Wirelessly tethered device tracking

• US 9,715,815 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Verma, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Timory, Kabir A
• Application Number:
  US14/709,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20160335876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer-readable mediums are disclosed for wirelessly tethered device tracking. In some implementations, a method comprises: determining, by a first wireless device, an estimated distance between the first wireless device and a second wireless device, the second wireless device paired with the first wireless device; selecting, by the first wireless device, a first alarm to be generated by the first wireless device based on the estimated distance; and causing, by the first wireless device, the selected first alarm to be generated on the first wireless device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a first wireless device, a first estimated distance between the first wireless device and a second wireless device, the second wireless device in wireless communication with the first wireless device;

determining, by the first wireless device, a first level of urgency from a plurality of urgency levels based on the first estimated distance;

determining, by the first wireless device, a first alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the first level of urgency;

causing, by the first wireless device, the selected first alarm to be presented on the second wireless device;

determining, by the first wireless device, a second estimated distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, wherein the second estimated distance is greater than the first estimated distance;

determining, by the first wireless device, a second level of urgency based on the second estimated distance;

determining, by the first wireless device, a second alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the second level of urgency, the second alarm configured to be more urgent than the first alarm; and

causing, by the first wireless device, the selected second alarm to be presented on the second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first or second estimated distance further comprises:

receiving, by the first wireless device, a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the second wireless device;

determining, by the first wireless device, a proximity range to be the first or second estimated distance based on a received strength of the RF signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first alarm to be presented further comprises:

providing, by the first wireless device, the first estimated distance as an input to a state machine implemented on the first wireless device; and

selecting, by the first wireless device, the first alarm code based on an output of the state machine.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless device, a battery status of a battery of the second wireless device; and

providing, by the first wireless device, the battery status as input into the state machine.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless device, whether the second wireless device is on a user'"'"'s body; and

providing, by the first wireless device, a result of the determining as input to the state machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected first alarm includes one or more of changing a display color, flashing a display, generating an audible output and generating force or tactile feedback.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the first wireless device based on the second estimated distance, that communication with the second wireless device is about to be lost; and

prior to losing communication with the second wireless device, sending information over a second communication link that is different than the first communication link, the information including a location of the first wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first wireless device, input requesting the second wireless device to present the first or second alarm; and

sending, by the first wireless device, an alert code to the second wireless device commanding the second wireless device to present the first or second alarm.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

causing, by the first wireless device, a communication with a third device over the second communication link that includes the location of the first wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein causing, by the first wireless device, the communication with the third device, further comprises:

obtaining, by the first wireless device, emergency contact information stored on the first wireless device; and

communicating, by the first wireless device, with the third device using the emergency contact information.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable mediums coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

determining a first estimated distance between the system and a second wireless device, the second wireless device in wireless communication with the system;

determining a first level of urgency from a plurality of urgency levels based on the first estimated distance;

determining a first alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the first level of urgency;

causing the selected first alarm to be presented on the second wireless device;

determining a second estimated distance between the system and the second wireless device, wherein the second estimated distance is greater than the first estimated distance;

determining a second level of urgency from the plurality of urgency levels based on the second estimated distance;

determining a second alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the second level of urgency, the second alarm configured to be more urgent than the first alarm; and

causing the selected second alarm to be presented on the second wireless device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the first or second estimated distance further comprises:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the second wireless device; and

determining a proximity range to be the first or second estimated distance based on a received strength of the RF signal.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein selecting the first alarm to be presented on the second wireless device further comprises:

providing the first estimated distance as an input to a state machine; and

selecting the first alarm code based on an output of the state machine.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a battery status of a battery of the second wireless device; and

providing the battery status as input into the state machine.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the second wireless device is on a user'"'"'s body; and

providing a result of the determining as input to the state machine.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the selected first alarm includes one or more of changing a display color, flashing a display, generating an audible output and generating force or tactile feedback.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based on the second estimated distance, that communication with the second wireless device is about to be lost; and

prior to losing communication with the second wireless device, sending information over a second communication link that is different than the first communication link, the information including a location of the first wireless communication device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving input requesting the second wireless device to present the first or second alarm; and

sending an alert code to the second wireless device commanding the second wireless device to present the first or second alarm.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

determining a first estimated distance between a system and a second wireless device, the second wireless device in wireless communication with the system;

determining a first level of urgency from a plurality of urgency levels based on the first estimated distance;

determining a first alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the first level of urgency;

causing the selected first alarm to be presented on the second wireless device;

determining a second estimated distance between the system and the second wireless device, wherein the second estimated distance is greater than the first estimated distance;

determining a second level of urgency from the plurality of urgency levels based on the second estimated distance;

determining a second alarm to be presented by the second wireless device based on the second level of urgency, the second alarm configured to be more urgent than the first alarm; and

causing the selected second alarm to be presented on the second wireless device.

20. The system of claim 19,

determining, based on the second estimated distance, that communication with the second wireless device is about to be lost;

and

prior to losing communication with the second wireless device, sending information over a second communication link that is different than the first communication link, the information including a location of the first wireless communication device.