Bluetooth device position display

• US 20030018744A1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Johanson, James A., Mooney, Philip D., Cannon, Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US09/777,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• 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 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for displaying the location of nearby electronic devices location relative to a user device. An electronic user device transmits a GPS coordinate request to all nearby electronic devices. The nearby electronic devices respond with their device GPS location information and then the user device displays the location of each electronic device that responded relative to the user device location.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with nearby electronic devices comprising:

a first electronic device;

at least one other electronic device;

said first electronic device broadcasting a first signal requesting location coordinates from electronic devices within range; and

said at least one other electronic device within a predetermined range of said first electronic device receiving said first signal and transmitting a second response signal containing its location coordinates.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said first electronic device receives said second response signals and visually displays said at least one other electronic device indicating the position of said at least one other electronic device relative to said first electronic device.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the maximum distance said at least one other electronic device can be from said electronic device and be displayed is adjustable.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second response signal includes the type of said at least one electronic device in said second response signal.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein said first electronic device displays the type of said at least one other electronic device.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein one of said at least one other electronic devices can be selected at said electronic device to communicate with said electronic device.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a transceiver;

a controller coupled to said transceiver;

a display screen coupled to said controller;

a user input device coupled to said controller; and

a GPS receiver coupled to said controller;

said controller operating in response to a first input at said electronic device to cause said transceiver to transmit a first signal requesting a response signal from another electronic device containing the GPS coordinates of said another electronic device;

said controller further operating in response to receipt of said response signal from said another electronic device to visually display on said display screen the position of said another electronic device relative to said first electronic device.

10. The device as in claim 9, wherein said first signal also requests the device type of said another electronic device.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said visual display also includes the device type of said another electronic device.

12. The device as in claim 9, wherein said controller further operates in response to receipt of response signals from a plurality of electronic devices to visually display on said display screen the position of each of said plurality of electronic devices relative to said first electronic device.

13. A device as in claim 9, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

14. A device as in claim 13, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

16. The device as in claim 15, wherein said first signal also requests the device type of said electronic device and said second response signal also includes the device type of said electronic device.

17. A device as in claim 15, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

18. A device as in claim 17, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising the step of

selecting one of said at least one electronic device at said user location according to said displayed location of said at least one electronic device;

said user location communicating with said selected electronic device.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

24. A method as in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from a user location to at least one electronic device requesting location coordinates;

detecting a second signal containing the location coordinates of said at least one electronic device at said user location.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth™

compliant.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a transceiver;

a controller coupled to said transceiver; and

a GPS receiver coupled to said controller;

said controller operating in response to receipt a first signal from another electronic device requesting the GPS coordinates of said electronic dcvice;

said controller causing a second response signal containing the GPS coordinates of said electronic device to be transmitted.

19. A method for communicating with nearby electronic devices comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from a user location to at least one electronic device requesting GPS coordinates;

detecting said first signal at said at least one electronic device;

transmitting a second signal from said at least one electronic device to said user location containing the GPS coordinates of said at least one electronic device;

detecting said second signal containing the GPS coordinates of said at least one electronic device at said user location; and

displaying the location of said at least one electronic device associated with a received second signal relative to the user location.

23. A method for communicating with nearby electronic devices comprising the steps of:

displaying the location of at least one other electronic device relative to a user electronic device;

selecting a target electronic device according to said displayed location; and

communicating with said selected electronic device.

27. A method for communicating with nearby electronic devices comprising the steps of:

detecting a first signal at an electronic device requesting the location coordinates of said electronic device;

transmitting a second response signal containing the location coordinates of said electronic device.