Device location discovery by sound
First Claim
1. A location discovery method for a plurality of devices equipped with respective electromagnetic communication subsystems, sound emitters and sound receivers;
- the method comprising the steps of;
a) emitting from each device both a test sound and, via its communications subsystem, a timing-reference signal;
b) receiving the test sound and timing-reference signal emitted by each device at at least two other said devices and determining respective measures of the transit times of the test sound between emitting and receiving devices, the timing-reference signal enabling the timing of emission of the test sound to be related to the timing of its receipt; and
c) using the transit-time measures to determine the relative locations of the devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Each device of a group of devices, in particular voice-controlled devices, is equipped with sound receivers and emitters and a short-range radio communication subsystem. Each device is caused to emit a test sound and, via its communications subsystem, a related timing-reference signal. Each device receiving a test sound and related timing-reference signal determines the transit time of the test sound. Using the measured transit times, the devices determine their distances one from another and, by exchanging these distances, the devices, or at least one of them, calculates the relative locations of all devices.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A location discovery method for a plurality of devices equipped with respective electromagnetic communication subsystems, sound emitters and sound receivers;
- the method comprising the steps of;
a) emitting from each device both a test sound and, via its communications subsystem, a timing-reference signal;
b) receiving the test sound and timing-reference signal emitted by each device at at least two other said devices and determining respective measures of the transit times of the test sound between emitting and receiving devices, the timing-reference signal enabling the timing of emission of the test sound to be related to the timing of its receipt; and
c) using the transit-time measures to determine the relative locations of the devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
one said device, herein the initiator device, emitting a mating sound, via its sound emitter, in coordination with sending a mating signal via its communications subsystem, and any other device receiving the mating signal via its communications subsystem seeking to relate it with a sound, corresponding to the mating sound, picked up by its sound receiver, said other device receiving both the mating signal and related mating sound, herein an initial receiving device, thereby becoming at least a potential group member.
- the method comprising the steps of;
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17. A method according to claim 16, wherein as part of the group discovery process, each initial receiving device subsequently emits a connectivity-check sound and, via its communication subsystem, a related connectivity-check signal whereby to enable each group member to determine its sound connectivity to other members of the group.
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18. A method according to claim 17, wherein location determination is effected in parallel with the group discovery process, said mating and connectivity-check sounds serving as the test sounds and said mating and connectivity-check signals serving as said timing-reference signals.
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19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said devices are stand-alone devices.
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20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications subsystem is one of an infrared communications subsystem, a short-range radio subsystem, and a cabled network subsystem.
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21. A device comprising:
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a sound emitter for emitting a test sound;
a sound receiver for receiving a test sound;
an electromagnetic communications subsystem for sending and receiving timing-reference signals;
an emission control arrangement for sending a test sound via the sound emitter and a related timing-reference signal via the communications subsystem;
a measurement arrangement operative upon the receipt of a test sound and related timing-reference signal from another device to determine a measure of the transit time of that test sound and thereby of the distance between the two devices; and
a distribution arrangement for sending the determined measure to at least one other device via the communications subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
means for determining the location of the entity relative to said devices using measures, determined by the measurement arrangement of the device and other devices, of the transit time of the test sound emitted by the entity, and means for returning to that entity, via the communications subsystem of the device, the location of the entity relative to a device-related reference.
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27. A device according to claim 21, further comprising a location-data arrangement for receiving, via said communications subsystem, the relative locations of the devices as determined by said at least one other device.
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28. A device according to claim 27, further comprising entity locating means for assisting in determining the location of an entity from which it has received a test sound and timing-reference signal, the entity locating means being operative to return to that entity, via the communications subsystem of the device, both the relative locations of the devices and a measure, determined by the measurement arrangement of the device, of the transit-time of the test sound received from the entity.
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29. A device according to claim 27, further comprising entity locating means for assisting in determining the location of an entity from which the device has received a test sound and timing-reference signal, the single-entity locating means comprising:
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means for determining the location of the entity relative to said devices using measures, determined by the measurement arrangement of the device and other devices, of the transit time of the test sound emitted by the entity, and means for returning to that entity, via the communications subsystem of the device, the location of the entity relative to a device-related reference.
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30. A device according to claim 21, wherein the emission control arrangement is operative to cause the test sound and timing-reference signal to be emitted at the same time, and wherein the measurement arrangement is operative to determine said measure as the interval between receipt from another device of the timing-reference signal and test the sound.
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31. A device according to claim 21, wherein the emission control arrangement is operative to cause the test sound and timing-reference signal to be emitted separated by a time interval, the measurement arrangement including means for retrieving a corresponding time interval in respect of a received test sound and related timing signal, the measurement arrangement being operative to determine said measure for this received test sound and related timing reference signal as the interval between their receipt as adjusted to take account of said corresponding time interval.
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32. A device according to claim 23, wherein the device is a stand-alone device.
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33. A device according to claim 23, wherein said communications subsystem is one of an infrared communications subsystem, a short-range radio subsystem, and a cabled network subsystem.
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34. A device comprising:
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a sound emitter for emitting a test sound;
a sound receiver for receiving a test sound;
an electromagnetic communications subsystem for sending and receiving timing-reference signals;
an emission control arrangement for sending a test sound via the sound emitter and a related timing-reference signal via the communications subsystem;
a measurement arrangement operative upon the receipt of a test sound and timing-reference signal from another device to determine a measure of the transit time of that test signal and thereby of the distance between the two devices; and
a location-determination arrangement for receiving, via said communications subsystem, further measures that have been determined by other devices, and using these further measures and the measure determined by its own measurement arrangement to determine the relative locations of the devices. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
means for determining the location of the entity relative to said devices using measures, determined by the measurement arrangement of the device and other devices, of the transit time of the test sound emitted by the entity, and means for returning to that entity, via the communications subsystem of the device, the location of the entity relative to the device-related reference.
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41. A device according to claim 34, wherein the device is a stand-alone device.
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42. A device according to claim 34, wherein said communications subsystem is one of an infrared communications subsystem, a short-range radio subsystem, and a cabled network subsystem.
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43. A handheld device comprising:
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a sound emitter for emitting a test sound;
an electromagnetic communications subsystem for sending and receiving signals;
an emission control arrangement for sending a test sound via the sound emitter and a related timing-reference signal via the communications subsystem; and
a location-determination arrangement for receiving, via said communications subsystem, measures of the transit time of the test sound to other devices, and data concerning the locations of those other devices relative to one another, the location-determination arrangement being operative to use the receive measures and data to determine the location of the handheld device.
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Specification