IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,117,214
Granted Patent B1
US 10,117,214 · App. 15/271,667 · Granted Oct 30, 2018

Triggering an action based on device presence

Inventors: Mark Douglas Peden (Olathe, KS); Simon Youngs (Overland Park, KS); Thomas Michael Koch (Olathe, KS); Raymond Emilio Reeves (Oviedo, FL)
Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
H04W64/00H04B17/318H04L43/16H04L67/24H04L67/303H04L67/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,117,214
App. No.
15/271,667
Granted
Oct 30, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods provide for triggering an action based on detection of one or more user devices. One or more signals from at least one user device are detected by at least one sensor in a target area. A sensor can be in operable communication with a location server to which the signals are relayed. Based on the signals detected, a determination is made as to whether the one or more signals exceed a predetermined threshold for signal strength in the target area. Based on a set of signals exceeding the predetermined threshold for signal strength, the location server triggers an action that corresponds to the target area.

Claims (37)

1. A method for causing an action to be triggered based on detecting a presence of one or more user devices, the method comprising:

detecting, by at least one sensor, one or more wireless signals from at least one mobile device in a target area;

aggregating, by a location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, two or more wireless signals corresponding to the target area;

determining that an aggregate signal strength corresponding to the detected wireless signals exceeds a predetermined threshold for signal strength in the target area;

determining a user device density profile for the target area, wherein the density profile is a function of one or more user devices and the aggregate signal strength for the target area; and

triggering, by the location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, an action corresponding to the target area based on the user device density profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more signals comprise radio frequency signals emitted by the at least one user device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a microcell, a microcell, or a sensor array.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location server comprises an applications engine that is in operable communication with an activateable system in the target area, the location server further comprising at least one usage profile associated with the activateable system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the location server selects a usage profile to be used in conjunction with an activateable system based on the user device density profile for the target area.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the activateable system is at least one of an HVAC system, a lighting system, a security system, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the triggered action includes the engagement or disengagement of at least one activateable system, and wherein the engagement or disengagement is based on the usage profile.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein one or more usage profiles determine the threshold for signal strength in the target area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor has a unique sensor identifier.

10. A method for causing an action to be triggered based on detecting a presence of one or more user devices, the method comprising:

detecting, by at least one sensor, one or more wireless signals from at least one mobile device in a target area;

aggregating, by a location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, two or more wireless signals corresponding to the target area;

determining that the aggregate signal strength corresponding to the detected wireless signals exceeds a predetermined threshold for signal strength in the target area;

determining a user device density profile for the target area, wherein the density profile is a function of one or more user devices and the aggregate signal strength of the detected signals in the target area;

querying a carrier to provide data associated with the detected one or more wireless signals;

receiving data corresponding to at least one user device in response to the query; and

triggering, by the location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, an action corresponding to the target area based on the user device density profile and the data corresponding to at least one user device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more mobile devices have registered on the location server.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more signals comprise radio frequency signals emitted by the at least one user device.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a density profile of the target area based on the registered devices.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the location server comprises an applications engine that is in operable communication with an activateable system in the target area, the location server further comprising at least one usage profile associated with the activateable system.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the location server is communicatively coupled to at least one of an HVAC system, a lighting system, a security system, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the triggered action includes the engagement or disengagement of at least one system, wherein the engagement or disengagement is based on the usage profile.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor has a unique sensor identification.

18. A system for causing an action to be triggered based on detecting a presence of one or more user devices, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer storage media storing computer-useable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

detecting, by at least one sensor, one or more signals from at least one mobile device in a target area;

aggregating, by a location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, two or more wireless signals corresponding to the target area;

determining that an aggregate signal strength corresponding to the detected wireless signals exceeds a predetermined threshold for signal strength in the target area;

determining a user device density profile for the target area, wherein the density profile is a function of one or more user devices and the aggregate signal strength for the target area; and

triggering, by the location server communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, an action corresponding to the target area based on the user device density profile.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2016
From: PEDEN, MARK DOUGLAS; YOUNGS, SIMON; KOCH, THOMAS MICHAEL; REEVES, RAYMOND EMILIO
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 040501/0681 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,305,995 US 12,672,068