Methods and devices for path-loss estimation

• US 10,244,484 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Braun, Mark R, Debates, Scott P, Forest, Francis W, Van Bosch, James A
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Stephen M D
• Application Number:
  US15/353,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20170064643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/14 Separate analysis of uplink or downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method on an electronic device for a wireless network is described. A wireless signal is received from a second electronic device. A receive power level indication for the received wireless signal is determined. A path-loss offset for the received wireless signal is determined based on sensor data that indicates a path-loss condition. A path-loss for the received wireless signal is estimated based on the receive power level indication and the path-loss offset. A function is performed based on the path-loss and the path-loss threshold.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving first sensor data from at least one of the first electronic device or a second electronic device that indicates a first path-loss condition that affects receive power level indications;

selecting a context update interval based on the first sensor data;

responsive to an elapsed time after the selection meeting the context update interval, receiving second sensor data from at least one of the first or second electronic device that indicates a second path-loss condition that affects receive power level indications;

receiving a wireless signal from the second electronic device;

determining a receive power level indication for the received wireless signal;

calculating an initial path-loss based on the receive power level indication;

determining a path-loss offset for the initial path-loss based on the second sensor data;

calculating a second path-loss for the received wireless signal by adding the path-loss offset to the initial path-loss; and

responsive to the second path-loss meeting a path-loss threshold value, performing a function.

2. The method of claim 1

wherein the initial path-loss is based on a difference between a transmit power level indication received from the second electronic device and the receive power level indication.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least a portion of the second sensor data from the second electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising

polling the second electronic device for the portion of the second sensor data.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising

sending the context update interval to the second electronic device as an advertising interval such that the portion of the second sensor data is received from the second electronic device without the first electronic device requesting the portion of the second sensor data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first or second sensor data indicates a movement type for the first or second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first or second sensor data indicates a device context indicator for the first or second electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first or second sensor data indicates a stowing status, proximity to a face, handheld status, surface positioning, device heading, microphone input, ambient light sensor data, barometric pressure, ambient temperature, global positioning system data, Wi-Fi connection data, Bluetooth™

connection data, Zigbee connection data, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, capacitive sensor data, or location corresponding to the first or second electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sensor data indicates a plurality of path-loss conditions;

and

wherein determining the path-loss offset comprises;

selecting a condition offset for each of the plurality of path-loss conditions; and

combining the condition offsets for the plurality of path-loss conditions to obtain the path-loss offset.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the receive power level

is based on a plurality of receive power level indications over a receive power average interval.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the receive power average interval is dynamically adjusted based on the second sensor data.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises an alert function, a security function, or a proximity related function.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electronic device comprises a tablet computer or cellular telephone.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second electronic device comprises a smart watch, key fob, smart pen, pair of smart glasses, tablet computer, audio headset, or a wearable electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the path-loss offset comprises a numerical value in decibel-milliwatt (dBm), decibel-watt (dBW), or a unitless value.

16. A system comprising:

one or more radio transceivers;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory memory devices containing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the system to perform operations comprising;

receive first sensor data from at least one of the system or a remote electronic device that indicates a first path-loss condition that affects receive power level indications;

selecting a context update interval based on the first sensor data;

responsive to an elapsed time after the selection meeting the context update interval, receiving second sensor data from at least one of the system or the remote electronic device that indicates a second path-loss condition that affects receive power level indication;

receiving, via the one or more radio transceivers, a wireless signal from the remote electronic device;

determining a receive power level indication for the received wireless signal;

calculating an initial path-loss based on the receive power level indication;

determining a path-loss offset for the initial path-loss based on the second sensor data;

calculating a second path-loss for the received wireless signal by adding the path-loss offset to the initial path-loss; and

responsive to the second path-loss meeting a path-loss threshold value, performing a function.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the remote electronic device is a smart watch, key fob, smart pen, pair of smart glasses, tablet computer, audio headset, or a wearable electronic device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the system comprises a tablet computer or cellular telephone.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the first or second sensor data indicates a stowing status, proximity to a face, handheld status, surface positioning, device heading, microphone input, ambient light sensor data, barometric pressure, ambient temperature, global positioning system data, Wi-Fi connection data, Bluetooth™

connection data, Zigbee connection data, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, capacitive sensor data, or location corresponding to the system or the remote electronic device.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the path-loss offset comprises a numerical value in decibel-milliwatt (dBm), decibel-watt (dBW), or a unitless value.