METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING VARIATION IN SIGNAL STRENGTH FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of managing variation in signal strength and more particularly to the field of indicating to a user regarding a primary location with signal strength above the reference level in proximity to a secondary location of the user with the signal strength below the reference level.

BACKGROUND

[00021 Often, in a mobile device, signal strength degrades below a reference level during usage of the mobile device. For example, the signal strength can degrade below a reference level on the mobile device while listening to radio or during a call. Degradation of the signal strength can be due to attenuation in network transmission or climatic conditions. Further, the degradation of the signal strength on the mobile device can cause drop drown of the call in the mobile device and inconvenience to the user. In current scenario, signal strength Indicators in the mobile device update received signal strength on the mobile device. However, a user of the mobile device may have to manually traverse an area to determine, through trial and error, a location with the signal strength above the reference level as updated by the signal strength indicators.

[00031 In light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for managing variation in signal strength.

SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and a system for managing variation in signal strength.

[0005] An example of a method for managing variation in signal strength includes determining primary locations traversed by a user with signal strength above a reference value. The method also includes determining change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location with the signal strength belowthe reference level. Further, the method includes indicating the user regarding the primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change.

[0006] An example of an electronic device for managing variation in signal strength includes a communication interface in electronic communication with one or more communication devices of one or more recipients. The electronic device also includes an accelerometer for determining primary locations traversed by a user and change in location of the user from one of the locations to a secondary location with the signal strength below the reference value. Further, the electronic device includes a signal strength position guider for indicating to the user regarding a primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change. Moreover, the electronic device includes a storage device for storing the primary locations and the signal strength above the reference level corresponding to the primary locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0007] The accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment, in accordance wth which various embodiments can be implemented;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a method for managing variation in signal strength, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0011] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012[ It should be observed that method steps and system components have been represented by conventional symbols in the figures, showing only specific details that are relevant for an understanding of the present disclosure. Further, details that may be readily apparent to person ordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In the present disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or order between such entities.

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and a system for managing variation in signal strength.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment 100, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. The environment 100 includes an electronic device 105. Examples of the electronic device 105 include, but are not limited to. a computer, a laptop, a palmtop, a mobile, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and any other device through which variation in signal strength can be managed.

[0015] The electronic device 105 can be connected to communication devices of one or more recipients through a network 110. For example, the one or more communication devices can include a communication device 120a and a communication device 120b. Examples of the communication devices include, but are not limited to, computers, laptops, palmtops, mobiles, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and, any other device to which information on primary locations with signal strength above a reference level can be provided. Examples of the network 110 include, but are not limited to, local area network, wide area network, wired network, metropolitan area network, internet, Bluetooth, ZigBee technology, and wireless network,

[0016] The electronic device 105 can also be connected to a storage device 115 directly or through the network 110. In some embodiments, the storage device 115 can be incorporated within the electronic device 105, Examples of the storage device 115 include, but are not limited to, a flash drive, a hard disk, and any other source of storing data. The storage device can store information on primary locations traversed by a user and signal strength above a reference level corresponding to the primary locations.

[0017] In some embodiments, the electronic device 105 can manage variation in the signal strength. The electronic device 105 can determine the primary locations traversed by a user with the signal strength above the reference level. The electronic device 105 can also determine change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location with the signal strength below the reference level. The electronic device 105 can also indicate to the user regarding the primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change.

[00181 The electronic device 105 can include one or more elements for managing variation in the signal strength. The electronic device 105 including the elements is explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic device 105, in accordance with one embodiment. The electronic device 105 includes a bus 205 or other communication mechanism for communicating information. The electronic device 105 also includes a memory 210, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 205 for storing information. The memory 210 can be used for storing any temporary information required. The electronic device 105 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 215 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 205 for storing static
information for the electronic device 105. A storage unit 220, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus 205 for storing information.

[0020] The electronic device 105 can be coupled via the bus 205 to a display unit 225, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED) display, for displaying information to a user. An input device 230, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus 205 for communicating an input to the electronic device 105. The input device can be included in the electronic device 105. Another type of user input device is a cursor control 235, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating the input to the electronic device 105 and for controlling cursor movement on the display unit 225. The input device 230 can also be included in the display unit 225, for example a touch screen.

[0021] Various embodiments are related to the use of the electronic device 105 for implementing the techniques described herein. In some embodiments, the techniques can be performed by a processor using information included In the memory 210. The information can be read into the memory 210 from another machine-readable medium, such as the storage unit 220.

[0022] The term "machine-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodiment implemented using the electronic device 105, various machine-readable medium are involved, for example. In providing information to the processor. The machine-readable medium can be a storage media. Storage media includes both non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as the storage unit 220. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as the memory 210. All such media must be tangible to enable the information carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the information into a machine.

[0023] Common forms of machine-readable medium include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punchcards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

[0024] In another embodiment, the machine-readable medium can be a transmission media including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that include the bus 205. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications.

[0025] The electronic device 105 also includes a communication interface 240 coupled to the bus 205. The communication interface 240 provides a two-way data communication coupling to the network 110. For example, the communication interface 240 can be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links can also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 240 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. The communication interface 240 can be a universal serial bus port. Communication between the electronic device 105 and one or more communication devices, for example, communication device 120a and communication device 120b, can be through the communication interface 240 and the network 110.

[0026] In some embodiments, the electronic device can include one or more units, for example, an accelerometer 245, a signal strength estimator 250 and, a signal strength position guider 255, for managing variation in the signal strength. The accelerometer 245 is used for determining primary locations traversed by a user and change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location. The signal strength estimator 250 is used for estimating the signal strength at the primary locations traversed by the user and secondary location of the user. The signal strength position guider 255 is used for indicating to the user regarding a primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change.

[0027] In some embodiments, the units can be included in the processor. The processor including the units can be hardware circuitry which performs the desired functions.

[00281 The storage unit 220, for example, a hard disk can be used for storing the primary locations and the signal strength above the reference level corresponding to the primary locations. The electronic device 105 can provide information on the primary locations with the signal strength above the reference level to the communication devices, for example, the communication device 120a and the communication device 120b, of the recipients from the storage unit 220 or from the storage device 115 through the communication interface 240 and the network 110.

[0029] In some embodiments, the accelerometer 245 can determine the location coordinates, for example, Cartesian co-ordinates, in a three dimensional space corresponding to the primary locations. The accelerometer 245 provides accelerometer data by measuring motion parameters, for example, acceleration, velocity and, displacement, relative to movement of the user across the primary locations or from the primary locations to the secondary location. The accelerometer utilizes the accelerometer data to calculate distance and direction relative to the movement of the user across the primary locations. The location co-ordinates corresponding to the primary locations can be determined based on the calculations. The accelerometer 245 can also calculate the displacement of the secondary location from the primary locations in terms of three dimensional location coordinates using the accelerometer data and information on the primary locations in the storage device 115 or the storage unit 220. The accelerometer 245 can also scale vertical magnitude of secondary location corresponding to the movement of the user in a vertical direction.

[0030] In some embodiments, the location co-ordinates of the primary locations and the secondary location determined by the accelerometer 245 using the accelerometer data, can be stored in the storage unit 220 or the storage device 115. The signal strength at the primary locations estimated by the signal strength estimator 250 can also be stored in the storage unit 220 or the storage device 115. The signal strength position guider 255 utilizes information on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations in the storage unit 220 or the storage device 115 to identify a primary location with signal strength above the reference value in proximity to the secondary location. The signal strength position guider 255 compares the location co-ordinates at the secondary location with location co-ordinates of the primary locations stored in the storage unit 220 or the storage device 115.

[0031] In some embodiments, signal strength position guider 255 can indicate multiple primary locations in proximity to the secondary location to the user based on comparison of the location co-ordinates of the primary locations and the location co-ordinates of the secondary location.

[0032] FIG. 3 depicts a method for managing variation in signal strength, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0033] A user traverses through one or more locations.

[0034] In various embodiments, an electronic device corresponds to a user and communication devices correspond to one or more recipients.

[0035] The method starts at step 305.

10036] At step 310, primary locations traversed by a user with signal strength above a reference value is determined, The reference value corresponding to the signal strength can be defined by the user or a service provider.

[0037] In various embodiments, locations with signal strength above the reference value correspond to the primary locations.

[0038] In various embodiments, the signal strength corresponds to signal strength of one or more radio signals. Examples of the radio signals include, but are not limited to frequency modulated (FM) signals, Wi-Fi signals, amplitude modulated (AM) signals, service provider telecommunication signals, and general packet radio service (GPRS) signals. The signal strength refers to magnitude of electric field at a reference point or a location at a distance from a radio signal transmitting antenna.

|0039] In some embodiments, the primary locations can be represented by location coordinates, for example, Cartesian co-ordinates, in a three dimensional space.

[0040] (n some embodiments, a base location among the primary locations can be taken as a reference point for measuring the location co-ordinates of the primary locations. A primary location with the signal strength above the reference level determined at the first instance can be considered as the base location for the other primary locations. For example, a location "A" can be represented using an x co-ordinate value, a y co-ordinate value, and a z co-ordinate value in three dimensional space measured with reference to the location co-ordinates of the base location as "A(x,y,z)". The location co-ordinates of the base location can be considered as "B(0,0,0)".

[0041] Information on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations is stored. The information on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations can stored as a signal strength and location co-ordinate pair. An exemplary illustration of the information stored on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations can be "signal strength, location (x,y,z)". Consider an example of the user at location "A". If the signal strength at the location "A" is above the reference level defined by the user or the service provider, then the signal strength estimated corresponding to the location "A" can be stored as "SS, A(x,y,z)". If the user travels from the location "A" to a location "C" and the signal strength estimated at the location "C" is above the reference level then, the signal strength corresponding to the location "C" can be stored as "SS, C{x,y,z)".

[0042] \n various embodiments, the information on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations corresponds to the location co-ordinates of the primary locations and signal strength estimated at the primary locations.

[0043] In some embodiments, the location co-ordinates of a secondary location of the user with signal strength below the reference value can be ignored.

[0044] The information on the signal strength above the reference level corresponding to the primary locations can be updated. The information of the signal strength can be updated on detecting increase in the signal strength at the primary locations from the signal strength stored corresponding to the primary locations.

|0045] In some embodiments, the primary locations can be determined within one or more areas. For example, an area "A" can include the primary locations "A", "B", "D" and, "E" and an area "M" can include the primary locations "N", "O", "P" "Q" and, "R". Examples of the areas include, but are not limited to, homes, offices, buildings, rooms, and travel routes.

[0046| One or more user profiles can be created by the user corresponding to the areas. The user profiles can include, but are not limited to, the information on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations related to the areas.

[0047] The user can provide the information stored on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations to one or more recipients. The information can be provided using communication media. Examples of the communication media include, but are not limited to, a short messaging service (SMS) message, a flash message, multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, and an electronic mail.

[0048]If some embodiments, the user can provide the information stored on the primary locations and the signal strength corresponding to the primary locations related to the areas to the recipients.

[0049] At step 315, change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location with the signal strength below the reference level is determined.

[0050] In various embodiments, the change in location of the user can correspond to movement of the user in proximity to the primary locations. The secondary location can be in proximity to the primary locations.

[0051] In some embodiments, location co-ordinates of the secondary location can be determined. The location co-ordinates of the secondary location can be determined with respect to the location co-ordinates of the base location.

(0052] In some embodiments, the change in location of the user can involve a movement of the user in a vertical direction with respect to one of the primary locations. Vertical magnitude of the secondary location corresponding to the movement of the user in a vertical direction can be scaled.

[0053] Alerts can be provided to one or more secondary locations with the signal strength below the reference value. Examples of alerts include, but are not limited to, an SMS message and a flash message.

[0054] The location co-ordinates of the primary locations stored are then compared with the location co-ordinates of the secondary location. A primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location is then identified based on the comparison.

[0055] At step 325, the primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location is indicated to the user. The indication can aid the user in determining direction and distance of the primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location. Exemplary ways of Indicating the direction and the distance of the primary location in proximity to the secondary location to the user can include, but are not limited to, a graphical indication, a short messaging service (SMS) message indication, multimedia messaging service (MMS) message indication, and flash message indication.

[0056] The user can then move to the primary location with the signal strength above the reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the indication.

[0057] In some embodiments, multiple primary locations in proximity to the secondary location can also be indicated to the user based on comparison of the location co-ordinates of the primary locations and the location co-ordinates of the secondary location.

[0058] The method stops at step 330.

|0059] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person ordinary skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.

I/We claim:

1. A method for managing variation in signal strength, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of primary locations traversed by a user with signal strength above a reference value;

determining change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location with the signal strength below the reference level; and

indicating the user regarding a primary location with the signal strength above fire reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the primary locations further comprises:

estimating the signal strength at the primary locations traversed by the user and the secondary location of the user.

3. The method claim 1, wherein the reference value is defined by at least one of the user and a service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary locations are within or)e or more areas.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

creating one or more user profiles corresponding to the one or more areas, wherein the user profiles comprise information on the primary locations with the signal strength above reference level within the one or more areas.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing information on the primary locations with the signal strength above reference level to one or more recipients.

7. An electronic device for managing variation in signal strength, the electronic device comprising;

a communication interface in electronic communication with one or more communication devices of one or more recipients;

an accelerometer for:

determining a plurality of primary locations traversed by a user; and determining change in location of the user from one of the primary locations to a secondary location;

a signal strength position guider for indicating to the user regarding a primary location with signal strength above a reference level in proximity to the secondary location based on the change; and

a storage device for storing the primary locations and the signal strength above the reference level corresponding to the primary locations.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 further comprising;

a signal strength estimator for estimating the signal strength at the primary locations traversed by the user and the secondary location of the user.

9. A system for performing a method, the method as described herein and in accompanying figures.

10. A method for managing variation in signal strength in a system, the system as described herein and in accompanying figures.