MOBILE DEVICE SELF-IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20140368339A1
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Thaker, Nikhil Vijay, Zamer, Kamal, Akin, Jeremiah Joseph, Paulson, Joseph Vernon IV, Nuthulapati, Praveen, Mekala, Jayasree
• Granted Patent: US 9,767,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Techniques for locating and identifying mobile devices are described. According to various embodiments, an ambient sound signal may be detected using a microphone of a mobile device. Thereafter, it may be determined that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating the mobile device. For the, a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query may be emitted, using a speaker of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, using a microphone of a mobile device, an ambient sound signal;

determining that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating the mobile device; and

emitting, using a speaker of the mobile device, a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient sound signal is detected after the mobile device begins operating in at least one of a sleep mode, a silent mode, a vibrate mode, a hibernate mode, a standby mode, and an inactive mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

accessing query information identifying the predefined user query; and

detecting a match between the ambient sound signal and the predefined user query.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the query information identifies the pre-defined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user request to store a new user query and a new response sound corresponding to the new user query;

receiving a user specification of the new user query;

receiving a user specification of the new response sound; and

storing, in query information, the new user query in association with the new response sound.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a speaker that is a source of the predefined user query; and

determining that the speaker is an authorized user of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second mobile device located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device;

determining that the predefined user query originated from an operator of the second mobile device; and

determining that the operator of the second mobile device is an authorized user of the mobile device.

8. A apparatus comprising:

a microphone configured to detect an ambient sound signal;

a determination module configured to determine that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating a mobile device; and

a speaker module configured to emit a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ambient sound signal is detected after the mobile device begins operating in at least one of a sleep mode, a silent mode, a vibrate mode, a hibernate mode, a standby mode, and an inactive mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

access query information identifying the predefined user query; and

detect a match between the ambient sound signal and the predefined user query.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the query information identifies the pre-defined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

receive a user request to store a new user query and a new response sound corresponding to the new user query;

receive a user specification of the new user query;

receive a user specification of the new response sound; and

store, in query information, the new user query in association with the new response sound.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

identify a speaker that is a source of the predefined user query; and

determine that the speaker is an authorized user of the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

detect a second mobile device located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device;

determine that the predefined user query originated from an operator of the second mobile device; and

determine that the operator of the second mobile device is an authorized user on the of the mobile device.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions executable by one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

detecting, using a microphone of a mobile device, an ambient sound signal;

determining that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating the mobile device; and

emitting, using a speaker of the mobile device, a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the ambient sound signal is detected after the mobile device begins operating in at least one of a sleep mode, a silent mode, a vibrate mode, a hibernate mode, a standby mode, and an inactive mode.

17. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises:

accessing query information identifying the predefined user query; and

detecting a match between the ambient sound signal and the predefined user query.

18. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a user request to store a new user query and a new response sound corresponding to the new user query;

receiving a user specification of the new user query;

receiving a user specification of the new response sound; and

storing, in query information, the new user query in association with the new response sound.

19. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a speaker that is a source of the predefined user query; and

determining that the speaker is an authorized user of the mobile device.

20. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a second mobile device located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device;

determining that the predefined user query originated from an operator of the second mobile device; and

determining that the operator of the second mobile device is an authorized user of the mobile device.