PROXIMITY DETECTION BY MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20140259047A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakar, Majd, Tsui, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 9,635,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/79 Radio fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A method includes initiating, by a processor of a device, a listening session including listening for a message from a mobile device and receiving the message from the mobile device via a microphone of the device, the message including configuration data for a network, and in response to receiving the message from the mobile device, initiating an access session with the network using the configuration data. In some implementations, the device is coupled to a media player. The media player may be a television. The configuration data may include at least one of an identifier for the network or a password for the network. In some implementations, the initiating occurs only after the device fails to connect to any network. In some implementations, the message is encoded in a sub-sonic signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating, by a processor of a device, a listening session including listening for a message from a mobile device and receiving the message from the mobile device via a microphone of the device, the message including configuration data for a network; and

in response to receiving the message from the mobile device, initiating an access session with the network using the configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is coupled to a media player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the media player is a television.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data includes at least one of an identifier for the network or a password for the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one of a WIFI network, a BLUETOOTH network, an audio channel, or a near field communication network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating occurs only after the device fails to connect to any network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is encoded in a sub-sonic signal.

8. A method comprising:

initiating, by a processor of a mobile device, a listening session including listening for a signature from a removable device, wherein the removable device is coupled to a media player and wherein the signature is encoded in a sub-sonic signal;

detecting the signature; and

in response to detecting the signature, initiating, by a processor of a mobile device, an access session with the removable device, using the signature.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

initiating a broadcast session including broadcasting the signature from the media player.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the media player is a television.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

prior to initiating the listening session, receiving a notification from a location service that the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the removable device; and

in response to receiving the notification, activating a microphone of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the sub-sonic signal is a pulse coded modulation signal.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

interpreting the signature by the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the signature is a unique pattern and includes access information that allows the mobile device to pair with the removable device.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform operations of;

initiate a listening session including listening for a signature from a removable device, wherein the removable device is coupled to a media player and wherein the signature is encoded in a sub-sonic signal; and

in response to detecting the signature from the removable device, initiate an access session with the removable device, using the signature.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sub-sonic signal is a pulse coded modulation signal.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the signature is a unique pattern and includes access information that allows the system to pair with the removable device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform operations of:

receiving a challenge from the removable device; and

issuing a response to the challenge.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the response is an audio signal.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the media player is a television.