IMPROVED DEVICE LOCATION DETECTION
BACKGROUND
[0001] As computing devices have become more portable, mobile computing
has become more interactive with a user's surroundings. For example, a mapping
application can run on the user's mobile computing device (e.g., smartphone) that
allows the user to identify their approximate location. Further, points of interest,
retails establishments, entertainment venues, and more, can be indicated on the
mapping application, for example, which can be searched for, and/or identified as
the user moves through an area. Typically, mobile devices use global positioning
systems (GPS), which utilize satellite triangulation, or some sort of signal
triangulation (e.g., mobile phone signal) to identify the approximate location of the
user. This location information can be used by various applications on the user's
device, such as to provide appropriate and relevant local information, identify the
user's location for social networking, and more.
SUMMARY
[0002] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This
Summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the
claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the
claimed subject matter.
[0003] Current global positioning systems (GPS) and/or other location
identification services used on mobile devices may not provide needed fidelity for
some user-experience, such as applications running on the mobile device. For
example, the GPS systems can have an error range of thirty to fifty feet, which
may not provide needed fidelity when the user-experience needs the user to be
immediately proximate to a specific location. Further, while the GPS can provide
an approximate position of the user relative to a mapped point, a distance from
the user to a particular object may not meet granularity requirements to properly
interact, such as with an ATM, or console attached to a monitor.
[0004] Additionally, GPS-type location tracking lose reliability when the device
is inside a building or under cover. Even in optimal conditions, a GPS may not be
able tell that the user is inside a building, standing in front of a painting on the wall
of the third floor lobby. Further, even if it could, the location cannot be verified by
a 3rd party. For example, GPS locations (and others) can be spoofed, thereby
providing an incorrect location of the device. Applications may be used that
create false coordinates, and/or grid sectors, to be provided to a requesting
application. Typically, the provided GPS coordinates are all that is used to identify
the user's location, for example, and they are not verified by a third party.
[0005] Accordingly, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed that
utilize a combination at least two device locating sources. For example, a position
can initially be determined by GPS coordinates for the device, and verified using a
near-field radio system signal, such as Bluetooth. It will be appreciated that nearfield
and/or the like as used herein is not mean to be overly limiting. For example,
use of near-field and/or the like is not meant to exclude rfid, wi-fi, very close
proximity, short range - low power and/or the like, but is instead intended to
comprise implementations such as these (and others) as well. Moreover, while
Bluetooth is mentioned as an example herein, other near-field, rfid, wi-fi, very
close proximity, short range - low power, etc. implementations (e.g., that are
suitable to provide a more accurate, precise, exacting, etc. device
location/verification) are envisioned as well. The combined location awareness
provided herein can help determine an actual position of the user's mobile
computing device relative to specific physical locations. As an example, a location
of a user-experience (e.g., where the user can interact with their surroundings
using their mobile device, such as navigating through a museum to experience
descriptions of different artistic displays) can have a Bluetooth radio beacon that
can be used to determine a position of a device relative to the beacon with a
greater degree of granularity than merely GPS (and/or other techniques) alone.
Further, in this example, the user's device may not need to perform pairing
operations with the beacon, but merely transmit a signal for a distance to be
identified.
[0006] In one embodiment for improving location awareness of a device, a
position of the device in a location positioning system, such as a GPS, is
identified. Using the position of the device, a user-experience can be identified for
the device within a desired threshold (e.g., an area around the device). A nearfield
radio system beacon (e.g., Bluetooth beacon) that is associated with the
user-experience can be activated in order to identify a distance of the device from
the beacon. The beacon can use a near-field radio system ID associated with the
device to identify the device, for example, and determine signal strength. Upon
determining that the device is within a threshold distance from the beacon, such
as when the user moves the device toward the beacon and is close enough, the
user-experience (e.g., application) can be activated on the device. It will be
appreciated that, in one example, the radio system ID may comprise an ID of the
device, and may be tied more to a protocol associated with the device than to a
radio system of the device.
[0007] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the following
description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and
implementations. These are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which
one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages, and novel
features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed
description when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for improving location
awareness of a device.
[0009] Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of one or more
portions of one or more techniques described herein.
[0010] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of one or
more portions of one or more techniques described herein.
[0011] Fig. 4 is a component diagram of an example environment where one or
more techniques described herein may be implemented.
[0012] Fig. 5 is a component diagram of an exemplary system for improving
location awareness of a device.
[0013] Fig. 6 is a component diagram illustrating one embodiment where one
or more systems described herein may be implemented.
[0014] Fig. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary computer-readable medium
comprising processor-executable instructions configured to embody one or more
of the provisions set forth herein.
[0015] Fig. 8 illustrates an exemplary computing environment wherein one or
more of the provisions set forth herein may be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like
elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the
claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.
[0017] A method may be devised that provides for determining a position of a
user's device when in proximity to desired locations, for example, that comprises
one or more user experiences, such as mobile device applications that are
interactive with the user's current environment. For example, while a global
positioning system (GPS) enabled mobile device can approximate a location of
the user's device, the GPS may not be able to provide enough fidelity to
determine when the user is proximate to a desired location, such as an interactive
kiosk, particularly when the user is located inside a building. Techniques,
described herein, may provide for using two locating technologies to improve the
location awareness of the device, particularly when proximate to a desired
location.
[0018] Fig. 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 100 for improving
location awareness of a device. The exemplary method 100 begins at 102 and
involves identifying a position of the device in a positioning system (e.g., global
positioning system (GPS)), at 104. For example, the device can comprise a GPS
locator that enables a position for the device to be identified by the GPS. A
position can comprise a position on the earth identified by triangulating the GPS
locator in the device using three or more GPS satellites, for example. A position
may be expressed in coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude), grid locations, or
some other mapping/locating techniques (e.g., proprietary quadrant location).
[0019] At 106, a user-experience is identified within a desired threshold of the
position. For example, the user-experience can comprise the user interacting with
one or more devices in proximity to the user, using their mobile device, such as a
smartphone. As an illustrative example, while traveling around a city the user may
approach a proximity of a museum comprising interactive kiosks. In this
illustrative example, when the GPS locator in the user's mobile device indicates
the user's position is within the desired threshold (e.g., near to the museum
building) of the museum user-experience, the (availability of the) museum userexperience
can be identified for the user (e.g., indicated on their mobile device,
such as in a mapping service application).
[0020] At 108, a near-field radio system beacon associated with the userexperience
can be activated to identify a distance of the device from the beacon,
using a near-field radio system ID for the device. For example, a near-field radio
system can comprise a Bluetooth system, which uses radio transmissions for
securely exchanging data over relatively short distances. It will be appreciated
that the techniques described herein are not merely limited to Bluetooth, and may
comprise any radio system, such as wifi, RFID, wireless device communications
(e.g., cordless telephones, console controllers), near-field communications, etc.
[0021] In one embodiment, the user-experience may comprise one or more
beacons that transmit and receive near-field radio system signals, and can be
used to detect a distance of device by detecting signal strength, for example. As
an example, the user device may comprise near-field radio system communication
component (e.g., a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver) that uses a near-field radio
system ID particular to the device. In this example, when the device's near-field
radio system communication component is activated, the beacon can attempt to
detect the signal from the device. Further, in this example, a strength of the signal
can indicate a distance between the device and the beacon (e.g., a weaker signal
can indicate a greater distance).
[0022] At 110 in the exemplary method 100, upon determining that the device
is within a distance threshold from the beacon, the user-experience is activated on
the device. For example, the user-experience can comprise an application (e.g.,
web-based application) that runs, at least partially, on the user's device, such as
in a browser or some application with a network link (e.g., over the Internet) to a
remote server comprising an application portion of the experience. As an
illustrative example, the beacon can detect that the user is standing in front of (or
next to) an interactive kiosk for the museum. In this illustrative example, an
experience web-app can be activated on the user's mobile device (e.g., provided
that such experiences are enabled and/or authorized on the device) that allows
the user to interact with the kiosk and/or display(s) associated with the kiosk, such
as to identify detailed information, perform tasks, navigate controls, etc.
[0023] Having activated the user-experience on the device, the exemplary
method 100 ends at 112.
[0024] Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment 200 of one or more
portions of one or more techniques described herein. At 202, a user-experience
can be registered for an area. A user-experience may comprise some sort of
interaction with the user's surroundings using a device, such as a mobile
computing device (e.g., smartphone, laptop, etc.). For example, an automated
teller machine (ATM) may be registered for an area, and the user-experience may
comprise an interaction between the ATM and the user's mobile device.
[0025] In one embodiment, the registration of the user experience may
comprise registering the user-experience with an experience service, for example,
that provides location information to mapping and/or location services used by
mobile devices. For example, a retail location may comprise one or more kiosks
that can interact with the user's device, and the retail location may register with
the experience service as a user-experience for their location. In this example,
the experience service may provide the location and user-experience information
to a mapping or location service, which can indicate the registered user
experience for the location, such as on a mobile map on the device.
[0026] At 204 in the example embodiment 200, a near-field radio transmitter
receiver, such as a Bluetooth enabled device, can be enabled in the user's device.
For example, mobile devices commonly comprise Bluetooth capability, which can
be enabled or disabled in the device (e.g., switched on or off). In this
embodiment, the Bluetooth capability can be enabled, such that the device may
be detected by another Bluetooth enabled device. For example, the shortwave
radio transmissions sent out by the Bluetooth component in the user's device may
be detected by another Bluetooth enabled device. In one embodiment, the user
may be asked to activate the near-field radio system in their device after they
associate their device with the user experience, as discussed below.
[0027] At 206, a location positioning system, such as a global positioning
system (GPS), can be enabled in the user's device. For example, many mobile
computing devices comprise GPS components that allow for identifying an
approximate position of the device on Earth, using satellites. Other location
positioning systems may comprise phone signal triangulation, Internet Protocol
(IP) address location identification, and/or other signal triangulation technologies
(e.g., Wifi, Wimax, etc.). In this embodiment, for example, in order for the position
of the user's device to be identified, the positioning system in the device needs to
be enabled (e.g., turn on the GPS, or other location service for the device).
[0028] At 208, a near-field radio system beacon can be activated to identify
devices in its vicinity. In this embodiment, the beacon's near-field radio system
can comprise technology compatible with that found in the user's device, such that
the two devices can send and receive near-field radio transmissions between
each other. For example, the beacon can comprise a Bluetooth beacon that
sends, receives, and detects Bluetooth transmissions to/from other Bluetooth
enabled devices, such as the user's device.
[0029] As an example, a museum-based user-experience can comprise a
plurality of Bluetooth beacons, respectively comprising interactive kiosks that
enhance a visitor's museum experience. In this example, the museum beacons
may all be activated to identify devices. In another embodiment, one or more
selected beacons may be activated, such as to indicate a starting point for a
visitor.
[0030] At 210 in the example embodiment 200, the user with their mobile
device enters an area comprising the user-experience. For example, the user
may be looking for an ATM to use, such as by searching with their mobile device,
and the user may enter within a desired range from the ATM. As another
example, the user may be traveling and entering into and out of areas that
comprise user experiences (e.g., museums, shops, points of interest), which can
be indicated on their mobile device as they enter an area comprising the userexperience.
In one embodiment, when the user's device enters an area
comprising the user-experience, the user experience can be identified on the
user's device, for example, if registered with an experience service that provides
information for a device mapping application.
[0031] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment 300 of one
or more portions of one or more techniques described herein. At 302, a user's
device can estimate its position. In one embodiment, the device can comprise the
GPS locator system, which can be enabled to identify the user's global position,
where the position may be determined by estimated GPS coordinates (e.g.,
longitude and latitude). As another example, the position may be provided in grid
coordinates on mapping system, for example, that is proprietary to a mapping
application running on the device.
[0032] In one embodiment, the position may be determined by a location key
global position representation. For example, a map of the earth may be divided
into quadrants or grid squares (or some other grid shape), which can respectively
be assigned a location key. Further, when the map is zoomed into, the zoomed in
version of the map can also be divided into quadrants or grid squares, which can
respectively be assigned locations keys (e.g., which may be subsets of the higher
location key for a larger quadrant). In this embodiment, for example, a position of
the device can be assigned a location key (e.g., a quadrant key), which is
representative of a quadrant or grid square zoomed to sufficient granularity to
accommodate the experience area (e.g., five hundred square feet).
[0033] At 304 in the example embodiment 300, the device can provide the
estimated position to an experience service. As an illustrative example, Fig. 4 is a
component diagram of an example environment 400 where one or more
techniques described herein may be implemented. In the example environment
400, the device 402 can transmit 420 the position estimated by the device 402
(e.g., using GPS, and/or a location key) to an experience service 406, over a
network 404, such as the Internet (e.g., or some other network connection
between the device and the experience service). For example, the experience
service may utilize a remote server, where information about user-experiences
can be stored. In this example, the user-experience information can comprise
location information for the user-experience (e.g., a position, and/or a desired
threshold area for the experience).
[0034] Returning to Fig. 3, at 306, the experience service can identify a userexperience
within a desired threshold of the position, and return information to the
device for the identified user-experience. In one embodiment, information can be
returned to the device for the identified user-experience, where the userexperience
information is identified from a user-experience registered with a userexperience
service for an area comprising the position.
[0035] For example, as illustrated by Fig. 4, the experience service 406 may
comprise a plurality of registered user-experiences, and the one or more userexperiences
that can be found within a threshold area around the position of the
device can be returned 420 to the device 402. In one embodiment, the threshold
may vary depending on a zoom level of the mapping service display, for example,
growing larger as a map is zoomed out. In another embodiment, the threshold
may be set by a provider of the user-experience 410, by the experience service,
and/or by the mapping application on the user's device.
[0036] Returning to Fig. 3, in one embodiment, the information returned to the
device, at 306, may comprise a list of one or more user-experiences available for
the identified position of the device. At 308, the device can register for the userexperience
by providing a near-field radio system identification for the device,
such as via Bluetooth. For example, a Bluetooth protocol ID for the device can be
provided. That is, while the description herein may, at times, indicate that a nearfield
radio system Bluetooth device ID and/or the like is provided, it is understood
that Bluetooth may be more indicative of a protocol, and thus the ID that is
provided for the device may, in one example, relate more to a protocol than a
radio system. In any event, the device is able to be identified in some manner
such that a user experience can potentially be had thereon. In one embodiment,
the device may request to interact with the user-experience, for example, by
selecting one of the one or more user-experiences returned by the experience
service for the position. In this embodiment, a response request can be sent to
the device to provide its near-field radio system ID, for example, to complete the
device's registration for the user-experience.
[0037] As an illustrative example, in Fig. 4, the device 402 may receive 420 the
list of user-experiences available near its location from the experience service
406, and select one with which to interact. For example, a user may be looking
for an ATM to use near their location, and the experience service can provide a
list of ATMs within the threshold for the device's position. The user can select
their desired ATM with which to register using the device 402 (e.g., selecting an
icon Ul on the mapping application on their device).
[0038] In one embodiment, for example, the user may register to use the ATM
by sending 422 the device's Bluetooth ID (or other near-field radio ID) to a
proximity service 408, over the network 404. In another embodiment, for
example, the user may send a request (e.g., either to the experience service or
proximity service) to register for the ATM, and may receive a response to send
their Bluetooth ID to complete the registration for the ATM user-experience.
[0039] In another example, the user may be in a location that comprises a
plurality of console-type devices (e.g., console games, media provider consoles,
etc.) distributed around the location (e.g., in different rooms of a house, hotel,
convention, etc.), where the respective devices are linked to a monitor (e.g.,
television). In this example, the experience service 406 may provide a list of
consoles in the area, and the user can select their desired console, such as one
that has desired content or linked to particular monitor, and send their device's
Bluetooth ID to the proximity service 408.
[0040] Returning to Fig. 3, at 3 10, the device's near-field radio ID, such as the
Bluetooth ID, can be provided to the beacon for the user-experience. As
described above in Fig. 2, the near-field beacon can be activated for the user
experience. Further, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the proximity service 408 can
communicate 424 with a beacon 4 12 for the user-experience to provide the
Bluetooth ID provided for the user's device 402. In one embodiment, activating
the beacon can comprise sending the near-field radio system ID for the device to
the beacon. For example, the beacon 412 may not be activated until a near-field
radio system ID is sent to the beacon 412, thereby activating it to find the device
402 comprising the ID. In another example, the beacon may be activated and
may attempt to connect with the device. That is, the beacon may be activated and
the device may merely be in a sleep, idle, listening, etc. mode, for example.
When the device receives or "hears" a signal or request from the beacon, the
device can then (wake-up and) transmit a response back to the beacon
comprising the ID of the device. That is, rather than the device being more of the
initiating component as may, at times, be provided herein, the device can (at least
initially) be more passive with the beacon being more of an initiation component
(e.g., initiating communications, dialog, etc. between the device and the beacon).
In another example, the subsequent (higher fidelity) device location determination
can be activated based upon a relative distance between a GPS position of the
device and a GPS position of a beacon. For example, both the device and a
beacon may be equipped with GPS and the respective GPS determined locations
of the device and beacon can be can be examined to determine whether to
activate, trigger, turn-on, etc. the secondary (e.g., Bluetooth) determination of the
distance between the device and the beacon (e.g., to ultimately determine
whether to activate one or more user experiences on the device). For example,
the subsequent (e.g., Bluetooth) distance determination/verification may be
warranted if there is sufficient overlap between the respective GPS determined
locations of the device and the beacon (e.g., indicating that the user may
potentially be "within range" of one or more available user experiences).
[0041] In one embodiment, an application can be activated for the userexperience
that guides the user of the device to a desired distance from the
beacon. For example, the museum that utilizes one or more beacons as
interactive kiosks for the user-experience may use a first kiosk where the user can
begin a tour of the museum. In this embodiment, for example, a mapping
application on the user's device may employ an icon on the map, and/or
directions, to guide the user to the first kiosk.
[0042] In one embodiment, a beacon locating application can be activated on
the device, such as when activating the near-field radio system beacon, that
directs the user of the device to the distance threshold from the beacon. For
example, in Fig. 4, when the proximity service 408 sends 424 the near-field radio
ID of the device to activate the beacon 412, the proximity service 408 may
communicate 428 with the user-experience provider 410 to activate the beacon
locating application on the user's device , such as over the network 404. For
example, the user may be linked to the experience provider 410, such as by
previously downloading an application to their device 402 in order to utilize the
user-experience. In this embodiment, for example, the application downloaded to
the device 402 can be activated to help the user find the beacon 412.
[0043] Returning to Fig. 3, at 312, the beacon activated with the device's ID
can search for the device. For example, the near-field radio system typically has
a limited range of detection/communication (e.g., up to three-hundred feet). In this
example, the range of the near-field radio system can overlap the approximate
error of the location position system, such that an up to eighty foot error of the
GPS is overlapped by the up to three-hundred foot range of the Bluetooth.
Further, as described above, an application on the device can help the user move
toward the beacon, for example, to improve detection potential.
[0044] At 314, the beacon can detect the device, such as by detecting a signal
sent from the near-field radio component in the device broadcasting its ID, and a
distance between the device and the beacon can be identified and reported. In
one embodiment, identifying the distance of the device from the beacon can
comprise measuring a time of response from a sending of a ping from the beacon
to the device. For example, upon detection of the device ID, the beacon can ping
the device and measure a response time. In another embodiment, identifying the
distance of the device from the beacon can comprise measuring a signal strength
of the near-field radio system from the device. For example, the strength of the
radio transmission from the device can be determined by the beacon to identify a
distance.
[0045] As an illustrative example, in Fig. 4, the beacon 412 can detect the
signal 426 from the user's device 402, and the distance between the device and
beacon can be reported back 424 to the proximity service 408. In this example,
the proximity service 408 can report the distance to the user-experience provider
4 10, which it turn may update the application running on the user's device 402
that is directing the user toward the beacon 412.
[0046] Returning to Fig. 3, at 3 16, when the distance between the device and
the beacon meets a desired distance threshold, the user-experience can be
activated on the user's device. In one embodiment, the distance threshold may
be set according to the user-experience. For example, in a museum, store, or
kiosk user-experience, the user may need to be within approximately five feet of
the kiosk in order to appreciate the experience provided (e.g., an interactive
display, a viewing area, an audio area, products, information, etc.). As another
example, when using an ATM or similar dispensing device the user may wish to
be closer in order to receive their money, and/or for security purposes. As
another example, when using a console-type device linked to a monitor, the user
may merely need to be within viewing distance of the monitor (e.g., ten to twenty
feet) to employ to the user experience.
[0047] Further, as an illustrative example, the activation of the user-experience
may comprise different things for different experiences. For example, when using
the ATM, the user may employ a secure application on the device to communicate
with the ATM to perform a transaction, thereby mitigating a need to actually enter
information into the ATM (e.g., only use the device to perform the transaction). In
this way, in this example, the user-experience is merely activated when the user
device with the correct ID comes within the desired proximity of the ATM (e.g.,
enters appropriate security information into the ATM via the device). As another
example, when the console comprises the user-experience, an application may
activate on the user's device that allows the user to interact with the console (e.g.,
like a remote control).
[0048] At 318 in the example embodiment 300, the user-experience is
deactivated when the user's device is outside the distance threshold. In this
embodiment, the user-experience can be deactivated on the user's device upon
the device moving outside of the distance threshold from the beacon. For
example, once the user moves away from the beacon (e.g., kiosk, ATM, console,
etc.), the user-experience can be ended, such as by closing the interactive
program on the device. In one embodiment, the application on the user device,
and/or the kiosk, may provide a warning to the user when they approach the
position threshold boundary. For example, this may provide notice to the user that
the user experience will be terminated if they proceed outside of the boundary. As
an example, the deactivation can provide security for sensitive transactions (e.g.,
ATM), and mitigate unnecessary use of the kiosk, console, etc., when the user
leaves the area.
[0049] In one embodiment, at least three beacons may be activated so that a
beacon triangulated position of the device may be identified. For example, the
position of the device (e.g., determined by GPS) can comprise an approximate
position of the device (e.g., thirty to eighty feet approximation), such as on a map,
and the beacon may determine a distance from the beacon (e.g., by detecting
signal strength). In this embodiment, for example, three beacons in different
location can respectively identify a distance to the device, thereby triangulating a
position of the device with a greater degree of fidelity (e.g., accuracy, precision,
etc.).
[0050] As an example, GPS systems are typically not well equipped to identify
a location of the device inside a building, due to line of site limitations of the
satellites. In this example, beacons strategically located throughout a building
may be able to track movements of the device throughout the building, as well as
on different levels (e.g., floors). Further, for example, the mapping application
may provide markers on the map indicating a location of beacons, points of
interest, etc., relative to the user's position.
[0051] A system may be devised that can identify a more accurate location of a
user's device, for example, while mitigating location spoofing of a user's device.
For example, user experiences that may be accessed on a user's mobile device
(e.g., via one or more applications) can be interactive with regard to the user's
current environment. Further, GPS data that may approximate a location of the
user's device may not provide enough fidelity for the user-experience, and may
also be able to be spoofed (e.g., purposely provide false information). Systems,
described herein, can utilize two locating technologies to improve the location
awareness and mitigate location spoofing for user-experiences. Spoofing can be
made more difficult and thus potentially less likely to occur, for example, by
implementing low power - short range radio signals (e.g., via Bluetooth), at least
with regard to making a second higher fidelity, resolution, granularity, etc. device
location determination.
[0052] Fig. 5 is a component diagram of an exemplary system 500 for
improving location awareness of a device. A computer-based processor 502 is
configured to process data for the system, and is operably coupled with a userexperience
management component 504, among others. The user-experience
management component 504 provides an identity of a user-experience 552 to the
device 550, where the user-experience 552 is available to the device 550 in an
area comprising a position of the device 550. For example, a position of the
device may be identified by a location component (e.g., GPS) on the device and
provided to the user-experience management component 504, which can
determine whether a user-experience is available for the device's current location.
[0053] A beacon activation component 506 is operably coupled with the
processor, and is configured to activate a near-field radio system beacon 554 that
is associated with the user-experience 552. The near-field radio system beacon
554 is activated in order to identify a distance 556 between the device 550 and the
beacon 554, using a near-field radio system ID for the device 550.
[0054] For example, the user of the device 550 may select the user-experience
provided by the user-experience management component 504, which can
comprise sending the device's near-field radio system ID (e.g., Bluetooth ID), such
as to the exemplary system 500. The beacon activation component 506 can
communicate the device's near-field radio system ID to the beacon 554, for
example, which may now be activated to identify the device 550 and determine
the distance 556, such as by measuring a signal strength from the device's nearfield
radio system (e.g., Bluetooth transmitter).
[0055] A proximity management component 508 is operably coupled with the
processor, and is configured to activate the user-experience 552 for the device
550 if a distance between the beacon 554 and the device 550 meets a distance
threshold. For example, the beacon 554 can continue to measure the distance
between to the device 550 by tracking the signal strength, and/or pinging the
device, and report the data to the proximity management component 508.
[0056] In one embodiment, the beacon may merely transmit the signal
strength, and/or response time to the proximity management component 508,
which may determine the distance. In another embodiment, the beacon may use
the collected data to identify the distance, which it can report to the proximity
management component 508. When the user meets the distance threshold (e.g.,
is close enough to the beacon), for example, the user-experience can be activated
on the user's device 550, such as by notifying a provider of the user-experience
that can activate the user-experience 552 on the device 550 (e.g., over the
Internet, or using a wireless signal).
[0057] Fig. 6 is a component diagram illustrating one embodiment 600 where
one or more systems described herein may be implemented. In this example, an
extension of Fig. 5 is provided and thus description of elements, components, etc.
described with respect to Fig. 5 may not be repeated for simplicity. An experience
registration component 610 can register the user-experience 652 with the userexperience
management component 504. In this embodiment, the userexperience
652 can be registered to at least a portion of a global area that is
identified by an area identification key (e.g., a set of coordinates, grid sector ID,
etc.). For example, a user-experience provider 660 may register the userexperience
(e.g., interactive retail, interactive point or interest, transaction device,
console-type device connected to a monitor, etc.) for a particular location.
[0058] In one embodiment, the user-experience management component 504
can identify the registered user-experience 652 that is available to the device 650
in an area that comprises the position of the device, which is received from the
device. For example, the device 650 can identify its position, and send that info to
the user-experience management component 504, and when a registered userexperience
is identified in the area of the position of the device, associated
information may be provided to the device 650, such as over a network 658 (e.g.,
Internet or wireless connection).
[0059] In one embodiment, the beacon activation component 506 can receive
a device registration request for the user-experience 652, from the device 650,
where the device registration request comprise the device's near-field radio ID
(e.g., Bluetooth or some wireless ID). For example, a plurality of userexperiences
may be identified for the device's position, and the user of the device
can select one of the user-experiences with which to interact. In this example,
when registering for the user-experience (e.g., to use an application that interacts
with the user-experience), the device can send its near-field radio ID to the
beacon activation component 506.
[0060] In one embodiment, the near-field radio system beacon 654 can
comprise a Bluetooth beacon. Further, the Bluetooth beacon can identity a
distance 656 to a Bluetooth enabled device 650, and can send distance data to
the proximity management component. For example, when the beacon is
activated with the Bluetooth ID of the device 650, it can detect a Bluetooth radio
transmission signal from the device (e.g., broadcasting its ID). In this example, a
strength of the signal can be used to identify a distance to the device. This
information (e.g., the distance or the signal strength) can be transmitted to the
proximity management component 508. The proximity management component
508 can receive the distance data, comprising the distance between the beacon
and the device, which may be used to determine when the device 650 meets the
threshold distance from the beacon 654, such that the user may enjoy the user
experience.
[0061] Still another embodiment involves a computer-readable medium
comprising processor-executable instructions configured to implement one or
more of the techniques presented herein. An exemplary computer-readable
medium that may be devised in these ways is illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein the
implementation 700 comprises a computer-readable medium 708 (e.g., a CD-R,
DVD-R, or a platter of a hard disk drive), on which is encoded computer-readable
data 706. This computer-readable data 706 in turn comprises a set of computer
instructions 704 configured to operate according to one or more of the principles
set forth herein. In one such embodiment 702, the processor-executable
instructions 704 may be configured to perform a method, such as at least some of
the exemplary method 100 of Fig. 1, for example. In another such embodiment,
the processor-executable instructions 704 may be configured to implement a
system, such as at least some of the exemplary system 500 of Fig. 5, for example.
Many such computer-readable media may be devised by those of ordinary skill in
the art that are configured to operate in accordance with the techniques presented
herein.
[0062] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to
structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the
subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the
specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts
described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
[0063] As used in this application, the terms "component," "module," "system",
"interface", and the like are generally intended to refer to a computer-related
entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or
software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to
being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a
thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an
application running on a controller and the controller can be a component. One or
more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a
component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or
more computers.
[0064] Furthermore, the claimed subject matter may be implemented as a
method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or
engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any
combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject
matter. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to
encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device,
carrier, or media. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many
modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope
or spirit of the claimed subject matter.
[0065] Fig. 8 and the following discussion provide a brief, general description
of a suitable computing environment to implement embodiments of one or more of
the provisions set forth herein. The operating environment of Fig. 8 is only one
example of a suitable operating environment and is not intended to suggest any
limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the operating environment.
Example computing devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers,
server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile devices (such as mobile
phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), media players, and the like),
multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, mainframe
computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above
systems or devices, and the like.
[0066] Although not required, embodiments are described in the general
context of "computer readable instructions" being executed by one or more
computing devices. Computer readable instructions may be distributed via
computer readable media (discussed below). Computer readable instructions
may be implemented as program modules, such as functions, objects, Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs), data structures, and the like, that perform
particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the
functionality of the computer readable instructions may be combined or distributed
as desired in various environments.
[0067] Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a system 810 comprising a computing
device 812 configured to implement one or more embodiments provided herein.
In one configuration, computing device 812 includes at least one processing unit
8 16 and memory 818. Depending on the exact configuration and type of
computing device, memory 818 may be volatile (such as RAM, for example), non
volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc., for example) or some combination of
the two. This configuration is illustrated in Fig. 8 by dashed line 814.
[0068] In other embodiments, device 812 may include additional features
and/or functionality. For example, device 812 may also include additional storage
(e.g., removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic
storage, optical storage, and the like. Such additional storage is illustrated in Fig.
8 by storage 820. In one embodiment, computer readable instructions to
implement one or more embodiments provided herein may be in storage 820.
Storage 820 may also store other computer readable instructions to implement an
operating system, an application program, and the like. Computer readable
instructions may be loaded in memory 818 for execution by processing unit 816,
for example.
[0069] The term "computer readable media" as used herein includes computer
storage media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile,
removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology
for storage of information such as computer readable instructions or other data.
Memory 8 18 and storage 820 are examples of computer storage media.
Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM,
flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks
(DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be
used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by device 812.
Any such computer storage media may be part of device 812.
[0070] Device 812 may also include communication connection(s) 826 that
allows device 812 to communicate with other devices. Communication
connection(s) 826 may include, but is not limited to, a modem, a Network Interface
Card (NIC), an integrated network interface, a radio frequency
transmitter/receiver, an infrared port, a USB connection, or other interfaces for
connecting computing device 812 to other computing devices. Communication
connection(s) 826 may include a wired connection or a wireless connection.
Communication connection(s) 826 may transmit and/or receive communication
media.
[0071] The term "computer readable media" may include communication
media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions
or other data in a "modulated data signal" such as a carrier wave or other
transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" may include a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the
signal.
[0072] Device 812 may include input device(s) 824 such as keyboard, mouse,
pen, voice input device, touch input device, infrared cameras, video input devices,
and/or any other input device. Output device(s) 822 such as one or more
displays, speakers, printers, and/or any other output device may also be included
in device 812. Input device(s) 824 and output device(s) 822 may be connected to
device 812 via a wired connection, wireless connection, or any combination
thereof. In one embodiment, an input device or an output device from another
computing device may be used as input device(s) 824 or output device(s) 822 for
computing device 812.
[0073] Components of computing device 812 may be connected by various
interconnects, such as a bus. Such interconnects may include a Peripheral
Component Interconnect (PCI), such as PCI Express, a Universal Serial Bus
(USB), firewire (IEEE 1394), an optical bus structure, and the like. In another
embodiment, components of computing device 812 may be interconnected by a
network. For example, memory 818 may be comprised of multiple physical
memory units located in different physical locations interconnected by a network.
[0074] Those skilled in the art will realize that storage devices utilized to store
computer readable instructions may be distributed across a network. For
example, a computing device 830 accessible via network 828 may store computer
readable instructions to implement one or more embodiments provided herein.
Computing device 812 may access computing device 830 and download a part or
all of the computer readable instructions for execution. Alternatively, computing
device 812 may download pieces of the computer readable instructions, as
needed, or some instructions may be executed at computing device 812 and
some at computing device 830.
[0075] Various operations of embodiments are provided herein. In one
embodiment, one or more of the operations described may constitute computer
readable instructions stored on one or more computer readable media, which if
executed by a computing device, will cause the computing device to perform the
operations described. The order in which some or all of the operations are
described should not be construed as to imply that these operations are
necessarily order dependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated by one
skilled in the art having the benefit of this description. Further, it will be
understood that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment
provided herein.
[0076] Moreover, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean serving as an
example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as
"exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous over other
aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present
concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term "or" is
intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless
specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean
any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or
X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the
foregoing instances. Further, At least one of A and B and/or the like generally
means A or B or both A and B. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this
application and the appended claims may generally be construed to mean "one or
more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular
form. Also, at least one of A and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both
A and B.
[0077] Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with
respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications
will occur to others skilled in the art based upon a reading and understanding of
this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure includes all such
modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following
claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above
described components (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to
describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise
indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the
described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not
structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the
herein illustrated exemplary implementations of the disclosure. In addition, while
a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only
one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more
other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous
for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms
"includes", "having", "has", "with", or variants thereof are used in either the
detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a
manner similar to the term "comprising."
What is claimed is:
1. A method for improving location awareness of a device, comprising:
identifying a position of the device in a location positioning system;
identifying a user-experience within a desired threshold of the position;
activating a near-field radio system beacon associated with the userexperience
to identify a distance of the device from the beacon, using a near-field
radio system ID for the device; and
upon determining that the device is within a distance threshold from the
beacon, activating the user-experience on the device.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising one or more of:
receiving the position from the device, where the position is determined by
one or more of:
global positioning system (GPS) coordinates; and
a location key global position representation; and
returning information to the device for the identified user-experience,
where the user-experience information is identified from a user-experience
registered with a user-experience service for an area comprising the
position.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising:
receiving a request from the device to interact with the identified userexperience;
and
returning a request for the device to provide the near-field radio system ID
for the device.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising activating at least three beacons to
identify a beacon triangulated position of the device.
5. The method of claim 1, identifying the distance of the device from the
beacon comprising one or more of:
measuring a time of response from a sending of a ping from the beacon to
the device; and
measuring a signal strength of the near-field radio system from the device.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising deactivating the user-experience on the
device upon the device being outside of the distance threshold from the beacon.
7. A system for improving location awareness of a device, comprising:
a computer-based processor configured to process data for the system;
a user-experience management component, operably coupled with the
processor, configured to provide an identity of a user-experience to the device,
where the user-experience is available to the device in an area comprising a
position of the device;
a beacon activation component, operably coupled with the processor,
configured to activate a near-field radio system beacon associated with the userexperience
to identify a distance between the device and the beacon, using a
near-field radio system ID for the device; and
a proximity management component, operably coupled with the processor,
configured to activate the user-experience for the device if a distance between the
beacon and the device meets a distance threshold.
8. The system of claim 7, the beacon activation component configured to
receive a device registration request for the user-experience, from the device, the
device registration request comprising a near-field radio ID for the device.
9. The system of claim 7, the proximity management component configured to
receive distance data, comprising a distance between the beacon and the device,
from the beacon.
10. The system of claim 7, comprising an experience registration component
configured to register the user-experience with the user-experience management
component, where the user-experience is registered to at least a portion of a
global area identified by an area identification key.