[whatwg] Background Geolocation for Progressive Web-Apps

Cor, steady on Hixie, it wasn’t me yelling that “WHATWG is broken”. All I’m
trying to do is get someone (not me) to start development on a solution for
background geolocation in HTML5 Web Apps. Sorry if my post was in/pas
apropos.



> all that matters is the quality of arguments and data presented



Excellent news!  Here I go: -



Secure, user-sanctioned geolocation collection is currently unavailable for

HTML5 Web-Apps when they are not running or in the foreground. This leaves

the browser hosted applications incapable of competing with Native Apps on

an even playing field.



The main goal of background geolocation reporting is to allow all web-apps, but

in particular, Gaming, Social-Network, and Fleet-Management Apps, to

continue to function even if the device has gone to sleep or another App is

in the foreground.



Additional goals are:



   -  Power-Saving. By using the existing ServiceWorker paradigm and flexible

   throttle/filter on which geolocation movements are "interesting".

-    Single-process (Google Play etc) to monitor all geolocation reports for

   all Apps before deciding if ServiceWorker(s) need to be instantiated.

-    Unlike Mozilla's current implementation, stalkers, estranged spouses,

   and marketeers will no longer be allowed to track users covertly.



My suggested solution: -



serviceWorkerRegistration.travelManager.subscribe({options. . .})



The "options" contain "filter" that can specify such things as minimum
distance traveled, minimum reporting interval, accuracy, maximum loiter
interval and so on. Once an "interesting" geolocation position change has
been obtained a ServiceWorker can be instantiated to process the event in
the same way that Push Notifications are handled today.


This is where it plugs-in: -

https://w3c.github.io/ServiceWorker/#extensibility



The following diagram that illustrates how shimlessly typical user
movements map to the ServiceWorker paradigm: -





Elapsed Time:     tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt



User Travelling:  P----P----P Stopped P-----P----P



Service Worker 1: --------------



Service Worker 2:                     ================



Now I find that argument compelling! How about you?



Cheers Richard

Received on Thursday, 1 December 2016 23:53:55 UTC