Bluetooth Device Misplacement Detection via Signal Strength Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth devices, especially small and wearable ones, are easily misplaced or forgotten due to their inconspicuous nature, leading to a need for improved detection and reminder systems to ensure they are carried or located.

Innovation Solution

A smart device method that acquires signals from Bluetooth devices, compares signal strength with a user-calibrated or hardcoded threshold, and generates warnings if the signal falls below the threshold, alerting the user to the device's location, with optional consideration of extrinsic conditions like weather or scheduled activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If Bluetooth devices are made small and wearable, then user freedom of motion and convenience are improved, but the devices become easily misplaced or forgotten

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser freedom of motionVSAvoiddevice location tracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors Bluetooth signal strength and provides feedback to the user through notifications when the device is misplaced or forgotten, enabling the user to take corrective action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of device presence and location before the user leaves a location, issuing advance warnings to prevent the device from being forgotten

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If signal strength threshold is set low, then detection sensitivity is improved, but false alarms increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice detection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse alarm frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The signal strength threshold is made dynamic rather than fixed, adjusting based on historical data, device usage patterns, and environmental conditions to balance detection sensitivity with false alarm reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the threshold parameter over time based on learned patterns and conditions, optimizing detection accuracy while minimizing false positives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If continuous signal monitoring is performed, then device misplacement detection is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisplacement detection accuracyVSAvoidsmart device energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs periodic signal strength checks at intervals, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses existing Bluetooth infrastructure and idle processing cycles to perform detection, minimizing additional energy requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11210925B1Methods for determining presence of bluetooth device

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 LOREAL SA

AI summary

A method for identifying a Bluetooth device by a smart device is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring a signal from the Bluetooth device by the smart device and comparing a strength of the signal with a predetermined threshold signal strength. If the strength of the signal is less than the predetermined threshold strength, a warning about the misplaced Bluetooth device is generated by the smart device.