Apparatus and related method for proximity awareness

1. An apparatus for enabling proximity awareness, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a proximity assessing unit comprising an Ultra-Wide Band interface,

wherein said proximity assessing unit is configured to determine a distance between said apparatus and a neighbouring device and/or an orientation of said apparatus with respect to a neighbouring device;

a first determining unit configured to determine one or more apparatus parameters comprising at least one of:

a noise level in the vicinity of said apparatus;

an activity level of said apparatus;

an identifier of said apparatus;

a user group associated with said apparatus;

presence of one or more certificates on said apparatus;

a second determining unit configured to determine one or more neighbouring device parameters comprising at least one of:

an activity level of said neighbouring device;

an identifier of said neighbouring device;

a user group associated with said neighbouring device;

a type of said neighbouring device;

presence of one or more neighbouring certificates on said neighbouring device;

a stimulus generating unit configured to generate a stimulus;

a selecting unit configured to select a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus in function of a combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters;

a third determining unit configured to:

determine a duration since a previous determination of a distance and/or an orientation between said apparatus and said neighbouring device; and

determine a change in distance and/or in orientation between said previous determination and said determination by said proximity assessing unit; and

wherein said selecting unit is further configured to adapt said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus based on a combination of said change in distance and/or in orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters; and

a rule engine configured to obtain one or more predetermined rules,

wherein each of said predetermined rules defines a correspondence between a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus and a predetermined combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters; and

wherein said selecting unit is further configured to select said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus in function of one or more of said predetermined rules.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said proximity assessing unit is configured to determine said distance between said apparatus and said neighbouring devices and/or said orientation of said apparatus with respect to said neighbouring devices with a frequency in function of a combination of said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus and/or in function of a combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more device parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said type of said stimulus corresponds to one or more of the following:

sound;

light;

vibration;

signaling;

activating a stimulus on another device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said intensity of said stimulus corresponds to one or more of the following:

sound level;

sound frequency;

light intensity;

wavelength;

light source selection;

vibration frequency;

vibration amplitude;

frequency of signaling;

content of signaling.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined rules comprise predetermined thresholds for said apparatus parameters and/or for said neighbouring device parameters.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said proximity assessing unit is configured to assess said distance and/or said orientation between said apparatus and said neighbouring device from one or more of the following:

a signal strength of a signal received by said apparatus;

a timestamp of reception of said signal by said apparatus;

phase information comprised in said signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a saving unit configured to generate a neighbour table and further configured to store said neighbouring device parameters in said neighbour table.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a discovery unit configured to broadcast a discovery signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said saving unit is further configured to store in said neighbour table at least one or more of the following:

said duration since a previous determination of a distance between said apparatus and said neighbouring devices and/or orientation of said apparatus with respect to said neighbouring devices;

said change in distance and/or in orientation determined between said previous determination and said determination by said proximity assessing unit;

a broadcasting duration since broadcasting a previous discovery signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises an accelerometer configured to determine acceleration data for said apparatus; and

wherein said first determining unit is further configured to determine said activity level of said apparatus from at least said acceleration data.

11. A computer-implemented method for enabling proximity awareness for an apparatus comprising a proximity assessing unit comprising an Ultra-Wide Band interface,

wherein said method comprises the steps of:

determining with said proximity assessing unit a distance between said apparatus and a neighbouring device and/or an orientation of said apparatus with respect to a neighbouring device;

determining one or more apparatus parameters comprising at least one of:

a noise level in the vicinity of said apparatus;

an activity level of said apparatus;

an identifier of said apparatus;

a user group associated with said apparatus;

presence of one or more certificates on said apparatus;

determining one or more neighbouring device parameters comprising at least one of:

an activity level of said neighbouring device;

an identifier of said neighbouring device;

a user group associated with said neighbouring device;

a type of said neighbouring device;

presence of one or more neighbouring certificates on said neighbouring device;

selecting a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus in function of a combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters;

generating said stimulus of said selected type and/or said intensity;

determining a duration since a previous determination of a distance and/or an orientation between said apparatus and said neighbouring device;

determining a change in distance and/or in orientation between said previous determination and said determination by said proximity assessing unit;

adapting said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus based on a combination of said change in distance and/or in orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters;

obtaining one or more predetermined rules,

wherein each of said predetermined rules defines a correspondence between a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus and a predetermined combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters; and

selecting said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus in function of one or more of said predetermined rules.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps when the program is run on a computer:

determining with a proximity assessing unit comprising an Ultra-Wide Band interface a distance between an apparatus comprising said proximity assessing unit and a neighbouring device and/or an orientation of said apparatus with respect to a neighbouring device;

determining one or more apparatus parameters comprising at least one of:

a noise level in the vicinity of said apparatus;

an activity level of said apparatus;

an identifier of said apparatus;

a user group associated with said apparatus;

presence of one or more certificates on said apparatus;

determining one or more neighbouring device parameters comprising at least one of:

an activity level of said neighbouring device;

an identifier of said neighbouring device;

a user group associated with said neighbouring device;

a type of said neighbouring device;

presence of one or more neighbouring certificates on said neighbouring device;

selecting a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus in function of a combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters;

generating said stimulus of said selected type and/or said intensity;

determining a duration since a previous determination of a distance and/or an orientation between said apparatus and said neighbouring device;

determining a change in distance and/or in orientation between said previous determination and said determination by said proximity assessing unit;

adapting said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus based on a combination of said change in distance and/or in orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters;

obtaining one or more predetermined rules,

wherein each of said predetermined rules defines a correspondence between a type and/or an intensity of said stimulus and a predetermined combination of said distance and/or said orientation, said one or more apparatus parameters and said one or more neighbouring device parameters; and

selecting said type and/or said intensity of said stimulus in function of one or more of said predetermined rules.