MASTER DEVICE FOR USING CONNECTION ATTRIBUTE OF ELECTRONIC ACCESSORIES CONNECTIONS TO FACILITATE LOCATING AN ACCESSORY

• US 20160164973A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Daman, Watson, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,641,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• 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: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72516 with means for out-of-range alerting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A connection-indicative signal can be received at a master electronic device from an electronic accessory. The connection-indicative signal can include a connection attribute indicative of a presence or characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device. A location of the master electronic device can be determined at the master electronic device. The location can be stored at the master electronic device in association with the connection attribute. The master electronic device can detect a locate-accessory input that corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory; or that a locate-accessory condition is satisfied based on another connection attribute included in another connection-indicative signal received from the electronic accessory. The stored location can be retrieved in response to the detecting. A presentation that includes location information that corresponds to the stored location can be presented.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device, a location of the master electronic device;

storing, at the master electronic device, the location in association with the connection attribute;

detecting, at the master electronic device;

a locate-accessory input received at the master electronic device that corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory;

or

that a locate-accessory condition is satisfied based on at least one other connection attribute included in at least one other connection-indicative signal received from the electronic accessory;

in response to the detecting, retrieving the stored location; and

presenting a presentation that includes location information that corresponds to the stored location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the locate-accessory condition is satisfied includes detecting that the at least one other connection attribute indicates that the electronic accessory is not connected to the at least one other electronic accessory via a short-range network or indicates that a strength of the connection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory has decreased.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation includes static or dynamic directions to the stored location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one additional connection attribute indicative of whether at least one other connection exists between the master electronic device and the electronic accessory or that is indicative of at least one other characteristic of the at least one other connection between the master electronic device and the electronic accessory,

wherein the location is further stored in association with the at least one additional connection attribute.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the method further comprises:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal includes a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection attribute corresponds to an identification of a new connection between or a disconnection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting includes detecting the locate-accessory input, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a position-identifying signal from the electronic accessory that indicates that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear;

presenting an indication that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear along with an option to facilitate presentation of an audio alert at the at least one other electronic accessory;

determining whether the option has been selected; and

when it is determined that the option has been selected, transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory indicating that the at least one other electronic accessory is to present an audio stimulus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

11. A master electronic device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device, a location of the master electronic device;

storing, at the master electronic device, the location in association with the connection attribute;

detecting, at the master electronic device;

a locate-accessory input received at the master electronic device that corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory;

or

that a locate-accessory condition is satisfied based on another connection attribute included in another connection-indicative signal received from the electronic accessory;

in response to the detecting, retrieving the stored location; and

presenting a presentation that includes location information that corresponds to the stored location.

12. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein detecting that the locate-accessory condition is satisfied includes detecting that the at least one other connection attribute indicates that the electronic accessory is not connected to the at least one other electronic accessory via a short-range network or indicates that a strength of the connection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory has decreased.

13. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the presentation includes static or dynamic directions to the stored location.

14. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the actions further include:

determining at least one additional connection attribute indicative of whether at least one other connection exists between the master electronic device and the electronic accessory or that is indicative of at least one other characteristic of the at least one other connection between the master electronic device and the electronic accessory,

wherein the location is further stored in association with the at least one additional connection attribute.

15. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the actions further include:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal include a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

16. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

17. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the connection attribute corresponds to an identification of a new connection between or a disconnection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory.

18. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the detecting includes detecting the locate-accessory input, and wherein the actions further include:

receiving a position-identifying signal from the electronic accessory that indicates that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear;

presenting an indication that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear along with an option to facilitate presentation of an audio alert at the at least one other electronic accessory;

determining whether the option has been selected; and

when it is determined that the option has been selected, transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory indicating that the at least one other electronic accessory is to present an audio stimulus.

19. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

20. The master electronic device of claim 11, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

21. A system comprising:

a master electronic device comprising;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, w executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device, a location of the master electronic device;

storing, at the master electronic device, the location in association with the connection attribute;

detecting, at the master electronic device;

a locate-accessory input received at the master electronic device that corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory;

or

that a locate-accessory condition is satisfied based on another connection attribute included in another connection-indicative signal received from the electronic accessory;

in response to the detecting, retrieving the stored location; and

presenting a presentation that includes location information that corresponds to the stored location; and

the electronic accessory.

22. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, that an alert condition is satisfied; and

in response to determining that the alert condition is satisfied, facilitating a presentation of an alert.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein facilitating the presentation of the alert includes presenting the alert at the master electronic device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein facilitating the presentation of the alert includes transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory that corresponds to an instruction to the at least one other electronic accessory to present the alert.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the alert includes an audio stimulus.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein alert condition is defined such that it is satisfied when a connection strength drops below a threshold strength.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein alert condition is defined such that it is satisfied when a previously existing connection becomes disconnected.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining that the alert condition is satisfied includes:

estimating a location of the master electronic device; and

determining that the location of the master electronic device is not within any of one or more safe zones, wherein each of the one or more safe zones are defined such that the master electronic device is to suppress facilitating presentations of alerts responsive to particular connection attributes of the at least one other electronic accessory when the master electronic device is located within the safe zone.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the method further comprises:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal include a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the connection attribute corresponds to an identification of a new connection between or a disconnection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the detecting includes detecting the location-accessory input, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a position-identifying signal from the electronic accessory that indicates that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear;

presenting an indication that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear along with an option to facilitate presentation of an audio alert at the at least one other electronic accessory;

determining whether the option has been selected; and

when it is determined that the option has been selected, transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory indicating that the at least one other electronic accessory is to present an audio stimulus.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

35. A master electronic device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, that an alert condition is satisfied; and

in response to determining that the alert condition is satisfied, facilitating a presentation of an alert.

36. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein facilitating the presentation of the alert includes presenting the alert at the master electronic device.

37. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein facilitating the presentation of the alert includes transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory that corresponds to an instruction to the at least one other electronic accessory to present the alert.

38. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the alert includes an audio stimulus.

39. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein alert condition is defined such that it is satisfied when a connection strength drops below a threshold strength.

40. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein alert condition is defined such that it is satisfied when a previously existing connection becomes disconnected.

41. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the determining that the alert condition is satisfied includes:

estimating a location of the master electronic device; and

determining that the location of the master electronic device is not within any of one or more safe zones, wherein each of the one or more safe zones are defined such that the master electronic device is to suppress facilitating presentations of alerts responsive to particular connection attributes of the at least one other electronic accessory when the master electronic device is located within the safe zone.

42. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the actions further include:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal include a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

43. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

44. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the connection attribute corresponds to an identification of a new connection between or a disconnection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory.

45. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the detecting includes detecting the location-accessory input, and wherein the actions further include:

receiving a position-identifying signal from the electronic accessory that indicates that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear;

presenting an indication that the at least one other electronic accessory is estimated to be positioned in an ear along with an option to facilitate presentation of an audio alert at the at least one other electronic accessory;

determining whether the option has been selected; and

when it is determined that the option has been selected, transmitting an alert-instruction signal to the electronic accessory indicating that the at least one other electronic accessory is to present an audio stimulus.

46. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

47. The master electronic device of claim 35, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

48. A system comprising:

a master electronic device comprising;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, whe executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

determining, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, that an alert condition is satisfied; and

in response to determining that the alert condition is satisfied,

facilitating a presentation of an alert; and

the electronic accessory.

49. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute indicative of a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

estimating, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, location information that is indicative of an estimated location of the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting a presentation that includes the location information.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the location information includes directions to the estimated location.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the location information includes the estimated location.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving, at the master electronic device, at least one other connection-indicative signal from the electronic accessory that includes at least one other connection attribute indicative of an updated characteristic of the connection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory;

estimating, at the master electronic device and based on the at least one other connection attribute, updated location information that is indicative of the location of the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting an updated presentation that includes the updated location information.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising, prior to receiving the connection-indicative signal:

retrieving a stored location corresponding to the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting an initial presentation that includes initial location information that corresponds to the stored location.

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

detecting a locate-accessory input received at the master electronic device corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory, wherein the presentation is presented in response to detecting the locate-accessory input.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the characteristic of the connection includes a strength of the connection.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the method further comprises:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal include a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

60. A master electronic device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute indicative of a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

estimating, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, location information that is indicative of an estimated location of the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting a presentation that includes the location information.

61. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the location information includes directions to the estimated location.

62. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the location information includes the estimated location.

63. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the actions further include:

receiving, at the master electronic device, at least one other connection-indicative signal from the electronic accessory that includes at least one other connection attribute indicative of an updated characteristic of the connection between the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory;

estimating, at the master electronic device and based on the at least one other connection attribute, updated location information that is indicative of the location of the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting an updated presentation that includes the updated location information.

64. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the actions further include, prior to receiving the connection-indicative signal:

retrieving a stored location corresponding to the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting an initial presentation that includes initial location information that corresponds to the stored location.

65. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the actions further include:

detecting a locate-accessory input received at the master electronic device corresponds to a request to locate the at least one other electronic accessory, wherein the presentation is presented in response to detecting the locate-accessory input.

66. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the characteristic of the connection includes a strength of the connection.

67. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the electronic accessory is a primary electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory is a secondary electronic accessory, such that the actions further include:

transmitting a master-device signal from the master electronic device to the primary electronic accessory, wherein the master-device signal include a primary channel to influence an operation of the primary electronic accessory and a secondary channel to influence an operation of the secondary electronic accessory, and wherein the master-device signal is not transmitted directly to the secondary electronic accessory.

68. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein each of the electronic accessory and the at least one other electronic accessory includes an earphone.

69. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the connection includes a wireless connection over a short-range network.

70. The master electronic device of claim 60, wherein the connection-indicative signal is wirelessly received from the electronic accessory over a short-range network.

71. A system comprising:

a master electronic device comprising;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions;

that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including;

receiving, at the master electronic device, a connection-indicative signal from an electronic accessory of the master electronic device that includes a connection attribute indicative of a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device;

estimating, at the master electronic device and based on the connection attribute, location information that is indicative of an estimated location of the at least one other electronic accessory; and

presenting a presentation that includes the location information; and

the electronic accessory.