Proximity detection
First Claim
1. A method of estimating the proximity of a first device to a second device in a network of devices comprising at least the first and second devices, each device in the network being configured to communicate according to a predetermined wireless communications protocol, the method comprising:
- analysing at the first device a first control message which according to the communications protocol instructs the first device to perform a first channel quality measurement during a first period of time;
broadcasting a second control message over the network which according to the communications protocol instructs devices connected to the network to not transmit during the first period of time to enable the first channel quality measurement to be performed;
at the second device, disregarding the second control message and transmitting a first signal during at least a portion of the first period of time;
at the first device, performing the first channel quality measurement in response to the first control message during the first period of time; and
forming a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal received at the first device during said first channel quality measurement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of estimating the proximity of a first device to a second device in a network causes the first device to perform a first measurement in a first period during which a control message broadcasted over the network instructs devices in the network to not transmit during the first period, wherein the second device disregards the control message and transmits a first signal during the first period which is measured by the first device during the first period, and forms a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of estimating the proximity of a first device to a second device in a network of devices comprising at least the first and second devices, each device in the network being configured to communicate according to a predetermined wireless communications protocol, the method comprising:
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analysing at the first device a first control message which according to the communications protocol instructs the first device to perform a first channel quality measurement during a first period of time; broadcasting a second control message over the network which according to the communications protocol instructs devices connected to the network to not transmit during the first period of time to enable the first channel quality measurement to be performed; at the second device, disregarding the second control message and transmitting a first signal during at least a portion of the first period of time; at the first device, performing the first channel quality measurement in response to the first control message during the first period of time; and forming a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal received at the first device during said first channel quality measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless device for estimating the proximity of a first device to a second device in a network of devices comprising at least the first and second devices, each device in the network being configured to communicate according to a predetermined wireless communications protocol, the wireless device comprising:
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a controller configured to generate a first control message which according to the communications protocol instructs the second device to perform a first channel quality measurement during a first period of time; a transceiver configured to broadcast a second control message over the network which according to the communications protocol instructs devices connected to the network to not transmit during the first period of time to enable the first channel quality measurement to be performed, the controller being further configured to cause the first device to disregard said instruction and transmit a first signal during at least a portion of the first period of time; and a proximity estimator configured to form a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal received at the second device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of estimating the proximity of a first device to a second device in a network of devices comprising at least the first and second devices, each device in the network being configured to communicate according to a predetermined wireless communications protocol, the method comprising:
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selecting a first channel for performing a first channel quality measurement, the first channel being a channel that is not in use by the network of devices; receiving at the first device a first control message which according to the communications protocol instructs the first device to perform the first channel quality measurement on the first channel during a first period of time; at the second device, transmitting a first signal on the first channel during at least a portion of the first period of time; at the first device, performing the first channel quality measurement in response to the first control message during the first period of time; and forming a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal received at the first device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed cause at least one processor to:
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instruct a first device in a network of devices to perform a first channel quality measurement during a first period of time; broadcast a control message over the network which according to a communications protocol instructs devices connected to the network to not transmit during the first period of time to enable the first channel quality measurement to be performed; cause a second device to disregard the second control message and to transmit a first signal during at least a portion of the first period of time; cause said first device to perform the first channel quality measurement during the first period of time; and form a measure of the proximity of the first device to the second device in dependence on a strength of the first signal received at the first device during said first channel quality measurement.
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Specification