Locating radio energy-producing tag

• US 10,121,029 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabb, Laura, Herman, Kenneth Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US15/281,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to processing a low-energy data packet are provided. A method includes receiving, using a receiver in a portable wireless device, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag. The portable wireless device is stationary. The low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag. The method can also include determining at least an approximate distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device. The method can also include transmitting, via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag, the data identifying the at least approximate distance, or both.

Claims

1. A method for processing a low-energy data packet, the method comprising:

receiving, using a receiver in a portable wireless device, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag, wherein the low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag;

determining, by the portable wireless device, at least an approximate first distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device; and

transmitting, from the portable wireless device via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying the at least the approximate first distance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the portable wireless device, the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying at least an approximate second distance between the low-energy tag and the intermediate wireless device; and

triangulating, by the portable wireless device, using the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance and the data identifying the at least the approximate second distance, at least an approximate location of the low-energy tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the portable wireless device, a first announcement requesting transmission of a second announcement, wherein the second announcement requests a response from the low-energy tag.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the portable wireless device, an announcement requesting a response from the low-energy tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-energy tag is a Bluetooth-compatible low-energy tag.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

building, by the portable wireless device, an inventory of low-energy tag information;

updating, by the portable wireless device, the inventory of low-energy tag information;

or

a combination thereof, wherein the inventory of low-energy tag information includes the data identifying the low-energy tag and the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the portable wireless device, data indicating a room within which the portable wireless device is located; and

transmitting, from the portable wireless device to the central device, the data indicating the room.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed when the portable wireless device is stationary.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

instructions stored by the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions are configured to cause a processor of a portable wireless device to;

initiate receiving, using a receiver in the portable wireless device, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag, wherein the low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag;

initiate determining at least an approximate first distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device; and

initiate transmitting, via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying the at least the approximate first distance.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

initiate receiving the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying at least an approximate second distance between the low-energy tag and the intermediate wireless device; and

initiate triangulating, using the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance and the data identifying the at least the approximate second distance, at least an approximate location of the low-energy tag.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to initiate receiving a first announcement requesting transmission of a second announcement, and the second announcement requests a response from the low-energy tag.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to initiate transmitting an announcement requesting a response from the low-energy tag.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the low-energy tag is a Bluetooth-compatible low-energy tag.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein an inventory of low-energy tag information includes the data identifying the low-energy tag and the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance, and wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

initiate building the inventory of low-energy tag information;

initiate updating the inventory of low-energy tag information;

or

a combination thereof.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

initiate receiving data indicating a room within which the portable wireless device is located; and

initiate transmitting, to the central device, the data indicating the room.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the receiving is performed when the portable wireless device is stationary.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a portable wireless device including;

a receiver;

a processor coupled to the receiver; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to cause the processor to;

initiate receiving, using the receiver, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag, wherein the low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag;

initiate determining at least an approximate first distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device; and

initiate transmitting, via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying the at least the approximate first distance.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the processor to:

initiate receiving the data identifying the low-energy tag and data identifying at least an approximate second distance between the low-energy tag and the intermediate wireless device; and

initiate triangulating, using the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance and the data identifying the at least the approximate second distance, at least an approximate location of the low-energy tag.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the processor to initiate receiving a first announcement requesting transmission of a second announcement, and the second announcement requests a response from the low-energy tag.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the processor to initiate transmitting an announcement requesting a response from the low-energy tag.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the low-energy tag is a Bluetooth-compatible low-energy tag.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an inventory of low-energy tag information includes the data identifying the low-energy tag and the data identifying the at least the approximate first distance, and the memory is further configured to cause the processor to:

initiate building the inventory of low-energy tag information;

initiate updating the inventory of low-energy tag information;

or

a combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory is further configured to cause the processor to:

initiate receiving data indicating a room within which the portable wireless device is located; and

initiate transmitting, to the central device, the data indicating the room.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array, a programmable logic device, an application-specific integrated circuit, a controller, a non-generic special-purpose processor, a state machine, a gated logic device, a discrete hardware component, a dedicated hardware finite state machine, or a combination thereof.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the intermediate wireless device is a part of:

a camera;

a thermostat;

a smoke detector;

a carbon monoxide detector;

or

a combination thereof.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the intermediate wireless device is a part of:

a mobile device;

a computing device;

a home automation device;

a central remote control base station;

an alarm system base station;

an alarm system controller;

an alarm system sensor;

a motion sensor;

a door movement sensor;

a window movement sensor;

a cordless phone base station;

a cordless phone;

a garage door opener;

a door lock;

a television;

a monitor;

a clock radio;

a home theatre system;

an air conditioner;

a lightbulb;

a doorbell;

a ceiling fan;

a switch;

an electric outlet;

a sprinkler controller;

a clothes washer;

a clothes dryer;

a refrigerator;

a microwave oven;

a stove;

a coffee maker;

a blender;

or

a combination thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiving is performed when the portable wireless device is stationary.