Short range RF monitoring system
First Claim
1. A distance determination method for two portable wireless short range radio-frequency devices, the method comprising:
- detecting at least one slave device within a communication range of a master device;
transmitting signals that represent data packets, each data packet containing identification of the slave device and a strength of a corresponding signal when transmitted, wherein the signals are transmitted using variable strengths;
based on a comparison between the strength of the corresponding signal when transmitted to a strength of the corresponding signal as-measured when received, determining a measured proximity between the master device and the at least one slave device;
based on the measured proximity and historical signal strength data, determining a calculated proximity between the at least one slave device and the master device;
determining an error range of the calculated proximity; and
based on the determined error range, displaying on a display associated with the master device a representation of the calculated proximity, wherein the representation reflects a physical distance between the at least one slave device and the master device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless short range radio-frequency master device adapted to create and maintain a portable private network of wireless short range radio-frequency slave devices wherein the master device is configured to detect and register suitable slave devices for a network, and is capable of determining the proximity of any registered slave device with respect to the master device in use, the master device further being adapted to enable a user to define two or more groups of registered slave devices selected from the total number of registered slave devices and to enable a user to select a defined group of such registered slave devices as an active group, thereby forming an active portable private network of wireless short range radio frequency devices comprising the master device and selected registered slave devices within the selected group.
41 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A distance determination method for two portable wireless short range radio-frequency devices, the method comprising:
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detecting at least one slave device within a communication range of a master device; transmitting signals that represent data packets, each data packet containing identification of the slave device and a strength of a corresponding signal when transmitted, wherein the signals are transmitted using variable strengths; based on a comparison between the strength of the corresponding signal when transmitted to a strength of the corresponding signal as-measured when received, determining a measured proximity between the master device and the at least one slave device; based on the measured proximity and historical signal strength data, determining a calculated proximity between the at least one slave device and the master device; determining an error range of the calculated proximity; and based on the determined error range, displaying on a display associated with the master device a representation of the calculated proximity, wherein the representation reflects a physical distance between the at least one slave device and the master device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless short range radio-frequency master device for determining a distance to one or more slave wireless short range radio-frequency devices, the master device being configured to:
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detect at least one slave device within a communication range; transmit and receive signals that represent data packets, each data packet containing identification of the slave device and a strength of a corresponding signal when transmitted, wherein the signals are transmitted at variable strengths; based on a comparison between the strength of the corresponding signal when transmitted to a strength of the corresponding signal as-measured when received, determine a measured proximity to the at least one slave device; based on the measured proximity and historical signal strength data, determine a calculated proximity to the at least one slave device; determine an error range of the calculated proximity; and based on the determined error range, display on a display associated with the master device a representation of the calculated proximity, wherein the representation reflects a physical distance to the at least one slave device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A system for calculating a distance between at least two portable wireless short range radio-frequency devices comprising a master device and at least one slave device, the master device being configured to:
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detect at least one slave device within a communication range; transmit and receive signals that represent data packets, each data packet containing identification of the slave device and a strength of a corresponding signal when transmitted, wherein the signals are transmitted at variable strengths; based on a comparison between the strength of the corresponding signal when transmitted to a strength of the corresponding signal as-measured when received, determine a measured proximity between the master device and the at least one slave device; based on a measured proximity and historical signal strength data, determine a calculated proximity between the at least one slave device and the master device; determine an error range of the calculated proximity; and based on the determined error range, display on a display associated with the master device a representation of the calculated proximity, wherein the representation reflects a physical distance to the at least one slave device.
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Specification