Using signal-generated location information to identify and list available devices
View Patent ↗A wireless detecting device may be operable to receive one or more signals from a corresponding one or more wireless devices within range of the wireless detecting device. A list of the corresponding one or more wireless devices within range of the wireless detecting device may be displayed on the wireless detecting device. Based on the received one or more signals from the corresponding one or more wireless devices, distance, range or geographic location of the one or more wireless devices, relative to the wireless detecting device may be indicated on the wireless detecting device.
1. A method for locating a wireless device, the method comprising:
prompting transmission of a locator signal to commence identification and listing of the wireless device relative to the locator signal within a distance range;
receiving a reflected locator signal based on the locator signal and a locator signal acknowledgement responsive to the locator signal from the wireless device, wherein the locator signal acknowledgement includes information relating to the wireless device;
generating a relative location to a source of the locator signal, the relative location including direction and distance with regard to the wireless device based upon the reflected locator signal; and
displaying the relative location of the wireless device with respect to the source of the locator signal within a map overlay in a vector format based upon the direction and the distance of the wireless device.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locator signal comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) signal.
3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising determining a time period of the locator signal to reflect from the wireless device and be received as the reflected locator signal.
4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising determining a geographic position of the wireless device based on data of the locator signal acknowledgement.
5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising determining geographic coordinates of the wireless device based on at least one of:
the distance;
the time period; and
the determined geographic position.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating a relative location including the direction and the distance with regard to the wireless device further comprising:
determining the distance based on propagation time of the reflected locator signal.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining the surrounding environment by:
determining a layout of the surrounding environment based on the reflected locator signal.
8. A handheld device for locating a wireless device, the handheld device comprising:
a processing unit configured to:
prompt transmission of a locator signal to commence identification and listing of the wireless device relative to the handheld device within a distance range;
receive a reflected locator signal based on the locator signal and a locator signal acknowledgement, responsive to the locator signal, from the wireless device, wherein the locator signal acknowledgement includes information relating to the wireless device;
generate a relative location to the handheld device, the relative location includes direction and distance to the wireless device with respect to the handheld device based upon a propagation time of the reflected locator signal; and
display the relative location of the wireless device with respect to the handheld device within a map overlay in a vector format based upon the direction and the distance to the wireless device.
9. The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the locator signal comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) signal.
10. The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine the distance with regard to the wireless device based on a time period for the locator signal to reflect from the wireless device and be received as the reflected locator signal.
11. The handheld device of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine a geographic position of the wireless device based on the locator signal acknowledgement.
12. The handheld device of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit is configured to determine geographic coordinates of the wireless device based on at least one of:
the distance;
the time period; and
the determined geographic position.
13. The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine the distance based on a propagation time of the reflected locator signal.
14. The handheld device of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine a layout of a surrounding geographic area based on the reflected locator signal.
15. A signal-generated locator for operation in a wireless device for use in locating another wireless device, the signal-generated locator comprising:
a processing unit configured to:
prompt transmission of transmit a locator signal to commence identification and listing of the another wireless device relative to the wireless device, wherein a power of the locator signal is based on a maximum distance default to the another wireless device;
receive a reflected locator signal based on the locator signal and a locator signal acknowledgement, responsive to the locator signal, from the another wireless device, wherein the locator signal acknowledgement includes information relating to the wireless device;
generate a relative location to the wireless device, the relative location including direction and distance to the another wireless device based upon a propagation time of the reflected locator signal; and
display via the wireless device the relative location of the another wireless device with respect to the wireless device of the locator signal within a map overlay in a vector format based upon the direction and the distance to the wireless device on a map overlay.
16. The signal-generated locator of claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine the surrounding environment within a predetermined distance in relation to the wireless device; and
determine a position of the wireless device with respect to the determined surrounding environment.
17. The signal-generated locator of claim 15 , wherein the locator signal comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) signal.
18. The signal-generated locator of claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine the distance with regard to the another wireless device based on a time period for the locator signal to reflect from the another wireless device and be received as the reflected locator signal.
19. The signal-generated locator of claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine the distance based on a propagation time of the reflected locator signal.
20. The signal-generated locator of claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine a layout of a surrounding geographic area based on the reflected locator signal.