LOCATION SYSTEM FOR BLUETOOTH ENABLED DEVICES

• US 20110076949A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Sherry
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for tracking and locating Bluetooth enabled devices is described. A network of Bluetooth sniffers can be used to rapidly locate lost devices and their owners. Wearable child devices maintain low power contact with parent devices until such time as a signal limit is reached, at which point the parent devices alarm. An optional network of fixed sniffing devices can be used to coordinate a search for lost child devices once an alert is issued to the system.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a Bluetooth device comprising:

a. attaching a parent device to a kid device,

b. entering a power saving mode while receiving the signal of the parent device above a specified threshold,

c. entering a search mode when the signal of the parent device falls below a specified threshold, and

d. returning to a power saving mode when said parent device signal is reacquired.

2-20. -20. (canceled)