Detecting a wireless signal based on context
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- obtaining activation instructions for a user computing device to perform a wireless signal detection activity, the activation instructions being based at least on calendar information that identifies at least one scheduled event for a particular user of the user computing device;
choosing a wireless signal detection rate to be applied by the user computing device at a particular time based at least on the activation instructions, wherein the particular time to apply the wireless signal detection rate is based at least on a corresponding time for a particular scheduled event identified by the calendar information; and
at the particular time, performing the wireless signal detection activity at the wireless signal detection rate to enable detection of a wireless signal,said performing comprising one or more of;
checking, at the wireless signal detection rate, to determine whether the wireless signal is present in a local environment; and
/orbroadcasting, at the wireless signal detection rate, the wireless signal into the local environment.
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Abstract
A technique is described for efficiently detecting a wireless beacon signal emitted from a beacon-emitting mechanism, and thereby reducing consumption of power. The technique operates by selectively increasing detection activity when a detection event is likely to occur, and decreasing it otherwise. The technique leverages calendar information as one factor in determining when a detection event is likely to occur. The technique can also vary the detection activity based on location information (identifying the location of a user) and/or motion information (describing the motion of the user).
109 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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obtaining activation instructions for a user computing device to perform a wireless signal detection activity, the activation instructions being based at least on calendar information that identifies at least one scheduled event for a particular user of the user computing device; choosing a wireless signal detection rate to be applied by the user computing device at a particular time based at least on the activation instructions, wherein the particular time to apply the wireless signal detection rate is based at least on a corresponding time for a particular scheduled event identified by the calendar information; and at the particular time, performing the wireless signal detection activity at the wireless signal detection rate to enable detection of a wireless signal, said performing comprising one or more of; checking, at the wireless signal detection rate, to determine whether the wireless signal is present in a local environment; and
/orbroadcasting, at the wireless signal detection rate, the wireless signal into the local environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computing device, comprising:
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a communication interface that is configured to receive activation instructions for performing a wireless signal detection activity, the activation instructions being based at least on calendar information that identifies at least one scheduled event; a power source; a processing device; and a storage resource storing machine-readable instructions which, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to; choose a wireless signal detection rate to be applied at a particular time based at least on the activation instructions, wherein the particular time to apply the wireless signal detection rate is based at least on a corresponding time for a particular scheduled event identified by the calendar information; and at the particular time, perform the wireless signal detection activity at the wireless signal detection rate to enable detection of a wireless beacon signal, the wireless signal detection activity being performed by; checking, at the wireless signal detection rate, to determine whether the wireless beacon signal is present in a local environment; and
/orbroadcasting, at the wireless signal detection rate, the wireless beacon signal into the local environment, wherein the wireless signal detection activity consumes an amount of power from the power source that depends on the wireless signal detection rate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a processing device; and a storage resource storing machine-readable instructions which, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to; receive calendar information from a calendar system that identifies a particular scheduled event that is to take place in a local environment, the particular scheduled event having a start time and a set of participants, including a particular user; generate wireless detection activation instructions based at least on the calendar information, the wireless detection activation instructions identifying a particular time at which a computing device is to increase frequency of a wireless signal detection activity from a first non-zero detection rate to second, increased non-zero detection rate, the particular time being based at least on the start time of the particular scheduled event; and send the wireless detection activation instructions to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method comprising:
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accessing calendar information that identifies at least one scheduled event for a particular user; based at least on the calendar information identifying the at least one scheduled event, generating wireless detection activation instructions that specify a particular time at which to perform a wireless signal detection activity in a particular manner, the particular time being based at least on a corresponding time for a particular scheduled event identified by the calendar information; and providing the wireless detection activation instructions to a user computing device associated with the particular user, wherein the wireless signal detection activity comprises one or more of; checking to determine whether a wireless signal is present in a local environment; and
/orbroadcasting the wireless signal into the local environment.
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Specification