Patent ID: 9194702
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: G01C,G01S

Abstract:
1. A mobile device comprising: an electronic compass including a magnetic sensor, the electronic compass generating compass data corresponding to an orientation of the mobile device relative to true north; a global positioning system (GPS) module receiving a GPS signal from a plurality of satellites, the GPS module determining a heading direction of a vehicle transporting the mobile device relative to true north based on the GPS signal when the vehicle is moving above a threshold velocity; a motion sensor generating motion data corresponding to a motion of the mobile device when the mobile device is moving relative to the vehicle; and a processor operating the mobile device in at least one of a vehicle pointing mode (VPM) and a device orientation mode (DOM) in response to a velocity of the vehicle decreasing below the threshold velocity, wherein the processor operates the mobile device in the vehicle pointing mode (VPM) when the mobile device is stationary relative to the vehicle, by adjusting the heading direction determined by the GPS module when the vehicle was moving above the threshold velocity based on a change in the compass data since the decrease in the velocity of the vehicle; and wherein the processor operates the mobile device in the device orientation mode (DOM) when the motion sensor detects a change in orientation of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, by replacing the heading direction determined by the GPS module with the compass data.