Wireless Accessory Proximity Detection for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices are often lost or stolen, leading to unauthorized use and additional costs, as existing solutions do not effectively detect proximity and alert users when the device is out of range.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a wireless communication connection between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device to provide an alert signal when the proximity exceeds a predetermined range, using a limited-range wireless signal to indicate proximity and enable/disable associated support functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wireless communication connection is established between mobile terminal and wireless accessory device, then proximity detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless accessory device acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the user, performing proximity detection and alert generation. This mediator approach allows the mobile terminal to gain proximity detection capability without internally implementing the complex detection and alert logic, thus improving measurement precision while minimizing increase in device complexity.
2Reliability
If alert signal is provided when proximity exceeds predetermined range, then security against loss and theft is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to false alerts during normal separation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts alert behavior based on operational context. The processor monitors whether the wireless communication connection is being utilized to provide associated support functions, and only generates alerts when the connection is not being used. This dynamic adjustment prevents false alerts during normal separation when functions are actively used, while maintaining security alerts when devices are genuinely lost or stolen.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the status of wireless communication connections and associated support function usage, using this feedback to intelligently determine when to generate alerts. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between intentional separation (where functions are still being used) and accidental loss (where functions are no longer being used), thereby improving security without compromising user convenience.
3Measurement precision
If wireless signal with limited range is used for proximity indication, then detection accuracy is improved, but coverage area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from spatial coverage considerations to temporal and contextual dimensions by monitoring connection utilization status. Instead of expanding the wireless signal range to cover larger areas, the system maintains limited-range signals for accurate proximity detection and complements this with intelligent alert logic that considers whether support functions are actively being used, effectively adding a temporal/contextual dimension to the detection system.
Data Source
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Figure 2
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AI summary
Methods of detecting proximity between a mobile terminal and a wireless accessory device having an associated support function for use with the mobile terminal include establishing a wireless communication connection between the wireless accessory device and the mobile terminal. The established wireless communication connection is utilized to provide the associated support function. In addition, a wireless signal having a limited range is communicated between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. The wireless signal indicates a proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device. An alert signal indicating that the proximity between the mobile terminal and the wireless accessory device has exceeded a predetermined range is provided responsive to the communicated wireless signal when the established wireless communication connection is not being utilized to provide the associated support function. Related devices are also provided.