Location-transmitting device for determining location of a wireless communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016112840-A1
Application number	US-201514973721-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	May 20, 2011
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a wireless communication device, an example method of transmitting location data for a location of the wireless communication device includes using a short-range radio communication protocol to receive, without prior interrogation, radio signals from any nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, detecting the location data in a radio signal from a nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, wherein the radio signal is the strongest radio signal that includes location data, measuring a received signal level of the radio signal from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, and transmitting the location data and the received signal level of the radio signal to a third party.

First claim

I claim:

1 . In a wireless communication device, a method of transmitting location data for a location of the wireless communication device, the method comprising:
using a short-range radio communication protocol to receive, without prior interrogation, radio signals from any nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device; detecting the location data in a radio signal from a nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, wherein the radio signal is the strongest radio signal that includes location data; estimating a distance from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device based on a received signal level; and transmitting the location data and estimated distance data to a third party.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the format of the location data is selected from the group consisting of latitude/longitude coordinates, street address, street address with unit number, raw GPS data, a location-specific code corresponding to a location database entry, and a combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the short-range radio communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimated distance includes a range of distances.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the distance from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device is further based on a difference between a transmit power of the nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device and the received signal level.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the distance from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device based on the received signal level comprises calculating a path loss between the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device and the wireless communication device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining the distance from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device based on the calculated path loss.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving a transmit power from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device; and calculating the path loss based on the transmit power and the received signal level.

9 . In a wireless communication device, a method of transmitting location data for a location of the wireless communication device, the method comprising:
using a short-range radio communication protocol to receive, without prior interrogation, radio signals from any nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device; detecting the location data in a radio signal from a nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, wherein the radio signal is the strongest radio signal that includes location data; measuring a received signal level of the radio signal from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device; and transmitting the location data and the received signal level of the radio signal to a third party.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the format of the location data is selected from the group consisting of latitude/longitude coordinates, street address, street address with unit number, raw GPS data, a location-specific code corresponding to a location database entry, and a combination thereof.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the short-range radio communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the estimated distance includes a range of distances.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein estimating the distance from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device is further based on a difference between a transmit power of the nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device and the received signal level.

14 . A location-transmitting device, comprising:
a radio-transmitting module configured to autonomously transmit a signal containing location data for the location-transmitting device to any nearby wireless communication device for conveyance through an air interface to a third party by the nearby wireless communication device, wherein the location data include an indication of a condition of a monitoring device coupled to the location-transmitting device; a memory module that stores the location data for the location-transmitting device; and a power supply configured to provide power to the radio-transmitting module.

15 . The location-transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the radio-transmitting module is configured to autonomously transmit the signal containing location data without being interrogated by an external device.

16 . The location-transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the radio-transmitting module is configured to transmit the signal containing location data using a short-range radio communication protocol.

17 . The location-transmitting device of claim 16 , wherein the short-range radio communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

18 . The location-transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the radio-transmitting module transmits the location data continuously.

19 . The location-transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the radio-transmitting module transmits the location data intermittently.

20 . The location-transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the location data include a transmit power of the location-transmitting device.

Assignees

• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Drucker Elliott

Classifications

• H04W4/80

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

• H04W4/023 Primary

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

• H04M2242/30

  Determination of the location of a subscriber · CPC title

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04W4/90

  Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] · CPC title