Android users are familiar with the airplane icon, which disables all wireless interfaces on the smartphone. But the regular "airplane mode" settings may soon change: In its new patent, Google is considering a less aggressive algorithm for the operation of airplane mode and expands its functionality. Basically we are talking about a connected Airplane Mode. Let's see the details.
A new patent for a connected airplane mode: here's what it is and how it works
Google has filed a patent with theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) titled “Activating a connected airplane mode“. Basically, Google is taking the mode in question, which we know works offline, to a whole new level. We all know how to activate it on our smartphone, but the patent provides the use of sensors on the device to determine if we are flying, to monitor changes in acceleration and speed, a decrease in pressure and listen to certain sounds.
Factors that would trigger connected airplane mode include those environmental such as a decrease in pressure and changes in acceleration and speed; cabin sounds such as flight engine noise and altitude signal, aircraft ultrasonic balise signals, various signals radio (GPS, cellular ID, Wi-Fi signal), and contextual factors such as travel booking activity and so on check-in status.
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Once the device determines that we are flying, connected airplane mode is automatically activated. The goal is to turn off the radio waves on our mobile device while keeping us connected to the aircraft's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals. Currently, if we activate airplane mode on our device, all connections, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are deactivated. But we can access Bluetooth and Wi-Fi by reactivating them separately after activating the mode in question. This applies to both Android and iOS.
The feature would also allow the device connected to Wi-Fi to work like it's connected to broadband like the Wi-Fi we use on land. So, onboard Wi-Fi would be treated the same as other Wi-Fi networks. What does all this mean? Google explains. “Bandwidth-intensive processes, such as photo backups, can still run during a flight regardless of the actual capabilities and quality of the flight network and therefore can use a significant amount of the aircraft's internet connectivity resources. The technology can automatically activate a connected airplane mode before or during a flight to provide devices with good levels of connectivity. "
Through | Phonearena
