Method, apparatus, and computer program product for wireless short-range communication establishment

• US 8,879,993 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Palin, Arto, Reunamki, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US13/435,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable devices to initiate a communication connection. In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more device detection messages at an apparatus; transmitting, by the apparatus, one or more response messages including information usable for a wireless device receiving the one or more response messages to estimate a distance to the apparatus; and receiving, at the apparatus, a reverse response message including an information message from the wireless device, containing information usable for estimating a distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving one or more device detection messages at an apparatus;

transmitting, by the apparatus, one or more response messages including information usable for a wireless device receiving the one or more response messages to estimate a distance to the apparatus; and

receiving, at the apparatus, a reverse response message including an information message from the wireless device, containing information usable for estimating a distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information message includes a value that signifies that the wireless device sending the information message is capable of receiving and using the information usable for estimating the distance to the apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating, by the apparatus, a distance to the wireless device using the information usable for estimating the distance to the wireless device included in the reverse response message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

comparing, by the apparatus, the estimated distance with distance estimation information included in the information message to determine whether the apparatus and the wireless device share same view on estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the distance estimation information included in the information message includes at least one of a RSSI information corresponding the estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device and an indication that the apparatus and the wireless device are in close proximity with each other.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

initiating, by the apparatus, a short-range communication connection with the wireless device in response to determination that both the apparatus and the wireless device consider being within close proximity to each other.

7. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by an apparatus, wireless signals comprising one or more device detection messages;

receiving, by the apparatus, one or more response messages from a wireless device, including information usable by the apparatus to estimate a distance to the wireless device; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, a reverse response message to the wireless device, including an information message containing information usable for estimating a distance between the wireless device and the apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information message includes a value that signifies that the apparatus is capable of receiving and using the information usable for estimating the distance to the apparatus.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

estimating, by the apparatus, a distance to the wireless device using the information usable for estimating the distance to the wireless device included in the one or more response messages.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing, by the apparatus, the estimated distance with distance estimation information included in the one or more response messages to determine whether the apparatus and the wireless device share same view on estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

initiating, by the apparatus, a short-range communication connection with the wireless device in response to determination that both the apparatus and the wireless device consider being within close proximity to each other.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive one or more device detection messages;

transmit one or more response messages including information usable for a wireless device receiving the one or more response messages to estimate a distance to the apparatus; and

receive a reverse response message including an information message from the wireless device, containing information usable for estimating a distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information message includes a value that signifies that the wireless device sending the information message is capable of receiving and using the information usable for estimating the distance to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

estimate a distance to the wireless device using the information usable for estimating the distance to the wireless device included in the reverse response message.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

compare the estimated distance with distance estimation information included in the information message to determine whether the apparatus and the wireless device share same view on estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the distance estimation information included in the information message includes at least one of a RSSI information corresponding the estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device and an indication that the apparatus and the wireless device are in close proximity with each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

initiate a short-range communication connection with the wireless device in response to determination that both the apparatus and the wireless device consider being within close proximity to each other.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit wireless signals comprising one or more device detection messages;

receive one or more response messages from a wireless device, including information usable by the apparatus to estimate a distance to the wireless device; and

transmit a reverse response message to the wireless device, including an information message containing information usable for estimating a distance between the wireless device and the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the information message includes a value that signifies that the apparatus is capable of receiving and using the information usable for estimating the distance to the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

estimate a distance to the wireless device using the information usable for estimating the distance to the wireless device included in the one or more response messages.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

compare the estimated distance with distance estimation information included in the one or more response messages to determine whether the apparatus and the wireless device share same view on estimated distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

initiate a short-range communication connection with the wireless device in response to determination that both the apparatus and the wireless device consider being within close proximity to each other.

23. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving one or more device detection messages at an apparatus;

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, one or more response messages including information usable for a wireless device receiving the one or more response messages to estimate a distance to the apparatus; and

code for receiving, at the apparatus, a reverse response message including an information message from the wireless device, containing information usable for estimating a distance between the apparatus and the wireless device.

24. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for transmitting, by an apparatus, wireless signals comprising one or more device detection messages;

code for receiving, by the apparatus, one or more response messages from a wireless device, including information usable by the apparatus to estimate a distance to the wireless device; and

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, a reverse response message to the wireless device, including an information message containing information usable for estimating a distance between the wireless device and the apparatus.