ULTRASONIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR WIRELESS BEACONS

• US 20170331562A1
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Niewczas, Mateusz Marek, Akhi, Fraidun, Shen, Shizhe
• Granted Patent: US 10,432,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

Beacon devices transmit wireless beacon messages to alert an application on a mobile phone of the Beacon device'"'"'s proximity. Contemplated beacon devices may also include an ultrasonic emitter and one or more microphones. The ultrasonic emitter may be used to complement other beacon operations, communicate information to a user mobile device, and monitor the beacon device'"'"'s environment. Ultrasonic data may also be used to determine if a person or object is in proximity to the beacon device. Short echolocation travel times may be used to indicate that a user is “touching” the beacon device. Inter-beacon device communication may also be accomplished using the ultrasonic emitter.

Claims

1. A beacon device comprising:

at least one sonic emitter;

at least one microphone;

at least one processor;

at least one memory comprising instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising;

emitting, via the at least one sonic emitter at the beacon device, a first sonic signal;

receiving a reflective signal at the at least one microphone on the beacon device;

detecting, based on the reflective signal, a presence of an enclosure; and

determining whether the detected enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

2. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining a distance from the beacon device to the enclosure based on the reflective signal; and

determining whether the distance complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

3. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

emitting a wireless signal to a mobile device; and

receiving an indication from the mobile device whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device based on a perceived strength of the wireless signal and a perceived strength of a sonic signal.

4. The beacon device of claim 3, wherein receiving an indication from the mobile device comprises:

scaling a received sonic signal based upon a sensitivity of the mobile device.

5. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines;

presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines; and

disabling the beacon device.

6. The beacon device of claim 5, wherein presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines comprises:

transmitting a message to a mobile device used to configure the beacon device.

7. A computer-implemented method for verifying a compliant beacon device installation comprising:

emitting, via at least one sonic emitter at a beacon device, a first sonic signal;

receiving a reflective signal at at least one microphone on the beacon device;

detecting, based on the reflective signal, a presence of an enclosure; and

determining whether the detected enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, the method further comprising receiving the reflective signal at a second microphone on the beacon device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining a distance from the beacon device to the enclosure based on the reflective signal; and

determining whether the distance complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

emitting a wireless signal to a mobile device; and

receiving an indication from the mobile device whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device based on a perceived strength of the wireless signal and a perceived strength of a sonic signal.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein receiving an indication from the mobile device comprises:

scaling a received sonic signal based upon a sensitivity of the mobile device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines;

presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines; and

disabling the beacon device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines comprises:

transmitting a message to a mobile device used to configure the beacon device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions configured to cause at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

emitting, via at least one sonic emitter at a beacon device, a first sonic signal;

receiving a reflective signal at at least one microphone on the beacon device;

detecting, based on the reflective signal, a presence of an enclosure; and

determining whether the detected enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for receiving the reflective signal at a second microphone on the beacon device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining a distance from the beacon device to the enclosure based on the reflective signal; and

determining whether the distance complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

emitting a wireless signal to a mobile device; and

receiving an indication from the mobile device whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device based on a perceived strength of the wireless signal and a perceived strength of a sonic signal.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein receiving an indication from the mobile device comprises:

scaling a received sonic signal based upon a sensitivity of the mobile device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device comprises:

determining that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines;

presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines; and

disabling the beacon device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein presenting a notification that the enclosure does not comply with the guidelines comprises:

transmitting a message to a mobile device used to configure the beacon device.