Headset locator device

• US 8,326,228 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, John, McNamara, Justin, Cenciarelli, Fulvio, Mikan, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LINH V
• Application Number:
  US12/339,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 445/67.11, 445/151.1, 445/226.1, 445/226.3, 445/272, 445/434, 445/440
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/26 using historical data, averaging values or statistics
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• 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 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• 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

Abstract

A mobile telephone may aid a user in locating a lost wireless headset. The mobile telephone may include a processor and a user interface. The processor may receive data indicative of a quality (e.g., wireless signal strength) related to a proximity between the mobile telephone and the wireless headset. The processor may determine the proximity of the wireless headset to the mobile device. For example, the processor may compare the data to a reference value, such as one based on a transmit class (e.g., BLUETOOTH class) protocol in use between the mobile telephone and the wireless headset. The processor may correlate relative position data to determine a direction to the wireless headset. The processor indicate a distance and/or direction to the user via the user interface and may selectively enable one of the wireless headset and an audio interface of the mobile telephone unit as a default device based on the relative proximity to the wireless headset.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processor configured to determine a proximity of a wireless headset to the mobile device based on first data, received by the processor, that is indicative of a quality of communication between the mobile device and the wireless headset, wherein the quality comprises audio feedback produced between the mobile device and the wireless headset, wherein a level of the audio feedback increases as the proximity increases; and

a user interface configured to present a representation of the proximity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the quality includes wireless signal strength of a signal from the wireless headset.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor compares the first data to a reference level of signal strength to determine the proximity.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the references level of signal strength is based on a transmit class of the wireless headset.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the representation indicates whether the headset is getting closer to or farther away from the mobile device.

6. The device of claim 2, further comprising a position sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive, from the positions sensor, second data indicative of relative change in orientation of the mobile device, and wherein the processor is configured to correlate the first and second data to determine a direction between the mobile device and the wireless headset.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor indicates, via the user interface, that mobile device be moved in an arc, wherein the representation include an indication towards the wireless headset.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor generates a seed tone that develops the audio feedback between the mobile telephone and wireless headset.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device defaults to a connected speaker and microphone or the wireless headset based on the proximity.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising at least one device, an indication to locate a wireless headset;

determining, by the system, a proximity to a first device based on a quality of communication with the wireless headset, wherein the quality comprises audio feedback produced between the first device and the wireless headset, wherein a level of the audio feedback increases as the proximity increases; and

presenting, by the system, a representation of the proximity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the quality includes wireless signal strength of a signal from the wireless headset.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, by the system, comparing the wireless signal strength to a reference level of signal strength.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reference level of signal strength is based on a transmit class of the wireless headset.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the representation indicates whether the proximity to the wireless headset is increasing or decreasing.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, by the system, first data indicative of relative change in position, and correlating the first data with second data indicative of the quality of communication to determine a direction to the wireless headset.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising indicating, by the system, that a mobile device be moved in an arc, wherein the representation includes an indication towards the wireless headset.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by the system, a seed tone to develop the audio feedback.

18. A wireless mobile telephone comprising:

an audio interface configured for local voice communication;

a cordless communications subsystem configured to remote voice communication via a wireless headset; and

a processor that determines a proximity to the wireless headset and selectively enables one of the audio interface or the cordless communication subsystem based on the proximity.