IP Library Granted Patent US 8,412,113
Granted Patent B2
US 8,412,113 · App. 12/741,551 · Granted Apr 2, 2013

Radio communication device, program, radio communication method, and radio communication system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,412,113
App. No.
12/741,551
Granted
Apr 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a radio communication device including a reception unit that receives a radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition.

Claims (31)

1. A radio communication device comprising:

a reception unit that receives a radio signal;

a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit;

a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component; and

an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition;

wherein the estimation unit calculates an average value of the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition, determines in which of defined average value ranges the average value is included, and estimates the distance from the transmission source device of the radio signal to be a distance corresponding to the average value range in which the average value is determined to be included.

2. The radio communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the noise component of the radio signal is greater than a set lower limit value and lower than an set upper limit value.

3. The radio communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a radio signal; and a control unit that controls the transmission unit to transmit the radio signal when the radio signal is received by the reception unit.

4. The radio communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the reception unit receives, from the transmission source device in advance, device information indicating a transmitting power for the radio signal from the transmission source device, and wherein the estimation unit estimates the distance from the transmission source device of the radio signal by using the device information.

5. The radio communication device according to claim 4 , wherein the device information indicates the transmitting power for the radio signal from the transmission source device or a model of the transmission source device.

6. The radio communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the average value ranges or calculation of the average value varies by the device information.

7. The radio communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a display unit that displays distance information corresponding to the distance from the transmission source device estimated by the estimation unit, wherein the estimation unit causes the display unit to display the distance information for each estimated distance from the transmission source device.

8. The radio communication device according to claim 7 , wherein the estimation unit determines whether the distance from the transmission source device satisfies the predetermined condition and further causes the display unit to display information corresponding to a determination result.

9. The radio communication device according to claim 8 , further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a radio signal; and a control unit that controls, based on the determination result determined by the estimation unit, the transmission unit to transmit the radio signal indicating whether the distance from the transmission source device satisfies the predetermined condition.

10. A program causing a computer to function as a radio communication device comprising:

a reception unit that receives a radio signal;

a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit;

a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component; and

an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition;

wherein the estimation unit calculates an average value of the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition, determines in which of defined average value ranges the average value is included, and estimates the distance from the transmission source device of the radio signal to be a distance corresponding to the average value range in which the average value is determined to be included.

11. A radio communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving a radio signal;

measuring a field intensity of the received radio signal;

determining whether the received radio signal satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component; and

estimating a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined to satisfy the predetermined condition;

wherein estimating a distance from the transmission source comprises calculating an average value of the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition, determining in which of defined average value ranges the average value is included, and estimating the distance from the transmission source device of the radio signal to be a distance corresponding to the average value range in which the average value is determined to be included.

12. A radio communication system comprising:

a first radio communication device; and

a second radio communication device, wherein the first radio communication device transmits a radio signal to the second radio communication device; and

wherein the second radio communication device includes a reception unit that receives the radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from the first radio communication device based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition;

wherein the estimation unit calculates an average value of the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition, determines in which of defined average value ranges the average value is included, and estimates the distance from the transmission source device of the radio signal to be a distance corresponding to the average value range in which the average value is determined to be included.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 040350/0891 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2010
From: KOHNO, MICHINARI; YAMANE, KENJI
To: SONY CORPORATION; SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 024347/0805 →