Proximity Detection for Mobile Communication Devices Using Geo-Fencing
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsFarouk BELGHOUL, Dutt H. KALAPATAPU, Kamesh MEDAPALLI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for using geo-fencing techniques to assist in detecting mobile communication devices that are close enough to support direct communication. A mobile communication device can periodically report its geo-fence area to a central server. The server can determine whether to ask the communication device to report more precise geographic information (e.g., GPS information) based on whether another communication device eligible for direct communication is within the same geo-fence area.
Claims20
A mobile communication device, comprising:
- a processor configured to:
- send first information regarding a first geographic location of the mobile communication device to a server,
- receive a request from the server for a second geographic location of the mobile communication device within the first geographic location,
- send second information regarding the second geographic location to the server, and
- receive a message from the server indicating that a second mobile communication device is within a predetermined range of the second geographic location;
- and
- a wireless local area network (WLAN) module configured to:
- establish a direct wireless communication link with the second mobile communication device based on the message.
A server, comprising:
- a database configured to:
- store information regarding a plurality of geographic locations associated with a plurality of mobile communication devices;
- and
- a proximity detection module configured to:
- receive first information regarding a first geographic location of a mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices,
- determine, based on first geographic location and the information, whether to request a second geographic location from the mobile communication device, wherein the second geographic location is within the first geographic location, and
- send a message to the mobile communication device requesting the second geographic location.
A method, comprising:
- sending a general geographic location of a first mobile communication device to a server;
- receiving a request from the server for a more precise geographic location of the first mobile communication device within the general geographic location;
- sending the more precise geographic location to the server;
- and
- receiving a message from the server indicating that a second mobile communication device is within a predetermined range of the more precise geographic location of the first mobile communication device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.