Patent ID: 11928949
Assignee: PROX DEVICES, INC.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A proximity alert apparatus comprising: a processor comprising non-volatile and volatile memory; a user input device; means for auditory output and visual output to a user; an accelerometer; a replaceable, integral power source; at least one radio transceiver comprising a frequency synthesizer; and primary memory that stores program instructions to be executed by the processor, the program instructions comprising instructions that, when executed:
A) load a configuration value from the non-volatile memory and set a transmission power level for the at least one radio transceiver, based on a loaded first configuration value, to a configuration power level from among a plurality of known power levels;
B) provide a persistent and continuous radio frequency communication relationship utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (“BLE”) pairing and bonding between the proximity alert apparatus and a protected device comprising a corresponding radio transceiver;
C) provide visual output and auditory output confirmation of successful pairing to the protected device;
D) receive notice of disconnect of link connectivity between the proximity alert apparatus or system and the protected device from an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link layer;
E) perform a state machine cycle depending upon input and output for at least six proximity alert apparatus operational states comprising:
i) the proximity alert apparatus is near the protected device,
ii) the proximity alert apparatus is separated from the protected device,
iii) the proximity alert apparatus is connected to the protected device,
iv) the proximity alert apparatus is still,
v) the proximity alert apparatus is laid down, and
vi) the proximity alert apparatus is picked up;

F) adjust the proximity alert apparatus transmission power level a predetermined increment up or down from the plurality of known standard power levels based upon the proximity alert apparatus operational state;
G) adjust the transmission power level of the proximity alert apparatus at least one radio transceiver up or down by the predetermined increment;
H) save the proximity alert apparatus adjusted transmission power level to either the non-volatile memory or volatile memory dependent on operational state;
I) trigger a selectable auditory proximity alert apparatus alarm output in response to the protected device being more than a selected distance from the proximity alert apparatus;
J) trigger an auditory proximity alert apparatus alarm output in response to the protected device being less than a selected distance from the proximity alert apparatus;
K) trigger a selectable auditory proximity alert apparatus alarm output in response to a protracted period without link connectivity and historical lack of movement, and then movement; and
L) during runtime execution of the proximity alert apparatus running an application comprising configuration values during operational states of user inputs in response to one or more proximity alert apparatus operational states relating to proximity, time, and motion alert inputs and outputs; for individual captured sequences, determining the proximity alert apparatus integral power savings for each captured sequence regarding one or more operational states; applying an automated response to the captured sequence based on an optimum proximity alert apparatus integral power savings outcome; storing the captured sequence and the optimum proximity alert integral power savings outcome in a runtime memory within the proximity alert apparatus processor; identifying one or more captured sequences based on the proximity alert apparatus processor controlled integral power savings real time status associated with the optimum proximity alert integral power savings outcome event confronting the proximity alert apparatus processor controlled operational state; selecting a captured sequence from the one or more captured sequences, and the control method associated with each individual sequence; and executing the selected captured sequence for the controlled operational state integral power savings method in response to the operational state confronting the proximity alert apparatus.