Line-of-Sight Optical Device Awareness with Motion Sensor Posing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current device-to-device interaction systems face challenges in achieving rapid device discovery and location awareness due to high handshake latency in protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy, which limits the efficiency and accuracy of device awareness in modern communication scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of line-of-sight optical communication systems that utilize motion sensors to record device posings and enable optical communication handshakes, allowing electronic devices to determine when they are pointed at other devices and maintain location awareness, thereby improving discovery times and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bluetooth Low Energy handshake protocol is used for device discovery, then device-to-device awareness can be achieved, but handshake latency becomes excessively high (up to 15 seconds total)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the radio frequency-based Bluetooth Low Energy communication system with an optical communication system using visible light or infrared LEDs. This substitution reduces handshake latency from 15 seconds to under 2 seconds by establishing direct line-of-sight optical connections, thereby dramatically improving device discovery speed while maintaining reliable device awareness capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary device posing recording during the optical handshake process. The motion sensor captures the precise orientation and position of devices when they first establish optical communication, storing this posing information for later reuse. This preliminary action enables faster reconnection by eliminating the need for lengthy discovery procedures when devices need to re-establish communication
2Loss of time
If optical communication system is implemented, then handshake latency is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional motion sensors and optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the motion sensor serve multiple functions: it detects device orientation during optical communication establishment, records posing information for later reconnection, and enables location awareness tracking. By making the motion sensor multi-functional, the patent reduces overall device complexity despite adding optical communication components, as the motion sensor's existing capability is leveraged for multiple purposes rather than requiring separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the optical communication system with the existing motion sensor system in a unified device awareness framework. The optical transmitter and receiver are integrated with the motion sensor to create a combined system that simultaneously handles communication and location tracking, reducing the need for separate independent subsystems and thereby managing overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If motion sensor is used to record device posing, then location awareness precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of motion sensor data rather than continuous monitoring. The system records posing information at key moments during optical communication establishment and uses this periodic data to maintain location awareness. This periodic action approach provides sufficient precision for device location tracking while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous motion sensor operation
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed by which electronic devices that include line-of-sight optical communication systems may become optically aware of other electronic devices and perform optical communication handshakes with other devices. An electronic device may use a motion sensor to record its posing when it determines, during the performance of an optical communication handshake, that it is pointed at the electronic device with which it is performing the optical communication handshake (or that the other electronic device is within a field of view of the electronic device). A recorded device posing, in combination with optical communications and motion sensor data, may also be used to map another device's location and enable a user of an electronic device to pan away from and break optical communication with the other device, then easily return to a recorded posing that enables a continuation of optical communications with the other device.