Methods, systems, and devices for detecting and indicating loss of proximity between mobile devices

• US 7,715,831 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakefield, Ivan Nelson
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US11/389,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• 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: G08B 21/0291 Housing and user interface of child unit
• 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: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Methods of detecting proximity between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device having an associated support function for use with the mobile terminal include establishing a wireless communication connection between the wireless accessory device and the mobile terminal. The established wireless communication connection is utilized to provide the associated support function. In addition, a wireless signal having a limited range is communicated between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. The wireless signal indicates a proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. An alert signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded a predetermined range is provided responsive to the communicated wireless signal when the established wireless communication connection is not being utilized to provide the associated support function. Related devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of detecting proximity at a portable device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device having an associated support function for use with the mobile terminal;

utilizing the established wireless communication connection to provide the associated support function;

communicating a wireless signal having a limited range between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device to indicate a proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device to provide a proximity detection function different than the associated support function; and

providing an alert signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded a predetermined range responsive to the communicated wireless signal when the established wireless communication connection is not being utilized to provide the associated support function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a designated signal communicated over the established wireless communication connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a designated signal communicated over a second wireless communication connection between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device that is different from the established wireless communication connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the alert signal comprises:

providing the alert signal when the communicated wireless signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the alert signal comprises:

providing the alert signal responsive to a received signal strength of the communicated wireless signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded the predetermined range.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

canceling the alert signal when the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device indicated by the communicated wireless signal is within the predetermined range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises one of a signal from the mobile terminal to the wireless accessory device or a signal from the wireless accessory device to the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the wireless signal comprises receiving the wireless signal from the mobile terminal to indicate a presence thereof within the predetermined range of the wireless accessory device, and wherein providing the alert signal comprises providing the alert signal from the wireless accessory device when the mobile terminal is not within the predetermined range.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

disabling the associated support function of the wireless accessory device when the mobile terminal is not within the predetermined range of the wireless accessory device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

re-enabling the disabled associated support function responsive to subsequently receiving the wireless signal from the mobile terminal indicating the presence thereof within the predetermined range of the wireless accessory device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the following after providing the alert signal:

receiving a second wireless signal from a second mobile terminal indicating a presence thereof within the predetermined range of the wireless accessory device;

establishing a second wireless communication connection between the wireless accessory device and the second mobile terminal; and

transmitting a request to call the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal over the second wireless communication connection.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a second alert signal from the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is not within the predetermined range of the wireless accessory device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the wireless signal comprises receiving the wireless signal from the wireless accessory device to indicate a presence thereof within the predetermined range of the mobile terminal, and wherein providing the alert signal comprises providing the alert signal from the mobile terminal when the wireless accessory device is not within the predetermined range.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

disabling at least one function of the mobile terminal when the wireless accessory device is not within the predetermined range of the mobile terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a user selection specifying the at least one function of the mobile terminal to be disabled responsive to authenticating a user of the mobile terminal.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

calling a predetermined number using the mobile terminal when the wireless signal is not received from the wireless accessory device within a predetermined period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein calling the predetermined number comprises:

determining a location of the mobile terminal using a GPS transceiver therein; and

calling a different predetermined number using the mobile terminal based on the determined location thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the wireless signal further comprises:

receiving the wireless signal from one of a plurality of wireless accessory devices respectively having an associated support function based on priority information for the plurality of wireless accessory devices.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless accessory device comprises a portable handsfree (PHF) device.

20. A method of detecting proximity at a portable device, the method comprising:

establishing a first wireless communication connection between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device having an associated support function for use with the mobile terminal;

utilizing the first wireless communication connection to provide the associated support function;

communicating a wireless signal having a limited range between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device over a second wireless communication connection therebetween different than the first wireless communication connection to indicate a proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device to provide a proximity detection function different than the associated support function; and

providing an alert signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded a predetermined range responsive to the communicated wireless signal.