Locating wireless devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, devices and non-transitory, computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for location-tracking wireless devices. In an embodiment, a method performed by an electronic device comprises: playing, or initiating the playing of, a sound through a loudspeaker of an accessory device via a communication link. The sound is played at a specified frequency that utilizes a frequency response of the loudspeaker (or loudspeaker plus speaker enclosure). The sound is received through two or more microphones of the electronic device and filtered by one or more filters. The one or more filters are configured to pass the sound at or around the specified frequency and to reduce masking of the sound by ambient noise. The filtered sound is associated with direction data generated from sensor data provided by one or more inertial sensors of the electronic device. In another embodiment, the specified frequency is higher than the maximum human hearing range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electronic device comprising:
 a communications radio;   one or more inertial sensors;   a display;   a wireless communications interface;   one or more processors; and   memory operable to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:
 determine an orientation of an electronic device based on sensor data provided by the one or more inertial sensors of the electronic device; 
 receive, using the wireless communications interface, a signal from an accessory device and determine at least one signal strength value from the received signal; 
 estimate a proximity value to the accessory device based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to the orientation; 
 associate the orientation of the electronic device with the proximity value; and 
 display, via the display, a graphical interface to indicate the proximity value to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 send, to a server, the proximity value; and   receive, from the server, a request to display on the graphical interface an option to request sound play on the accessory device.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the proximity value is indicated with a range class value. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the range class value is calculated from at least one of a formula or a statistical function. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, by two or more microphones of the electronic device, a recording of the environment, the recording including the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and ambient noise;   filter, by one or more filters of the electronic device, the recording, the one or more filters configured to pass the specified frequency or frequencies of the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and to reduce masking of the sound by the ambient noise; and   determine, by the electronic device, a direction to the accessory device based on a determination of a direction of a sound source within the filtered recording of the environment, the sound source having the specified frequency or frequencies; and   display, via the display, a graphical interface to indicate the direction to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine the at least one received signal strength value using the wireless communications interface of the companion device.   
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a compass heading from the received sensor data.   
     
     
         28 . A method performed by an electronic device, comprising:
 determining an orientation of an electronic device based on sensor data provided by one or more inertial sensors of the electronic device;   receiving, using a wireless communications interface, a signal from an accessory device and determine at least one signal strength value from the received signal;   estimating a proximity value to the accessory device based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to the orientation;   associating the orientation of the electronic device with the proximity value; and   displaying, via a display, a graphical interface to indicate the proximity value to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 sending, to a server, the proximity value; and   receiving, from the server, a request to display on the graphical interface an option to request sound play on the accessory device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the proximity value is indicated with a range class value. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the range class value is calculated from at least one of a formula or a statistical function. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving, by two or more microphones of the electronic device, a recording of the environment, the recording including the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and ambient noise;   filtering, by one or more filters of the electronic device, the recording, the one or more filters configured to pass the specified frequency or frequencies of the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and to reduce masking of the sound by the ambient noise; and   determining, by the electronic device, a direction to the accessory device based on a determination of a direction of a sound source within the filtered recording of the environment, the sound source having the specified frequency or frequencies; and   displaying, via the display, a graphical interface to indicate the direction to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining the at least one received signal strength value using the wireless communications interface of the companion device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining a compass heading from the received sensor data.   
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 determine an orientation of an electronic device based on sensor data provided by one or more inertial sensors of the electronic device;   receive, using a wireless communications interface, a signal from an accessory device and determine at least one signal strength value from the received signal;   estimate a proximity value to the accessory device based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to the orientation;   associate the orientation of the electronic device with the proximity value; and   display, via a display, a graphical interface to indicate the proximity value to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 send, to a server, the proximity value; and   receive, from the server, a request to display on the graphical interface an option to request sound play on the accessory device.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the proximity value is indicated with a range class value. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the range class value is calculated from at least one of a formula or a statistical function. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, by two or more microphones of the electronic device, a recording of the environment, the recording including the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and ambient noise;   filter, by one or more filters of the electronic device, the recording, the one or more filters configured to pass the specified frequency or frequencies of the sound played through the loudspeaker of the accessory device and to reduce masking of the sound by the ambient noise; and   determine, by the electronic device, a direction to the accessory device based on a determination of a direction of a sound source within the filtered recording of the environment, the sound source having the specified frequency or frequencies; and   display, via the display, a graphical interface to indicate the direction to the accessory device for the corresponding orientation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine the at least one received signal strength value using the wireless communications interface of the companion device.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a compass heading from the received sensor data.