Abstract:
An illustrative dynamic proximity control system uses proximity to a mobile user&#39;s mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the remote-controlled targets. The system and method enhance the mobile user&#39;s immediate access to targets that are close by, e.g., within the same room as the mobile user, by dynamically tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station&#39;s display. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices that are likely candidates for remote control. Remote targets are filtered out. The system optionally includes location-beacon devices associated with each of the remote-controlled targets. Beacon signals received from the location-beacon devices enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of a respective target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user in a user interface on the mobile station&#39;s display, and to dynamically update the user interface and remotely control the targets based on proximity changes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to wireless telecommunications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a portion of a typical remote control system  100  according to the prior art.  FIG. 1  depicts: building  110 , which comprises rooms  1 ,  2 , and  3 ; room  1  comprises three remote-controlled targets: window shade  111 , lamp  112 , and audio-visual equipment  113 ; room  2  comprises four remote-controlled targets: appliance  121 , wall switch  122 , ceiling light  123 , and thermostat  124 ; room  2  also comprises remote-control unit  101 ; room  3  comprises three remote-controlled targets: window shade  131 , plug-in dimmer switch  132 , and ceiling light  133 . The targets  111 - 133  are well known in the art. 
         [0003]    Remote control system  100  comprises remote control unit  101  and a plurality of remote-control receivers (not shown) each of which is associated with a respective one of the recited targets. Remote control system  100  is well known in the art. The remote-control receiver associated with a target is typically physically and electrically connected to its respective target, such as via the power plug of an appliance, or via an electrical connection (wired or wireless) as between the receiver and the target. The remote-control receiver receives commands from remote-control unit  101  and acts on the command by controlling an operation on the respective target such as dimming lights, powering on, powering off, activating a feature on the target, etc., according to the feature set and capabilities of remote control system  100 . 
         [0004]    Remote control unit  101  presents a control interface to the user such as buttons or, as illustrated here, a built-in interactive display  102 . Display  102  provides the user with a list of all the targets under the control of remote control system  100 , illustratively targets  111 - 133  and any other targets available in building  110  that are not shown here. When the user wishes to remote-control a particular target, the user searches for a target identifier on the list, selects the target, and actuates the desired remote-control operation that is available, such as power-on. 
         [0005]    An advantage of this kind of prior-art system  100  is that is presents the user with the entire panoply of choices under remote control. However, a drawback of this approach is that it becomes unmanageable when the number of targets significantly exceeds the presentation capacity of the control interface such as display  102 . In a large facility, such as a large house, office building, factory, or warehouse, where the user wishes to remote-control dozens and maybe hundreds of targets, finding the desired target can become difficult and cumbersome as the user attempts to navigate a very long list of targets. Moreover, in a sufficiently large facility, some targets may be out of range to the current location of remote-control unit  101 , and even if the user could find the proper target by navigating the list, the remote-control operation would fail for being out of range. A different approach is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present inventor devised a dynamic proximity control system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, by using proximity to a mobile user&#39;s mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The illustrative dynamic proximity control system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the available choices of remote-controlled targets. The system enhances the mobile user&#39;s immediate access to targets that are near, by tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station&#39;s display, and by dynamically updating the display when relevant changes in proximity occur as the mobile station moves around. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices, e.g., within the same room or within a predefined proximity distance, that are likely candidates for remote control while more distant targets are filtered out. 
         [0007]    The illustrative system optionally includes location-beacon devices that are affixed to or installed proximate to or built into each remote-controlled target. Beacon signals received from a location-beacon device enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of the respective associated target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user as the mobile station moves around. The proximity changes are managed via an illustrative “proximity list” maintained by the mobile station (see, e.g., paragraphs [0088]-[0092]). Optionally, predefined remote-control commands are automatically and dynamically triggered based on changes in the composition of the proximity list and without interaction from the mobile user. 
         [0008]    An optional controller in the dynamic proximity control system further enhances the user experience by performing some centralized functions. For example, upon receiving a signal from the mobile station that indicates what room the mobile station currently occupies, the controller powers on a light fixture in the room. Remote-control of the targets is performed by the illustrative mobile station, and/or by the controller, and/or by a collaboration between mobile station and controller. 
         [0009]    An illustrative method that is associated with a system comprises:
       receiving, by a mobile station, a beacon signal from each of a plurality of location-beacon devices, wherein each location-beacon device is associated with a respective remote-controlled target;   estimating, by the system, a distance between the mobile station and each location-beacon device;   generating, by the system, a proximity list based on the estimated distance between the mobile station and each location-beacon device; and   dynamically updating, by the mobile station, based on a change in the composition of the proximity list, a displayed user interface that comprises the identity of a first remote-controlled target that is associated with the changed composition of the proximity list.       
 
         [0014]    An illustrative system is configured to:
       (i) receive a beacon signal from each of a plurality of location-beacon devices, wherein each location-beacon device is associated with a respective remote-controlled target, and   (ii) estimate a distance between a mobile station and each location-beacon device, and   (iii) generate a proximity list based on the estimated distance between the mobile station and each location-beacon device, and   (iv) dynamically update, based on a change in the composition of the proximity list, a displayed user interface that comprises the identity of a first remote-controlled target that is associated with the changed composition of the proximity list.       
 
         [0019]    An illustrative system comprises: 
         [0020]    a plurality of location-beacon devices, wherein each location-beacon device is associated with a respective remote-controlled target; and 
         [0021]    a mobile station that is configured to:
       (i) receive a beacon signal from each of the plurality of location-beacon devices, and   (ii) generate a proximity list that is based on an estimated distance between the mobile station and each location-beacon device, and   (iii) based on a change in the composition of the proximity list, (A) dynamically update a displayed user interface that comprises the identity of a first remote-controlled target that is associated with the changed composition of the proximity list, and (B) optionally remotely control the first remote-controlled target.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a portion of a typical remote control system  100  according to the prior art. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2A  depicts a schematic diagram of a portion of dynamic proximity control system  200  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, including illustrative location-beacon devices  203 - i  that are associated with remote-controlled targets, T-i; mobile station  201  is depicted located in room  2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 2B  depicts mobile station  201  located in room  1  and operating in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2C  depicts mobile station  201  telecommunicating with controller  250  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative hardware platform for a location-beacon device  203 - i  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4A  depicts an illustrative hardware platform for a mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4B  depicts an illustrative user interface  412  for mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4C  depicts an illustrative user interface  422  for mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts some salient operations of method  500  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  501  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  511  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  705  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  513  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    To facilitate explanation and understanding of the present invention, the following description sets forth several details. However, it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, or with an equivalent solution or configuration. Furthermore, some structures, devices, and operations that are well-known in the art are depicted in block diagram form in the accompanying figures in order to keep salient aspects of the present invention from being unnecessarily obscured. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2A  depicts a schematic diagram of a portion of dynamic proximity control system  200  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, including illustrative location-beacon devices  203 - i  that are each associated with a remote-controlled target, T-i.  FIG. 2A  depicts: building  110 , which comprises rooms  1 ,  2 , and  3 , and controller  250 ; room  1  comprises three remote-controlled targets: window shade  111 , lamp  112 , and audio-visual equipment  113 ; room  2  comprises four remote-controlled targets: appliance  121 , wall switch  122 , ceiling light  123 , and thermostat  124 ; room  2  also comprises mobile station  201 ; room  3  comprises three remote-controlled targets: window shade  131 , plug-in dimmer switch  132 , and ceiling light  133 . The targets by themselves (i.e., lamp, window shade, coffee machine, thermostat, etc.) are well known in the art. 
         [0040]    The illustrative dynamic proximity control system  200  comprises: mobile station  201 , controller  250 , a plurality of location-beacon devices  203 - i  each of which is associated with one of the recited targets, and a plurality of remote-control receivers (not shown) each of which is associated with one of the recited targets. 
         [0041]    The remote-control receiver (not shown) associated with a target is physically and electrically connected to its respective target as appropriate to the installation, such as via the power plug of an appliance, or via an electrical connection (wired or wireless) as between the receiver and the target such as a ceiling light. The remote-control receiver receives commands from mobile station  201  and optionally from controller  250  and acts on the command by controlling an operation on the respective target such as dimming lights, powering on, powering off, activating a feature on the target, etc., according to the feature set and capabilities of system  200 . Remote-control receiver technology is well known in the art, and according to the illustrative embodiment, mobile station  201  and controller  250  are capable of transmitting commands to the remote-control receivers here (not shown) in a manner that is compatible with prior-art remote-control receiver technology. Because each illustrative target depicted herein  111 - 133  is remote-controllable via its associated remote-control receiver (not shown), such targets are referred to herein as “remote-controlled targets” or simply “targets” for the sake of simplicity. 
         [0042]    Mobile station  201  is the entity that coordinates and executes method  500  according to the illustrative embodiment. Mobile station  201  comprises a built-in display  202  that displays the remote-controlled targets that are in relevant proximity to mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. In  FIG. 2A , only remote-controlled targets  121 - 124  are in relevant proximity to mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment, and therefore only the identifiers of targets  121 - 124  are displayed to the user on mobile station  201 . This approach is in notable contrast to the prior art as depicted in  FIG. 1 , where remote-control unit  101  presented every target in the system. Here, on the other hand, the illustrative dynamic proximity control system  200  is capable of proximity discrimination and dynamic updating of the user interface presented to the user, such that only the targets in relevant proximity are presented. Mobile station  201 , its user interface and associated methods are described in further detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0043]    Location-beacon devices  203 - i  are each depicted here in association with a corresponding remote-controlled target, T-i. Each remote-controlled target, T-i, (e.g., targets  111 - 133 ) is associated with a corresponding location-beacon device  203 - i . The location-beacon device  203 - i  is physically affixed to or arranged proximate (but not affixed) to the remote-controlled target, T-i, that it is associated with. For example, location-beacon device  203 - 112  that is associated with window shade  112  is proximate to the window shade, arranged on the nearby wall. For example, location-beacon device  203 - 113  is associated with audio-visual equipment  113  and is affixed thereto. In some embodiments, the location-beacon device  203 - i  is built into the remote-controlled target, T-i, such as, for example, being built into a lamp or light bulb, etc. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to arrange and affix a location-beacon device  203  with respect to its associated target in order to properly benefit from the functionality of dynamic proximity control system  200 . Affixing and arranging technologies, e.g., glue, etc. are well known in the art and are left to the choice of the implementers practicing the present invention. 
         [0044]    A location-beacon device  203 - i  broadcasts a beacon signal. Based on the received beacon signals, mobile station  201  performs its proximity discrimination functions and dynamically updates the user interface presented to the user. Location-beacon device  203 - i  is described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0045]    Controller  250  is an optional component of dynamic proximity control system  200 . Controller  250  is a centralized control unit that telecommunicates to and from mobile station  201 . Controller  250  also is configured to transmit remote-control commands to the remote-controlled targets T-i. Controller  250  is described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0046]    It will be further clear to those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein mobile station  201  supports and/or operates with any number of remote-controlled targets T-i, any number of location-beacon devices  203 - i , and/or any number of controllers  250 , or any combination thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, mobile station  201  operates with only one type of remote-control technology for remote-controlling the targets T-i, but it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments with a plurality of different remote-control technologies such that some remote-controlled targets T-i operate under the control of one type of remote-control technology, while other remote-controlled targets operate under the control of a different type of remote-control technology, e.g., RF and infrared, without limitation. Likewise, it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments with a plurality of different location-beacon devices technologies, e.g., different RF frequencies, different timing, different protocols, etc., without limitation. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2B  depicts mobile station  201  located in room  1  and operating in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. In contrast to  FIG. 2A  showing mobile station located in room  2 , the present figure depicts mobile station  201  currently occupying room  1 . Consequently, mobile station  201  presents to the user only those target identifiers that are in relevant proximity. Here, the targets that are in relevant proximity are lamp  111 , window shade  112 , and ceiling light  113 . The other remote-controlled targets supported by system  200  are operational, but are not considered by the system to be in proximity of mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2C  depicts mobile station  201  telecommunicating with controller  250  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. Controller  250  is a centralized control unit that telecommunicates to and from mobile station  201 , and also is configured to remote-control at least some of the remote-controlled targets. According to the illustrative embodiment, controller  250  receives from mobile station  201  one or more of: the estimated current location of mobile station  201 , the estimated geographic area (e.g., room  1 , hallway, basement, etc.) that mobile station  201  currently occupies, and the proximity list (and/or an indication of its composition). According to the illustrative embodiment, controller  250  transmits to mobile station  201  one or more of: instructions or commands directed at certain remote-controlled targets such that mobile station  201  is to perform the remote-controlling of the respective target according to the instructions/commands received from controller  250 . According to the illustrative embodiment, controller  250  also transmits remote control commands directly to one or more of the remote-controlled targets, based at least in part on information received by controller  250  from mobile station  201 , e.g., composition of the proximity list, geographic area that mobile station  201  currently occupies, etc. Thus, controller  250  telecommunicates bi-directionally with mobile station  201 , and is capable of both acting directly on received information (e.g., remote-controlling one or more targets), and acting indirectly by instructing mobile station to take action(s). The communication path between controller  250  and mobile station  201  is illustratively a direct wireless connection, but the invention is not so limited; in some embodiments the communication path between controller  250  and mobile station  201  is via a telecommunications network (whether a local-area network, a wide-area network, a public-switched network, the Internet, etc.—the present invention does not require a particular technology for instantiating the communications path between controller  250  and mobile station  201 ). 
         [0049]    As noted earlier, according to the illustrative embodiment, mobile station  201  presents to the user only those target identifiers that are in relevant proximity. Here, there are no targets that are in relevant proximity, as depicted in the present figure and as shown on display  202 . 
         [0050]    It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the bulk of the “proximity-control logic” and operations (see paragraph [0047] and method  500  below) are carried out by controller  250  such that mobile station  201  plays a more limited role. For example, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention, mobile station  201  and controller  250  operate based on a client-server architecture, wherein mobile station  201  gathers beacon signals from location-beacon devices  203  and transmits the gathered “raw data” to controller  250 ; in its turn, controller  250  executes many of the disclosed proximity-control logic operations of method  500  to generate an appropriate proximity list and/or list of icons and/or user interface, and further, to identify predefined commands to be executed based on a given change in the proximity list, which are then transmitted to mobile station  201 ; mobile station  201  receives the information from controller  250  and presents the user interface to the mobile user and/or executes an appropriate predefined action as a result of the change in the proximity list. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments based on a client-server architecture as between mobile station  201  and controller  250 , respectively; or based on another cooperative type of system architecture wherein mobile station  201  and controller  250  each carry out some, but not all, of the operations of method  500  (described in further detail below) or of alternative embodiments of method  500  according to the present invention. 
         [0051]      FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative hardware platform for a location-beacon device  203 - i  according to the illustrative embodiment. Location-beacon device  203 - i  comprises: memory  301 , and transmitter  303 . According to the illustrative embodiment, location-beacon device  203 - i  comprises active radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) technology and broadcasts a beacon signal. 
         [0052]    Active RFID technology comprises a power source (not shown), and transmits using transmitter  303  a radio-frequency (“RF”) beacon signal via an integrated antenna (not shown). The location-beacon device  203 - i  also comprises a unique identifier stored in memory  301  that is transmitted in the beacon signal and that uniquely identifies the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i . The beacon signal also optionally comprises an indication of the signal strength of the beacon signal being transmitted (this information is used later in location estimation). 
         [0053]    Active RFID technology and RFID constituent components are well known in the art. Although the illustrative embodiment uses active RFID as the technology platform for location-beacon device  203 - i , the invention is not so limited. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that use other RFID technology for location-beacon device  203 - i , such as passive RFID technology, or a near-field communication (“NFC”) technology, or a combination thereof, without limitation. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that use other RF-based technology for location-beacon device  203 - i , such as Bluetooth, or WiFi, etc., or a combination thereof, without limitation. As noted earlier, the present invention is not limited to only type of technology platform for the plurality of location-beacon devices  203 . 
         [0054]    Memory  301  is non-transitory and non-volatile computer storage memory technology that is well known in the art and that stores the unique identifier of location-beacon device  203 - i.    
         [0055]    Transmitter  303  is a component that enables location-beacon device  203 - i  to telecommunicate with other components and systems by transmitting signals thereto. For example, transmitter  303  transmits a beacon signal. Transmitter  303  is well known in the art. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise more than one transmitter  303 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 4A  depicts an illustrative hardware platform for a mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. Mobile station  201  comprises: built-in display  202 , processor  401 , memory  402 , transmitter  403 , and receiver  404 . Mobile station  201  is an apparatus that comprises the hardware and software necessary to perform the methods and operations described below and in the accompanying figures in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. Mobile station  201  is mobile and telecommunicates wirelessly. 
         [0057]    Mobile station  201  is illustratively a smartphone with voice/text and packet data services provided and supported by a wireless network (not shown). It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments where mobile station  201  is a data-only tablet, or a wearable computer, or a smartwatch, or smartglasses (e.g., a Google Glasses platform), or a specialized remote-control unit, or any combination thereof, without limitation. For example and without limitation, mobile station  201  is capable of and configured to:
       receive beacon signals from location-beacon device  203 - i,      transmit signals to a remote-control receiver associated with a remote-controlled target T-i,   receive and transmit signals from/to controller  250 , and   receive and transmit signals from/to one or more wireless networks (not shown).       
 
         [0062]    Built-in display  202  is a component that enables mobile station  201  to present a user interface to a user according to the illustrative embodiment. Display  202  is well known in the art. Mobile station  201  comprises an interactive function associated with display  202  such that display  202  is a touch-screen that receives user input via touching or stroking the surface of display  202 . However, it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the interactivity with display  202  is accomplished in a different way, e.g., stylus, mouse, keyboard, etc. The functionality of the user interface and its presentation scheme is described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0063]    Processor  401  is a processing device such as a microprocessor that is well known in the art. Processor  401  is configured such that, when operating in conjunction with the other components of mobile station  201 , processor  401  executes software, processes data, and telecommunicates according to the operations described herein. 
         [0064]    Memory  402  is non-transitory and non-volatile computer storage memory technology that is well known in the art, e.g., flash, etc. Memory  402  stores operating system  411 , application software  412 , and element  413  that comprises other data. The specialized application software  412  that is executed by processor  401  according to the illustrative embodiment is illustratively denominated the “proximity-control logic.” The proximity-control logic enables mobile station  201  to perform the operations of method  500 . It should be noted that in some configurations where mobile station  201  collaborates with controller  250 , controller  250  also comprises and executes some elements of the proximity control logic, for example, when controller  250  performs certain operations in response to data received from mobile station  201 . 
         [0065]    Memory element  413  illustratively comprises: mappings of location-beacon device to associated target, mappings to geographical areas, and other data, records, results, lists, associations, indicators, whether of an intermediate nature, final results, or archival. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise more than one memory  402 ; or comprise subdivided segments of memory  402 ; or comprise a plurality of memory technologies that collectively store operating system  411 , application software  412 , and element  413 . 
         [0066]    Transmitter  403  is a component that enables mobile station  201  to telecommunicate with other components and systems by transmitting signals thereto. For example, transmitter  403  enables telecommunication pathways to controller  250 , to remote-controlled targets T-i, to other systems (not shown), to wireless telecommunications network(s) (not shown), to external displays (not shown), to other mobile stations (not shown), etc., without limitation. Transmitter  403  is well known in the art. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise more than one transmitter  403 . 
         [0067]    Receiver  404  is a component that enables mobile station  201  to telecommunicate with other components and systems by receiving signals therefrom. For example, receiver  404  enables telecommunication pathways from location-beacon devices  203 - i , remote-controlled targets T-i, controller  250 , other systems (not shown), wireless telecommunications network(s) (not shown), external displays (not shown), other mobile stations (not shown), etc., without limitation. Receiver  404  is well known in the art. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments that comprise more than one receiver  404 . 
         [0068]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, that in some alternative embodiments the hardware platform of mobile station  201  can be embodied as a multi-processor platform, as a sub-component of a larger computing platform, as a virtual computing element, or in some other computing environment—all within the scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use the hardware platform for mobile station  201 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 4B  depicts an illustrative user interface  412  for mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. User interface  412  presents to the user the targets that are in relevant proximity of the current location of mobile station  201 , illustratively six remote-controlled targets that are in the kitchen of the present building. User interface  412  is presented to the user via built-in display  202  on mobile station  201 . Illustratively, user interface  412  depicts: a title block reciting “Targets In Proximity:”; a geographic-area descriptor block reciting “KITCHEN”; six icons identifying six different remote-controlled targets reciting “Coffee”, “Kettle”, “Kitchen Ceiling”, “Kitchen Wall Switch”, “Microwave” and “Thermostat”; and a continuation icon that recites “Tap Here to See Other Choices”—arrayed from the top to the bottom of the display. 
         [0070]    User interface  412  is supported by the proximity-control logic being executed by mobile station  201 . The targets presented in user interface  412  are based on the composition of the “proximity list” that is maintained by mobile station  201 , and which is described in further detail below in regard to method  500  (see, e.g., paragraphs [0088]-[0092] below). 
         [0071]    Illustratively, when the mobile user taps an icon of a target appearing in user interface  412 , the proximity-control logic presents remote-control commands that are available to the user in regard to the respective target. Illustratively, when the mobile user taps the “Other Choices” icon, the proximity-control logic presents other available remote-controlled targets that are within remote-control range but which are not on the “proximity list.” 
         [0072]      FIG. 4C  depicts an illustrative user interface  422  for mobile station  201  according to the illustrative embodiment. User interface  422  presents to the user the targets that are in relevant proximity of the current location of mobile station  201 , illustratively five remote-controlled targets that are in the office of the present building. User interface  422  is presented to the user via built-in display  202  on mobile station  201 . Illustratively, user interface  422  depicts: a title block reciting “Targets In Proximity:”; a geographic-area descriptor block reciting “OFFICE”; five icons for five different identifiers of remote-controlled targets reciting “Ceiling Lights”, “Copier/Printer”, “Desk Lamp”, “Window Shade”, and “Thermostat”; and a continuation icon that recites “Tap Here to See Other Choices”—arrayed from the top to the bottom of the display. 
         [0073]    User interface  422  is supported by the proximity-control logic being executed by mobile station  201 . The targets presented in user interface  422  are based on the composition of the “proximity list” that is maintained by mobile station  201 , and which is described in further detail below in regard to method  500  (see, e.g., paragraphs [0088]-[0092] below). 
         [0074]    Illustratively, when the mobile user taps an icon of a target appearing in user interface  422 , the proximity-control logic presents remote-control commands that are available to the user in regard to the respective target. Illustratively, when the mobile user taps the “Other Choices” icon, the proximity-control logic presents other available remote-controlled targets that are within remote-control range but which are not on the “proximity list.” It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein a default remote-control command is associated with the mobile user&#39;s tapping of a given icon so that when the mobile user taps the icon of a target appearing in user interface  422 , the proximity-control logic automatically, without further user input, causes the default remote-control command to be executed as to that target. For example, when the mobile user taps the “Desk Lamp” icon on user interface  422 , the proximity-control logic causes a remote-control command to issue that powers on the desk lamp, thus enabling one-touch remote control that is based on the proximity-control logic. 
         [0075]      FIG. 5  depicts some salient operations of method  500  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. According to the illustrative embodiment, mobile station  201  coordinates and performs the operations of method  500  based on executing the specialized application software referred to as the “proximity-control logic.” 
         [0076]    At operation  501 , mobile station  201  maps the unique identifier of each location-beacon device  203 - i  to an identifier of the associated remote-controlled target T-i. Optionally, mobile station  201  additionally maps the unique identifier of each location-beacon device  203 - i  and/or of each remote-controlled target T-i to a geographic area where each is installed. The geographic area is illustratively a room, and could also be a floor of a structure, another indicator (e.g., back door), etc., without limitation, depending on the layout of the building. The present mapping operation will be used later by the proximity-control logic to discriminate among different remote-controlled targets and also to present to the user the current geographic area occupied by mobile station  201 . Operation  501  is described in further detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0077]    At operation  503 , mobile station  201  receives one or more beacon signals from a location-beacon device  203 - i.    
         [0078]    At operation  505 , mobile station  201  decodes the received beacon signal(s) to identify the transmitting location-beacon device. Mobile station  201  also measures and records the signal strength of the received beacon signal(s). When the received beacon signal(s) also comprises the transmit signal-strength thereof, mobile station  201  stores the transmit signal-strength information for subsequent use in the location estimation operation(s). Techniques for decoding a received beacon signal are well known in the art. Likewise, techniques for measuring a received signal strength and recording signal strength information are also well known in the art. 
         [0079]    At operation  507  mobile station  201  correlates the identity of the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i  with a geographic area, based on the mapping performed in operation  501 . Operation  507  is optional. When the identity of the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i  maps to a particular geographic area according to the mapping of operation  501 , mobile station  201  stores the mapped-to geographic area for subsequent use as described in further detail below. 
         [0080]    At operation  509 , mobile station  201  estimates a distance between mobile station  201  and the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i , based on the received signal-strength and the reported transmit signal-strength (if any) (see operation  505 ). Techniques for estimating a distance between a receiver (mobile station  201 ) and a transmitter (location-beacon device  203 - i ) based on signal-strength measurements such as received signal-strength and/or transmitted signal-strength are well known in the art. Accordingly, mobile station  201  estimates a distance as between itself and the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i . The distance estimate optionally comprises a margin of error, without limitation. 
         [0081]    It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art how to estimate the distance with and without an accompanying transmitted signal-strength indication as reported by the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i . It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how many beacon signals from location-beacon device  203 - i  are to be received and decoded by mobile station  201  in order to estimate the distance to the transmitting location-beacon device  203 - i  with a desired level of accuracy. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and build alternative embodiments that estimate the distance when some beacons signals comprise a transmitted signal-strength indication and other beacons signals do not. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and build alternative embodiments that estimate the distance with respect to location-beacon devices that have a variety of different underlying technologies, i.e., wherein the proximity-control logic applies different techniques for estimating the distance depending on the type of location-beacon device that transmitted the beacon signal. 
         [0082]    At operation  511 , mobile station  201  tailors the choice of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the user of mobile station  201  on display  202 . This operation is described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0083]    At operation  513 , mobile station  201  estimates a location of mobile station  201  and transmits the location and other relevant information to a controller, illustratively to controller  250 . Operation  513  is optional. Operation  513  is described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0084]    At operation  515  mobile station  201  passes control to operation  503  to analyze received beacon signal(s) from other location-beacon devices, which is a continuous cycle necessary to stay abreast of movement by mobile station  201 . Additionally, mobile station  201  passes control to operation  517  when remote-controlling a target is appropriate. 
         [0085]    At operation  517 , mobile station  201  remote-controls a remote-controlled target that is displayed on the user interface presented to the user on display  202 ; the remote-control operation is performed directly from mobile station  201  and/or via controller  250  (as enabled and described in further detail in operation  909 ). Thus, based on the tailored choices presented to the user of mobile station  201  in operation  511 , the mobile user chooses a remote-controlled target and activates a remote-control command illustratively via mobile station  201 ; consequently, mobile station  201  transmits a signal comprising the remote-control command directly to the selected target; optionally, mobile station  201  transmits a signal comprising the remote-control command to controller  250 , which receives the signal, decodes it, and transmits a signal to the selected target to perform the remote-control command activated by the user of mobile station  201 . Furthermore, as described in more detail in the scenario of operation  715  below, a predefined action that does not require any input from the mobile user can be automatically triggered based on a change in the proximity list, such that a remote-control command is issued (whether by mobile station  201  or controller  250 ) to a given remote-controlled target according to whether the change in the proximity list has added or dropped the target from the proximity list. 
         [0086]    In some alternative embodiments, controller  250  further comprises its own additional logic and features that are driven by signals received from mobile station  201 , but which are not necessarily expressly activated by the user of mobile station  201 . For example, when mobile station  201  estimates the location of mobile station  201  and reports its current estimated location (or the associated geographic area) to controller  250  (see e.g., operation  513 ), controller  250  powers on (via respective remote-control commands) one or more light-fixture targets in the geographic area where mobile station  201  is estimated to be currently located. Thus, mobile station  201  and controller  250  have a collaborative relationship wherein data reported by mobile station  201  is interpreted and used by controller  250  to perform operations that are not expressly selected by the user of mobile station  201 , but which are based on what is happening with mobile station  201 . Method  500  ends with operation  517 . 
         [0087]    In regard to method  500 , it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of method  500  wherein the recited operations and sub-operations are differently sequenced, grouped, or sub-divided—all within the scope of the present invention. It will be further clear to those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of method  500  wherein some of the recited operations and sub-operations are optional, are omitted, or are executed by other elements and/or systems, e.g., controller  250 . It will be further clear to those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of method  500  wherein mobile station  201  supports and operates with any number of remote-controlled targets T-i, any number of location-beacon devices  203 - i , and any number of controllers  250  while executing one or more versions of method  500 . 
         [0088]    It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the bulk of the proximity-control logic and operations are carried out by controller  250  such that mobile station  201  plays a more limited role. For example, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention, mobile station  201  and controller  250  operate based on a client-server architecture, wherein mobile station  201  gathers beacon signals from location-beacon devices  203  and transmits the gathered “raw data” to controller  250 ; in its turn, controller  250  executes many of the disclosed proximity-control logic operations of method  500  to generate an appropriate proximity list and/or list of icons and/or user interface, which are then transmitted to mobile station  201 ; mobile station  201  receives the information from controller  250  and, as appropriate, generates and presents the user interface to the mobile user. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of method  500  based on a client-server architecture as between mobile station  201  and controller  250 , respectively; or based on another cooperative type of system architecture wherein mobile station  201  and controller  250  each carry out some, but not all, of the operations of method  500  or of alternative embodiments of method  500  according to the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that one or more of the operations and sub-operations of method  500  can be executed by controller  250 , by mobile station  201 , by either one, or by both, in any combination according to the design choices made by the implementers practicing the present invention. 
         [0089]      FIG. 6  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  501  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0090]    At operation  601 , mobile station  201  associates the unique identifier of a location-beacon device  203 - i  with a user-friendly identifier for the corresponding target T-i. In this way, mobile station  201  generates an association as between a location-beacon device and the remote-controlled target that it is affixed to or proximate to, as the case may be. Illustratively, identifier  1000001  for location-beacon device  203 - 121  is associated with the user-friendly identifier “Coffee Machine” representing remote-controlled target appliance  121 . The present operation thus generates a mapping of location-beacon device identifiers to target identifiers. 
         [0091]    At operation  603 , mobile station  201  associates the unique identifier of the location-beacon device  203 - i  with a user-friendly identifier for the corresponding geographic area where the location-beacon device is installed. In this way, mobile station  201  generates an association between a location-beacon device and a geographic area. Illustratively, identifier 1000001 for location-beacon device  203 - 121  is associated with the user-friendly identifier “Kitchen” representing room  2 . The present operation thus generates a mapping of location-beacon device identifiers to geographic areas. 
         [0092]    At operation  605 , mobile station  201  associates the user-friendly identifier of the remote-controlled target T-i with the user-friendly identifier for the corresponding geographic area where the target is installed. In this way, mobile station  201  generates an association between a target and a geographic area. Illustratively, user-friendly identifier “Coffee Machine” representing remote-controlled target appliance  121  is associated with the user-friendly identifier “Kitchen” representing room  2 . The present operation thus generates a mapping of target identifiers to geographic areas. 
         [0093]    At operation  607 , mobile station  201  passes control back to operation  601  to repeat the mappings for every location-beacon device  203 - i  in and/or supported by dynamic proximity control system  200 . 
         [0094]    It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments that perform different mappings or use different monikers or perform additional or nested mappings as appropriate to the configuration and geography of the dynamic proximity control system being implemented. 
         [0095]      FIG. 7  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  511  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0096]    At operation  705 , mobile station  201  operates upon the “proximity list” based on the estimated distance (obtained in operation  509 ) between mobile station  201  and each location-beacon device  203 . Mobile station  201  changes the composition of the proximity list when an estimated distance between mobile station  201  and location-beacon device  203 - i  passes a proximity threshold. The proximity threshold is said to be passed when a distance that previously exceeded the threshold is currently estimated to be within the threshold; the proximity threshold is also said to be passed when a distance that previously was within the threshold is currently estimated to exceed the threshold. Operation  705  is described in further detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0097]    At operation  709 , mobile station  201  prepares a user interface based on the composition of the proximity list, i.e., based on the elements that the proximity list comprises. Thus, for example, the user interface that is prepared in the present operation identifies for the user only the remote-controlled targets that are a constituent element of the proximity list or that are associated with a constituent element of the proximity list. Optionally, mobile station  201  additionally identifies the geographic area where each constituent element of the proximity list is installed. Thus, for example, if the proximity list comprises identifiers for (or associated with) appliance  121  and wall-switch  122 , in the present operation mobile station  201  prepares a user interface that identifies appliance  121 , wall-switch  122 , and their associated geographic area, namely room  2 . Preferably, the user interface comprises user-friendly identifiers that would be useful to the user of mobile station  201 , such as “coffee machine” for the target and “kitchen” for the geographic area. 
         [0098]    It will be left to the implementers who practice the present invention to devise a desirable and appropriate format for the user interface being prepared in the present operation, such as size, resolution, color, icons, labels, etc. 
         [0099]    At operation  711 , mobile station  201  presents the user interface prepared in the preceding operation to the user of mobile station  201  via display  202 . Illustrative examples of a user interface being displayed on display  202  can be found in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , depicting user interface  412  and user interface  422 , respectively. 
         [0100]    At operation  713 , mobile station  201  determines that a change occurred in the composition of the proximity list and, based on the change in the composition, dynamically updates the user interface presented to the user. Illustratively, as mobile station  201  moves from the kitchen to the office, the distances between mobile station  201  and the various targets in the kitchen become larger, exceeding the proximity threshold and slipping off the proximity list, while the distances between mobile station  201  and the various targets in the office become smaller and fall within the proximity threshold. As a result, the composition of the proximity list changes, and based on this change, mobile station  201  updates the user interface being presented to the user, dynamically, without requiring an express update request from the user. Illustratively mobile station  201  dynamically updates the user interface from  412  to  422 . As the user moves while carrying mobile station  201 , the display presents a tailored set of target choices that are appropriate to the user&#39;s current location and relative distance to the various targets supported by dynamic proximity control system  200 . This might include an all-new user interface, such as updating from user interface  412  to user interface  422 , or adds and deletes of individual targets from an existing user interface. Mobile station  201  passes control back to operation  705  to cycle through the analysis in respect to further changes in the composition of the proximity list. Mobile station  201  also passes control to operation  513  for other operations, as described in more detail below and in the accompanying figures. 
         [0101]    At operation  715 , one or more predefined actions are triggered based on a change in the composition of the proximity list, such that regardless of what information is dynamically presented on the display of mobile station  201 , the predefined actions occur absent any express interaction with the mobile user. A predefined action that does not require any input from the mobile user can be automatically triggered based on a change in the composition of the proximity list, such that a remote-control command is issued (whether by mobile station  201  or controller  250 ) to a given remote-controlled target according to whether the change in the proximity list has added or dropped the target from the proximity list. Accordingly, a number of variations and scenarios are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, based in part on the architecture and feature capabilities of controller  250  and/or mobile station  201 , and further based on variations of method  500 . For example, one illustrative scenario comprises:
       A mobile user enters a room carrying mobile station  201  in a pocket;   The portion of the proximity-control logic that receives beacon signals runs in the background on mobile station  201  and detects a beacon signal associated with an appliance within the proximity threshold, illustratively a light bulb in the room;   A predefined action associated with the appliance is automatically triggered once the mobile station and the appliance are within the proximity threshold (as determined by mobile station  201  or, alternatively, as determined by controller  250 ), i.e., the predefined action is based on a change in the proximity list;   The predefined action is invoked (by mobile station  201  or, alternatively, by controller  250 ) in reference to the target, illustratively issuing a remote-control power-on command directed to the illustrative light bulb—consequently, the light bulb powers on;   When the mobile user, still carrying mobile station  201  in the pocket, leaves the room, the proximity-control logic continues to execute and detect beacons signals from the target, and ultimately determines that the target is no longer within the proximity threshold of mobile station  201 ;   Another (second) predefined action is triggered once it is determined (by mobile station  201  or, alternatively, as determined by controller  250 ) that the target and mobile station are no longer within the proximity threshold, i.e., this second predefined action is based on a change in the proximity list;   The second predefined action is invoked (by mobile station  201  or, alternatively, by controller  250 ) in reference to the target, illustratively issuing a remote-control power-off command directed to the illustrative light bulb—consequently, the light bulb powers off.
 
Notably, the mobile user has not taken any express actions in respect to the remote-controlled target, i.e., the illustrative light bulb. Rather the actions were predefined in the dynamic proximity control system  200  and were automatically triggered, initiated, and executed based on changes in the composition of the proximity list as mobile station  201  moved around.
       
 
         [0109]    As noted, operation  511  tailors the choices of controllable remote-controlled targets that are presented to the user of mobile station  201 —based at least in part on the current constituent elements of the proximity list. Additionally, operation  511  also automatically triggers remote-control commands based on changes in the composition of the proximity list. Operation  511  is performed continuously and iteratively by mobile station  201  as described herein, thus resulting in near-real-time dynamic updating of the user interface and/or triggering of predefined remote-control commands without express update requests or interaction from the user. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to design and implement operation  511  so that it is appropriately timed and coordinated with the location estimation operations so that the user experience in regard to mobile station  201  is such that the displayed user interface is automatically and dynamically updated in near-real-time. It will be further clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the updating is performed in response to an express command/demand from the user of mobile station  201 ; or in response to a command received by mobile station  201  from controller  250 . 
         [0110]      FIG. 8  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  705  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0111]    At operation  801 , mobile station  201  establishes a proximity threshold. Illustratively, the “proximity threshold” is a measure of distance as between the mobile station  201  and a location-beacon device  203 , but the invention is not so limited. Illustratively, the proximity threshold is a fixed distance of 2 (two) meters, but it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the proximity threshold has a different value, or is a different measure, or is a range of distance, or wherein the system employs more than one proximity threshold, or any combination thereof. 
         [0112]    At operation  803 , mobile station  201  operates on the proximity list: when the estimated distance between mobile station  201  and location-beacon device  203 - i  that is associated with a remote-controlled target T-i is within the proximity threshold (i.e., less distant than the proximity threshold), mobile station  201  includes in the proximity list one or more of the following elements:
       the identity of the location-beacon device  203 - i , and   the identity of the associated target T-i, and   the estimated distance between the mobile station  201  and the location-beacon device  203 - i.  
 
Illustratively, the proximity list comprises both the identity of the location-beacon device  203 - i  and the identity of the associated target T-i, organized such that each element is a tuple, e.g., (identifier of location-beacon device  203 - i , identifier of associated target T-i, estimated distance between location-beacon device  203 - i  and mobile station  201 ). It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the proximity list comprises only location-beacon device  203 - i  identifiers, or only target identifiers. When a tuple element is not already on the proximity list, mobile station  201  adds it to the proximity list, thus creating a change in the composition of the proximity list. When the tuple element is already on the proximity list, the tuple element remains on the proximity list, thus not changing the composition of the proximity list.
       
 
         [0116]    At operation  805 , mobile station  201  operates on the proximity list: when the estimated distance between mobile station  201  and location-beacon device  203 - i  that is associated with a remote-controlled target T-i exceeds (i.e., is more distant than) the proximity threshold, mobile station  201  excludes from the proximity list the tuple element comprising:
       the identity of the location-beacon device  203 - i , and   the identity of the associated target T-i.
 
When the aforementioned tuple element is already on the proximity list, mobile station  201  removes the tuple element from the proximity list, thus creating a change in the composition of the proximity list. When the aforementioned tuple element is not already on the proximity list, the composition of the proximity list remains unchanged.
       
 
         [0119]    At operation  807 , which is optional in the illustrative embodiment, when the location-beacon devices and/or targets on the proximity list correlate with a single predefined geographic area, mobile station  201  operates further upon the proximity list by:
       including in the proximity list other tuples comprising location-beacon devices and/or associated targets that are mapped to the single predefined geographic area, e.g., room, floor, etc., and   excluding from the proximity list other tuples comprising location-beacon devices and/or associated targets that are mapped to a geographic area that is different from the correlated geographic area.       
 
         [0122]    Illustratively, when the majority of elements on the proximity list map to a single geographic area (according to the mapping in operation  501 ), the single geographic area is said to correlate, in effect suggesting that mobile station  201  is most likely currently occupying the correlated geographic area. Based on the correlation, mobile station  201  includes all the elements mapped to the single geographic area into the proximity list and further, mobile station  201  excludes any elements that do no map to the single correlated geographic area. As a result of the aforementioned including and excluding operations, further changes to the proximity list could result, such as by adding other elements from the correlating geographic area or removing elements that are mapped to other geographic areas, even if they made it onto the proximity list in one of the preceding operations based on the proximity threshold. 
         [0123]    In some alternative embodiments, the present operation  807  always follows operations  803  and  805  such that the “final” proximity list is always limited to the elements in a single correlated geographic area, e.g., the room that mobile station  201  currently occupies. It will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the correlation between elements on the proximity and a predefined geographic area is defined and determined differently, or wherein the operations upon the proximity list as a result of a correlation are different than the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0124]    At operation  809 , mobile station  201  optionally limits the proximity list to a fixed number of elements, N, representing the elements that mobile station  201  has estimated to be the closest to mobile station  201 . The purpose of this feature is, in keeping with the objective of predicting and simplifying the user&#39;s choices, to present to the user only a relatively small and practical number of choices. For example, if the user is in a geographic area that has dozens of remote-controlled targets, e.g., a factory floor, it would be practical to present to the user only the  5  closest targets, even if two dozen targets are present and accessible on the factory floor. The size of display  202  and of the user interface that can be displayed on it also are factors in establishing the figure N, which will be left to the implementers. 
         [0125]      FIG. 9  depicts some salient sub-operations of operation  513  according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         [0126]    At operation  901 , mobile station  201  estimates the current location of mobile station  201  and maps it to a geographic area; the estimated location of mobile station  201  is based on the estimated distance between mobile station  201  and one or more location-beacon devices  203  that are estimated to be closest to mobile station  201 . The location can be a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional descriptor, such as a geo-location. Accordingly, mobile station  201  determines where mobile station  201  is located relative to the known locations of three neighboring location-beacon devices using, illustratively, triangulation; or alternatively, using trilateration and/or other techniques that are well known in the art and that implementers regard as providing a current location estimate of sufficient accuracy for the purposes of the present invention. 
         [0127]    At operation  903 , in an alternative to operation  901 , mobile station  201  estimates the geographic area that mobile station  201  currently occupies based on the corresponding mappings of one or more location-beacon devices that are estimated to be closest to mobile station  201 . Accordingly, mobile station  201  determines where mobile station  201  is located relative to the known geographic area of (illustratively) two closest location-beacon devices, but it will be clear to those having ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments wherein the geographic area currently occupied by mobile station  201  is determined in a different way or based on more data, or using other estimation techniques. 
         [0128]    At operation  905 , mobile station  201  transmits the estimated location (from operation  901 ) and/or the estimated geographic area (from operation  903 ) to display  202  to be displayed and updated with the user interface. This information is dynamically updated based on proximity changes in a manner analogous to operation  713 . Thus, as mobile station  201  moves from one geographic area to another, and changes in the proximity list occur, likewise, the user interface would dynamically update the geographic area identifier as appropriate. 
         [0129]    At operation  907 , mobile station  201  optionally transmits to controller  250  one or more of:
       the current proximity list,   the estimated current location of mobile station  201 ,   the estimated current geographic area occupied by mobile station  201 ,   the estimated distance between mobile station  201  and each location-beacon device  203  in system  200 , and   any combination thereof.
 
According to the illustrative embodiment, the transmission occurs wirelessly, via one or more RF signals.
       
 
         [0135]    At operation  909 , mobile station  201  optionally receives signals from controller  250 , the signals comprising commands issued by controller  250 . Illustratively, a command from controller  250  that is directed at a particular target T-i is based on the proximity list and on the current estimated location and/or geographic area of mobile station  201 , and instructs mobile station  201  to transmit the instructed command to the particular target T-i. For example, controller  250  instructs mobile station  201  to transmit a particular remote-control command to each target in the geographic area that mobile station  201  is currently estimated to occupy, e.g., to every target in the office; for example, controller  250  instructs mobile station  201  to transmit a power-on remote-control command to a ceiling light fixture that is identified on the proximity list; for example, controller  250  instructs mobile station  201  to transmit a power-off remote-control command to a night-light that is identified on the proximity list; for example, controller  250  instructs mobile station  201  to transmit a power-on remote control command to an appliance identified on the proximity list that is within a  0 . 25 -meter estimated distance of mobile station  201 , e.g., activate the coffee machine when mobile station  201  is within  0 . 25 -meter of the coffee machine, etc. without limitation. 
         [0136]    It is to be understood that the disclosure herein teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the present invention can be devised by those skilled in the art after reading the present disclosure. The scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.