Proximity detection of internet of things (IoT) devices using sound chirps
First Claim
1. A method of operating a first Internet of Things (IoT) device that is configured to determine a proximity to a second IoT device, comprising:
- establishing a connection with the second IoT device;
determining to execute a proximity detection procedure with the second IoT device;
monitoring, via a microphone coupled to the first IoT device, for an audio emission over a first communication path from the second IoT device in response to the determination;
receiving, at a first time point, a data packet that is transmitted by the second IoT device over a second communication path at substantially the same time as the audio emission is emitted by the second IoT device over the first communication path;
detecting, at a second time point, the audio emission based on the monitoring;
correlating the detected audio emission with the data packet based upon first correlation information that is embedded within the detected audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet; and
calculating a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based at least in part upon the second time point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a connection is established between first and second Internet of Things (IoT) devices. After a determination is made to execute a proximity detection procedure, the second IoT device outputs an audio emission and a data packet at substantially the same time. The first IoT device detects the audio emission via a microphone and receives the data packet. The first IoT device uses correlation information to correlate the detected audio emission with the data packet, whereby the correlation information is contained in the detected audio emission, the data packet or both. The first IoT device uses the correlation between the detected audio emission and the data packet to calculate a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of operating a first Internet of Things (IoT) device that is configured to determine a proximity to a second IoT device, comprising:
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establishing a connection with the second IoT device; determining to execute a proximity detection procedure with the second IoT device; monitoring, via a microphone coupled to the first IoT device, for an audio emission over a first communication path from the second IoT device in response to the determination; receiving, at a first time point, a data packet that is transmitted by the second IoT device over a second communication path at substantially the same time as the audio emission is emitted by the second IoT device over the first communication path; detecting, at a second time point, the audio emission based on the monitoring; correlating the detected audio emission with the data packet based upon first correlation information that is embedded within the detected audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet; and calculating a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based at least in part upon the second time point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of facilitating proximity detection between a first Internet of Things (IoT) device and a second IoT device at the second IoT device, comprising:
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establishing a connection with the first IoT device; determining to execute a proximity detection procedure with the first IoT device; outputting, via an audio output device coupled to the second IoT device, an audio emission from the second IoT device over a first communication path in response to the determination; and transmitting, at substantially the same time as the outputting of the audio emission over the first communication path, a data packet to the first IoT device over a second communication path, wherein the audio emission and the data packet are configured to be correlated with each other at the first IoT device in conjunction with the proximity detection procedure for calculation of a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based upon correlation information, and wherein the correlation information includes first correlation information that is embedded within the audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A first Internet of Things (IoT) device that is configured to determine a proximity to a second IoT device, comprising:
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means for establishing a connection with the second IoT device; means for determining to execute a proximity detection procedure with the second IoT device; means for monitoring, via a microphone coupled to the first IoT device, for an audio emission over a first communication path from the second IoT device in response to the determination; means for receiving, at a first time point, a data packet that is transmitted by the second IoT device over a second communication path at substantially the same time as the audio emission is emitted by the second IoT device over the first communication path; means for detecting, at a second time point, the audio emission based on the monitoring; means for correlating the detected audio emission with the data packet based upon first correlation information that is embedded within the detected audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet; and means for calculating a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based at least in part upon the second time point.
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28. A second Internet of Things (IoT) device configured to facilitate proximity detection between a first IoT device and the second IoT device, comprising:
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means for establishing a connection with the first IoT device; means for determining to execute a proximity detection procedure with the first IoT device; means for outputting, via an audio output device coupled to the second IoT device, an audio emission from the second IoT device over a first communication path in response to the determination; and means for transmitting, at substantially the same time as the outputting of the audio emission over the first communication path, a data packet to the first IoT device over a second communication path, wherein the audio emission and the data packet are configured to be correlated with each other at the first IoT device in conjunction with the proximity detection procedure for calculation of a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based upon correlation information, and wherein the correlation information includes first correlation information that is embedded within the audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet.
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29. A first Internet of Things (IoT) device that is configured to determine a proximity to a second IoT device, comprising:
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a processor, a memory and/or a transceiver configured to; establish a connection with the second IoT device; determine to execute a proximity detection procedure with the second IoT device; monitor, via a microphone coupled to the first IoT device, for an audio emission over a first communication path from the second IoT device in response to the determination; receive, at a first time point, a data packet that is transmitted by the second IoT device over a second communication path at substantially the same time as the audio emission is emitted by the second IoT device over the first communication path; detect, at a second time point, the audio emission based on the monitoring; correlate the detected audio emission with the data packet based upon first correlation information that is embedded within the detected audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet; and calculate a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based at least in part upon the second time point.
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30. A second Internet of Things (IoT) device configured to facilitate proximity detection between a first IoT device and the second IoT device, comprising:
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a processor, a memory and/or a transceiver configured to; establish a connection with the first IoT device; determine to execute a proximity detection procedure with the first IoT device; output, via an audio output device coupled to the second IoT device, an audio emission from the second IoT device over a first communication path in response to the determination; and transmit, at substantially the same time as the outputting of the audio emission over the first communication path, a data packet to the first IoT device over a second communication path, wherein the audio emission and the data packet are configured to be correlated with each other at the first IoT device in conjunction with the proximity detection procedure for calculation of a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based upon correlation information, and wherein the correlation information includes first correlation information that is embedded within the audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet.
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31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a first Internet of Things (IoT) device that is configured to determine a proximity to a second IoT device, causes the first IoT device to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to establish a connection with the second IoT device; at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to determine to execute a proximity detection procedure with the second IoT device; at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to monitor, via a microphone coupled to the first IoT device, for an audio emission over a first communication path from the second IoT device in response to the determination; at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to receive, at a first time point, a data packet that is transmitted by the second IoT device over a second communication path at substantially the same time as the audio emission is emitted by the second IoT device over the first communication path; at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to detect, at a second time point, the audio emission based on the monitoring; at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to correlate the detected audio emission with the data packet based upon first correlation information that is embedded within the detected audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet; and at least one instruction to cause the first IoT device to calculate a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based at least in part upon the second time point.
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32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a second Internet of Things (IoT) device configured to facilitate proximity detection between a first IoT device and the second IoT device, causes the second IoT device to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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at least one instruction to cause the second IoT device to establish a connection with the first IoT device; at least one instruction to cause the second IoT device to determine to execute a proximity detection procedure with the first IoT device; at least one instruction to cause the second IoT device to output, via an audio output device coupled to the second IoT device, an audio emission from the second IoT device over a first communication path in response to the determination; and at least one instruction to cause the second IoT device to transmit, at substantially the same time as the outputting of the audio emission over the first communication path, a data packet to the first IoT device over a second communication path, wherein the audio emission and the data packet are configured to be correlated with each other at the first IoT device in conjunction with the proximity detection procedure for calculation of a distance estimate between the first and second IoT devices based upon correlation information, and wherein the correlation information includes first correlation information that is embedded within the audio emission and configured to help identify a header field of the data packet.
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Specification