Simulation of near-field communications

Abstract

A computing device may identify one or more wireless broadcast signals that are each associated with a name that conforms to a specified wireless naming scheme. Responsive to identifying a particular wireless broadcast signal that is associated with a respective name conforming to the specified wireless naming scheme, the computing device may determine a signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal. The computing device may determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting the particular wireless signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device based at least in part on the signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal. Responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, the computing device may initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a computing device, a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting a wireless broadcast signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device, wherein determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is based at least in part on (1) a type of the computing device, (2) a type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal, and (3) a signal strength of the wireless broadcast signal; and   responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, initiating, by the computing device, an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless broadcast signal does not comprise a Near Field Communications (NFC) signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, by the computing device, the likelihood that the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal is within the specified proximity of the computing device further comprises:
 determining, by the computing device, a normalized signal strength based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal, and (3) the signal strength of the wireless broadcast signal; and   determining, by the computing device, whether the normalized signal strength exceeds a threshold value.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the normalized signal strength is based at least in part on a normalizing function that is specific to the type of the computing device and the type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 confirming, by the computing device, an identity of the remote device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wireless broadcast signal is included in a plurality of wireless broadcast signals having a plurality of different wireless broadcast protocols; and   determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is further based at least in part on a plurality of signal strengths of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining, by the computing device, a respective normalized signal strength for each wireless broadcast signal of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the plurality of wireless broadcast signals, and (3) a respective signal strength of the respective wireless broadcast signal.   
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one module operable by the at least one processor to:
 determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting a wireless broadcast signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device, wherein determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is based at least in part on (1) a type of the computing device, (2) a type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal, and (3) a signal strength of the wireless broadcast signal; and 
 responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more wireless broadcast signals does not comprise a Near Field Communications (NFC) signal. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one module operable by the at least one processor to determine the likelihood that the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal is within the specified proximity of the computing device is further operable by the at least one processor to:
 determine a normalized signal strength based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal, and (3) the signal strength of the wireless broadcast signal; and   determine whether the normalized signal strength exceeds a threshold value.   
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to determine the normalized signal strength based at least in part on a normalizing function that is specific to the type of the computing device and the type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to confirm an identity of the remote device. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the wireless broadcast signal is included in a plurality of wireless broadcast signals having a plurality of different wireless broadcast protocols; and   the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to determine the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device further based at least in part on a plurality of signal strengths of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to:
 determine a respective normalized signal strength for each wireless broadcast signal of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the plurality of wireless broadcast signals, and (3) a respective signal strength of the respective wireless broadcast signal.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:
 determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting a wireless broadcast signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device, wherein determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is based at least in part on (1) a type of the computing device, (2) a type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal, and (3) a signal strength of the wireless broadcast signal; and   responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more wireless broadcast signals does not comprise a Near Field Communications (NFC) signal. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, that cause the at least one processor of the computing device to determine the likelihood that the remote device broadcasting the particular wireless signal is within the specified proximity of the computing device further cause the at least one processor of the computing device to:
 determine a normalized signal strength based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the particular wireless broadcast signal, and (3) the signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal; and   determine whether the normalized signal strength exceeds a threshold value.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor of the computing device to determine the normalized signal strength further cause the at least one processor of the computing device to:
 determine the normalized signal strength based at least in part on a normalizing function that is specific to the type of the computing device and the type of the remote device broadcasting the wireless broadcast signal.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the wireless broadcast signal is included in a plurality of wireless broadcast signals having a plurality of different wireless broadcast protocols; and   the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor of the computing device to determine the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device further based at least in part on a plurality of signal strengths of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor of the computing device to:
 determine a respective normalized signal strength for each wireless broadcast signal of the plurality of wireless broadcast signals based at least in part on (1) the type of the computing device, (2) the type of the remote device broadcasting the plurality of wireless broadcast signals, and (3) a respective signal strength of the respective wireless broadcast signal.