System for determining distance between fixed and mobile endpoints and related methods

A method for operating a fixed communications device at a building and a mobile communications device each configured to wirelessly communicate at a first frequency and also at a second frequency higher than the first frequency, the method comprising:

• establishing a wireless link between the mobile communications device and the fixed communications device via the second frequency;
• exchanging a location signal between the mobile communications device and the fixed communications device via the first frequency responsive to establishing the wireless link;
• communicating between the mobile communications device and the fixed communications device via the wireless link using the second frequency and determining respective transmit and receive delays associated with transmission and reception of the location signal via the first frequency;
• determining a distance between the fixed communications device and the mobile communications device based upon a time of arrival of the location signal, the transmit and receive delays, and a signal speed associated with the second frequency;
• and
• causing a virtualization server to initiate a virtual computing session based upon the distance between the mobile communications device and the fixed communications device being below a threshold distance relative to the building.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a mobile communications device comprising first wireless communications circuitry configured to operate at a first frequency and second wireless communications circuitry configured to operate at a second frequency higher than the first frequency, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

• establishing a wireless link with a fixed communications device at a building via the second wireless communications device;
• receiving a location signal from the fixed communications device via the first wireless communications circuitry responsive to establishing the wireless link;
• communicating with the fixed communications device via the second wireless communications circuitry and determining respective transmit and receive delays associated with transmission and reception of the location signal via the first frequency;
• determining a distance to the fixed communications device based upon a time of arrival of the location signal, the transmit and receive delays, and a signal speed associated with the second frequency;
• and
• causing a virtualization server to initiate a virtual computing session based upon the distance between the mobile communications device and the fixed communications device being below a threshold distance relative to the building.