Location-Based, Radio-Device Identification Apparatus and Method

• US 20140335797A1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J. Carl Cooper
• Original Assignee: J. Carl Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, J. Carl
• Granted Patent: US 9,648,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed to receive location data identifying the current location of a vehicle. A database, storing radio device records, is then queried. Each radio device record in the database identifies a radio device (e.g., a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, transponders, etc.) and a location of the radio device using a suitable coordinate system. Radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle may then be retrieved from the database. These radio device records may be used to generate a radio device list that may be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving location data identifying the current location of a vehicle;

querying a database storing a plurality of radio device records, each radio device record identifying a radio device and a location of the radio device;

retrieving, from the database, selected radio device records from the plurality of radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle;

generating a radio device list from the selected radio device records; and

presenting the radio device list to an occupant of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, the database further storing a plurality of obstruction records, each obstruction record identifying an obstruction with the potential to affect communication between the vehicle and a radio device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving, from the database, obstruction records associated with obstructions within the communication range of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating a radio device list comprises indicating, in the radio device list, radio devices that are affected by at least one of the obstructions.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein generating a radio device list comprises omitting, from the radio device list, radio devices affected by at least one of the obstructions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each radio device communicates over a communication frequency.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising scanning the communication frequencies of radio devices associated with the selected radio device records.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a radio device list comprises excluding, from the radio device list, radio devices that are not detected during scanning.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a radio device list comprises indicating, in the radio device list, radio devices that are detected during scanning.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio devices are selected from the group consisting of transmitters, receivers, transceivers, and transponders.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the occupant to select, and thereby communicate with, a radio device in the radio device list.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the occupant, through at least one of an audio and visual indicator, that the occupant is attempting to communicate with a radio device that is at least one of out of communication range with the vehicle, not detected during scanning, and affected by an obstruction.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a location device to identify the current location of a vehicle;

a database storing a plurality of radio device records, each radio device record identifying a radio device and a location of the radio device;

a control module to receive the current location from the location device and retrieve, from the database, selected radio device records from the plurality of radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle;

a list generation module configured to generate a radio device list from the selected radio device records; and

a presentation device to present the radio device list to an occupant of the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the database further storing a plurality of obstruction records, each obstruction record identifying an obstruction with the potential to affect communication between the vehicle and a radio device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the control module further configured to retrieve, from the database, obstruction records associated with obstructions within the communication range of the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the list generation module is further configured to indicate, in the radio device list, radio devices that are affected by at least one of the obstructions.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the list generation module is further configured to omit, from the radio device list, radio devices that are affected by at least one of the obstructions.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each radio device communicates over a communication frequency.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a scanner to scan the communication frequencies of radio devices associated with the selected radio device records.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the list generation module is further configured to exclude, from the radio device list, radio devices that are not detected by the scanner.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the list generation module is further configured to indicate, in the radio device list, radio devices that are detected by the scanner.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the radio devices are selected from the group consisting of transmitters, receivers, transceivers, and transponders.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a selection module to enable an occupant to select, and thereby communicate with, a radio device in the radio device list.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a notification module to notify the occupant, through at least one of an audio and visual indicator, that the occupant is attempting to communicate with a radio device that is at least one of out of communication range with the vehicle, not detected during scanning, and affected by an obstruction.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a location device to identify the current location of a vehicle;

a database storing a plurality of radio device records, each radio device record identifying a radio device, a location of the radio device, and a communication frequency associated with the radio device;

a control module to receive the current location from the location device and retrieve, from the database, selected radio device records from the plurality of radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle;

a scanner to scan the communication frequencies of radio devices associated with the selected records;

a list generation module configured to generate a radio device list from the selected radio device records that are detected by the scanner; and

a presentation device to present the radio device list to an occupant of the vehicle.

26. A method comprising:

receiving location data identifying the current location of a vehicle;

querying a database storing a plurality of radio device records, each radio device record identifying a radio device, a location of the radio device, and a communication frequency associated with the radio device;

retrieving, from the database, selected radio device records from the plurality of radio device records associated with radio devices likely to be within communication range of the vehicle;

scanning the communication frequencies of radio devices associated with the selected radio device records;

generating a radio device list from the selected radio device records detected during scanning; and

presenting the radio device list to an occupant of the vehicle.