Systems and methods for locating mobile electronic devices with ear-worn devices
Embodiments herein relate to ear-worn devices that can be used to locate other devices such as mobile electronic devices. In a first aspect, an ear-worn device is included having a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, wherein the ear-worn device is configured to issue a location command to a mobile electronic device and wherein the location command triggers the mobile electronic device to emit a locating signal. Other embodiments are also included herein.
1. An ear-worn device comprising:
a control circuit;
a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a communication device in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-worn device is configured to
issue a location command to a mobile electronic device, wherein the location command triggers the mobile electronic device to emit a locating signal; and
guide an ear-worn device wearer to the mobile electronic device based on the locating signal.
2. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , the locating signal comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a sound at an audible frequency, sound at an inaudible frequency, a visual output, a vibration, a geospatial location bearing electronic communication, and a referential location.
3. The ear-worn device of claim 2 , the geospatial location comprising geospatial coordinates.
4. The ear-worn device of claim 2 , the geospatial location comprising a triangulated location.
5. The ear-worn device of claim 2 , the referential location comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a beacon reference, a specific room, an associated device reference, and a recognized sound field reference.
6. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , the locating signal comprising a vertical dimension.
7. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to guide the ear-worn device wearer using a virtual 3-D audio interface.
8. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to guide the ear-worn device wearer including directions relative to a directional position of the ear-worn device wearer's head.
9. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein guidance changes based on proximity to the mobile electronic device.
10. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to guide an ear-worn device wearer to a projected location of the mobile electronic device based on a stored location of the mobile electronic device stored in a memory of the ear-worn device.
11. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to access a stored location of the mobile electronic device if a locating signal is not received with a time period after issuing a location command to a mobile electronic device.
12. The ear-worn device of claim 11 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to periodically receive locating signals from the mobile electronic device and store location aspects of the same.
13. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to compute a projected location of the mobile electronic device if a locating signal is not received after issuing a location command to a mobile electronic device.
14. The ear-worn device of claim 13 , the projected location determined based on factors including a current time of day.
15. The ear-worn device of claim 13 , the projected location determined based on factors including recorded sleep/wake patterns of the ear-worn device wearer.
16. The ear-worn device of claim 13 , the projected location determined based on factors including recorded movement patterns of the ear-worn device wearer.
17. The ear-worn device of claim 13 , the projected location determined based on factors including recorded activity patterns of the ear-worn device wearer.
18. The ear-worn device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to issue a location command to a secondary device if a locating signal is not received within a time period after issuing a location command to a mobile electronic device.
19. An ear-worn device comprising:
a control circuit;
a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a communication device in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-worn device is configured to
issue a location command to a mobile electronic device, wherein the location command triggers the mobile electronic device to emit a locating signal; and
access a stored location of the mobile electronic device if a locating signal is not received with a time period after issuing a location command to a mobile electronic device.
20. An ear-worn device comprising:
a control circuit;
a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a communication device in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit;
a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-worn device is configured to
issue a location command to a mobile electronic device, wherein the location command triggers the mobile electronic device to emit a locating signal; and
compute a projected location of the mobile electronic device if a locating signal is not received after issuing a location command to a mobile electronic device.