MOBILE DEVICE PERIPHERAL DEVICE LOCATION AND CONNECTION

• US 20130091309A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyell Kirby, Miles Alexander, Bjontegard, Bernt Erik
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A mobile device may desire to connect wirelessly to a proximate peripheral device, such as a printer, projector, or other device. The mobile device may choose from proximate peripheral devices based on a number of factors including proximity, type, or configuration. Proximity may be determined based on received signal strength, access point profile, or other technique. Certain non-proximate devices may be desired based on certain conditions, including indoor location of a mobile device, compatibility of the mobile device, etc.

Claims

1. A method of identifying peripheral devices to a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining mobile device location information;

receiving peripheral device location information and peripheral device capabilities information;

comparing the peripheral device capabilities information to desired capabilities;

comparing the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information;

determining when the peripheral device location is desired; and

selecting at least one peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a connection between the mobile device and the selected at least one peripheral device.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the mobile device location information and peripheral device location information comprise access point profiles.

4. The method of claim 1 in which comparing the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information comprises determining peripheral device beacon information received by the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 in which comparing the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information comprises determining mobile device beacon information received by at least one peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 1 in which comparing the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information comprises determining a traversable path to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the traversable path accounts for indoor barriers.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the peripheral device location information is obtained from a server.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is not a closest peripheral device to the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on an indoor location of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on a history of previous peripheral device connections.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on at least one of a mobile device configuration, a user indicated peripheral preference, and compatibility information.

13. An apparatus for identifying peripheral devices to a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining mobile device location information;

means for receiving peripheral device location information and peripheral device capabilities information;

means for comparing the peripheral device capabilities information to desired capabilities;

means for comparing the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information;

means for determining when the peripheral device location is desired; and

means for selecting at least one peripheral device.

14. A computer program product for identifying peripheral devices to a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to determine mobile device location information;

program code to receive peripheral device location information and peripheral device capabilities information;

program code to compare the peripheral device capabilities information to desired capabilities;

program code to compare the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information;

program code to determine when the peripheral device location is desired; and

program code to select at least one peripheral device.

15. An apparatus for identifying peripheral devices to a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

the at least one processor being configured;

to determine mobile device location information;

to receive peripheral device location information and peripheral device capabilities information;

to compare the peripheral device capabilities information to desired capabilities;

to compare the peripheral device location information to the mobile device location information;

to determine when the peripheral device location is desired; and

to select at least one peripheral device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the at least one processor is further configured to establish a connection between a mobile device and the selected at least one peripheral device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the mobile device location information and peripheral device location information comprise access point profiles.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the at least one processor is further configured to determine peripheral device beacon information received by the mobile device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the at least one processor is further configured to determine mobile device beacon information received by at least one peripheral device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the at least one processor is further configured to determine a traversable path to the mobile device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the traversable path accounts for indoor barriers.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the peripheral device location information is obtained from a server.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is not a closest peripheral device to the mobile device.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on an indoor location of the mobile device.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on a history of previous peripheral device connections.

26. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the selected at least one peripheral device is determined based on at least one of a mobile device configuration, a user indicated peripheral preference, and compatibility information.