DISTANCE-BASED ASSOCIATION

• US 20070287386A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Xiao, Lu, Lee, Chong, Agrawal, Avneesh, Julian, David, Douglas, Robert, Rose, Gregory, Jaime, Manuel, Moallemi, Kamram
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/284 using coded pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Various operations may be performed based on a distance-related function associated with two or more devices. For example, an association procedure for two or more devices may be based on one or more determined distances. Similarly, presence management may be based on one or more determined distances. A distance-related function may take various form including, for example, a distance between devices, two or more distances between devices, a rate of change in a relative distance between devices, relative acceleration between devices, or some combination of two or more of the these distance-related functions.

Claims

1. A method of performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

generating an indication relating to at least one distance between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device communicates with the second device via a wireless communication link; and

associating the first device with the second device based on the indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the association comprises:

acquiring a first indication representative of a time of actuation of a user input device of the first device;

receiving an second indication representative of a time of actuation of a user input device of the second device; and

comparing the first indication with the second indication to determine whether the actuation of the user input device of the first device occurred substantially simultaneously with the actuation of the user input device of the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the first device with a third device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the association comprises authenticating the first device with the second device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the authentication comprises transmitting at least one security credential or biometric information to the second device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the authentication comprises receiving at least one security credential or biometric information from the second device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing presence management for the first device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the presence management further comprises configuring the first device based on the indication.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the presence management comprises receiving, from the second device, information that is based on an identity of the first device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing presence management for the second device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the presence management for the second device comprises configuring at least one device based on an identity of the second device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the presence management for the second device comprises providing, to the second device, information that is based on an identity of the second device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the association comprises transmitting the indication to the second device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the association comprises establishing application-level communication with the second device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a determined distance between the first device and the second device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising comparing the determined distance with a threshold, wherein the association is performed if the determined distance is less than or equal to the threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication further comprises a rate of change in distance between the first device and the second device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a rate of change in distance between the first device and the second device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing the rate of change in distance with a defined rate of change, wherein the association is performed if a result of the comparison meets a criteria, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

the rate of change in distance is less than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is greater than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is equal to the defined rate of change; and

the rate of change in distance is substantially equal to the defined rate of change.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an acceleration profile between the first device and the second device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising comparing the acceleration profile with a defined acceleration profile, wherein the association is performed if the acceleration profile is substantially similar to the defined acceleration profile.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a pattern of distances between the first device and the second device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising comparing the pattern of distances with a defined pattern, wherein the association is performed if the pattern of distances is substantially similar to the defined pattern.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically commencing the generation of the indication.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising commencing the generation of the indication in response to a request from a user.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a time-of-arrival measurement scheme to determine the at least one distance between the first device and the second device.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring at least one round-trip time to determine the at least one distance between the first device and the second device.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring signal strength of at least one signal received from the second device to determine the at least one distance between the first device and the second device.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information from the second device to generate the indication.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising using ultra-wideband pulses to determine the at least one distance between the first device and the second device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the ultra-wideband pulses have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more, have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more, or have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more and have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates with the second device via a personal area network or a body area network.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a headset, a microphone, a medical device, a biometric sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer, an EKG device, a user I/O device, a watch, a remote control, a switch, a tire pressure monitor, an entertainment device, a computer, a point-of-sale device, a hearing aid, a set-top box, or a cell phone.

34. An apparatus for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

an indication generator adapted to generate an indication relating to at least one distance between the apparatus and a device, wherein the apparatus communicates with the device via a wireless communication link; and

an association processor adapted to associate the apparatus with the device based on the indication.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a user input device, wherein the association processor is further adapted to:

acquire a first indication representative of a time of actuation of the user input device of the apparatus;

receive an second indication representative of a time of actuation of a user input device of the device; and

compare the first indication with the second indication to determine whether the actuation of the user input device of the apparatus occurred substantially simultaneously with the actuation of the user input device of the device.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the association processor is further adapted to associate the apparatus with a third device.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the association processor further comprises an authentication processor adapted to authenticate the apparatus with the device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the authentication processor is further adapted to cooperate with the transmitter to transmit at least one security credential or biometric information to the device.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a receiver, wherein the authentication processor is further adapted to cooperate with the receiver to receive at least one security credential or biometric information from the device.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a presence management processor adapted to provide presence management for the apparatus.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the presence management processor is further adapted to configure the apparatus based on the indication.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a receiver, wherein the presence management processor is further adapted to cooperate with the receiver to receive, from the device, information that is based on an identity of the apparatus.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the presence management processor is further adapted to provide presence management for the device.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the presence management processor is further adapted to configure at least one device based on an identity of the device.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the presence management processor is further adapted to provide, to the device, information that is based on an identity of the device.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit the indication to the device.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the association processor is further adapted to establish application-level communication with the device.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication comprises a determined distance between the apparatus and the device.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising a comparator adapted to compare the determined distance with a threshold, wherein the association processor is further adapted to perform the association if the determined distance is less than or equal to the threshold.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the indication further comprises a rate of change in distance between the apparatus and the device.

51. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication comprises a rate of change in distance between the apparatus and the device.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a comparator adapted to compare the rate of change in distance with a defined rate of change, wherein the association processor is further adapted to perform the association if a result of the comparison meets a criteria, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

the rate of change in distance is less than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is greater than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is equal to the defined rate of change; and

the rate of change in distance is substantially equal to the defined rate of change.

53. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication comprises an acceleration profile between the apparatus and the device.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising a comparator adapted to compare the acceleration profile with a defined acceleration profile, wherein the association processor is further adapted to perform the association if the acceleration profile is substantially similar to the defined acceleration profile.

55. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication comprises a pattern of distances between the apparatus and the device.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising a comparator adapted to compare the pattern of distances with a defined pattern, wherein the association processor is further adapted to perform the association if the pattern of distances is substantially similar to the defined pattern.

57. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication generator is further adapted to automatically commence the generation of the indication.

58. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the indication generator is further adapted to commence the generation of the indication in response to a request from a user.

59. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a distance determiner adapted to use a time-of-arrival measurement scheme to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

60. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a distance determiner adapted to measure at least one round-trip time to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

61. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a distance determiner adapted to measure signal strength of at least one signal received from the device to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

62. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive information from the device, wherein the indication generator uses the received information to generate the indication

63. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a radio adapted to use ultra-wideband pulses to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the ultra-wideband pulses have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more, have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more, or have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more and have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more.

65. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus communicates with the device via a personal area network or a body area network.

66. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus comprises a headset, a microphone, a medical device, a biometric sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer, an EKG device, a user I/O device, a watch, a remote control, a switch, a tire pressure monitor, an entertainment device, a computer, a point-of-sale device, a hearing aid, a set-top box, or a cell phone.

67. An apparatus for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

means for generating an indication relating to at least one distance between the apparatus and a device, wherein the apparatus communicates with the device via a wireless communication link; and

means for associating the apparatus with the device based on the indication.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for inputting, wherein the means for associating:

acquires a first indication representative of a time of actuation of the means for inputting of the apparatus;

receives an second indication representative of a time of actuation of a means for inputting of the device; and

compares the first indication with the second indication to determine whether the actuation of the means for inputting of the apparatus occurred substantially simultaneously with the actuation of the means for inputting of the device.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the means for associating associates the apparatus with a third device.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the means for associating comprises means for authenticating the apparatus with the device.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising means for transmitting, wherein the means for authenticating cooperates with the means for transmitting to transmit at least one security credential or biometric information to the device.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising means for receiving, wherein the means for authenticating cooperates with the means for receiving to receive at least one security credential or biometric information from the device.

73. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for providing presence management for the apparatus.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for providing presence management configures the apparatus based on the indication.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising means for receiving, wherein the means for providing presence management cooperates with the means for receiving to receive, from the device, information that is based on an identity of the apparatus.

76. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for providing presence management for the device.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the means for providing presence management for the device configures at least one device based on an identity of the device.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the means for providing presence management for the device provides, to the device, information that is based on an identity of the device.

79. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for transmitting the indication to the device.

80. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the means for associating establishes application-level communication with the device.

81. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication comprises a determined distance between the apparatus and the device.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, further comprising means for comparing the determined distance with a threshold, wherein the means for associating performs the association if the determined distance is less than or equal to the threshold.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the indication further comprises a rate of change in distance between the apparatus and the device.

84. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication comprises a rate of change in distance between the apparatus and the device.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, further comprising means for comparing the rate of change in distance with a defined rate of change, wherein the means for associating performs the association if a result of the comparison meets a criteria, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

the rate of change in distance is less than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is greater than the defined rate of change;

the rate of change in distance is equal to the defined rate of change; and

the rate of change in distance is substantially equal to the defined rate of change.

86. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication comprises an acceleration profile between the apparatus and the device.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, further comprising means for comparing the acceleration profile with a defined acceleration profile, wherein the means for associating performs the association if the acceleration profile is substantially similar to the defined acceleration profile.

88. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the indication comprises a pattern of distances between the apparatus and the device.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, further comprising means for comparing the pattern of distances with a defined pattern, wherein the means for associating performs the association if the pattern of distances is substantially similar to the defined pattern.

90. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the means for generating an indication automatically commences the generation of the indication.

91. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the means for generating an indication commences the generation of the indication in response to a request from a user.

92. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for using a time-of-arrival measurement scheme to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

93. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for measuring at least one round-trip time to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

94. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for measuring signal strength of at least one signal received from the device to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

95. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for receiving information from the device, wherein the means for generating an indication uses the received information to generate the indication.

96. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for using ultra-wideband pulses to determine the at least one distance between the apparatus and the device.

97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the ultra-wideband pulses have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more, have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more, or have a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more and have a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more.

98. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for communicating with the device via a personal area network or a body area network.

99. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the apparatus comprises a headset, a microphone, a medical device, a biometric sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer, an EKG device, a user I/O device, a watch, a remote control, a switch, a tire pressure monitor, an entertainment device, a computer, a point-of-sale device, a hearing aid, a set-top box, or a cell phone.

100. A computer-program product for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

generate an indication relating to at least one distance between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device and the second device communicate via a wireless communication link; and

associate the first device with the second device based on the indication.

101. A headset for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

an indication generator adapted to generate an indication relating to at least one distance between the headset and a device, wherein the headset communicates with the device via a wireless communication link;

an association processor adapted to associate the headset with the device based on the indication; and

a transducer adapted to provide an audible output based on a signal received via the wireless communication link.

102. A watch for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

an indication generator adapted to generate an indication relating to at least one distance between the watch and a device, wherein the watch communicates with the device via a wireless communication link;

an association processor adapted to associate the watch with the device based on the indication; and

a display adapted to provide a visual output based on a signal received via the wireless communication link.

103. A medical device for performing an operation based on distance, comprising:

an indication generator adapted to generate an indication relating to at least one distance between the medical device and a device, wherein the medical device communicates with the device via a wireless communication link;

an association processor adapted to associate the medical device with the device based on the indication; and

a sensor adapted to generate sensed signals to be transmitted via the wireless communication link.