Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
  • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
  • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
  • H04M1/6058—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
  • H04M1/6066—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone including a wireless connection
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W8/00—Network data management
  • H04W8/005—Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
  • H04M2250/02—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a Bluetooth interface

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of electronics, and more particular! to an apparatus and process for detection of a Bluetooth device.
• Wireless communication is spreading at the same time the devices and appliances are being developped for our everyday life, and particularly appliances fitted with bluetooth capabilities.
• various appliances such as mobile telephones, laptop computers and other Portable Document Assistance (PDA) may easily communicate with various interfaces such as a audio headset etc.... so as to improve the comfort of the end user.
• PDA Portable Document Assistance
• wireless communications have the consequence of moving away the different appliances and accessories, thus resulting in a significant number of situations where said accessories are being lost.
• Bluetooth type communication means allowing wireless communications, for instance audio wireless communication, towards a bluetooth type satellite, comporising a baseband central unit and a blueothh type communication controller ;
• the baseband unit carries out a PROFILE layer, allowig the generation and the transmission of a AT type command for the purpose of activating an alarm on said satellite.
• the apparatus comprises means for detecting the Received Signal Strenght Indication (RSSI) so as to determine the strength of the signal received from the satellite and further includes means for acceding a lookup table for deriving an informaiton representative of the distance separating the apparatus from the satellite.
• RSSI Received Signal Strenght Indication
• the information representative of the distance is displayed on said apparatus. It may also be reported by alternative means.
• the apparatus consists in a mobile telephone or a telephone fitted with bluetooth capabilities, or a PDA type personal assistant fitted with bluetoothregulationalities.
• a process for detecting by a first electronic apparatus, fitted with Bluetooth capabilities, of a second electronic apparatus also fitted with Bluetooth capabilities comprises the following steps : - an initializing step for activating the Bluetooth type communication means on the first apparatus ;
• the user is reported the detection of the second apparatus by means of a signal which is displayed or, alternatively , by any other means such as an auditive and/or vibratory means.
• the process involves the transmission of a AT + BLOC (OFF) commande for disactivating the alarm circuit on the second apparatus.
• Figure 1 illustrates the general architecture of an apparatus 10 comprising a host and a bluetooth communication controller executing the process described in this application.
• Figure 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a process using the specific AT+BLOC command.
• Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a process using the specific AT+BLOC command.
• the invention is particularly adapted for the realization of a mobile telephone of the latest generation, comprising extended audio capabilities allowing the transmission of audio flows of data to a codec or to a wireless headset complying with the Bluetooth standard.
• an apparatus 10 which comprises a host or baseband 100, for instance a baseband unit in the specific case of a mobile telephone, which comprises means for storing audio files, such as mp3 audio files, and a user interfer allowing the selection of files and the activation of audio functionalities by the user.
• a skilled man willl easily adapt the architecture of figure 1 to any Personal Document Assistant (PDA), to any laptop computer and generally to any mobile information handling system (I.H.S.) .
• PDA Personal Document Assistant
• I.H.S. mobile information handling system
• the host includes a (not illustrated) processor which communication via an address and data bus with one or more Input Output (I/O) units, and with Read Access Memory (RAM) and storage memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or FLASH memory.
• I/O Input Output
• RAM Read Access Memory
• ROM Read Only Memory
• EPROM Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
• FLASH memory FLASH memory
• the memory is used for the purpose of storing the user files, such as audio files complying with the mp3 standard, and also for the storing of instructions and microprograms for carrying out the extended functions of the apparatus 10.
• the host 100 comprises, in addition, the transmission and receiving circuits which allows a wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined standard.
• apparatus 10 may be any other electronic appliance distinct from a mobile or cellular phone.
• portable apparatus 10 comprises a bluetooth controler 200 which communicates with the bandbase host for the purpose of establishing and handling a wiresss communication complying with the bluetooth standard, and particularly a wireless transmission of audio files to a distant satellite 20, such as a wireless headset for instance.
• the audio data being received are streamed and encapsuled, as known in the art, in one A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) profile.
• Bluetooth controller 20 includes its own processor (not illustrated) and its companions circuits allowing the transferring, in a streaming mode, of audio files with the satellite unit 20 or the wireless headset.
• the host 100 and the bluetooth controller 200 communicate with each other by means of a communication interface 150 which is known under the designation Host Controller Interface (HCI) allowing exchanges of messages and events permitting the control of controller 200 by the host.
• Communication interface 150 permits the Host 100 to control via controller 200 the Bluetooth link , which further includes a Link Manager (LM) layer allowing the establishment, the handling and the closing of the connection link.
• LM Link Manager
• the apparatus of the invention comprises extended functions allowing the handling of the distance with a distant satellite.
• circuit 100 interprets on information received from controller 20, which is an information of the type Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) - conventionnaly used in the art for allowing two communicating elements 10 and 20 to control the emission power. That information RSSI is used for deriving one information representative of the distance between the apparatus 10 and the satellite 20. For that purpose, the mobile uses a look-up table between the information representative of the strength and the distance presumed between the apparatus and the accessory or bluetooth satellite.
• RSSI Received Signal Strength Indication
• Such information of distance is then displayed on one or the other , or even on both apparatus, so as to advise the user about the close proximity of the satellite 20 with respect to the apparatus 10.
• Such information is generally not sufficient for handling the proximity or, conversitly, the remote distance of the satellite with respect to the mobile telephone, particularly when such satellite has been lost pas the user.
• the communication between host 100 and bluetooth controller 200 goes through a multitude of software layer which are defined in the Bluetooth Core Specification du Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) and which carries out a successive encapsulation of the communication between the two communicating apparatus 10 and 20, which particularly include :
• Layer L2CAP Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol
• Layer SDP Service Discovery Protocol
• Layer SDP is used for describing the particular category to which belongs the satellite 20 and, correspondingly, the PROFILE layer describes the different functionalities provided by the satellite 20.
• the device 20 is a hand-free device, a specific profil will be assigned to it, which covers a determining number of functions.
• a specific profil will be assigned to it, which covers a determining number of functions.
• a audio headset which is one particular embodiment of the invention, one may consider a
• HSP HandSet Protocol
• HFP Hands Free Profile
• the communication between the « profile » layers of the two communicating apparatus 10 and 20 is achieved by means of a set of AT type commands, which are defined in the standardizing reference documents of the bluetooth standard, and particularly in the reference documents relating to the Hands-Free Profile and
• Headset Profile of Bluetooth SIG allow the exchange of messages intented to support various functions such as the hook-up, the transmission of a abridged number etc...
• This new command which is defined as being a AT + BLOC , is associated with two ON and OFF parameters.
• the said apparatus generates an appropriate alarm signal, which can be displayed or autitive, so as to advise the user of the close proximity of the apparatus. And thus help the user to find the apparatus which he might have lost.
• the alarm circuit may be any electronic circuit, based on the generation of an alarm signal which can be displayed or auditive, vibratory etc... and may take various forms and embodiments. Therefore, the practical details of such circuits shall not be further elaborated on.
• the new function which is proposed, based on the use of a AT + BLOC commanded exchanged at the level of the PROFILE layer, significant improves and enhances the flexibility of the handling of the distance by means of the RSSI.
• Figure 2 illustrates one particular embodiment of a process, executed in one mobile telephone and based on a AT + BLOC commande, which solves such problem.
• a step 21 the process starts with an initializing phase allowing, for instance, the reset of counters and the activation of the communcation means.
• Ie process proceeds with a request of connection which is transmitted to satellite 20, particularly by means of the generation of a HCI CONNECTION REQUEST command.
• Step 23 is a test for determining whether the connection request can suceeds, in which case the process proceeds to a step 31 and, conversely, the process goes to a step 41.
• the process performs an evaluation of the presumed distance separating the satelllite 20 from the apparatus 10, particularly by means of an access to a look-up table giving a corresponding between said distance and the level of the RSSI signal, after having prealably and temparily disactivated the « Power Control Request » (PCR) function so as to maintain constant the power of transmission of the sattelite being investigated while the user and the mobile are physically approaching it.
• PCR Power Control Request »
• the look-up table is loaded with reference values which introduced into the table during a tare operation, during which the mobile phone successively records various values of the RSSI corresponding to different predetermined distances.
• the process proceeds with the display of the distance which was previously evaluated during step 31.
• Step 33 is an optional step, which allows the user to control the activation of the alarm signal, luminous, auditive or vibratory, on the satellite device 20, by means of the generation of a AT + BLOC command, associated with parameter ON, and transmitted to the profile layer of said device.
• the process then proceeds with a step 34 wherein a new command AT + BLOC associated with the OFF parameter is generated so as to disactivate the satellite.
• step 41 the apparatus 10 enters into a « permanent » search mode corresponding to one mode where the satellite 20 is presumably lost.
• apparatus 10 periodically attempts, as this is respectively illustrated with steps 42 and 43 to establish a new connection and check the actual establishment of such connection.
• the process then proceeds with a step 44 for reporting to the user that the satellite has been actually detected. Practically, the mobile phone 10 can display a visual message on the display reporting the detection of the satellite. Then, in a step 45. the process proceeds with the generation and the transmission of a specific AT + BLOC command associated to the parameter ON so as to control the generation of the alarm signal on the satellite. Upon control of the user having found his/her audio headset or satellite 20, the process then proceeds to a step 46 wherein a new command AT + BLOC associated to the parameter OFF is issued so as to disactivate the alarm circuit on the satellite.
• the process allows the searching and the quick finding of a lost satellite, and that as soon as the user and his/her telephone enters the range of reception of the latter.
• the use of the specific AT + BLOC may serve for carrying out various different embodiments.
• the process and circuit of the invention can thus be used for a wide number of applications. It can even be advantageously used for signalling the temporary moving away of the satellite with respect to the apparatus 10, as this is illustrated in a second embodiment shown in figure 3. In a step 51.
• the process proceeds with the initialization of a counter (or decrementing circuit) within the satellite as well as the disactivation of the alarm circuit.
• the apparatus 10 is initialized in one state where it periodically generates the specific AT+BLOC command associated with the parameter OFF. Then, in a step 52. the process proceeds with the decrementation of a counting unit mentioned above.
• the next step 53 corresponds to a test for determining the reception of a AT + BLOC command associated with parameter OFF, which command, when received by the satellite, confirms the close proximity of the latter. In that case, the process loops back to step 51 so as to reset the counter.
• the AT + BLOC (OFF) command is not received and the process executed in the satellite then proceeds with a step 54 corresponding to a test on the value reached by the counter.
• step 55 the alarm circuit so as to advise the user of its moving away with respect to the location of the satellite 20, with respect to the mobile phone or apparatus 10.
• the counter can be used for setting a predetermined time beyond which the moving of the satellite 20 out of range with respect to the apparatus 10 will entail the generation of the alarm signal on the satellite 20, thus advising the user of the possible loss of the latter.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (4)

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• 2009
  • 2009-07-21 FR FR0903591A patent/FR2948517A1/fr active Pending
• 2010
  • 2010-07-20 US US13/386,058 patent/US9002273B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-07-20 JP JP2012520943A patent/JP5855567B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-07-20 WO PCT/EP2010/004425 patent/WO2011009590A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-07-20 EP EP10742720.5A patent/EP2457366B1/en not_active Not-in-force

Patent Citations (4)

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