PROXIMITY DETECTION USING DIVERSITY PATH LOSS SAMPLING

• US 20130344815A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cahill, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for radio proximity detection are disclosed. In one example, a method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio includes determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio, and processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

Claims

1. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio; and

processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio comprises estimating a distance utilizing a RSSI value from a signal received at a base radio selected antenna, the base radio selected antenna associated with a lower path loss between the mobile radio and the base radio relative to a base radio non-selected antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the initial range comprises determining whether the mobile radio is less than a threshold distance from the base radio.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a bit error rate or signal-to-noise ratio on a communications channel between the mobile radio and the base radio; and

processing the error rate or signal-to-noise ratio in addition to the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a mobile radio motion state comprising whether the mobile radio is in motion; and

processing the mobile radio motion state in addition to the initial range to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna, and a base radio second antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the refined range determination is made by:

measuring a first RSSI value using the base radio first antenna;

measuring a second RSSI value using the base radio second antenna;

generating an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI value and the second RSSI value; and

generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, the proximity indication is whether the mobile radio is within a threshold distance from the base radio.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RSSI value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the base radio is coupled to a personal computer via a computer interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the base radio and mobile radio utilize a DECT protocol, Bluetooth protocol, or IEEE 802.11 protocol.

11. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

determining a mobile radio is within a predetermined range of a base radio;

measuring two or more RSSI values at two or more antennas at a base radio;

generating an average RSSI value from the two or more RSSI values; and

determining a mobile radio proximity to the base radio utilizing the average RSSI value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining a mobile radio is within a predetermined range of a base radio comprises estimating a distance utilizing a RSSI value from a signal received at a base radio selected antenna, the base radio selected antenna associated with a lower path loss between the mobile radio and the base radio relative to a base radio non-selected antenna.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether an error rate on a communications channel between the mobile radio and the base radio is above a threshold level.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the mobile radio is in motion.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the mobile radio proximity to the base radio comprises determining whether the mobile radio is less than a threshold distance from the base radio.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the mobile radio proximity to the base radio utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RSSI value.

17. A computer readable storage memory storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for determining proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

receiving a first RSSI data associated with a first base radio antenna;

receiving a second RSSI data associated with a second base radio antenna;

determining an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI data and the second RSSI data; and

determining a proximity of a mobile radio to a base radio utilizing the average RSSI value.

18. The computer readable storage memory of claim 17, wherein the proximity is an in-proximity state or a not-in-proximity state.

19. The computer readable storage memory of claim 17, wherein determining a proximity of a mobile radio utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RSSI value.

20. The computer readable storage memory of claim 17, the method further comprising receiving an initial RSSI data and making an initial range determination prior to receiving the first RSSI data and the second RSSI data.

21. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

determining a noise level on a communications channel between a mobile radio and a base radio; and

processing the noise level to determine whether to make a range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the range determination is made by:

measuring a first RSSI value using the base radio first antenna;

measuring a second RSSI value using the base radio second antenna;

generating an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI value and the second RSSI value; and

generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein, the proximity indication is whether the mobile radio is within a threshold distance from the base radio.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein threshold distance corresponds to a distance at which a user can view a computing device display screen associated with the base radio.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the noise level is a bit error rate or a RF signal-to-noise ratio.