DETERMINING PROXIMITY FOR DEVICES INTERACTING WITH MEDIA DEVICES

• US 20140370817A1
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jawbone Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: JAWB Acquisition LLC
• Inventors: Luna, Michael Edward Smith
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and portable and wearable media devices. Media devices may include RF transceivers and proximity sensors for detecting a user, another wireless device, or both that are positioned in proximity of the media device and take one or more actions upon detecting proximity. Activity, content, data, playlist, media playback, command, control, data or file synchronization, and other functions may be handled by the media device subsequent to detecting proximity of another device and/or user in proximity of the media device. Moreover, those functions may be transferred back to the another device when the another device moves out of a proximity range of the media device. RF signatures, RF signal strength, RSSI, and proximity detection sensors may be used to detect proximity, location, and presence (e.g., of a user or other persons) relative to the media device.

Claims

1. A media device, comprising:

a controller in electrical communication with systems including

a data storage system including configuration data for configuring the media device,

a radio frequency (RF) system including at least one RF antenna configured to be selectively electrically de-tunable, the RF antenna electrically coupled with a plurality of RF transceivers that a communicate using different wireless protocols,

an audio/video (NV) system including at least one loudspeaker electrically coupled with a power amplifier and at least one microphone electrically coupled with a preamplifier,

wherein the RF system is configured to detect a RF signature, a RF signal strength, or both of one or more other wireless devices, the RF system configured to electrically de-tune the RF antenna to determine proximity, location, or both of the one or more other wireless devices, and

wherein the controller configured to process the RF signature, the RF signal strength, or both, to determine the proximity, the location, or both of the one or more other wireless devices relative to the media device.

2. The media device of claim 1, wherein the RF system is configured to process received signal strength indicator (RSSI) information from the RF signature, the RSSI information used by the controller in determining the proximity, the location, or both.

3. The media device of claim 1, wherein the RF system further comprises an Ad Hoc (AH) transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate only with other wireless media devices having AH transceivers.

4. The media device of claim 1, wherein processing the RF signature includes establishing a wireless communications link with the one or more other wireless devices using the RF system.

5. The media device of claim 4, wherein the wireless communications link comprises one or more wireless protocols selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth (BT), wireless network (WiFi), wireless broadband (WiMAX), near field communication (NFC), and Cellular.

6. The media device of claim 4, wherein the controller harvests data from the one or more other wireless devices using the wireless communications link.

7. The media device of claim 6, wherein the one or more other wireless devices includes a wireless activity monitoring and reporting device configured to be worn by a user, and the data comprises user activity data collected from the user by the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device.

8. The media device of claim 6, wherein the one or more other wireless devices includes a wireless activity monitoring and reporting device configured to be worn by a user,

the data comprises alarm data set by the user for execution by the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device, and

the controller commandeers execution of the alarm using the alarm data only when the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device is within a first proximity distance of the media device.

9. The media device of claim 8, wherein the controller relinquishes execution of the alarm back to the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device when the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device is not within the first proximity distance of the media device.

10. The media device of claim 6, wherein the one or more other wireless devices includes a wireless activity monitoring and reporting device configured to be worn by a user, and the data comprises biometric data collected from the user by the wireless activity monitoring and reporting device.

11. The media device of claim 1 and further comprising:

a proximity sensing system configured to sense an environment external to the wireless media device and detect a presence in proximity of the media device using a selected one or more of acoustic, optical, vibration, or non-contact temperature sensors.

12. The media device of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensing system is positioned in at least one proximity detection island connected with the media device.

13. The media device of claim 1, wherein the presence comprises one or more animate objects.

14. The media device of claim 1, wherein the RF system passively detects the RF signature, the RF signal strength, or both.

15. A method of detecting proximity, comprising:

detecting a RF signature of a wireless user device using a RF system of a media device;

analyzing the RF signature in the media device to determine protocol compatibility of the RF signature with wireless protocols of a plurality of RF transceivers in the RF system; and

establishing a wireless communications link with the wireless user device if the RF signature is protocol compatible.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

taking one or more actions by the media device after the establishing of the wireless communications link.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the taking one or more actions comprises commandeering one or more functions of the wireless user device by the media device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the taking one or more actions comprises the media device switching from one wireless communication protocol to another wireless communication protocol and the media device causing the wireless user device to switch to the another wireless communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the taking one or more actions comprises the media device downloading an application on the wireless user device.

20. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

taking one or more actions by the wireless user device after the establishing of the wireless communications link.