IP Library Granted Patent US 9,954,628
Granted Patent B1
US 9,954,628 · App. 15/817,261 · Granted Apr 24, 2018

Environment identification based on multiple proximate hubs

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,954,628
App. No.
15/817,261
Granted
Apr 24, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

An audio/video (A/V) hub that determines an environment of a portable electronic device is described. In particular, the A/V hub may identify the environment based on performance information about communication between the portable electronic device and receiver devices (which was received from the receiver devices), and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the A/V hub. Alternatively, the A/V hub may identify the environment based on performance information about communication between the portable electronic device and the A/V hub and the portable electronic device and another A/V hub (which was received from the portable electronic device and/or the other A/V hub), and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the A/V hub. Based on the determination, the A/V hub provides an instruction to power on an A/V display device in the environment.

Claims (36)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more antennas;

an interface circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas, wherein the electronic device is configured to:

receive, via the interface circuit, a first message associated with a first receiver device with first performance information about communication between the first receiver device and a portable electronic device;

receive, via the interface circuit, a second message associated with a second receiver device with second performance information about communication between the second receiver device and the portable electronic device; and

determine that the portable electronic device is in a first environment based on the first performance information, the second performance information, and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first environment and the second environment are one of: in a room in a building, and adjacent rooms in the building.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when the determination is inconclusive, the electronic device is configured to provide, via the interface circuit, a question for the portable electronic device requesting that an environment of the portable electronic device be specified.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to provide, via the interface circuit, content to a display device in the first environment based on the history of behavior of the individual associated with the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the determination is based on a comparison of the first performance information and the second performance information.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the determination is based on a location of the portable electronic device, which is determined based on the first performance information and the second performance information.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein given performance information in the first performance information and the second performance information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the given performance information in the first performance information and the second performance information includes time-of-flight information for the communication between the given receiver device and the portable electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to:

transcode content for the individual based on a format of a display device in the first environment; and

provide, via the interface circuit, the transcoded content for the display device.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to provide, via the interface circuit, an instruction to another electronic device in the first environment based on the determination.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing a program module that, when executed by the electronic device, determines an environment of a portable electronic device by performing one or more operations comprising:

receiving, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, a first message associated with a first receiver device with first performance information about communication between the first receiver device and the portable electronic device;

receiving, via the interface circuit, a second message associated with a second receiver device with second performance information about communication between the second receiver device and the portable electronic device; and

determining that the portable electronic device is in a first environment of the first receiver device based on the first performance information, the second performance information, and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the electronic device.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the first environment and the second environment are one of: in a room in a building, and adjacent rooms in the building.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more operations comprise providing, via the interface circuit and when the determination is inconclusive, a question for the portable electronic device requesting that the environment of the portable electronic device be specified.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more operations comprise providing, via the interface circuit content to a display device in the first environment based on the history of behavior of the individual associated with the electronic device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the determination is based on a comparison of the first performance information and the second performance information.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the determination is based on a location of the portable electronic device, which is determined based on the first performance information and the second performance information.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein given performance information includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the given performance information includes time-of-flight information for the communication between the given receiver device and the portable electronic device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more operations comprise:

transcoding content for the individual based on a format of a display device in the first environment; and

providing, via the interface circuit, the transcoded content for the display device.

20. A method for determining an environment of a portable electronic device, wherein the method comprises:

by an electronic device:

receiving, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, a first message associated with a first receiver device with first performance information about communication between the first receiver device and the portable electronic device;

receiving, via the interface circuit, a second message associated with a second receiver device with second performance information about communication between the second receiver device and the portable electronic device; and

determining that the portable electronic device is in a first environment of the first receiver device based on the first performance information, the second performance information, and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the electronic device.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.; EVA HOLDING, CORP.; EVA OPERATIONS CORP.
To: DEI SALES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055222/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: DEI SALES, INC.
To: B&W GROUP LTD
Reel/Frame 055174/0024 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
To: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.; EVA HOLDING, CORP.; EVA OPERATIONS CORP.
Reel/Frame 055174/0064 →
RELEASE OF PATENT COLLATERAL SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
To: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 054288/0568 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT COLLATERAL SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053968/0953 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2019
From: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.
To: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048473/0646 →
PATENT COLLATERAL SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2019
From: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048301/0213 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2017
From: YU, GAYLORD
To: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 044483/0943 →