# US 2024/0205644 A1 · Self-mapping listeners for location tracking in wireless personal area networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0205644 A1 - Document ID: US20240205644A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/594,812 - Filed: 2024-03-04 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-20 - Assignees: T-Mobile USA, Inc. - Applicants: T-Mobile USA, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph Baird; Barry Butterklee; William Parker; John Depew - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240205644A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - G01S 5/0072: {Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems} - G01S 5/021: {Calibration, monitoring or correction (G01S5/0252 takes precedence)} - G01S 5/0289: {of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks} - G01S 5/14: Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/026: {using orientation information, e.g. compass} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A listening device for tracking locations of a tracking device in a physical space includes one or more wireless transceivers, one or more sensors, and one or more processors. The processors generate positional indicators associated with the listening device based on signals generated by the one or more sensors, based on communications with an external device, or both. The listening device communicates with the tracking device to receive a tracking signal, based on which the processors identify a position of the tracking device relative to the listening device. The tracking device is located within the physical space based on the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device and the positional indicators associated with the listening device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A listening device for tracking locations of tracking devices in a physical space, the listening device comprising: at least one wireless transceiver; one or more sensors each configured to generate a respective signal indicative of a position of the listening device in the physical space; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver and the one or more sensors, the one or more processors configured to execute instructions that causes the one or more processors to: generate at least one positional indicator associated with the listening device based on the signals generated by the one or more sensors; wirelessly communicate with a tracking device in the physical space by: transmitting a query for a location of the tracking device via the at least one wireless transceiver, wherein the query causes the tracking device to output a tracking signal; and receiving the tracking signal from the tracking device via the at least one wireless transceiver; identify a position of the tracking device relative to the listening device based on the wireless communication with the tracking device; and locate the tracking device within the physical space based on the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device and the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises analyzing the signals generated by the one or more sensors to: determine an orientation of the listening device with respect to gravity, or an orientation of the listening device with respect to a compass direction, or global positioning coordinates of the listening device, or an altitude of the listening device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate another positional indicator associated with the listening device by: receiving a signal from a second listening device via the at least one wireless transceiver; and calculating a distance or angle or both between the listening device and the second listening device based on the signal received from the second listening device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate another positional indicator associated with the listening device by receiving a communication from a user device via the wireless transceiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein the positional indicators associated with the listening device include an orientation of the listening device relative to one or more axes, and wherein locating the tracking device in the physical space comprises correcting the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device based on the orientation of the listening device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to generate the one or more positional indicators automatically upon activation of the listening device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The listening device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to, upon activation of the listening device, transmit a signal to another listening device via the wireless transceiver, wherein the other listening device is configured to generate a respective positional indicator of the other listening device based on the transmitted signal. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: generating, by a listening device, at least one positional indicator associated with the listening device based on signals generated by one or more sensors of the listening device; wirelessly communicating with a tracking device by: transmitting, from the listening device, a query for a location of the tracking device, wherein the query causes the tracking device to output a tracking signal; and receiving the tracking signal from the tracking device; identifying a position of the tracking device relative to the listening device based on the wireless communication with the tracking device; and locating the tracking device within the physical space based on the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device and the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises analyzing the signals generated by the one or more sensors to: determine an orientation of the listening device with respect to gravity, or an orientation of the listening device with respect to a compass direction, or global positioning coordinates of the listening device, or an altitude of the listening device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises at least one of: calculating an angle between the tracking device and the listening device based on an angle at which the wireless communication was received from the tracking device, or calculating a distance between the tracking device and the listening device based on a signal strength of the wireless communication received at the listening device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises extracting explicit position information from the wireless communication received from the tracking device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators comprises generating at least one positional indicator automatically upon activation of the listening device. ### Claim 13 At least one computer-readable storage medium, excluding transitory signals and carrying instructions, which, when executed by at least one data processor of a system, cause the system to: generate at least one positional indicator associated with a listening device based on signals generated by one or more sensors in the listening device; wirelessly communicate with a tracking device by: transmitting a query for a location of the tracking device, wherein the query causes the tracking device to output a tracking signal; and receiving the tracking signal from the tracking device; identify a position of the tracking device relative to the listening device based on the wireless communication with the tracking device; and locate the tracking device within the physical space based on the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device and the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises analyzing the signals generated by the one or more sensors to: determine an orientation of the listening device with respect to gravity, or an orientation of the listening device with respect to a compass direction, or global positioning coordinates of the listening device, or an altitude of the listening device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate another positional indicator associated with the listening device by: receiving a signal from a second listening device; and calculating a distance or angle or both between the listening device and the second listening device based on the signal received from the second listening device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate another positional indicator associated with the listening device by receiving a communication from a user device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the positional indicators associated with the listening device include an orientation of the listening device relative to one or more axes, and wherein locating the tracking device in the physical space comprises correcting the identified position of the tracking device relative to the listening device based on the orientation of the listening device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to generate the one or more positional indicators automatically upon activation of the listening device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to, upon activation of the listening device, transmit a signal to another listening device, wherein the other listening device is configured to generate a respective positional indicator of the other listening device based on the transmitted signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein generating the one or more positional indicators associated with the listening device comprises at least one of: calculating an angle between the tracking device and the listening device based on an angle at which the wireless communication was received from the tracking device, or calculating a distance between the tracking device and the listening device based on a signal strength of the wireless communication received at the listening device.