Methods and devices for path-loss estimation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9344837-B2
Application number	US-201314052903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 14, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A method on a first device for estimating path-loss between the first device and a second device is described. A user context indicator associated with the first device is determined. At least one path-loss parameter of a plurality of path-loss parameters for the first device is updated based on the user context indicator. At least one wireless signal is received from the second device. The path-loss between the first device and the second device is estimated based on the plurality of path-loss parameters and the at least one wireless signal.

First claim

We claim:

1. On a first device, a method for estimating a path-loss between the first device and a second device, the method comprising:
determining a user context indicator associated with the first device;
updating at least one path-loss parameter of a plurality of path-loss parameters for the first device based on the user context indicator;
receiving at least one wireless signal from the second device;
estimating the path-loss between the first device and the second device based on the plurality of path-loss parameters and the at least one wireless signal,
the plurality of path-loss parameters comprising a path-loss exponent, and
the estimating the path-loss comprising estimating the path-loss repeatedly using the path-loss exponent; and

performing a proximity-triggered function based on the estimated path-loss and an alert threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of path-loss parameters comprises a monitor interval, and
wherein estimating the path-loss repeatedly is performed at the monitor interval using the path-loss exponent.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the proximity-triggered function comprises:
estimating a distance to the second device based on the estimated path-loss and the path-loss exponent;
determining whether the estimated distance meets the alert threshold; and
performing the proximity-triggered function if the estimated distance meets the alert threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user context indicator corresponds to at least one parameter adjustment for a path-loss parameter; and
wherein updating the at least one path-loss parameter comprises updating the path-loss parameter of the at least one path-loss parameter that corresponds to the user context indicator with the parameter adjustment.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user context indicator further comprises a movement speed associated with the first device, a movement type associated with the first device, an orientation of the first device, a movement history associated with the first device, a state indicator for the first device, sensor data of the first device, a user profile associated with the first device, calendar information associated with the first device, detection status of a stationary wireless network, received signal strength of a stationary wireless network, or a current proximity between the first and second devices.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein if a current location of the first device matches a predetermined location, the at least one parameter adjustment comprises at least one of an alert threshold increase or a predetermined path-loss exponent that corresponds to the predetermined location.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the user context indicator corresponds to at least one parameter adjustment for a path-loss parameter, updating the at least one path-loss parameter comprises updating the path-loss parameter of the at least one path-loss parameter that corresponds to the user context indicator with the parameter adjustment, the user context indicator comprising a movement speed associated with the first device, a movement type associated with the first device, an orientation of the first device, a movement history associated with the first device, a state indicator for the first device, sensor data of the first device, a user profile associated with the first device, calendar information associated with the first device, detection status of a stationary wireless network, received signal strength of a stationary wireless network, or a current proximity between the first and second devices, wherein if the movement speed of the first device meets a movement threshold, the at least one parameter adjustment comprises a monitor interval reduction to the monitor interval.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein if the movement history indicates a previously traveled path, the at least one parameter adjustment comprises an alert threshold reduction.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the user context indicator corresponds to at least one parameter adjustment for a path-loss parameter, updating the at least one path-loss parameter comprises updating the path-loss parameter of the at least one path-loss parameter that corresponds to the user context indicator with the parameter adjustment, the user context indicator comprising a movement speed associated with the first device, a movement type associated with the first device, an orientation of the first device, a movement history associated with the first device, a state indicator for the first device, sensor data of the first device, a user profile associated with the first device, calendar information associated with the first device, detection status of a stationary wireless network, received signal strength of a stationary wireless network, or a current proximity between the first and second devices, wherein if the calendar information indicates an upcoming calendar event, the at least one parameter adjustment comprises a monitor interval reduction to the monitor interval.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the user context indicator comprises determining a plurality of user context indicators; and
wherein updating the at least one path-loss parameter comprises:
combining parameter adjustments of the plurality of user context indicators for a same path-loss parameter; and
updating the path-loss parameter with the combined parameter adjustment.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the user context indicator comprises a current location of the second device, a movement speed associated with the second device, a movement type associated with the second device, an orientation of the second device, a movement history associated with the second device, a state indicator for the second device, sensor data of the second device, a user profile associated with the second device, detection status of a stationary wireless network for the second device, received signal strength of a stationary wireless network for the second device, or calendar information associated with the second device.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the user context indicator comprises:
determining a first received signal strength of a stationary wireless network for the first device;
receiving a second received signal strength of the stationary wireless network from the second device; and
determining a relative movement between the first device and second device based on the first received signal strength and the second received signal strength.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising resetting the at least one path-loss parameter to a default value upon a predetermined condition.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined condition comprises an expiration of a user context timer or a change in the user context indicator.

15. A first electronic device comprising:
a wireless transceiver;
a non-transitory memory; and
a processor configured to retrieve instructions from the memory;
wherein the first electronic device is configured to:
determine a user context indicator associated with the first electronic device;
update at least one path-loss parameter of a plurality of path-loss parameters for the first electronic device based on the user context indicator;
receive, via the wireless transceiver, at least one wireless signal from a second electronic device;
estimate the path-loss between the first electronic device and the second electronic device based on the plurality of path-loss parameters and the at least one wireless signal,
the plurality of path-loss parameters comprising a path-loss expo

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Russel Michael E
• Gitzinger Thomas E

Classifications

• H04W4/023

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

• H04W4/008 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W4/80 Primary

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