Proximity Alert Using Signal Strength

摘要

A monitoring device may monitor its proximity to a monitored station. The monitored station may transmit a proximity indicator to the monitoring device. For example, the proximity indicator may include the received signal strength of a signal sent by the monitored station. Wireless interface control circuitry at the monitoring device may monitor the status of the proximity indicator for changes. If one or more criteria set by an application processor are met by a detected change, the wireless interface control circuitry may send a status update to the application processor. In the criteria are not met, generation of the status update may be forgone. The application processor need not monitor the proximity indicator status and may remain in a reduced power consumption mode for longer periods.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
in a monitoring device:
monitoring a proximity indicator at wireless interface controller circuitry, the proximity indicator indicative of proximity of the monitoring device to a monitored station different than the monitoring device;comparing the proximity indicator to a criterion set by an application processor in the monitoring device;when the proximity indicator meets the criterion:
generating status update based on the proximity indicator; andsending the status update from the wireless interface controller circuitry to the application processor; andwhen the proximity indicator fails to meet the criterion, forgoing generation of the status update.