Method and apparatus for signal strength based connection parameters adjustment

• US 9,119,201 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Palin, Arto Tapio, Reunamaki, Jukka Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/875,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20140329465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/522, 455/68, 455/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed to allow for proximity detection in a manner that advantageously balances power consumption and latency. In the context of a method, the presence of a communication device is detected and a wireless link is caused to be established to provide a connection, such as a session description protocol (SDP) connection, with the communication device. The method may also detect the proximity of the communication device based upon signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link. The method may also adjust one or more connection parameters of the established wireless link based at least upon the signal strength of the one or more signals communicated via the link. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an apparatus, a presence of a communication device;

causing, by the apparatus, establishment of a wireless link providing a connection with the communication device;

detecting, by the apparatus, proximity of the communication device based upon signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link; and

adjusting, with the apparatus, one or more connection parameters of the established wireless link based at least upon a signal strength of the one or more signals communicated via the link,

wherein the one or more connection parameters define an interval at which data is to be communicated via the link, and wherein adjusting the one or more connection parameters comprises adjusting the interval at which data is to be communicated via the established wireless link.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein adjusting the interval comprises increasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength decreases and decreasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength increases.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining the signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein determining the signal strength comprises determining the signal strength based upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein determining the signal strength comprises determining an average signal strength of a plurality of signals communicated via the established wireless link.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein causing a link to be established comprises causing a session description protocol (SDP) connection to be established.

7. An apparatus comprising:

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

detect a presence of a communication device;

cause establishment of a wireless link providing a connection with the communication device;

detect proximity of the communication device based upon signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link; and

adjust one or more connection parameters of the established wireless link based at least upon a signal strength of the one or more signals communicated via the link,

wherein the one or more connection parameters define an interval at which data is to be communicated via the link, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to adjust the one or more connection parameters by adjusting the interval at which data is to be communicated via the established wireless link.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to adjust the interval by increasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength decreases and decreasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength increases.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the signal strength by determining the signal strength based upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the signal strength by determining an average signal strength of a plurality of signals communicated via the established wireless link.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause a link to be established by causing a session description protocol (SDP) connection to be established.

13. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions for:

detecting a presence of a communication device;

causing establishment of a wireless link providing a connection with the communication device;

detecting proximity of the communication device based upon signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link; and

adjusting one or more connection parameters of the established wireless link based at least upon a signal strength of the one or more signals communicated via the link,

wherein the one or more connection parameters define an interval at which data is to be communicated via the link, and wherein the program code instructions for adjusting the one or more connection parameters comprise program code instructions for adjusting the interval at which data is to be communicated via the established wireless link.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the program code instructions for adjusting the interval comprise program code instructions for increasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength decreases and program code instructions for decreasing the interval in an instance in which the signal strength increases.

15. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the computer-executable program code portions further comprise program code instructions for determining the signal strength of one or more signals communicated via the established wireless link.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the program code instructions for determining the signal strength comprise program code instructions for determining the signal strength based upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

17. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the program code instructions for causing a link to be established comprise program code instructions for causing a session description protocol (SDP) connection to be established.