Methods and Devices for Path-Loss Estimation

Abstract

A method on an electronic device for a wireless network is described. A wireless signal is received from a second electronic device. A receive power level indication for the received wireless signal is determined. A path-loss offset for the received wireless signal is determined based on sensor data that indicates a path-loss condition. A path-loss for the received wireless signal is estimated based on the receive power level indication and the path-loss offset. A function is performed based on the path-loss and the path-loss threshold.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method in a first electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving a wireless signal from a second electronic device;   determining a receive power level indication for the received wireless signal;   determining a path-loss offset for the received wireless signal based on sensor data that indicates a path-loss condition;   estimating a path-loss for the received wireless signal based on the receive power level indication and the path-loss offset;   performing a function based on the path-loss and the path-loss threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a transmit power level indication for the second electronic device; 
 wherein estimating the path-loss for the received wireless signal comprises offsetting a difference between the transmit power level indication and the receive power level indication with the path-loss offset to determine the path-loss. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving at least a portion of the sensor data from the second electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 selecting a context update interval based on the sensor data; 
 polling the second device for the portion of the sensor data at the context update interval. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 selecting a context update interval based on the sensor data; 
 setting an advertising interval of the second device to the context update interval. 
 receiving the portion of the sensor data from the second electronic device at the context update interval. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein receiving the portion of the sensor data comprises:
 sending an indication of sensor data to the second electronic device; 
 receiving the portion of the sensor data in response to the indication of the sensor data. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the path-loss offset comprises:
 determining that the sensor data indicates a movement type for at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device; 
 selecting the path-loss offset based on the movement type. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the path-loss offset comprises:
 determining that the sensor data indicates a device context indicator for at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device, wherein the device context indicator affects the receive power level indication; 
 selecting the path-loss offset based on the device context indicator. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sensor data indicates at least one of a stowing status, proximity to a face, handheld status, surface positioning, device heading, microphone input, ambient light sensor data, barometric pressure, ambient temperature, global positioning system data, Wi-Fi connection data, Bluetooth™ connection data, Zigbee connection data, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, capacitive sensor data, or location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein determining that the sensor data indicates the device context indicator comprises determining that the sensor data indicates a plurality of device context indicators that affect the receive power level indication;
 wherein selecting the path-loss offset based on the device context indicator comprises: 
 selecting a condition offset for each of the plurality of device context indicators; 
 combining the condition offsets for the plurality of device context indicators to obtain the path-loss offset. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the receive power level indication comprises:
 performing a procedure on a plurality of receive power level indications over a receive power average interval to determine the receive power level indication; 
 dynamically adjusting the receive power average interval based on the sensor data. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the receive power level indication comprises:
 determining a plurality of receive power level indications; 
 selecting one or more procedures based on at least one of the sensor data or a device context indicator; 
 performing the one or more procedures on at least one receive power level indication of the plurality of receive power level indications to determine the receive power level indication. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing the function comprises triggering at least one of an alert function, a security function, or a proximity-triggered function. 
     
     
         14 . A first electronic device comprising:
 a radio transceiver;   a non-transitory memory; and   a processor configured to retrieve instructions from the memory;   wherein:   the radio transceiver is configured to receive a wireless signal from a second electronic device;   the radio transceiver is configured to determine a receive power level indication for the received wireless signal;   the processor is configured to determine a path-loss offset for the received wireless signal based on sensor data that indicates a path-loss condition;   the processor is configured to estimate a path-loss for the received wireless signal based on the receive power level indication and the path-loss offset; and   the processor is configured to perform a function based on the path-loss and the path-loss threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The first electronic device of  claim 14  wherein the second electronic device is a smart watch, key fob, smart pen, pair of smart glasses, tablet computer, audio headset, or a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The first electronic device of  claim 14  wherein the first electronic device is a tablet computer. 
     
     
         17 . The first electronic device of  claim 14  wherein the first electronic device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         18 . A method in a first electronic device, the method comprising:
 negotiating a wireless communication connection with a second electronic device;   determining whether at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is located outdoors based on sensor data;   selecting a wireless communication channel for the wireless communication connection based on the determination;   establishing the wireless communication connection with the second electronic device over the selected wireless communication channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein selecting the wireless communication channel comprises:
 selecting the wireless communication channel from a first set of wireless communication channels for outdoor use if the first electronic device or the second electronic device is located outdoors; 
 selecting the wireless communication channel from a second set of wireless communication channels for indoor use if both the first electronic device and the second electronic device are not located outdoors. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 receiving a wireless signal from the second electronic device over the selected wireless communication channel; 
 determining a receive power level indication for the received wireless signal; 
 determining a path-loss offset for the received wireless signal based on the sensor data, wherein the sensor data indicates a path-loss condition; 
 estimating a path-loss for the received wireless signal based on the receive power level indication and the path-loss offset; 
 performing a function based on the path-loss and the path-loss threshold. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein determining the path-loss offset comprises:
 determining that the sensor data indicates a device context indicator for at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device, wherein the device context indicator affects the receive power level indication; 
 selecting the path-loss offset based on the device context indicator. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the sensor data indicates at least one of a stowing status, proximity to a face, handheld status, surface positioning, device heading, microphone input, ambient light sensor data, barometric pressure, ambient temperature, global positioning system data, Wi-Fi connection data, Bluetooth™ connection data, Zigbee connection data, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, capacitive sensor data, or location. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein determining the path-loss offset comprises:
 selecting the path-loss offset based on the determination of whether at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is located outdoors.