Locating an electronic device

• US 9,830,799 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Pai, Mahesh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US15/014,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20170221341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340 81, 34053913, 34053932, 3406866, 701408, 701519, 455 412, 4554122, 4554561, 4554566, 375136, 375137, 370311, 370328, 370336, 370338
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods of locating a misplaced electronic device using a mobile computer are disclosed herein. In certain examples, the misplaced device is configured to transmit a first plurality of beacons at a first rate, operate in a receive mode between at least one pair of adjacent beacons, receive a wake-up message from the mobile computer over a wireless communication network during the operation in the receive mode, and transmit a second plurality of beacons following receipt of the wake-up message, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons is transmitted at a second rate, the second rate being faster than the first rate. The mobile computing device is configured to receive the first plurality of beacons from the misplaced electronic device, transmit the wake-up message, and receive the second plurality of beacon signals in order to assist in locating the misplaced device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a first plurality of beacons, by a circuit of an electronic device, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons is transmitted at a first interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the first plurality of beacons;

operating the electronic device in a receive mode between at least one pair of adjacent beacons;

receiving, by the electronic device, a wake-up message during the operation in the receive mode; and

transmitting a second plurality of beacons following receiving the wake-up message, wherein the second plurality of beacons is separate from and follows the first plurality of beacons, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons is transmitted at a second interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the second plurality of beacons, and wherein the second interval is less than the first interval; and

identifying the location of the electronic device using the received second plurality of beacons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons comprises a timestamp and a location indicator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location indicator is an access point of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons comprises a received signal strength indicator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a stylus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wake-up message is received via a Bluetooth low energy communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

concluding the transmitting of the second plurality of beacons when the electronic device is discovered or when the electronic device is within a threshold range of a mobile computing device.

9. A method for identifying a location of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of beacons from the electronic device, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons is received at a first interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the first plurality of beacons;

transmitting, by a processor of a mobile computing device, a wake-up message between at least one pair of adjacent beacons;

receiving a second plurality of beacons from the electronic device, wherein the second plurality of beacons is separate from and follows the first plurality of beacons, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons is received at a second interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the second plurality of beacons, and wherein the second interval is less than the first interval; and

identifying the location of the electronic device using the received second plurality of beacons.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a music device, a handheld gaming device, a navigation device, and a wearable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising, prior to receiving the first plurality of beacon signals:

receiving an inquiry from a user of the mobile computing device regarding a location of the electronic device; and

providing information from a last beacon received from an electronic device prior to a loss of connection between the electronic device and the mobile computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inquiry from the user is a verbal inquiry.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, prior to transmitting a wake-up message:

receiving a beacon signal comprising a received signal strength indicator;

identifying that the received signal strength indicator is below a threshold value; and

providing a notification, by the processor of the mobile computing device, that the received signal strength indicator is below the threshold value.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

synchronizing the mobile computing device with a timing of the first plurality of beacons such that the wake-up message is transmitted between the at least one pair of adjacent beacons.

15. An electronic device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to at least perform;

transmit a first plurality of beacons, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons is transmitted at a first interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the first plurality of beacons;

operate in a receive mode between at least one pair of adjacent beacons;

receive a wake-up message during the operation in the receive mode; and

transmit a second plurality of beacons following receipt of the wake-up message, wherein the second plurality of beacons is separate from and follows the first plurality of beacons, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons is transmitted at a second interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the second plurality of beacons, and wherein the second interval is less than the first interval; and

identifying the location of the electronic device using the received second plurality of beacons.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a stylus or a wearable electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons comprises a timestamp and a location indicator.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons comprises a received signal strength indicator.

19. A mobile computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the mobile computing device to at least perform;

receive a first plurality of beacons from an electronic device, wherein each beacon in the first plurality of beacons is received at a first interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the first plurality of beacons;

transmit a wake-up message between at least one pair of adjacent beacons;

receive a second plurality of beacons from the electronic device following transmission of the wake-up message, wherein the second plurality of beacons is separate from and follows the first plurality of beacons, wherein each beacon in the second plurality of beacons is received at a second interval of time from an adjacent beacon in the second plurality of beacons, and wherein the second interval is less than the first interval; and

identify a location of the electronic device using the received second plurality of beacons.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein the mobile computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a music device, a handheld gaming device, a navigation device, and a wearable electronic device.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein the wake-up message is transmitted via a Bluetooth low energy communication network.