Computational Systems and Methods for Locating a Mobile Device

• US 20130165138A1
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: John D. Rinaldo Jr, Lowell L. Wood Jr
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Burger, Douglas C., Chandra, Ranveer, Dyor, Matthew G., Gates, William, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Mundie, Craig J., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Paek, Tim, Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Tan, Desney S., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Zhong, Lin, Holman, Pablos, Wood, Victoria Y. H
• Granted Patent: US 9,194,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02585 at least one of the measurements being a non-radio measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Systems and methods are described relating to detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and

means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile electronic device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile electronic device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one of a cell phone or a smart phone.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile electronic device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one of a portable media player or a tablet computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a proximity sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a proximity sensor comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an electromagnetic radiation sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an electromagnetic radiation sensor comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an infrared sensor.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a proximity sensor comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a proximity sensor having an adjustable nominal range.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a motion detector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a passive motion detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a passive motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a passive infrared sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an active motion detector.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an active motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an ultrasonic sensor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an active motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a microwave sensor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an active motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with an acoustic sensor.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a motion detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a multi-technology motion detector.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a vibration detector.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a vibration detector comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to the at least one mobile device with a seismic detector.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device comprises:

means for determining a specified time period of inactivity in a mobile device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for determining a specified time period of inactivity in a mobile device comprises:

means for determining a specified time period of inactivity with a passive infrared sensor.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for determining a specified time period of inactivity in a mobile device comprises:

means for determining a specified time period of inactivity with an accelerometer.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for determining a specified time period of inactivity in a mobile device comprises:

means for determining a specified time period of inactivity with a global positioning system.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for determining a specified time period of inactivity in a mobile device comprises:

means for determining a specified time period of inactivity with seismic technology.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity comprises:

means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device to a second device.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity comprises:

means for transmitting location information associated with the mobile device.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity comprises:

means for presenting an indication of a sound that indicates location of the mobile device.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity comprises:

means for presenting an indication for the mobile device where the indication includes vibration.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein means for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity comprises:

means for detecting an indication of a person within twenty feet of a tablet computer and a twenty four hour period of inactivity with an accelerometer, and presenting an audible alarm based on the indication of the person within twenty feet of the tablet computer.

25-26. -26. (canceled)

29-30. -30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. The system of claim 32, wherein means for presenting a visible indication of the mobile device location comprises:

means for presenting at least a constant light, a blinking light, or a strobe light that indicates the mobile device location.

34. (canceled)

36. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and

presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.

37-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A system, comprising:

circuitry for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and

circuitry for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.

72. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing

one or more instructions for detecting an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and

one or more instructions for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of the person within the specified proximity.

73. The computer program product of claim 72, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

74. The computer program product of claim 72, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

75. The computer program product of claim 72, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

76. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to

detect an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device; and

present an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of a person within the specified proximity.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal entertainment device, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system comprised of a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein the computing device is operable to detect an indication of a person within a specified proximity to at least one mobile device;

and present an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the indication of a person within the specified proximity.