Device and method for monitoring proximity between two devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10375518-B2
Application number	US-201414549503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A device and method for monitoring a first device proximity to a second device is disclosed. The first device is for example a smartphone and the second device is for example a wearable device. Proximity between both devices is monitored in conjunction with an electronic calendar so as to trigger an alert in case proximity between both devices is going to be lost while an event of the calendar is imminent.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring a first device proximity to a second device, the method comprising:
monitoring at least one wireless link between said first device and said second device;
notifying a user about a loss of proximity of said first device by triggering an alert of the loss of proximity of said first device by the second device when said at least one wireless link is disrupted while a calendar event stored in an electronic calendar is imminent; and
increasing, from a lower level to a higher level, the alert of the loss of proximity of said first device as the calendar event becomes more imminent,
wherein the monitoring of the at least one wireless link is performed periodically by the first device or by the second device,
wherein a frequency of said monitoring increases as the calendar event becomes more imminent.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless link is disrupted when a Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI, measured on said at least one wireless link between the first device and the second device is less than a threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said threshold increases as said calendar event becomes more imminent.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the first device is in a public area, said method comprises locking said first device when the at least one wireless link with the second device is disrupted.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of the alert further depends on a location type of the first device, said location type belonging to a set consisting of a public location and a private location.

6. A first device for monitoring proximity with a second device, said first device comprising a processor configured to:
monitor at least one wireless link between said first device and a second device;
send to the second device a notification about a loss of proximity of said first device, wherein the notification triggers an alert of the loss of proximity of said first device in the second device when said at least one wireless link is disrupted while a calendar event stored in an electronic calendar is imminent; and
increase, from a lower level to a higher level, the alert of the loss of proximity of said first device as the calendar event becomes more imminent,
wherein the at least one wireless link is periodically monitored by the first device or by the second device at a frequency increasing as the calendar event becomes more imminent.

7. The first device of claim 6 , wherein said first device is able to access to said electronic calendar.

8. The first device of claim 6 , wherein said first device comprises a motion sensor.

9. The first device of claim 6 , wherein said first device is a mobile communication terminal, particularly a smartphone or a tablet or a laptop.

10. The first device of claim 6 , wherein the level of the alert further depends on a location type of the first device, said location type belonging to a set consisting of a public location and a private location.

11. A second device monitoring a proximity with a first device, said second device comprising a processor configured to:
access to an electronic calendar;
monitor at least one wireless link between a first device and said second device;
notify a user about a loss of proximity of said first device by triggering an alert of the loss of proximity of said first device when said at least one wireless link is disrupted while a calendar event stored in an electronic calendar is imminent; and
increase, from a lower level to a higher level, the alert of the loss of proximity of said first device as the calendar event becomes more imminent,
wherein the at least one wireless link is periodically monitored by the first device or by the second device at a frequency increasing as the calendar event becomes more imminent.

12. The second device of claim 11 , wherein said second device comprises a motion sensor.

13. The second device of claim 11 , wherein said second device is a smart watch.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which upon execution cause a processor to:
monitor at least one wireless link between a first device and a second device;
notify a user about a loss of proximity of said first device by triggering an alert of the loss of proximity of said first device by the second device when said at least one wireless link is disrupted while a calendar event stored in an electronic calendar is imminent; and
increase, from a lower level to a higher level, the alert of the loss of proximity of said first device as the calendar event becomes more imminent,
wherein the at least one wireless link is periodically monitored by the first device or by the second device at a frequency increasing as the calendar event becomes more imminent.

15. A method for monitoring proximity between devices, said method comprising:
accessing, by a second device, an electronic calendar;
monitoring, by the second device, at least one wireless link between a first device and said second device;
notifying, by the second device, a user about a loss of proximity of said first device by triggering an alert of the loss of proximity of said first device, by the second device when said at least one wireless link is disrupted while a calendar event stored in an electronic calendar is imminent; and
increasing, from a lower level to a higher level, the alert of the loss of proximity of said first device as the calendar event becomes more imminent,
wherein the at least one wireless link is periodically monitored by the first device or by the second device at a frequency increasing as the calendar event becomes more imminent.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second device comprises a motion sensor.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said second device is a smart watch.

Assignees

• Thomson Licensing
• Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings

Inventors

• Gilberton Philippe
• Legallais Yvon
• Fontaine Patrick

Classifications

• G08B13/1427

  with transmitter-receiver for distance detection · CPC title

• G08B21/0247

  System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength · CPC title

• G08B21/0213

  System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded (disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409) · CPC title

• H04W4/023 Primary

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title