A method comprising: receiving, by a motion fencing system of a mobile device and from a client component of the mobile device, a request that, when motion of the mobile device corresponds to an activity specified in the request, the motion fencing system shall notify the client component; mapping the activity to a motion domain that is defined by at least one of magnitude, duration, or frequency of the motion of the mobile device; determining, by motion data received by the motion fencing system from a sensor of the motion fencing system, that the motion of the mobile device satisfies at least one of the magnitude, duration, or frequency of motion; upon determining that the motion of the mobile device satisfies at least one of the magnitude, duration, or frequency of motion, determining, by the motion fencing system operating in a first power mode and using amounts of motion from the motion data, that the mobile device is in the motion domain; upon determining that the mobile device is in the motion domain, determining, by the motion fencing system operating in a second power mode and using patterns of motion from the motion data, that the motion of the mobile device corresponds to the activity; and based upon determining that the motion of the mobile device corresponds to the activity, causing the client component to turn on or turn off one or more functions of the mobile device, wherein the motion fencing system includes a first processor that is configured to recognize the patterns of motion, the first processor being turned off in the first power mode and turned on in the second power mode. receiving, by a motion fencing system of a mobile device and from a client component of the mobile device, a request that, when motion of the mobile device corresponds to an activity specified in the request, the motion fencing system shall notify the client component; mapping the activity to a motion domain that is defined by at least one of magnitude, duration, or frequency of the motion of the mobile device; determining, by motion data received by the motion fencing system from a sensor of the motion fencing system, that the motion of the mobile device satisfies at least one of the magnitude, duration, or frequency of motion; upon determining that the motion of the mobile device satisfies at least one of the magnitude, duration, or frequency of motion, determining, by the motion fencing system operating in a first power mode and using amounts of motion from the motion data, that the mobile device is in the motion domain; upon determining that the mobile device is in the motion domain, determining, by the motion fencing system operating in a second power mode and using patterns of motion from the motion data, that the motion of the mobile device corresponds to the activity; and based upon determining that the motion of the mobile device corresponds to the activity, causing the client component to turn on or turn off one or more functions of the mobile device, wherein the motion fencing system includes a first processor that is configured to recognize the patterns of motion, the first processor being turned off in the first power mode and turned on in the second power mode.