METHODS FOR DETERMINING PROXIMITY BETWEEN RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES AND CONTROLLING SWITCHES

• US 20090156126A1
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vizpin Inc.
• Original Assignee: Resonance Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Willis, Nicholas Hedley
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of determining the proximity of radio frequency devices using the analysis of a series of receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. In particular the invention further relates to a method for the control of a switch based on the proximity of the radio frequency devices.

Claims

1-58. -58. (canceled)

59. A method for determining the proximity to each other of radio frequency devices including the steps of:

a receiving radio frequency device periodically measuring the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results; and

analysing the series of results using at least one technical indicator;

where the analysing the series of results includes determining the change in proximity to each other of the radio frequency devices.

60. The method of claim 59 where the radio frequency devices operate in the 2.4 GHz radio bands

61. The method of claim 59 where the radio frequency devices support a radio frequency communication method selected from the group consisting of:

General Packet Radio Service;

GSM;

CMDA;

Bluetooth™

;

ZigBee™

;

Wifi;

802.11x.

62. The method of claim 59 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

63. The method of claim 59 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

64. A method for determining the proximity to each other of radio frequency devices that communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth™

specification, including the steps of;

a receiving radio frequency device periodically measuring the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results; and

analysing the series of results using at least one technical indicator.

where the periodically measuring the RSSI value of the transmitting radio frequency device occurs in the absence of a profile dependent connection being formed between the radio frequency devices.

65. The method of claim 64 where the transmitting radio frequency device is authenticated by pairing with the receiving radio frequency device, but is undiscoverable during the periodically measuring the RSSI value.

66. The method of claim 64 where the analysing the series of results includes determining the change in proximity to each other of the radio frequency devices.

67. The method of claim 64 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

68. The method of claim 64 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

69. A configuration of radio frequency devices including:

a transmitting radio frequency device; and

a receiving radio frequency device capable of functioning to periodically measure the RSSI value of the transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results;

where the receiving radio frequency device is programmed to analyse the results using at least one technical indicator to determine the proximity of the transmitting and receiving devices, and the analysing the results includes determining the change in proximity to each other of the radio frequency devices.

70. The configuration of claim 69 where the radio frequency devices are capable of operating in the 2.4 GHz radio bands.

71. The configuration of claim 69 where the radio frequency devices support a radio frequency communication method selected from the group consisting of:

General Packet Radio Service;

GSM;

CMDA;

Bluetooth™

;

ZigBee™

;

Wifi;

802.11x.

72. The configuration of claim 69 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

73. The configuration of claim 69 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

74. The configuration of claim 69 where the receiving device is capable of providing personal area networking connection to serve HTML pages to administer the configuration.

75. A configuration of radio frequency devices that communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth™

specification, including;

a transmitting radio frequency device; and

a receiving radio frequency device capable of functioning to periodically measure the RSSI value of the transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results;

where the receiving radio frequency device is programmed to analyse the results using at least one technical indicator to determine the proximity of the transmitting and receiving devices, and periodically measuring the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device is capable of occurring in the absence of a profile dependent connection being formed between the radio frequency devices.

76. The configuration of claim 75 where the transmitting radio frequency device is capable of being authenticated by Bluetooth™

pairing with the receiving radio frequency device, but is undiscoverable during the periodically measuring the RSSI value.

77. The configuration of claim 75 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

78. The configuration of claim 75 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

79. The configuration of claim 75 where the receiving device is capable of providing personal area networking connection to serve HTML pages to administer the configuration.

80. A receiving radio frequency device capable of functioning to periodically measure the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results and programmed to analyse the results using at least one technical indicator to determine the change in proximity of the transmitting and receiving radio frequency devices.

81. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

82. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

83. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the receiving device operates in the 2.4 GHz radio bands.

84. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the receiving radio frequency device supports a radio frequency communication method selected from the group consisting of:

General Packet Radio Service;

GSM;

CMDA;

Bluetooth™

;

ZigBee™

;

Wifi;

802.11x.

85. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the receiving radio frequency device supports the Bluetooth radio frequency communication method.

86. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the receiving radio frequency device communicates in accordance with the Bluetooth™

specification.

87. The receiving radio frequency device of claim 80 where the receiving radio frequency device provides personal area networking connection to serve HTML pages.

88. A chip set solution for use in the manufacture of a radio frequency device providing functionality to periodically measure the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results and analyse the results using at least one technical indicator to determine the change in proximity of the transmitting radio frequency device.

89. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the analysing the results includes determining the change in proximity of the transmitting radio frequency device.

90. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

91. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

92. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the chip set solution is for use in the manufacture of a radio frequency device operating in the 2.4 GHz radio bands.

93. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the chip set solution is for use in the manufacture of a radio frequency device supporting a radio frequency communication method selected from the group consisting of:

General Packet Radio Service;

GSM;

CMDA;

Bluetooth™

;

ZigBee™

;

Wifi;

802.11x.

94. The chip set solution of claim 88 where the chip set solution is for use in the manufacture of a radio frequency device supporting the Bluetooth™

radio frequency communication method.

95. A method of operating a switch including the step of determining the proximity to each other of radio frequency devices, where the determining the proximity includes the steps of:

a receiving radio frequency device periodically measuring the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results; and

analysing the results using at least one technical indicator;

where the analysing the series of results includes determining the change in proximity to each other of the radio frequency devices.

96. The method of claim 95 where the two or more radio frequency devices operate in the 2.4 GHz radio bands

97. The method of claim 95 where the radio frequency devices support a radio frequency communication method selected from the group consisting of:

General Packet Radio Service;

GSM;

CMDA;

Bluetooth™

;

ZigBee™

;

Wifi;

802.11x.

98. The method of claim 95 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

99. The method of claim 95 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

100. The method of claim 95 where the receiving radio frequency device is administered by use of the exchange of Business Cards (OBEX profile).

101. The method of claim 95 where the receiving radio frequency device provides a personal area networking connection to serve HTML pages to administer the system.

102. The method of claim 95 where a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices is generated in response to the change in proximity of the radio frequency devices.

103. The method of claim 95 where authenticating identification information is obtained in response to a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices.

104. The method of claim 95 where the switch is actuated in response to a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices.

105. The method of claim 95 where the radio frequency devices are paired Bluetooth™

devices.

106. The method of claim 95 where devices include mobile telephones, laptops or other devices including a transmitting and receiving processor.

107. The method of claim 95 where the switch governs the opening or closing of a door selected from the group consisting of:

a garage door;

a car door;

or a security door.

108. A method of operating a switch including the step of determining the proximity to each other of radio frequency devices that communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth™

specification, where the determining the proximity includes the steps of;

a receiving radio frequency device periodically measuring the RSSI value of a transmitting radio frequency device to provide a series of results; and

analysing the results using at least one technical indicator;

where the periodically measuring the RSSI value of the transmitting radio frequency device occurs in the absence of a profile dependent connection being formed between the radio frequency devices.

109. The method of claim 108 where the transmitting radio frequency device is authenticated by pairing with the receiving radio frequency device, but is undiscoverable during the periodically measuring the RSSI value.

110. The method of claim 108 where the analysing the series of results includes determining the change in proximity to each other of the radio frequency devices.

111. The method of claim 108 where the at least one technical indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

an exponential moving average;

a moving average convergence/divergence.

112. The method of claim 108 where the at least one technical indicator is a combination of an exponential moving average and a moving average convergence/divergence.

113. The method of claim 108 where the receiving radio frequency device is administered by use of the exchange of Business Cards (OBEX profile).

114. The method of claim 108 where the receiving radio frequency device provides a personal area networking connection to serve HTML pages to administer the system.

115. The method of claim 108 where a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices is generated in response to the change in proximity of the radio frequency devices.

116. The method of claim 108 where authenticating identification information is obtained in response to a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices.

117. The method of claim 116 where the authenticated identification information is shared with another system, application or process.

118. The method of claim 108 where the switch is actuated in response to a signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices.

119. The method of claim 118 where the signal from at least one of the radio frequency devices is generated when a predetermined proximity-threshold is reached.

120. The method of claim 119 where the proximity-thresholds are dynamically tuned based on the occurrence of false positive incidents.

121. The method of claim 108 where the radio frequency devices are paired Bluetooth™

devices.

122. The method of claim 108 where devices include mobile telephones, laptops or other devices including a transmitting and receiving processor.

123. The method of claim 108 where the switch governs the opening or closing of a door selected from the group consisting of:

a garage door;

a car door;

or a security door.