Using in-home location awareness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11575752-B2
Application number	US-202016892207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2020
Priority date	Jun 12, 2016
Publication date	Feb 7, 2023
Grant date	Feb 7, 2023

Abstract

Techniques for suggesting accessory devices controlled by an application executing on a mobile device are disclosed. A method includes measuring one or more sensor values using one or more sensors of a mobile device and the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices. An area of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices can be determined based on the one or more sensor values. A second one or more accessory devices associated with the same area as the first one or more accessory devices can be suggested to a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of suggesting one or more accessory devices controlled by an application executing on a mobile device, the method comprising performing by the mobile device:
measuring one or more sensor values, the one or more sensor values measured using one or more sensors of the mobile device, wherein the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices;
determining boundaries of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices based on the one or more sensor values, wherein the boundaries of the physical space identify dimensions of the physical space; and
suggesting a second one or more accessory devices within the boundaries of the physical space that was determined from the one or more signals emitted by the first one or more accessory devices.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first one or more accessory devices and the second one or more accessory devices are shared by the mobile device and a plurality of other mobile devices.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the boundaries of the physical space of the first one or more accessory devices is further determined based on measurements from the plurality of other mobile devices.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the suggested second one or more accessory devices associated with the same boundaries as the first one or more accessory devices is determined based on previously measured sensor values.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the suggested second one or more accessory devices associated with the same boundaries as the first one or more accessory devices is determined based on historical usage of the suggested second one or more accessory devices by the plurality of other mobile devices while in the boundaries.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the boundaries of the physical space corresponds to a room in a home.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring the one or more sensor values is performed one or more times over a time interval.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring the one or more sensor values is initiated in response to a triggering event.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the triggering event comprises a user interaction with the mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the user interaction with the mobile device comprises selection of a button on the mobile device or activation of an intelligent assistant on the mobile device.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensor values, measured using one or more sensors of the mobile device, correspond to one or more sensor positions, and wherein the one or more sensor positions correspond to one or more physical positions in the boundaries of the physical space.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the suggested second one or more accessory devices associated with the same boundaries as the first one or more accessory devices is determined based on one or more shared device data models for the second one or more accessory devices.

13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the mobile device and the plurality of other mobile devices share accessory device usage information for the first one or more accessory devices and the second one or more accessory devices.

14. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of other mobile devices are used by a plurality of different users.

15. A mobile device comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising:
measuring one or more sensor values, the one or more sensor values measured using one or more sensors of the mobile device, wherein the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices;
determining boundaries of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices based on the one or more sensor values, wherein the boundaries of the physical space identify dimensions of the physical space; and
suggesting a second one or more accessory devices within the boundaries of the physical space that was determined from the one or more signals emitted by the first one or more accessory devices.

16. The mobile device according to claim 15 , wherein the first one or more accessory devices and the second one or more accessory devices are shared by the mobile device and a plurality of other mobile devices.

17. The mobile device according to claim 16 , wherein the suggested second one or more accessory devices associated with the same boundaries as the first one or more accessory devices is determined based on historical usage of the suggested second one or more accessory devices by the plurality of other mobile devices while in the boundaries.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions configured to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
measuring one or more sensor values, the one or more sensor values measured using one or more sensors of a mobile device, wherein the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices;
determining boundaries of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices based on the one or more sensor values, wherein the boundaries of the physical space identify dimensions of the physical space; and
suggesting a second one or more accessory devices within the boundaries of the physical space that was determined from the one or more signals emitted by the first one or more accessory devices.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 , wherein the first one or more accessory devices and the second one or more accessory devices are shared by the mobile device and a plurality of other mobile devices.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 , wherein the suggested second one or more accessory devices associated with the same boundaries as the first one or more accessory devices is determined based on historical usage of the suggested second one or more accessory devices by the plurality of other mobile devices while in the boundaries.

21. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the suggested second one or more accessory devices that are within the boundaries of the determined boundaries of the physical space of the first one or more accessory devices on a display of the mobile device.

22. The method according to claim 6 , wherein a first room in the home has boundaries that are different from a second room in the home, and wherein each of the first room and the second room has one or more accessory devices.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ledvina Brent M
• Mclaughlin Kevin P
• Stites David R
• Bhatti Jahshan A
• Duffy Kevin
• Mayor Robert William

Classifications

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• G08C2201/20

  Binding and programming of remote control devices · CPC title

• H04L2012/285

  Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators · CPC title

• H04L67/125 Primary

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title

• G08C2201/93

  Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop · CPC title