Automated device control session

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12317151-B2
Application number	US-202217849612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2022
Priority date	Jun 25, 2022
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A method can include receiving by a mobile device, an identifier transmitted wirelessly from a tagged device; accessing proximity information using the identifier and the mobile device; performing a wireless ranging protocol using the mobile device to determine a distance from the mobile device to the tagged device; and establishing a control session for control of the tagged device using the mobile device, where the distance is within a distance limit specified by the proximity information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving by a mobile device, a first identifier transmitted wirelessly from a first tagged device;
accessing first proximity information using the first identifier and the mobile device;
performing a wireless ranging protocol using the mobile device to determine a first distance from the mobile device to the first tagged device;
establishing a control session for control of the first tagged device using the mobile device, wherein the first distance is within a first distance limit specified by the first proximity information;
receiving by the mobile device, a second identifier transmitted wirelessly from a second tagged device;
accessing second proximity information using the second identifier and the mobile device;
performing the wireless ranging protocol using the mobile device to determine a second distance from the mobile device to the second tagged device;
making a determination that the second distance is not within a second distance limit specified by the second proximity information; and
responsive to the determination, temporarily halting processing of the mobile device associated with the second tagged device during the established control session for control of the first tagged device.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating the first proximity information responsive to receipt of a command by the mobile device wherein the first tagged device and the mobile device are separated by the first distance limit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first distance limit is a maximum distance limit.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first proximity information specifies a minimum distance limit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first proximity information specifies an angle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first proximity information specifies a range of angles.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first proximity information specifies at least the first distance limit and at least one angle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless ranging protocol utilizes time of flight of wireless signals to determine at least the first distance.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless ranging protocol utilizes an angle of arrival technique of wireless signals to determine an angle between a mobile device direction and a tagged device direction.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the angle of arrival technique utilizes one or more of time of flight, time difference of arrival and phase difference of arrival of the wireless signals.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises memory that stores the first proximity information in association with at least the first identifier.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises memory that stores proximity information for a plurality of additional, different tagged devices, wherein each of the additional, different tagged devices comprises a corresponding identifier.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises memory that stores positional information for the first tagged device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the positional information indicates that the first tagged device is stationary or not stationary.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising, responsive to a change in the first distance such that a changed distance is not within the first distance limit specified by the first proximity information, terminating the established control session.

16. The method of claim 1 , comprising, responsive to a change in an angle between a direction of the mobile device and a direction of the first tagged device, terminating the established control session.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the terminating is based on a comparison of the angle to an angle specified by the first proximity information.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the first tagged device and the mobile device comprise ultra-wideband circuitry.

19. A mobile device comprising:
a processor;
memory accessible to the processor;
computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, executable by the processor to instruct the mobile device to:
receive a first identifier transmitted wirelessly from a first tagged device;
access first proximity information using the first identifier;
perform a wireless ranging protocol to determine a first distance from the mobile device to the first tagged device;
establish a control session for control of the first tagged device, wherein the first distance is within a first distance limit specified by the first proximity information;
receive a second identifier transmitted wirelessly from a second tagged device;
access second proximity information using the second identifier;
perform the wireless ranging protocol to determine a second distance from the mobile device to the second tagged device;
make a determination that the second distance is not within a second distance limit specified by the second proximity information; and
responsive to the determination, temporarily halt processing of the mobile device associated with the second tagged device during the established control session for control of the first tagged device.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media that comprise computer-executable instructions executable by a processor of a mobile device to instruct the mobile device to:
receive a first identifier transmitted wirelessly from a first tagged device;
access first proximity information using the first identifier;
perform a wireless ranging protocol to determine a first distance from the mobile device to the first tagged device;
establish a control session for control of the first tagged device, wherein the first distance is within a first distance limit specified by the first proximity information;
receive a second identifier transmitted wirelessly from a second tagged device;
access second proximity information using the second identifier;
perform the wireless ranging protocol to determine a second distance from the mobile device to the second tagged device;
make a determination that the second distance is not within a second distance limit specified by the second proximity information; and
responsive to the determination, temporarily halt processing of the mobile device associated with the second tagged device during the established control session for control of the first tagged device.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Rose Alden
• Ent Ali
• Lim Ghwang Hyun
• Skinner Jeffrey E
• Hong Jung Hwan

Classifications

• H04W4/80

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

• G01S5/0284

  Relative positioning · CPC title

• G01S5/0295

  Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals · CPC title

• H04W76/11 Primary

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• G01S5/0247

  Determining attitude · CPC title