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US 2022/0070676 A1Published application
Identifying and distance-measuring remote devices
AssigneeBright Cocoon BV
InventorJ.L.R. (John) DE GRAAFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides for a device that allows real-time feedback to its carrier (person) about the proximity or distance to another person. This feedback could be a friendly tune or some alarm sound pattern, or a visible light source with some color and brightness pattern. A person could for instance alter his behavior by creating more distance from other persons during a pandemic or in other situations where physical distance is desired. The device according to the invention is colloquially referred to as a SOTAR device, being short for “Sound Transponder Rangefinder”.
Claims9
A device for providing output regarding a distance of said device to a further device, said device comprising
- means for, in an initial state, creating a unique public/private key pair that is used for authentication purposes with further devices, and for deriving an identifier from the public key of said public/private key pair,
- means for, in a non-initial state, broadcasting an HELLO sound wave message, having the identifier and a sequence number encoded and modulated into the sent HELLO sound wave message,
- means for receiving a further sound wave message from the further device, said message having a further identifier and a further sequence number being encoded and modulated into the received sound wave messages,
- means for classifying the received further sound wave message as being one of a REPLY sound wave message and a HELLO sound wave message based on a presence or absence of said identifier from the sent HELLO sound wave message in the received further sound wave messages,
- means for, if the received further sound wave message is classified as a REPLY sound wave message, calculating a physical distance between the device and the further device from the received sound wave message and the sent HELLO sound wave message, where the sequence number of the sent HELLO sound wave message is identical to the further sequence number of the received sound wave message,
- means for, if the received further sound wave message is classified as a HELLO sound wave message, broadcasting a yet further REPLY sound wave message that has encoded the identifier of the device and the further sequence number in the yet further REPLY sound wave message, and
- means for providing an output indicative of the calculated physical distance from said device to the further device.
4 more elements
A system for providing output regarding a measured distance, said system comprising:
- a plurality of personal devices, wherein each personal device comprises a processor and a memory, wherein said memory stores instructions for execution by said processor;
- and
- a communication network for communication between said plurality of personal devices;
- wherein upon execution by said processor of each personal device, said instructions are capable of:
- in an initial state, creating a unique public/private key pair that is used for authentication purposes between said plurality of personal devices,
- deriving an identifier from the public key of said public/private key pair,
- in a non-initial state, broadcasting an HELLO sound wave message through said communication network, having the identifier and a sequence number encoded and modulated into the sent HELLO sound wave message,
- receiving a further sound wave message by a first personal device from a second personal device through said communication network, said message having a further identifier and a further sequence number being encoded and modulated into the received sound wave messages,
- classifying the received further sound wave message as being one of a REPLY sound wave message and a HELLO sound wave message based on a presence or absence of said identifier from the sent HELLO sound wave message in the received further sound wave messages,
- if the received further sound wave message is classified as a REPLY sound wave message, calculating a physical distance between said first and second personal devices from the received sound wave message and the sent HELLO sound wave message, where the sequence number of the sent HELLO sound wave message is identical to the further sequence number of the received sound wave message,
- if the received further sound wave message is classified as a HELLO sound wave message, broadcasting a yet further REPLY sound wave message through said communication network that has encoded the identifier of each personal device and the further sequence number in the yet further REPLY sound wave message, and
- providing an output indicative of the calculated physical distance to each of said personal devices.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.