IP Library Granted Patent US 9,014,644
Granted Patent B2
US 9,014,644 · App. 13/529,964 · Granted Apr 21, 2015

Proximity detection using diversity path loss sampling

Inventor: Stephen Cahill (Felton, CA)
Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
G01S11/06H04B17/27H04B17/318H04B17/336H04W64/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,014,644
App. No.
13/529,964
Granted
Apr 21, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for radio proximity detection are disclosed. In one example, a method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio includes determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio, and processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

Claims (41)

1. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising: determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio comprising estimating a distance utilizing a RSSI value from a signal received at a base radio selected antenna; and processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base radio selected antenna is associated with a lower path loss between the mobile radio and the base radio relative to a base radio non-selected antenna.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the initial range comprises determining whether the mobile radio is less than a threshold distance from the base radio.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a bit error rate or signal-to-noise ratio on a communications channel between the mobile radio and the base radio; and

processing the error rate or signal-to-noise ratio in addition to the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base radio is coupled to a personal computer via a computer interface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base radio and mobile radio utilize a DECT protocol, Bluetooth protocol, or IEEE 802.11 protocol.

7. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising: determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio; processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna; determining a mobile radio motion state comprising whether the mobile radio is in motion; and processing the mobile radio motion state in addition to the initial range to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

8. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising: determining an initial range of a mobile radio in relation to a base radio; and processing the initial range determination to determine whether to make a refined range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna, wherein the refined range determination is made by: measuring a first RSSI value using the base radio first antenna; measuring a second RSSI value using the base radio second antenna; generating an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI value and the second RSSI value; and generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein, the proximity indication is whether the mobile radio is within a threshold distance from the base radio.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RSSI value.

11. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

determining a mobile radio is within a predetermined range of a base radio;

measuring two or more RSSI values at two or more antennas at a base radio;

generating an average RSSI value from the two or more RSSI values measured at the two or more antennas at the base radio; and

determining a mobile radio proximity to the base radio utilizing the average RSSI value.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining a mobile radio is within a predetermined range of a base radio comprises estimating a distance utilizing a RSSI value from a signal received at a base radio selected antenna, the base radio selected antenna associated with a lower path loss between the mobile radio and the base radio relative to a base radio non-selected antenna.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether an error rate on a communications channel between the mobile radio and the base radio is above a threshold level.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether the mobile radio is in motion.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the mobile radio proximity to the base radio comprises determining whether the mobile radio is less than a threshold distance from the base radio.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the mobile radio proximity to the base radio utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RSSI value.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first RSSI data associated with a first base radio antenna;

receiving a second RSSI data associated with a second base radio antenna;

determining an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI data associated with the first base radio antenna and the second RSSI data associated with the second base radio antenna; and

determining a proximity of a mobile radio to a base radio utilizing the average RSSI value.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the proximity is an in-proximity state or a not-in-proximity state.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein determining a proximity of a mobile radio utilizing the average RSSI value comprises determining whether the average RSSI value is above or below a threshold RS SI value.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 , the operations further comprising receiving an initial RSSI data and making an initial range determination prior to receiving the first RSSI data and the second RSSI data.

21. A method for determining a proximity of a mobile radio comprising:

determining a noise level on a communications channel between a mobile radio and a base radio; and

processing the noise level to determine whether to make a range determination utilizing signal measurements from both a base radio first antenna and a base radio second antenna.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the range determination is made by:

measuring a first RSSI value using the base radio first antenna;

measuring a second RSSI value using the base radio second antenna;

generating an average RSSI value utilizing the first RSSI value and the second RSSI value; and

generating a proximity indication utilizing the average RSSI value.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein, the proximity indication is whether the mobile radio is within a threshold distance from the base radio.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein threshold distance corresponds to a distance at which a user can view a computing device display screen associated with the base radio.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the noise level is a bit error rate or a RF signal-to- noise ratio.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: PLANTRONICS, INC.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 065549/0065 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 30, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PLANTRONICS, INC.; POLYCOM, INC.
Reel/Frame 061356/0366 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 5, 2018
From: PLANTRONICS, INC.; POLYCOM, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 046491/0915 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2012
From: CAHILL, STEPHEN
To: PLANTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028422/0853 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130344815A1 · Dec 26, 2013