BLUETOOTH TM Low-Energy Scanning and Ranging

Abstract

A first device may communicate via a first wireless interface (WI) and a second WI, with the second WI operating at a relatively higher power level than the first WI. The first device may receive a scan notification corresponding to wireless scanning performed by a second device. The first device may subsequently perform wireless scanning using the second WI in response to the scan notification indicating that the first device is within effective communication range of a third device. The first device may receive the scan notification over a wireless connection established between the first device and the second device using the first WI. The first device may transmit filter information to the second device, the filter information indicating when, and for which scans the first device is to receive scan notifications. The first device may also activate the second WI and use the second WI to perform ranging and/or control operations associated with the third device.

1 . A device comprising:
 a first wireless interface configured to facilitate wireless communications according to a first wireless communication protocol;   a second wireless interface configured to facilitate wireless communications according to a second wireless communication protocol, wherein the first wireless interface operates at lower power level relative to a power level at which the second wireless interface operates; and   a processing element communicatively coupled to the first wireless interface and to the second wireless interface, and configured to cause the device to:
 deactivate the second wireless interface; 
 scan, using the first wireless interface, for one or more other devices; and 
 activate the previously deactivated second wireless interface in response to the scan indicating that a second device is within effective communication range of the device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the device to use the first wireless interface to establish a wireless connection with the second device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the device to establish the wireless connection with the second device in response to the device coming within effective communication range of the second device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the device to:
 use the first wireless interface to transmit, to the second device, one or more of:
 an indication of a type of information the device is to receive from the second device; or 
 and indication of a time at which the device is to receive a notification from the second device. 
   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the device to receive scanning information from the second device, wherein the scanning information is associated with wireless scanning for one more other devices performed by the second device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the the second wireless interface includes an Ultra-Wideband interface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the device to determine whether to conduct communications using the second wireless interface at least based on the scanning information. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processing element configured to cause a first device to:
 scan, using a first wireless interface of the device, for one or more other devices; 
 deactivate a second wireless interface of the device, wherein the first wireless interface operates at a lower power level relative to a power level at which the second wireless interface operates; and 
 activate the previously deactivated second wireless interface in response to the scan indicating that a second device is within effective communication range of the first device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the first device to:
 use the first wireless interface to establish a wireless connection with the second device in response to the first device being within effective communication range of the second device.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the first device to:
 use the first wireless interface to transmit, to the second device, one or more of:
 an indication of a type of information the first device is to receive from the second device; or 
 an indication of a time at which the first device is to receive a notification from the second device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the first device to receive scanning information from the second device, wherein the scanning information is associated with wireless scanning for one or more other devices performed by the second device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the the second wireless interface includes an Ultra-Wideband interface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processing element is configured to further cause the first device to determine whether to conduct communications using the second wireless interface at least based on the scanning information. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory memory element storing instructions executable by a processing element to cause a first device to:
 scan, using a first wireless interface, for one or more other devices;   deactivate a second wireless interface of the device, wherein the first wireless interface operates at a lower power level relative to a power level at which the second wireless interface operates; and   activate the previously deactivated second wireless interface in response to the scan indicating that a second device is within effective communication range of the first device.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing element to further cause the first device to:
 use the first wireless interface to establish a wireless connection with the second device in response to the first device being within effective communication range of the second device.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing element to further cause the first device to:
 use the first wireless interface to transmit, to the second device, one or more of:
 an indication of a type of information the first device is to receive from the second device; or 
 an indication of a time at which the first device is to receive a notification from the second device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing element to further cause the first device to receive scanning information from the second device, wherein the scanning information is associated with wireless scanning for one or more other devices performed by the second device. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 14 , wherein the second wireless interface includes an Ultra-Wideband interface. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processing element to further cause the first device to determine whether to conduct communications using the second wireless interface at least based on the scanning information. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory memory element of  claim 14 , wherein the first wireless interface comprises a BLUETOOTH™ Low Energy interface and the second wireless interface comprises one of a BLUETOOTH™ interface or a Wi-Fi interface.