Abstract: A method and mobile transceiver providing container security is described. In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a mobile transceiver comprising a processor, memory, wireless transceiver and radiation detector. The method comprises detecting, by the radiation detector, radiation emitted from a radioactive emitter. The radiation detector and the radioactive emitter are arranged such that a substantially constant rate of radiation from the radioactive emitter is detected when one or more doors of the shipping container are closed. When the detected radiation is outside a tolerance of the constant rate, the processor wakes up the processor from a low power mode, and updates an asset tracking log stored in the memory by adding a record representing a door open event.

Abstract: A method and mobile transceiver providing container security is described. In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a mobile transceiver comprising a processor, memory, wireless transceiver and radiation detector. The method comprises detecting, by the radiation detector, radiation emitted from a radioactive emitter. The radiation detector and the radioactive emitter are arranged such that a substantially constant rate of radiation from the radioactive emitter is detected when one or more doors of the shipping container are closed. When the detected radiation is outside a tolerance of the constant rate, the processor wakes up the processor from a low power mode, and updates an asset tracking log stored in the memory by adding a record representing a door open event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employing non-magnetometer navigational sensor data to assist in determining whether a change in a magnetic field detected by a magnetometer is likely due to a source of internal or external magnetic interference, and more generally, whether such interference is likely to be persistent or transient. If the magnetic field data detected by the magnetometer indicates a large change in magnetic field, but the non-magnetometer navigational sensor (e.g., gyroscope) data does not indicate a corresponding change in orientation of the mobile device contemporaneous with the change in magnetic field, then the cause of the magnetic field change may be determined as likely originating from a localized external interference source and the device may prompt the user to move away from the interference source, rather than initiating a recalibration of the magnetometer.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for calibrating a magnetometer. The method comprises determining a current quality level associated with magnetometer readings obtained using an active set of calibration parameters; and lowering a quality threshold for a background calibration of the magnetometer when the current quality level exceeds a threshold quality level needed by an application utilizing the magnetometer readings.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved generation of images using a handheld electronic device. Motion of the handheld electronic device is detected using a sensor of the handheld electronic device and data, dependent upon the sensed motion, is transmitted from the device to a remote electronic device. An image, representative of the sensed motion of the handheld electronic device and generated from the transmitted data, is rendered on a display of the remote electronic device and provides a user with visual feedback of the motion of the handheld electronic device. The image data may be generated by the handheld electronic device or by the remote electronic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a handheld electronic device having a gesture-based control and a method of using the same. In one embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising: determining from a motion signal a movement type associated with a movement of the electronic device from a number predetermined types of movement; determining whether a cadence parameter is greater than or equal to a first cadence reference level, wherein the cadence parameter is dependent on the movement type; performing a first command when the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to the first cadence reference level; and performing a second command is performed when the cadence parameter is less than the first cadence reference level.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing movements of a handheld electronic device. The system comprises: memory; a microprocessor; a first module to generate movement data responsive to movements of the device; a second module providing instructions to the microprocessor to map the movement data to a string representation relating to symbols in a spatial coordinate system associated with the device and store the string representation in the memory; and a third module. The third module provides instructions to the microprocessor to analyze data relating to the string representation against data relating to a gesture string representing a gesture related to a command for the device to determine if the gesture has been imparted on the device; and if the string representation sufficiently matches the gesture string, executes a command associated with the gesture on the device.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a position of an electronic device is presented herein. An image is displayed having at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object. The celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object. Data indicating a relative angle of the device with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions is received at the processor. The time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object is determined. The position of the electronic device is determined by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved generation of images using a handheld electronic device. Motion of the handheld electronic device is detected using a sensor of the handheld electronic device and data, dependent upon the sensed motion, is transmitted from the device to a remote electronic device. An image, representative of the sensed motion of the handheld electronic device and generated from the transmitted data, is rendered on a display of the remote electronic device and provides a user with visual feedback of the motion of the handheld electronic device. The image data may be generated by the handheld electronic device or by the remote electronic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a handheld electronic device having a gesture-based control and a method of using the same. In one embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising: determining from a motion signal a movement type associated with a movement of the electronic device from a number predetermined types of movement; determining whether a cadence parameter is greater than or equal to a first cadence reference level, wherein the cadence parameter is dependent on the movement type; performing a first command when the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to the first cadence reference level; and performing a second command is performed when the cadence parameter is less than the first cadence reference level.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a handheld electronic device having a gesture-based control and a method of using the same. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling a handheld electronic device, comprising: receiving a motion signal as input from a motion detection subsystem in response to a movement of the device; determining from the motion signal a cadence parameter associated with the movement of the electronic device; determining whether the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to a cadence reference level; performing a first command when the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to the cadence reference level; and performing a second command is performed when the cadence parameter is less than the cadence reference level.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a system and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The method comprises: monitoring a motion detection circuit for a signal indicating a movement of the device; analyzing the movement of the device and if the movement matches a profile for an activation movement for the device then activating a component on the device; and if the movement does not match the profile, then monitoring for additional movement signals for the device and providing data relating to the additional movement signals to a microprocessor in the device at an instance where the microprocessor is expected to be monitoring for receipt of a synchronization signal from a network in communication with the device is expected and when the instance is passed, the device is placed in second power operating mode, the second power operating mode consuming less power than the first power operating mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employing non-magnetometer navigational sensor data to assist in determining whether a change in a magnetic field detected by a magnetometer is likely due to a source of internal or external magnetic interference, and more generally, whether such interference is likely to be persistent or transient. If the magnetic field data detected by the magnetometer indicates a large change in magnetic field, but the non-magnetometer navigational sensor (e.g., gyroscope) data does not indicate a corresponding change in orientation of the mobile device contemporaneous with the change in magnetic field, then the cause of the magnetic field change may be determined as likely originating from a localized external interference source and the device may prompt the user to move away from the interference source, rather than initiating a recalibration of the magnetometer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing movements of a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: calculating a matching score for a rotational string representation of rotational movement data for the device to a gesture string representing a gesture related to a command for the device by recursively traversing a matrix containing the rotational string representation, the gesture string representation and earlier movement data of the device using a distance edit algorithm to generate matching scores for values of the rotational string representation against the gesture string; and if a threshold for the matching score is met, executing a command associated with the gesture on the device.

Abstract: A system and method of obtaining magnetometer readings for performing a magnetometer calibration are provided. The method comprises detecting initiation of a magnetometer calibration; displaying a plurality of visual elements representing at least a pair of movements, each of the movements orienting a device comprising the magnetometer in substantially opposite positions along a respective axis; and obtaining at least one magnetometer reading during movement of the device. The visual elements may include one in an upright position, one in an upside down position, one facing a first direction and one illustrating the device facing in a second direction. A path may also be defined between the plurality of visual elements using one or more arrows.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of device selection using sensory input and portable electronic device configured for same. In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a method for use in a portable electronic device for selecting a peripheral device for connection with the portable electronic device, comprising: measuring a magnetic field within the vicinity of the portable electronic device; determining a relative location of at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with magnetic fields uniquely associated with the at least two available peripheral devices; selecting a peripheral device from the at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with the measured magnetic field; and connecting the portable electronic device to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communications path.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing movements of a handheld electronic device. The system comprises: memory; a microprocessor; a first module to generate movement data responsive to movements of the device, such as rotational movements; a second module providing instructions to the microprocessor to map the movement data against symbols representing an input movement string and store the string representation in the memory; and a third module. The third module provides instructions to the microprocessor to analyze data relating to the string representation against data relating to a gesture string representing a gesture related to a command for the device to determine if the gesture has been imparted on the device; and if the string representation sufficiently matches the gesture string, executes a command associated with the gesture on the device.

Abstract: A system and method of obtaining magnetometer readings for performing a magnetometer calibration are provided. The method comprises detecting initiation of a magnetometer calibration; displaying a plurality of visual elements representing at least a pair of movements, each of the movements orienting a device comprising the magnetometer in substantially opposite positions along a respective axis; and obtaining at least one magnetometer reading during movement of the device. The visual elements may include one in an upright position, one in an upside down position, one facing a first direction and one illustrating the device facing in a second direction. A path may also be defined between the plurality of visual elements using one or more arrows.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of device selection using sensory input and portable electronic device configured for same. In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a method for use in a portable electronic device for selecting a peripheral device for connection with the portable electronic device, comprising: measuring a magnetic field within the vicinity of the portable electronic device; determining a relative location of at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with magnetic fields uniquely associated with the at least two available peripheral devices; selecting a peripheral device from the at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with the measured magnetic field; and connecting the portable electronic device to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communications path.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling an electronic device, such as a mobile device. The method comprises using a magnetometer of the electronic device to obtain a reading; determining whether one or more properties of the reading matches at least one magnetic signature from a set of magnetic signatures, each magnetic signature being indicative of an expected magnetic influence from another object; if the one or more properties match a particular magnetic signature from the set of magnetic signatures, determining one or more actions associated with the particular magnetic signature; and enabling the one or more actions to be performed using the electronic device.