Wireless communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020128595-A1
Application number	US-201716474078-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 29, 2016
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wireless communication system comprises a host device ( 110 ) and mobile devices ( 120 ) arranged for wireless communication and for distance ( 140 ) measurement. The host device has a user interface ( 113 ) comprising a connect button ( 115 ), and is arranged to execute a connection sequence upon a user activating the connect button. The connection sequence first determines respective distances between the host and respective mobile devices. A first mobile device is identified exhibiting a movement. Then a connection action is executed regarding a connection between the first mobile device and the host device. The mobile device is arranged for executing a ranging protocol and, upon subsequently receiving a convection message, executing a connection action regarding a connection between the first mobile device and the host device. Effectively a connection may be established upon the user of a mobile device pressing a single button on a selected host device and moving the mobile device.

First claim

1 . Host device arranged for wireless communication with mobile devices,
each mobile device comprising a mobile transceiver and a mobile processor, the mobile transceiver being arranged for wireless communication according to a communication protocol, the mobile processor being arranged for distance measurement via a ranging protocol for determining a distance between the host and the mobile device based on a round trip time measurement, the host device comprising a host transceiver for wireless communication according to the communication protocol, a host processor arranged for distance measurement via the ranging protocol, and a user interface comprising a connect button, the host processor being arranged to execute a connection sequence upon a user activating the connect button, the connection sequence comprising determining, by executing the ranging protocol with respective mobile devices in wireless communication range, one or more respective distances, each respective distance being between the host and a respective mobile device, detecting whether a first mobile device exhibits a movement with respect to the host device, and, if so, executing a connection action regarding a connection between the first mobile device and the host device.

2 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises:
selecting a shortest distance among the respective distances, identifying a nearest mobile device among the respective devices, the nearest mobile device having said shortest distance, and executing a connection action regarding a connection between the nearest mobile device and the host device.

3 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises:
determining whether there is an existing communication session between the first device and the host device according to the communication protocol, and if not, the connection action comprising initiating a new communication session between the first device and the host device according to the communication protocol.

4 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises:
determining whether there is an existing communication session between the first device and the host device according to the communication protocol, and if not, determining whether there is a further communication session between a further mobile device and the host device according to the communication protocol, and if so, the connection action comprising initiating terminating the further communication session between the further device and the host device.

5 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises:
determining whether there is an existing communication session between a further device and the host device according to the communication protocol, and if so, the connection action comprising initiating terminating the existing communication session between the further device and the host device according to the communication protocol.

6 . Host device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the connection sequence comprises, when there is an existing communication session between the nearest device and the host device,
selecting a second shortest distance among the respective distances, identifying a second mobile device among the respective devices, the second mobile device having said second shortest distance, and initiating a new communication session between the second device and the host device according to the communication protocol.

7 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection action comprises at least one of
authenticating the first device according to the communication protocol; determining whether the first device is part of an authenticated device list, and if not, upon successful authentication of the first device, updating the authenticated device list; determining whether the mobile device selected for a new communication session is part of an authenticated device list, and if so, reusing previously established credentials for setting up a connection to the selected device.

8 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises
determining whether the distance to the mobile device selected for a new communication session is more than a predetermined connection range, and if so, continue by at least one of aborting the connection sequence; signaling to the user that the mobile device is outside the predetermined connection range; indicating to the user that the mobile device has to be moved towards the host; for a limited period, repeating the stages of determining the respective distances and selecting the shortest distance, until the shortest distance is less than the predetermined connection range, and if so, continue by executing the connection action.

9 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection sequence comprises:
determining a total number of mobile devices within a predetermined connection range, and continue by at least one of if the total number exceeds a predetermined number, signaling to the user that total number exceeds a predetermined number of devices allowed inside the predetermined connection range; if the total number exceeds a predetermined number, to request the user to remove one or more mobile devices from the connection range; if the total number exceeds a predetermined number, aborting the connection sequence; if the total number is one, continue by executing said connection action while skipping said selecting and identifying.

10 . Host device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the connection sequence is adapted by at least one of:
detecting whether said nearest device exhibits said movement, and only if so setting up a new connection between the first device and the host device; detecting whether said nearest device exhibits said movement, and only if so authenticating said first device; detecting whether said nearest device exhibits said movement, and only if not subsequently at least one of selecting the nearest mobile device for initiating a new communication session; selecting the first mobile device for terminating an existing communication session.

11 . Host device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ranging protocol comprises transferring respective credential data from the respective mobile devices and the host processor is arranged for using the respective credential data when executing the connection action for the respective device as selected based on the respective distances; or the host processor is arranged for receiving at least one additional distance as measured by a mobile device and for using the additional distance when determining the respective distance between the host and a respective mobile device.

12 . Wireless communication system comprising a host device and a mobile device,
the host device comprising a host transceiver for wireless communication according to a communication protocol, a host processor arranged for distance measurement via the ranging protocol, and a user interface comprising a connect button,
the host processor being arranged to execute a connection sequence upon a user activating the connect button,
the connection sequence comprising
determining, by communicating to respective mobile devices in wireless communication range, one or more respective distances, each respective distance being between the host and a respective mobile device,
detecting whether a first mobile device exhibits a movement with respect to the host device, and, if so, executing a connection action regarding a connection between the first mobile device and th

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Dees Walter
• Bernsen Johannes Arnoldus Cornelis

Classifications

• H04W64/00

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

• H04W76/14 Primary

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title

• H04L43/0864

  Round trip delays · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• H04W4/023

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