Devices and methods for locating accessories of an electronic device

• US 10,410,485 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ingrassia, Jr., Michael Ignazio, Hramits, Nathaniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US15/722,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340 81
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Devices and methods for locating accessories of an electronic device are provided. In one example, a method may include detecting parameters associated with disconnecting an accessory from the electronic device. The electronic device, or an associated device, may store the detected parameters so that the detected parameters are accessible if the accessory becomes lost. The electronic device may receive a request from a user of the electronic device for assistance in locating the accessory. In response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory, the electronic device may provide the stored parameters to the user of the electronic device to aid them in searching for their lost accessory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

playing a media item on an electronic device;

detecting, via the electronic device, disconnection of an accessory from the electronic device, wherein the disconnection of the accessory is detected to have occurred while the media item is playing on the electronic device;

detecting, via the electronic device, a title of the media item;

storing the title on the electronic device;

receiving a request at the electronic device for assistance in locating the accessory; and

presenting the title on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory as a reminder of the media item that had been playing when the disconnection of the accessory occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting, via the electronic device, a time of the disconnection of the accessory from the electronic device; and

presenting the time on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting, via the electronic device, a date of the disconnection of the accessory from the electronic device; and

presenting the date on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting, via the electronic device, a location of the disconnection of the accessory from the electronic device; and

presenting the location on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the location on the electronic device comprises presenting a map corresponding to the location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the location on the electronic device comprises presenting a compass corresponding to a direction from the electronic device to the accessory.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting, via the electronic device, device identification data of the accessory; and

presenting the device identification data on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting, via the electronic device, a distance between the electronic device and the accessory; and

presenting the distance on the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises wired headphones, wireless headphones, an adaptor cable, a power cable, a keyboard, a docking station, or a speaker, or any combination thereof.

10. A method comprising:

detecting, via an electronic device, disconnection of an accessory from the electronic device;

storing a first global positioning system (GPS) location corresponding to a site where the accessory was disconnected on the electronic device;

receiving a request at the electronic device for assistance in locating the accessory;

initiating a background process on the electronic device in response to the request, wherein the background process comprises an application program configured to run in the background without being readily presented and occasionally search for the accessory;

detecting the accessory using the background process, wherein detecting the accessory using the background process comprises comparing the first GPS location to a second GPS location by utilizing GPS data, wherein the second GPS location corresponds to a current location of the electronic device;

generating, using the background process, a notification for the electronic device when the first GPS location is determined to be proximate to the second GPS location as a reminder to prompt a search for the accessory in an area proximate to the first GPS location; and

displaying the notification on the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the background process is configured to periodically search for the accessory.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the accessory using the background process comprises detecting the accessory based at least partially on a distance between the accessory and the electronic device.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a first wireless signal from a first electronic device via a second electronic device, wherein the first wireless signal comprises a request for the second electronic device to aid the first electronic device in finding a lost accessory of the first electronic device;

generating and transmitting a second wireless signal via the second electronic device to the lost accessory to locate the lost accessory; and

transmitting a reply to the first electronic device via the second electronic device, wherein the reply comprises an indication that the second electronic device has located the lost accessory.