Method and Arrangement for Generating a Warning Signal in Two Devices Which are Adapted for Wireless Communication with One Another

• US 20060255932A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kranz, Christian, Brandenburg, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/279,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• 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

In a method for generating a warning signal in two devices (1, 4) which are adapted for wireless communication, a variable (18) characteristic of the existence of a connection between the resting first device (4) and the second device (1) and/or a variable (10, 11) influenced by the distance between the two devices is monitored. A warning signal is output to the user if the variable (18) characteristic of the existence of the connection shows a behavior typical of the termination of the connection and/or if the variable (10, 11) influenced by the distance between the two devices shows a behavior typical of an increase in the distance between the two devices.

Claims

1. A method for generating a warning signal for a user of two devices which are adapted for wireless communication with one another, the first device acting as input and/or output interface between the user and the second device, the method comprising the following steps:

a) monitoring the signal strength and/or the signal quality during the communication between the two devices, wherein the signal strength or the signal quality, respectively are a variable influenced by the distance between the first device and the second device, and

b) outputting a warning signal to the user if the decrease in signal strength and/or the signal quality exceeds a predefined value in relation to a previously measured output value of the signal strength or of the signal quality, respectively, which is typical of an increase in the distance between the two devices.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are adapted to communicate with one another via a radio network.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radio network allows a signal transmission between the second device as transmitter and the first device as receiver.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of monitoring is carried out by the first device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal strength and/or the signal quality are the field strength or bit error rate, respectively, received in the monitoring device.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of outputting the warning signal is carried out by the second device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of outputting the warning signal is carried out by the first device.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein before method step b), the following step is carried out:

setting up a connection to a third device, particularly a mobile telephone, is carried out if the decrease in signal strength and/or the signal quality exceeds a predefined value in relation to a previously measured output value of the signal strength or of the signal quality, respectively, and

wherein the step of outputting the warning signal is carried out by the third device.

9. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the devices, which are adapted for communication by radio, operate in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first device operates as HID device and the second device operates as HID host in accordance with the Bluetooth-specific HID profile.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device is a wireless radio mouse and the second device is a portable computer, particularly a laptop.

12. A method for generating a warning signal for a user of two devices which are adapted to communicate via a radio network, the first device acting as input and/or output interface between the user and the second device, comprising the following steps:

a) monitoring

of a variable characteristic of the existence of a connection between the first device and the second device and/or

of a variable influenced by the distance between the first device and the second device,

b) setting up a connection from the first device to a third device, particularly a mobile telephone, if

the variable characteristic of the existence of the connection between the first and the second device indicates a behavior typical of the termination of the connection, and/or

the variable influenced by the distance between the two devices shows a behavior typical of an increase in the distance between the first and the second device, and

c) outputting a warning signal to the user by the third device.

13. An arrangement for generating a warning signal for a user of two devices which are adapted for wireless communication with one another, the first device acting as input and/or output interface between the user and the second device, which comprises:

a) a means for monitoring the signal strength and/or the signal quality during the communication of the two devices, the signal strength or the signal quality, respectively, in each case being a variable influenced by the distance between the first device and the second device, and

b) an output means for outputting a warning signal to the user if the decrease in signal strength and/or the signal quality exceeds a predefined value in relation to a previously measured output value of the signal strength or of the signal quality, respectively, this being typical of an increase in the distance between the two devices.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first device and the second device are adapted to communicate with one another via a radio network.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the radio network allows a signal transmission between the second device as transmitter and the first device as receiver.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first device comprises the means for monitoring.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for monitoring is constructed in such a manner that it measures the field strength and/or bit error rate received in the monitoring device.

18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second device comprises the output means.

19. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first device comprises the output means.

20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, comprising a third device, particularly a mobile telephone, which comprises the output means, the first device or the second device being designed for setting up a connection to the third device if the decrease in signal strength and/or the signal quality exceeds a predefined value in relation to a previously measured output value of the signal strength or of the signal quality, respectively.

21. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the devices, which are adapted to communicate by radio, operate in accordance with the Bluetooth standard.

22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first device is a HID device and the second device is a HID host in accordance with the Bluetooth-specific HID profile.

23. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first device is a wireless radio mouse and the second device is a portable computer, particularly a laptop.

24. An arrangement for generating a warning signal for a user of two devices adapted to communicate via a radio network, the first device acting as input and/or output interface between the user and the second device, which comprises the following:

a) a means for monitoring the signal strength and/or the signal quality during the communication between the two devices, the signal strength or the signal quality, respectively, in each case being a variable influenced by the distance between the first device and the second device, and

b) a third device, particularly a mobile telephone, which comprises an output means for outputting a warning signal to the user, the first device being constructed to set up a connection to the third device for outputting the warning signal by the third device if the decrease in signal strength and/or the signal quality exceeds a predefined value in relation to a previously measured output value of the signal strength or of the signal quality, respectively, this being typical of an increase in the distance between the two devices.