processor, determining whether the mobile device is inside of the geofence.