Proximity Fingerprint Discovery for Nearby Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for discovering nearby devices are cumbersome and inefficient, particularly in dynamic environments where devices are in constant motion and proximity connections need to be quickly established for collaborative tasks such as peer-to-peer communication and multi-user applications.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming and storing proximity fingerprints of nearby devices, which are then used to determine and alert users or trigger actions when specific groups or devices are detected, utilizing a proximity server and graph representation to optimize device discovery and connection formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual searching methods are used to discover nearby devices, then device connection can be established, but the process is cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores proximity information in a topological map before discovery is needed. When a device needs to discover nearby devices, the server has already prepared the proximity data, eliminating the need for manual searching and significantly improving discovery efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between devices, centralizing the proximity computation and management. The server maintains a topological map of device proximities and provides discovery information to devices, replacing manual searching with automated server-mediated discovery
2Reliability
If continuous proximity monitoring is performed to detect nearby devices, then timely detection is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs proximity detection periodically or on-demand based on user actions. The server updates the topological map at intervals and notifies devices when changes occur, reducing power consumption while maintaining timely detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides feedback to devices when proximity information changes by sending notifications. Devices don't need to continuously monitor but are alerted when relevant changes occur, achieving timely detection with minimal power consumption
3Reliability
If multiple devices perform simultaneous discovery operations, then comprehensive device detection is achieved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a central coordinator that manages discovery operations for multiple devices. It maintains a global topological map and coordinates which devices should discover which neighbors, eliminating the complexity of peer-to-peer coordination while ensuring comprehensive detection
Solution Approach 2:
The discovery process is segmented into server-side topological map maintenance and client-side local discovery execution. The server handles the complex computation of proximities among all devices, while individual devices only need to query the server for their specific neighbors, dividing the complexity across different components
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to methods, apparatuses, systems and computer program products for discovery of nearby devices. To facilitate discovery of nearby, i.e. proximal, devices, after receiving a trigger signal (110), that is, a signal related to a user action, proximity of other devices is determined and a proximity fingerprint is formed from this information (120), for example to be stored in a fingerprint database (130). When a change in proximity information of a device is detected, proximity fingerprints are accessed and the fingerprints are searched for in the current proximity information of the user device. In this manner, the user may be alerted or programs (or the system) may be controlled when a stored proximity fingerprint is detected in the current set of nearby devices.