Location discovery using bluetooth

• US 20080125040A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalayjian, Nicholas R.
• Application Number:
  US11/606,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and system for locating objects using a Bluetooth communications protocol is provided. A first device can be paired, using a Bluetooth protocol, with one or more second devices. In that case, the first device is referred to as the master device and one or more second devices are referred to as the slave devices. When prompted by a user, the master device can transmit a signal to one of the slave devices. The slave device can then take a predetermined action to attempt to guide a user to its location. For example, the slave device can transmit a return signal to the master device or emit auditory or visual alerts itself.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a master device capable of transmitting a signal using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

a slave device capable of receiving a signal using a Bluetooth communications protocol, wherein the slave device is operable to guide a user to its location when prompted to by a Bluetooth transmission from the master device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device comprises a speaker and the slave device is operable to guide the user to its location by emitting an auditory signal from the speaker.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device comprises a light and the slave device is operable to guide the user to its location by emitting a visual signal from the light.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device is operable to guide the user to its location using a wireless communication to the master device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device is operable to determine its location and transmit that location to the master device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the master device is a cellular telephone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device is an electronic device with a primary function other than location discovery.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave device is an electronic device that is operable to attach to another object.

9. A system comprising:

a master device capable of transmitting a signal using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

a slave device capable of receiving a signal using a Bluetooth communications protocol, wherein one of the devices is operable to determine the distance between the two devices by analyzing the timing of Bluetooth communications between the two devices.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the master device is operable to determine the distance to the slave device by determining the time delay between transmitting a signal to the slave device and receiving a return signal from the slave device.

11. A method comprising:

a master device transmitting to a slave device using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

a slave device taking a predetermined action to guide user to its location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device guides the user to its location by emitting an auditory signal.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device guides the user of its location by emitting a visual signal.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device guides the user to its location by transmitting a return signal to the master device using a wireless communications protocol.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device guides the user to its location by determining its location and transmitting that location to the master device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the master device is a cellular telephone.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device is an electronic device with a primary function other than location discovery.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device is an electronic device that attaches to another object.

19. A method comprising:

a master device transmitting to a slave device using a Bluetooth communications protocol;

a slave device transmitting to the master device a return signal using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

the master device determining the distance to the slave device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the master device determines the distance to the slave device by analyzing the timing of Bluetooth communications between the two devices.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the master device calculates the distance to the slave device by determining the delay between transmitting the signal to the slave device and receiving a return signal from the slave device.

22. A device comprising a circuit operable to communicate using a Bluetooth communications protocol, wherein the device is operable to guide a user to its location when prompted to by a Bluetooth transmission from another device.

23. The device of claim 22 further comprising a speaker operable to guide a user to its location by emitting an audio signal.

24. The device of claim 22 further comprising a light operable to guide a user to its location by emitting a visual signal.

25. A device comprising:

a circuit operable to communicate using a Bluetooth communications protocol; and

a circuit operable to analyze timing of Bluetooth communications with another device in order to determine the distance between the device and another Bluetooth enabled device.