Peer-based collaborative discovery and signaling of another device in limited-signal areas

• US 9,351,121 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Mo, Stanley, Kohlenberg, Tobias M., Mian, Mubashir A., Wouhaybi, Rita H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US13/997,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20140221003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/30 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Generally, this disclosure describes a method and system for peer-based collaborative discovery and signaling of another device in limited signal areas. A method may include, in an embodiment, initiating a sensing mode in a seek mobile device in response to receiving an indication that a location of a lost mobile device is unknown; capturing first position data if a signal from the lost device is detected; capturing second position data in response to losing the signal from the lost device; and determining an estimated location of the lost device based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the lost device is located in an area of limited or no connectivity and the seek device is moving through the area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a sensing mode in a seek mobile device in response to receiving an indication that a location of a lost mobile device is unknown;

capturing, by said seek mobile device, first position data if a signal from the lost device is detected, capturing, by said seek mobile device, second position data in response to losing the signal from the lost device; and

determining, by said seek device, an estimated location of the lost device based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the lost device is located in an area of limited or no connectivity and the seek device is moving through the area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a convergence region that includes the estimated location of the lost device wherein the convergence region is configured to be used to direct a search for the lost device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing exit position data in response to regaining connectivity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an exit location of the seek device based on a location signal, in response to regaining connectivity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first location based on the first position data;

determining a second location based on the second position data,

wherein the estimated location is related to the first location and the second location.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a perpendicular bisector of a line connecting the first location and the second location, wherein the estimated location lies on the perpendicular bisector a distance from the line and the distance is determined based on a signal range of the signal from the lost device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the position data comprises at least one of time data, heading and change in velocity.

8. A system, comprising:

a seek mobile device configured to;

initiate a sensing mode in response to receiving an indication that a location of a lost mobile device is unknown,

capture first position data if a signal from the lost device is detected, and

capture second position data in response to losing the signal from the lost device; and

a server wherein at least one of the server and the seek mobile device is configured to determine an estimated location of the lost device based on the first position data and the second position data,

wherein the lost device is located in an area of limited or no connectivity and the seek device is moving through the area.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is further configured to determine a convergence region that includes the estimated location of the lost device wherein the convergence region is configured to be used to direct a search for the lost device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the seek mobile device is further configured to capture exit position data in response to regaining connectivity.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the seek device and the server is further configured to determine an exit location of the seek device based on a location signal, in response to regaining connectivity.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the seek mobile device and the server are further configured to:

determine a first location based on the first position data;

determine a second location based on the second position data,

wherein the estimated location is related to the first location and the second location.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the seek mobile device and the server are further configured to determine a perpendicular bisector of a line connecting the first location and the second location, wherein the estimated location lies on the perpendicular bisector a distance from the line and the distance is determined based on a signal range of the signal from the lost device.

14. A system comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage mediums having stored thereon, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a seek mobile device result in the following operations comprising:

initiating a sensing mode in said seek mobile device in response to receiving an indication that a location of a lost mobile device is unknown;

capturing first position data if a signal from the lost device is detected, capturing second position data in response to losing the signal from the lost device; and

determining an estimated location of the lost device based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the lost device is located in an area of limited or no connectivity and the seek device is moving through the area.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that when executed by one or more processors results in the following additional operations:

determining a convergence region that includes the estimated location of the lost device wherein the convergence region is configured to be used to direct a search for the lost device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that when executed by one or more processors results in the following additional operations:

capturing exit position data in response to regaining connectivity.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that when executed by one or more processors results in the following additional operations:

determining an exit location of the seek device based on a location signal, in response to regaining connectivity.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that when executed by one or more processors results in the following additional operations:

determining a first location based on the first position data;

determining a second location based on the second position data,

wherein the estimated location is related to the first location and the second location.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions that when executed by one or more processors results in the following additional operations:

determining a perpendicular bisector of a line connecting the first location and the second location, wherein the estimated location lies on the perpendicular bisector a distance from the line and the distance is determined based on a signal range of the signal from the lost device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the position data comprises at least one of time data, heading and change in velocity.