DEVICES AND METHODS FOR LOCATING ACCESSORIES OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140111307A1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ingrassia, Michael Ignazio Jr., Hramits, Nathaniel P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,779,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• 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

Devices and methods for locating accessories of an electronic device are provided. In one example, a method may include detecting parameters associated with disconnecting an accessory from the electronic device. The electronic device, or an associated device, may store the detected parameters so that the detected parameters are accessible if the accessory becomes lost. The electronic device may receive a request from a user of the electronic device for assistance in locating the accessory. In response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory, the electronic device may provide the stored parameters to the user of the electronic device to aid them in searching for their lost accessory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting parameters at an electronic device, wherein the parameters are associated with disconnecting an accessory from the electronic device;

storing the detected parameters;

receiving a request at the electronic device for assistance in locating the accessory; and

providing the stored parameters using the electronic device in response to the request for assistance in locating the accessory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with disconnecting the accessory from the electronic device comprise a time when the accessory was disconnected from the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with disconnecting the accessory from the electronic device comprise a date when the accessory was disconnected from the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with disconnecting the accessory from the electronic device comprise a location where the accessory was disconnected from the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with disconnecting the accessory from the electronic device comprise at least one of a date when the accessory was connected to the electronic device, a time when the accessory was connected to the electronic device, and a location where the accessory was connected to the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters associated with disconnecting the accessory from the electronic device comprise at least one of device identification data of the accessory and data corresponding to a media file last used by the accessory before the accessory was disconnected from the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises at least one of wired headphones, wireless headphones, an adaptor cable, a power cable, a keyboard, a docking station, and a speaker.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising providing data corresponding to a distance between the electronic device and the accessory.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising at least one of providing a map corresponding to a location where the accessory was disconnected from the electronic device and providing a compass corresponding to a direction from the electronic device to the accessory.

10. A method comprising:

receiving an indication at an electronic device that an accessory is lost;

initiating a background process of the electronic device as a result of the received indication;

detecting the accessory using the background process; and

providing a notification to the electronic device after the accessory has been detected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the accessory using the background process comprises detecting the accessory based at least partially on a distance between the accessory and the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the accessory using the background process comprises comparing a location of the electronic device to a location corresponding to the accessory.

13. A method comprising:

receiving an indication at a first electronic device that an accessory is lost;

sending a request from the first electronic device for a second electronic device to aid the first electronic device in finding the lost accessory; and

providing a notification on the first electronic device after the accessory has been located by the second electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is configured to aid the first electronic device in finding the lost accessory by detecting a distance between the accessory and the second electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is configured to aid the first electronic device in finding the lost accessory by detecting accessories attached to the second electronic device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second electronic devices are commonly owned.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein sending the request from the first electronic device for the second electronic device to aid the first electronic device in finding the lost accessory comprises sending the request from the first electronic device for a plurality of electronic devices to aid the first electronic device in finding the lost accessory.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising establishing a virtual relationship between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

19. A method comprising:

detecting free fall of an electronic device; and

providing an alert after free fall of the electronic device is detected.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein detecting free fall of the electronic device comprises detecting free fall using an accelerometer of the electronic device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the alert after free fall of the electronic device is detected comprises providing the alert to an accessory of the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the accessory comprises a wireless headset.

23. An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more tangible, computer-readable media having instructions encoded thereon for execution by a processor, the instructions comprising;

instructions configured to detect parameters that correspond to disconnecting an accessory from an electronic device;

instructions configured to store the detected parameters;

instructions configured to receive a request for help in finding the accessory; and

instructions configured to provide the stored parameters in response to the request for help in finding the accessory.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the parameters comprise a date, a time, a location, device identification data, media file data, or any combination thereof.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the accessory comprises at least one of wired headphones, wireless headphones, an adaptor cable, a power cable, a keyboard, a docking station, and a speaker.