PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11076261-B1
Application Number: US-201715696566-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Location systems for electronic device communications

Abstract:
An electronic device may be provided with control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display. The control circuitry may determine where nearby devices are located relative to the electronic device. When a wireless communications link is established with a nearby device, the control circuitry may use the display to inform a user of the status of the wireless communications link and the location of the nearby device. The display may produce images such as a line extending in the direction of the nearby device. The line may move on the display in response to movement of the nearby device. In an environment with multiple devices that are in range for wireless communications, the display may show a notification for each nearby device. The location and size of each notification on the display may be based on the location and proximity of the nearby device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating an electronic device having control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display, comprising:
 with the control circuitry, determining an orientation of the electronic device relative to a nearby electronic device; 
 with the wireless transceiver circuitry, establishing a wireless communications link between the electronic device and the nearby electronic device and sending information to the nearby electronic device in response to determining the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device; and 
 with the display, displaying an image that indicates a status of the wireless communications link and the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising determining a distance between the nearby electronic device and the electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the electronic device has a longitudinal axis and wherein determining the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device comprises determining whether the longitudinal axis is pointing towards the nearby electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The method defined in  claim 3  further comprising a motion sensor that gathers motion sensor data, wherein the control circuitry determines the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device at least partially based on the motion sensor data. 
     
     
       5. The method defined in  claim 3  wherein the longitudinal axis of the electronic device is a first longitudinal axis, wherein the nearby electronic device has a second longitudinal axis, and wherein determining the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device comprises determining an angle between the first and second longitudinal axes. 
     
     
       6. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the image comprises a line that extends toward the nearby electronic device. 
     
     
       7. The method defined in  claim 6  further comprising:
 with the control circuitry, detecting movement of the nearby electronic device; and 
 with the display, moving a location of the line on the display based on the movement of the nearby electronic device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein displaying an image that indicates the status of the wireless communications link comprises displaying a broken line when the communications link is no longer established. 
     
     
       9. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic device has a longitudinal axis and wherein determining the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device comprises determining an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device. 
     
     
       10. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein determining the orientation of the electronic device relative to the nearby electronic device comprises determining whether the electronic device is pointing towards the nearby electronic device. 
     
     
       11. The method defined in  claim 10  wherein establishing the wireless communications link between the electronic device and the nearby electronic device comprises automatically establishing the wireless communications link between the electronic device and the nearby electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is pointed towards the nearby electronic device. 
     
     
       12. A method for operating an electronic device having control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display, comprising:
 with the control circuitry, determining a first location of a first electronic device relative to the electronic device and a second location of a second electronic device relative to the electronic device; 
 with the display, displaying an image that includes a first notification of a first size representative of the first location and a second notification of a second size representative of the second location, wherein the first size is different from the second size and wherein the first and second sizes are based on the respective first and second locations of the first and second electronic devices; 
 with the wireless transceiver circuitry, establishing a wireless communications link with one of the first and second electronic devices. 
 
     
     
       13. The method defined in  claim 12  wherein determining the first and second locations comprises determining that the first electronic device is a first distance from the electronic device and the second electronic device is a second distance from the electronic device, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, and wherein the first notification is larger than the second notification. 
     
     
       14. The method defined in  claim 12  wherein a location of the first notification on the display is based on the first location of the first electronic device and wherein a location of the second notification on the display is based on the second location of the second electronic device. 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 14  further comprising:
 with the control circuitry, detecting movement of the first electronic device; and 
 with the display, moving the first notification on the display in response to the movement of the first nearby electronic device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method defined in  claim 12  further comprising:
 with the display, receiving user input corresponding to a selection of the first notification, wherein establishing the wireless communications link with one of the first and second electronic devices comprises establishing the wireless communications link with the first electronic device in response to the user input. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for operating a first electronic device having control circuitry and wireless transceiver circuitry, comprising:
 with the control circuitry, determining that a distance between the first electronic device and a second electronic device is less than a predetermined threshold distance; 
 with the control circuitry, determining that an angle between a first axis associated with the first electronic device and a second axis associated with the second electronic device is less than a predetermined threshold angle; 
 in response to determining that the distance is less than the predetermined threshold distance and that the angle is less than the predetermined threshold angle, exchanging information with the second electronic device using the wireless transceiver circuitry; and 
 with the control circuitry, terminating a wireless communications link between the first and second electronic devices in response to determining that the angle is greater than the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 17  further comprising:
 with a display in the first electronic device, displaying an image corresponding to the information to be exchanged with the second electronic device. 
 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 17  wherein the first axis comprises a longitudinal axis that extends from one end of the first electronic device to an opposing end of the first electronic device and wherein the second axis comprises a longitudinal axis that extends from one end of the second electronic device to an opposing end of the second electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The method defined in  claim 19  wherein determining that the distance is less than the predetermined threshold distance and that the angle is less than the predetermined threshold angle comprises determining that the first and second electronic devices are arranged end-to-end. 
     
     
       21. The method defined in  claim 19  wherein determining that the distance is less than the predetermined threshold distance and that the angle is less than the predetermined threshold angle comprises determining that the first and second electronic devices are arranged side-to-side. 
     
     
       22. The method defined in  claim 17  wherein the first axis comprises an axis that extends from a left side of the first electronic device to an opposing right side of the first electronic device and wherein the second axis comprises an axis that extends from a left side of the second electronic device to an opposing right side of the second electronic device.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/395,929, filed Sep. 16, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to wireless electronic devices that use real time location systems. 
     Electronic devices often include wireless communications circuitry. For example, cellular telephones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas and wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communications. 
     Wireless electronic devices often communicate with other nearby wireless electronic devices. For example, a user may wirelessly share files with another nearby user over a short-range communications link such as Bluetooth® or WiFi®. 
     It can be challenging for a user to know when the device of another user is sufficiently close to establish a short-range wireless communications link. It can also be challenging to safely establish a communications link with the desired device when there are multiple devices within range. For example, when a user is in a public environment with a large number of unfamiliar devices, the user may have difficulty finding and selecting the desired device with which he or she desires to communicate wirelessly. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include millimeter wave antenna arrays formed from arrays of millimeter wave antennas on millimeter wave antenna array substrates. The antennas may also include wireless local area network antennas, satellite navigation system antennas, cellular telephone antennas, and other antennas. 
     The electronic device may be provided with control circuitry and a display. The control circuitry may determine where nearby electronic devices are located relative to the electronic device. When a wireless communications link is established with a nearby device, the control circuitry may use the display to inform a user of the status of the wireless communications link and the location of the nearby device. The display may produce images that indicate where the nearby device is located such as a line extending in the direction of the nearby device. The line may move on the display in response to movement of the nearby device. 
     In an environment with multiple nearby devices that are in range for wireless communications, the display of an electronic device may show a notification for each nearby device. The location and size of each notification on the display may be based on the relative location and proximity of the associated nearby device. For example, larger notifications on the display may indicate a closer device, and a notification on the right hand side of the display may indicate the nearby device is on the right hand side of the electronic device. 
     The control circuitry may determine when the electronic device is oriented in a particular way relative to a nearby device. In response to determining that the electronic device is arranged end-to-end or side-to-side with another device, for example, the control circuitry may use wireless transceiver circuitry to automatically exchange information with the electronic device or may automatically prompt the user to indicate whether the user would like to exchange information with the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry and sensors in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry and sensors in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative transceiver circuit and antenna in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an illustrative dipole antenna in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative patch antenna that may be used in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative array of millimeter wave antennas on a millimeter wave antenna array substrate in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an illustrative network having nodes in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating how a distance between an illustrative electronic device and a node in a network may be determined in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing how a location and orientation of an illustrative electronic device relative to nodes in a network may be determined in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an illustrative scene in which the location and orientation of a node relative to other nodes in a network may be determined in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an illustrative scene in which the absolute location and orientation of a node may be determined using anchored nodes in a network in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of illustrative electronic devices showing how each user may be informed of an established wireless communications link in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of illustrative electronic devices showing how each user may be informed of the location and orientation of the other user&#39;s electronic device when a wireless communications link is established in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of illustrative electronic devices showing how each user may be informed of a broken wireless communications link in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of illustrative electronic devices showing how a user may be informed of the position of nearby electronic devices in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of illustrative electronic devices showing how information may be exchanged when the electronic devices are placed next to one another in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 17 and 18  are top views of illustrative electronic devices showing how display elements may be modified based on the position of a nearby electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In some wireless systems, the services that are provided may depend on the position of one node relative to another node in the network. For example, consider a scenario in which a user of a first wireless device wishes to share information with a user of a second wireless device. When the two devices are within an appropriate range of one another, a short-range communications link may be established and information may be exchanged over the communications link. 
     In this type of scenario, it may be desirable for a user to not only know when a wireless communications link has been established, but also to easily control which device he or she exchanges information with. For example, in a crowded room where multiple wireless communications devices are close enough to establish a communications link, it may be desirable for the user to be better informed of which devices are near the user, where the devices are located relative to the user, and whether and with whom a communications link has been established. 
     An electronic device such as electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  may have control circuitry that determines where other objects or devices (sometimes referred to as nodes) are located relative to electronic device  10 . The control circuitry in device  10  may synthesize information from cameras, motion sensors, wireless circuitry such as antennas, and other input-output circuitry to determine how far a node is relative to device  10  and to determine the orientation of device  10  relative to that node. The control circuitry may use output components in device  10  to provide output (e.g., display output, audio output, haptic output, or other suitable output) to a user of device  10  based on the position of the node. 
     Antennas in device  10  may include cellular telephone antennas, wireless local area network antennas (e.g., WiFi® antennas at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and other suitable wireless local area network antennas), satellite navigation system signals, and near-field communications antennas. The antennas may also include antennas for handling millimeter wave communications. For example, the antennas may include millimeter wave phased antenna arrays. Millimeter wave communications, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications, involve signals at 60 GHz or other frequencies between about 10 GHz and 400 GHz. 
     Wireless circuitry in device  10  may support communications using the IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband protocol. In an IEEE 802.15.4 system, a pair of devices may exchange wireless time stamped messages. Time stamps in the messages may be analyzed to determine the time of flight of the messages and thereby determine the distance (range) between the devices. 
     Electronic device  10  may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , device  10  is a portable device such as a cellular telephone, media player, tablet computer, or other portable computing device. Other configurations may be used for device  10  if desired. The example of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may include a display such as display  14 . Display  14  may be mounted in a housing such as housing  12 . For example, device  10  may have opposing front and rear faces and display  14  may be mounted in housing  12  so that display  14  covers the front face of device  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). If desired, different portions of housing  12  may be formed from different materials. For example, housing sidewalls may be formed from metal and some or all of the rear wall of housing  12  may be formed from a dielectric such as plastic, glass, ceramic, sapphire, etc. Dielectric rear housing wall materials such as these may, if desired, by laminated with metal plates and/or other metal structures to enhance the strength of the rear housing wall (as an example). 
     Display  14  may be a touch screen display that incorporates a layer of conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.) or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Capacitive touch screen electrodes may be formed from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures. 
     Display  14  may include an array of pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic pixels, an array of plasma pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode pixels, an array of electrowetting pixels, or pixels based on other display technologies. 
     Display  14  may be protected using a display cover layer such as a layer of transparent glass, clear plastic, sapphire, or other transparent dielectric. Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, an opening may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a button such as button  16 . Buttons such as button  16  may also be formed from capacitive touch sensors, light-based touch sensors, or other structures that can operate through the display cover layer without forming an opening. 
     If desired, an opening may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a port such as speaker port  18 . Openings may be formed in housing  12  to form communications ports (e.g., an audio jack port, a digital data port, etc.). Openings in housing  12  may also be formed for audio components such as a speaker and/or a microphone. Dielectric-filled openings  20  such as plastic-filled openings may be formed in metal portions of housing  12  such as in metal sidewall structures (e.g., to serve as antenna windows and/or to serve as gaps that separate portions of antennas from each other). 
     Antennas may be mounted in housing  12 . If desired, some of the antennas (e.g., antenna arrays that may implement beam steering, etc.) may be mounted under dielectric portions of device  10  (e.g., portions of the display cover layer, portions of a plastic antenna window in a metal housing sidewall portion of housing  12 , etc.). With one illustrative configuration, some or all of rear face of device  12  may be formed from a dielectric. For example, the rear wall of housing  12  may be formed from glass plastic, ceramic, other dielectric. In this type of arrangement, antennas may be mounted within the interior of device  10  in a location that allows the antennas to transmit and receive antenna signals through the rear wall of device  10  (and, if desired, through optional dielectric sidewall portions in housing  12 ). Antennas may also be formed from metal sidewall structures in housing  12  and may be located in peripheral portions of device  10 . 
     To avoid disrupting communications when an external object such as a human hand or other body part of a user blocks one or more antennas, antennas may be mounted at multiple locations in housing  12 . Sensor data such as proximity sensor data, real-time antenna impedance measurements, signal quality measurements such as received signal strength information, and other data may be used in determining when one or more antennas is being adversely affected due to the orientation of housing  12 , blockage by a user&#39;s hand or other external object, or other environmental factors. Device  10  can then switch one or more replacement antennas into use in place of the antennas that are being adversely affected. 
     Antennas may be mounted at the corners of housing, along the peripheral edges of housing  12 , on the rear of housing  12 , under the display cover layer that is used in covering and protecting display  14  on the front of device  10  (e.g., a glass cover layer, a sapphire cover layer, a plastic cover layer, other dielectric cover layer structures, etc.), under a dielectric window on a rear face of housing  12  or the edge of housing  12 , under a dielectric rear wall of housing  12 , or elsewhere in device  10 . As an example, antennas may be mounted at one or both ends  50  of device  10  (e.g., along the upper and lower edges of housing  12 , at the corners of housing  12 , etc.). 
     A schematic diagram of illustrative components that may be used in device  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include storage and processing circuitry such as control circuitry  22 . Control circuitry  22  may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  22  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . This processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Control circuitry  22  may be used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry  22  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry  22  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, millimeter wave communications protocols, IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband communications protocols, etc. 
     Device  10  may include input-output circuitry  24 . Input-output circuitry  24  may include input-output devices  26 . Input-output devices  26  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  26  may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices  26  may include one or more displays  14  (e.g., touch screens or displays without touch sensor capabilities), one or more image sensors  30  (e.g., digital image sensors), motion sensors  32 , and speakers  34 . Input-output devices  26  may also include buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infrared proximity sensor), magnetic sensors, and other sensors and input-output components. 
     Image sensors  30  may include one or more visible digital image sensors (visible-light cameras) and/or one or more infrared digital image sensors (infrared-light cameras). Image sensors  30  may, if desired, be used to measure distances. For example, an infrared time-of-flight image sensor may be used to measure the time that it takes for an infrared light pulse to reflect back from objects in the vicinity of device  10 , which may in turn be used to determine the distance to those objects. Visible imaging systems such as a front and/or rear facing camera in device  10  may also be used to determine the position of objects in the environment. For example, control circuitry  22  may use image sensors  30  to perform simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). SLAM refers to the process of using images to determine the position of objections in the environment while also constructing a representation of the imaged environment. Visual SLAM techniques include detecting and tracking certain features in images such as edges, textures, room corners, window corners, door corners, faces, sidewalk edges, street edges, building edges, tree trunks, and other prominent features. Control circuitry  22  may rely entirely upon image sensors  30  to perform simultaneous localization and mapping, or control circuitry  22  may synthesize image data with range data from one or more distance sensors (e.g., light-based proximity sensors). If desired, control circuitry  22  may use display  14  to display a visual representation of the mapped environment. 
     Motion sensors  32  may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetic sensors (e.g., compasses), and other sensor structures. Sensors  32  of  FIG. 2  may, for example, include one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, force sensors, pressure sensors, capacitive sensors, or any other suitable type of sensor formed using microelectromechanical systems technology). 
     Motion sensors  32  may include circuitry for detecting movement and orientation of device  10 . Motion sensors that may be used in sensors  32  include accelerometers (e.g., accelerometers that measure acceleration along one, two, or three axes), gyroscopes, compasses, pressure sensors, other suitable types of motion sensors, etc. Storage and processing circuitry  22  may be used to store and process motion sensor data. If desired, motion sensors, processing circuitry, and storage that form motion sensor circuitry may form part of a system-on-chip integrated circuit (as an example). 
     Other sensors that may be included in input-output devices  26  include ambient light sensors for gathering information on ambient light levels, proximity sensor components (e.g., light-based proximity sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, and/or proximity sensors based on other structures). 
     Input-output circuitry  24  may include wireless communications circuitry  36  for communicating wirelessly with external equipment. Wireless communications circuitry  36  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas  48 , transmission lines, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). 
     Wireless communications circuitry  36  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry for handling various radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry  36  may include transceiver circuitry  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . 
     Transceiver circuitry  40  may be wireless local area network transceiver circuitry. Transceiver circuitry  40  may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band. 
     Circuitry  36  may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  42  for handling wireless communications in frequency ranges such as a communications band from 700 to 960 MHz, a band from 1710 to 2170 MHz, a band from 2300 to 2700 MHz, other bands between 700 and 2700 MHz, higher bands such as LTE bands  42  and  43  (3.4-3.6 GHz), or other cellular telephone communications bands. Circuitry  42  may handle voice data and non-voice data. 
     Millimeter wave transceiver circuitry  44  (sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency transceiver circuitry) may support communications at extremely high frequencies (e.g., millimeter wave frequencies such as extremely high frequencies of 10 GHz to 400 GHz or other millimeter wave frequencies). For example, circuitry  44  may support IEEE 802.11ad communications at 60 GHz. Circuitry  44  may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). 
     Ultra-wideband transceiver circuitry  46  may support communications using the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other wireless communications protocols. Ultra-wideband wireless signals may be characterized by bandwidths greater than 500 MHz or bandwidths exceeding 20% of the center frequency of radiation. The presence of lower frequencies in the baseband may allow ultra-wideband signals to penetrate through objects such as walls. Transceiver circuitry  46  may operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band and/or at other suitable frequencies. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  36  may include satellite navigation system circuitry such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry  38  for receiving GPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data (e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz). Satellite navigation system signals for receiver  38  are received from a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth. 
     In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links at 2.4 and 5 GHz and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. Extremely high frequency (EHF) wireless transceiver circuitry  44  may convey signals over these short distances that travel between transmitter and receiver over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception for millimeter wave communications, phased antenna arrays and beam steering techniques may be used (e.g., schemes in which antenna signal phase and/or magnitude for each antenna in an array is adjusted to perform beam steering). Antenna diversity schemes may also be used to ensure that the antennas that have become blocked or that are otherwise degraded due to the operating environment of device  10  can be switched out of use and higher-performing antennas used in their place. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  36  can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry  36  may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, paging system transceivers, near field communications (NFC) circuitry, etc. 
     Antennas  48  in wireless communications circuitry  36  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas  48  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, monopoles, dipoles, helical antenna structures, Yagi (Yagi-Uda) antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more of antennas  48  may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link antenna. Dedicated antennas may be used for receiving satellite navigation system signals or, if desired, antennas  48  can be configured to receive both satellite navigation system signals and signals for other communications bands (e.g., wireless local area network signals and/or cellular telephone signals). Antennas  48  can include phased antenna arrays for handling millimeter wave communications. 
     In configurations for device  10  in which housing  12  has portions formed from metal, openings may be formed in the metal portions to accommodate antennas  48 . For example, openings in a metal housing wall may be used in forming splits (gaps) between resonating element structures and ground structures in cellular telephone antennas. These openings may be filled with a dielectric such as plastic. As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, a portion of plastic-filled opening  20  may run up one or more of the sidewalls of housing  12 . 
     A schematic diagram of a millimeter wave antenna or other antenna  48  coupled to transceiver circuitry  76  (e.g., wireless local area network transceiver circuitry  40 , cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  42 , millimeter wave transceiver circuitry  44 , ultra-wideband transceiver circuitry  46 , and/or other transceiver circuitry in wireless circuitry  36 ) is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  76  may be coupled to antenna feed  80  of antenna  48  using transmission line  70 . Antenna feed  80  may include a positive antenna feed terminal such as positive antenna feed terminal  68  and may have a ground antenna feed terminal such as ground antenna feed terminal  66 . Transmission line  70  may be formed from metal traces on a printed circuit or other conductive structures and may have a positive transmission line signal path such as path  74  that is coupled to terminal  68  and a ground transmission line signal path such as path  72  that is coupled to terminal  66 . Transmission line paths such as path  70  may be used to route antenna signals within device  10 . For example, transmission line paths may be used to couple antenna structures such as one or more antennas in an array of antennas to transceiver circuitry  76 . Transmission lines in device  10  may include coaxial cable paths, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc. Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and other circuitry may be interposed within transmission line  70  and/or circuits such as these may be incorporated into antenna  48  (e.g., to support antenna tuning, to support operation in desired frequency bands, etc.). 
     If desired, signals for millimeter wave antennas may be distributed within device  10  using intermediate frequencies (e.g., frequencies of about 5-15 GHz rather than 60 Hz). The intermediate frequency signals may, for example, be distributed from a baseband processor or other wireless communications circuit located near the middle of device  10  to one or more arrays of millimeter wave antennas at the corners of device  10 . At each corner, upconverter and downconverter circuitry may be coupled to the intermediate frequency path. The upconverter circuitry may convert received intermediate frequency signals from the baseband processor to millimeter wave signals (e.g., signals at 60 GHz) for transmission by a millimeter wave antenna array. The downconverter circuitry may downconvert millimeter wave antenna signals from the millimeter wave antenna array to intermediate frequency signals that are then conveyed to the baseband processor over the intermediate frequency path. 
     Device  10  may contain multiple antennas  48 . The antennas may be used together or one of the antennas may be switched into use while other antenna(s) are switched out of use. If desired, control circuitry  22  may be used to select an optimum antenna to use in device  10  in real time and/or to select an optimum setting for adjustable wireless circuitry associated with one or more of antennas  48 . Antenna adjustments may be made to tune antennas to perform in desired frequency ranges, to perform beam steering with a phased antenna array, and to otherwise optimize antenna performance. Sensors may be incorporated into antennas  48  to gather sensor data in real time that is used in adjusting antennas  48 . 
     In some configurations, antennas  48  may include antenna arrays (e.g., phased antenna arrays to implement beam steering functions). For example, the antennas that are used in handling millimeter wave signals for extremely high frequency wireless transceiver circuits  44  may be implemented as phased antenna arrays. The radiating elements in a phased antenna array for supporting millimeter wave communications may be patch antennas, dipole antennas, dipole antennas with directors and reflectors in addition to dipole antenna resonating elements (sometimes referred to as Yagi antennas or beam antennas), or other suitable antenna elements. Transceiver circuitry can be integrated with the phased antenna arrays to form integrated phased antenna array and transceiver circuit modules. 
     An illustrative dipole antenna is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , dipole antenna  48  may have first and second arms such as arms  48 - 1  and  48 - 2  and may be fed at antenna feed  80 . If desired, a dipole antenna such as dipole antenna  48  of  FIG. 4  may be incorporated into a Yagi antenna (e.g., by incorporating a reflector and directors into dipole antenna  48  of  FIG. 4 ). 
     An illustrative patch antenna is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , patch antenna  48  may have a patch antenna resonating element  48 P that is separated from and parallel to a ground plane such as antenna ground plane  48 G. Arm  48 A may be coupled between patch antenna resonating element  48 P and positive antenna feed terminal  68  of antenna feed  80 . Ground antenna feed terminal  66  of feed  80  may be coupled to ground plane  48 G. 
     Antennas of the types shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and/or other antennas  48  may be used in forming millimeter wave antennas. The examples of  FIGS. 4 and 5  are merely illustrative. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative millimeter wave antenna array  48 R formed from antenna resonating elements on millimeter wave antenna array substrate  134 . Array  48 R may include an array of millimeter wave antennas such as patch antennas  48  formed from patch antenna resonating elements  48 P and dipole antennas  48  formed from arms  48 - 1  and  48 - 2 . With one illustrative configuration, dipole antennas  48  may be formed around the periphery of substrate  134  and patch antennas  48  may form an array on the central surface of substrate  134 . There may be any suitable number of millimeter wave antennas  48  in array  48 R. For example, there may be 10-40, 32, more than 5, more than 10, more than 20, more than 30, fewer than 50, or other suitable number of millimeter wave antennas (patch antennas and/or dipole antennas, etc.). Substrate  134  may be formed from one or more layers of dielectric (polymer, ceramic, etc.) and may include patterned metal traces for forming millimeter wave antennas and signal paths. The signals paths may couple the millimeter wave antennas to circuitry such as one or more electrical devices  136  mounted on substrate  134 . Device(s)  136  may include one or more integrated circuits, discrete components, upconverter circuitry, downconverter circuitry, (e.g., upconverter and downconverter circuitry that forms part of a transceiver), circuitry for adjusting signal amplitude and/or phase to perform beam steering, and/or other circuitry for operating antenna array  48 R. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of an illustrative network of objects that electronic device  10  may recognize and/or communicate wirelessly with. Network  100  may include nodes  78 . Nodes  78  may be passive or active. Active nodes in network  100  may include devices that are capable of receiving and/or transmitting wireless signals such as signals  58 . Active nodes in network  100  may include tagged devices such as tagged item  54 , electronic equipment such as electronic equipment  52 , and other electronic devices such as electronic devices  10 ′ (e.g., devices having some or all of the same wireless communications capabilities as device  10 ). Tagged item  54  may be any suitable object that has been provided with a wireless receiver and/or a wireless transmitter. For example, tagged device  54  may be a key fob, a cellular telephone, a wallet, a laptop, a book, a pen, or other object that has been provided with a low-power transmitter (e.g., an RFID transmitter or other transmitter). Device  10  may have a corresponding receiver that detects the transmitted signals  58  from device  54  and determines the location of device  54  based on the received signals. Tagged device  54  may be passive (e.g., may not include an internal power source and may instead be powered by electromagnetic energy from device  10  or other device) or may be active (e.g., may include an internal power source). 
     Electronic equipment  52  may be an infrastructure-related device such as a thermostat, a smoke detector, a Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) beacon, a WiFi® wireless access point, a server, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (sometimes referred to as a temperature-control system), a light source such as a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb, a light switch, a power outlet, an occupancy detector (e.g., an active or passive infrared light detector, a microwave detector, etc.), a door sensor, a moisture sensor, an electronic door lock, a security camera, or other device. 
     Device  10  may communicate with communicate with nodes  54 ,  52 , and  10 ′ using communications signals  58 . Communications signals  58  may include Bluetooth® signals, near-field communications signals, wireless local area signals such as IEEE 802.11 signals, millimeter wave communication signals such as signals at 60 GHz, ultra-wideband radio frequency signals, other radio-frequency wireless signals, infrared signals, etc. Wireless signals  58  may be used to convey information such as location and orientation information. For example, control circuitry  22  in device  10  may determine the location of active nodes  54 ,  52 , and  10 ′ relative to device  10  using wireless signals  58 . Control circuitry  22  may also use image data from image sensors  30 , motion sensor data from motion sensors  32 , and other sensor data (e.g., proximity data from a proximity sensor, etc.) to determine the location of active nodes  54 ,  52 , and  10 ′. 
     Passive nodes in network  100  such as passive object  56  may include objects that do not emit or receive radio-frequency signals such as furniture, buildings, doors, windows, walls, people, pets, and other items. Item  56  may be a tagged item that device  10  recognizes through feature tracking (e.g., using image sensor  30 ) or item  56  may be a virtually marked space that device  10  has assigned a set of coordinates to. For example, control circuitry  22  may construct a virtual three-dimensional space and may assign objects in the vicinity of device  10  coordinates in the virtual three-dimensional space based on their locations relative to device  10 . In some arrangements, the virtual three-dimensional space may be anchored by one or more items with a known location (e.g., may be anchored by one or more tagged items  54  having a known location, electronic equipment  52  having a known location, or other items with a known location). Device  10  may then “tag” passive items such as item  56  by recording where passive item  56  is located relative to the anchored items in network  100 . Device  10  may remember the virtual coordinates of passive item  56  and may take certain actions when device  10  is in a certain location or orientation relative to item  56 . For example, if a user points device  10  in direction  62 , control circuitry  10  may recognize that device  10  is being pointed at item  56  and may take certain actions (e.g., may display information associated with item  56  on display  14 , may provide audio output via speakers  34 , may provide haptic output via a vibrator in device  10 , and/or may take other suitable action). Because passive item  56  does not send or receive communication signals, circuitry  22  may use image data from image sensors  30 , motion sensor data from motion sensors  32 , and other sensor data (e.g., proximity data from a proximity sensor, etc.) to determine the location of passive item  56  and/or to determine the orientation of device  10  relative to item  56  (e.g., to determine when device  10  is being pointed at item  56 ). 
       FIG. 8  shows how device  10  may determine a distance D between device  10  and node  78 . In arrangements where node  78  is capable of sending or receiving communications signals (e.g., tagged item  54 , electronic equipment  52 , or other electronic devices  10 ′ of  FIG. 7 ), control circuitry  22  may determine distance D using communication signals (e.g., signals  58  of  FIG. 7 ). Control circuitry  22  may determine distance D using signal strength measurement schemes (e.g., measuring the signal strength of radio signals from node  78 ) or using time based measurement schemes such as time of flight measurement techniques, time difference of arrival measurement techniques, angle of arrival measurement techniques, triangulation methods, time-of-flight methods, using a crowdsourced location database, and other suitable measurement techniques. This is merely illustrative, however. If desired, control circuitry  22  may determine distance D using Global Positioning System receiver circuitry  38 , using proximity sensors (e.g., infrared proximity sensors or other proximity sensors), using image data from camera  30 , motion sensor data from motion sensors  32 , and/or using other circuitry in device  10 . 
     In arrangements where node  78  is a passive object that does not send or receive wireless communications signals, control circuitry  22  may determine distance D using proximity sensors (e.g., infrared proximity sensors or other proximity sensors), using image data from camera  30 , and/or using other circuitry in device  10 . In some arrangements, device  10  may “tag” passive items by recording where passive item  56  is located relative to other items in network  100 . By knowing the location of item  56  relative to anchored nodes in network  100  and knowing the location of the anchored nodes relative to device  10 , device  10  can determine the distance D between device  10  and node  78 . 
     In addition to determining the distance between device  10  and nodes  78  in network  100 , control circuitry  22  may be configured to determine the orientation of device  10  relative to nodes  78 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, device  10  may have a longitudinal axis such as longitudinal axis  102  that runs lengthwise down the center of device  10 . Control circuitry  22  may be configured to determine where nodes  78  are located relative to longitudinal axis  102 . For example, control circuitry  22  may determine that a first node such as node  78 - 1  at distance D 1  from device  10  is located within the line of sight of longitudinal axis  102 , while a second node such as node  78 - 2  at distance D 2  is located at angle θ relative to longitudinal axis  102 . Control circuitry  22  may determine this type of orientation information using wireless communications signals (e.g., signals  58  of  FIG. 7 ), using proximity sensors (e.g., infrared proximity sensors or other proximity sensors), motion sensor data from motion sensors  32  (e.g., data from an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, or other suitable motion sensor), using image data from camera  30 , and/or using other circuitry in device  10 . 
     If desired, other axes may be used to determine the orientation of device  10  relative to other nodes  78 . For example, control circuitry  22  may determine where nodes  78  are located relative to a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to longitudinal axis  102 . This may be useful in determining when nodes  78  are next to a side portion of device  10  (e.g., for determining when device  10  is oriented side-to-side with one of nodes  78 ). 
     After determining the orientation of device  10  relative to nodes  78 - 1  and  78 - 2 , control circuitry  22  may take suitable action. For example, in response to determining that node  78 - 1  is in the line of sight of axis  102  (or within a given range of axis  102 ), control circuitry  22  may send information to node  78 - 1 , may request and/or receive information from  78 - 1 , may use display  14  to display a visual indication of wireless pairing with node  78 - 1 , may use speakers  34  to generate an audio indication of wireless pairing with node  78 - 1 , may use a vibrator or other mechanical element to generate haptic output indicating wireless pairing with node  78 - 1 , and/or may take other suitable action. 
     In response to determining that node  78 - 2  is located at angle θ relative to axis  102 , control circuitry  22  may use display  14  to display a visual indication of the location of node  78 - 2  relative to device  10 , may use speakers  34  to generate an audio indication of the location of node  78 - 2 , may use a vibrator or other mechanical element to generate haptic output indicating the location of node  78 - 2 , and/or may take other suitable action. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a scenario in which the locations of nodes  78  are determined relative to other nodes  78  in network  100 . In this type of scenario, device  10  does not know the absolute location of nodes  78  in network  100 . However, control circuitry  22  may determine the relative location of nodes  78  using signal strength measurement schemes (e.g., measuring the signal strength of radio signals from nodes  78 ) or using time based measurement schemes such as time of flight measurement techniques, time difference of arrival measurement techniques, angle of arrival measurement techniques, triangulation methods, time-of-flight methods, using a crowdsourced location database, and other suitable measurement techniques. For example, device  10  on second floor  104 - 2  of building  104  may determine that one node  78  is directly below it on first floor  104 - 1  of building  104  and that another node  78  is located on the same floor as device  10  at a certain distance away. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a scenario in which the absolute locations of nodes  78  are determined using anchored nodes  78 ′ in network  100 . In this type of arrangement, device  10  knows the locations (e.g., geographic coordinates) of anchored nodes  78 ′ (e.g., a wireless access point, a beacon, or other electronic equipment  52 , a tagged item  54  with a known location, etc.) and uses this information to determine the absolute location of nodes  78  (e.g., nodes with unknown locations). Thus, in addition to determining that one of nodes  78  is directly above device  10 , control circuitry  22  may determine the absolute location of nodes  78  (e.g., the geographic coordinates of nodes  78 ). 
     Control circuitry  22  may use one or more output devices in device  10  to provide information on nearby nodes  78  to a user of device  10 . The information may include, for example, how many nodes  78  are nearby, how close nodes  78  are to device  10 , where nodes  78  are located in relation to device  10 , whether or not a wireless communications link has been or can be established, the type of information that device  10  can send to or receive from nodes  78 , and/or other suitable information. Control circuitry  22  may provide this type of information to a user with images on display  14 , audio from speakers  34 , haptic output from a vibrator or other haptic element, light from a light source such as a status indicator, and/or other output components in device  10 . 
     It may be desirable for a user to know when and with what device a wireless communications link has been established.  FIG. 12  illustrates an example in which control circuitry uses display  14  to produce a visual representation of a wireless communications link that has been established between device  10  and device  10 ′. In this example, display  14  displays a tether such as tether  106  that appears to physically link device  10 ′ to device  10 . Tether  106  may be an image of a line, rope, chain, cord, pattern (e.g., dots, lines, circles, etc.), or other display object that is aligned toward device  10 ′. Device  10 ′ may generate a similar image such as tether  106 ′. Tether  106  and  106 ′ may point toward one another to give the appearance of a physical string between device  10 ′ and device  10 . If desired, tether  106  and tether  106 ′ may extend to the edge of displays  14  and  14 ′, respectively, or tether  106  and  106 ′ may stop short of the edge of displays  14  and  14 ′. respectively. 
     Control circuitry  22  may produce tether  106  when device  10  comes within a certain distance of device  10 ′ and/or when device  10  is oriented at a given angle with respect to device  10 ′. Control circuitry  22  may, for example, determine the angle between longitudinal axis  102  of device  10  and longitudinal axis  102 ′ of device  10 ′. When control circuitry  22  detects that longitudinal axis  102  aligns with longitudinal axis  102  (e.g., when a user points the top end of device  10  at device  10 ′) and that device  10 ′ is within a given distance of device  10  (e.g., 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 50 feet, more than 50 feet, less than 50 feet, or other threshold distance), control circuitry  22  may display a visual indication of the wireless connection (e.g., a wireless communications link) that can be or has been established between device  10  and device  10 ′. 
     Device  10  need not directly point at device  10 ′ in order to establish a wireless communications link with device  10 ′.  FIG. 13  illustrates an example in which longitudinal axis  102  of device  10  and longitudinal axis  102 ′ of device  10 ′ are separated by angle θ. When angle θ is less than a predetermined threshold and distance D is less than a predetermined threshold, control circuitry  22  may display a visual indication of the wireless link that can be or has been established between devices  10  and  10 ′. 
     If desired, the visual indication such as tether  106  may change according to where and how devices  10  and  10 ′ are located and oriented relative to one another. As shown in  FIG. 13 , for example, the location of tether  106  and  106 ′ may change according to where devices  10  and  10 ′ are located relative to one another. Tether  106  may have an anchored portion such as anchored portion  106 A and a moveable portion such as portion  106 M. Moveable portion  106 M may rotate around anchored portion  106 A based on where device  10 ′ is located. Similarly, tether  106 ′ may have a moveable portion  106 M′ that rotates around an anchored portion  106 A′ based on where device  10  is located. This not only informs the user of when a wireless connection is established, but it also informs the user of where device  10 ′ is located relative to device  10 , which can help avoid unintended connections with other devices in the vicinity of device  10 . 
       FIG. 14  shows how control circuitry  22  may use display  14  to provide a visual indication of a broken or inactive communications link. When control circuitry  22  detects that the distance D between devices  10  and  10 ′ exceeds a predetermined threshold distance or that angle θ exceeds a predetermined threshold angle, control circuitry  22  may break the wireless communications link between devices  10  and  10 ′ (or this may occur automatically if the wireless connection is too weak). In the example of  FIG. 14 , display  14  shows a broken end such as broken end  108  on tether  106 . Likewise, display  14 ′ may show broken end  108 ′ on tether  106 ′. This helps inform the user of that the wireless communications link between device  10  and device  10 ′ is no longer established. The example of a broken or torn end of a tether is merely illustrative. In general, display  14  may generate any suitable visual indication to show the user that device  10  is no longer wirelessly paired with device  10 ′. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an example in which device  10  is operating in an environment where multiple devices are within sufficient range to establish a wireless communications link. Display  14  may present images to show the user of device  10  which devices  10 ′ are nearby and where they are located relative to device  10 . This may be done purely with text on display  14  (e.g., device A is 5 feet away, device B is 6 feet away, and device C is 5 feet away) or may be achieved with visual aids on display  14  that help the user more quickly assess which devices are nearby and where they are located relative to device  10 . A user may then select which device it wants to exchange information with (e.g., send information to or receive information from) by selecting the appropriate notification  108 . In response to receiving user input indicating which device  10 ′ the user of device  10  wishes to exchange information with, control circuitry  22  may establish the wireless communications link with that device  10 ′ (e.g., using wireless transceiver circuitry) so that information can be exchanged over the wireless communications link. If desired, display  14  may display an image of the type shown in  FIG. 12  to inform the user that device  10  is wirelessly communicating with the selected device  10 ′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , display  14  may generate a notification such as notification  108  for each device  10 ′ within a given distance of device  10 . The locations of notifications  108  on display  14  may correspond to where devices  10 ′ are respectively located relative to device  10  (e.g., where devices  10 ′ are located relative to longitudinal axis  102 ). For example, device A is closest to top right corner  110  of device  10  and notification  108  for device A may therefore be located on the top right corner of display  14 . Device B is closest to top left corner  114  of device  10  and notification  108  for device B may therefore be located on the top left corner of display  14 . Device C is closest to the lower left hand side  114  of device  10  and notification  108  for device C may therefore be located on the lower left hand side of display  14 . When one of devices  10 ′ moves relative to electronic device  10 , control circuitry  22  may change the location of notification  108  on display  14  accordingly. For example, if devices A and B were to switch places, notifications  108  for devices A and B may also switch locations on display  14 , if desired. 
     In addition to having locations on display  14  that clue the user in as to which side of device  10  other devices  10 ′ are located, notifications  108  may provide a visual indication of the proximity of devices  10 ′ to device  10 . For example, the color, size, shape, pattern, font, style, or other characteristic of notifications  108  may be adjusted according to distances D 1 , D 2 , and D 3  between device  10  and devices A, B, and C, respectively. If D 1  is smaller than D 2 , for example, notification  108  for device A may be larger than notification  108  for device B, indicating to the user of device  10  that device A is closer than device B. 
       FIG. 16  shows an example in which information such as information  116  is shared between two devices such as device  10  and device  10 ′. Similar to the example of  FIG. 12 , a wireless communications link may be established between device  10  and device  10 ′ when device  10 ′ is within a predetermined threshold distance of device  10 . In some scenarios, a user may only wish to share information  116  when device  10  is oriented in a particular way relative to device  10 ′. In other scenarios, it may be desirable to automatically share certain kinds of information  116  when device  10  is oriented in a particular way relative to another device  10 . 
     To address these scenarios, control circuitry  22  may take certain actions when device  10  and device  10 ′ are oriented in a particular way with respect to one another. In the example of  FIG. 16 , control circuitry  22  takes action with respect to information  116  when longitudinal axes  102  and  102 ′ align (e.g., when the top ends of devices  10  and  10 ′ face one another and the angle between the two axes is less than a predetermined threshold angle.). This is, however, merely illustrative. If desired, control circuitry  22  may take action with respect to information  116  when devices  10  and  10 ′ are arranged side-to-side (e.g., when longitudinal axis  102  and  102 ′ are parallel) or are arranged in any other suitable manner that is intended to trigger the exchange of information  116 . 
     If desired, other axes may be used to determine the orientation of device  10  relative to device  10 ′. For example, control circuitry  22  may determine where device  10 ′ is located relative to horizontal axis  128  that runs cross-wise through device  10  (e.g., a side-to-side axis that extends between left and right sides of device  10  and is perpendicular to longitudinal axis  102 ). When horizontal axis  128  is used as a reference, control circuitry  22  may determine the angle between horizontal axis  128  of device  10  and horizontal axis  128 ′ of device  10 . Control circuitry  22  may determine that device  10  and device  10 ′ are arranged side-to-side when their horizontal axes align and/or when the angle between the two axes is less than a predetermined threshold angle. 
     Upon determining that device  10  and device  10 ′ are oriented end-to-end, side-to-side, or other suitable trigger orientation, control circuitry  22  may take suitable action with respect to information  116 . This may include, for example, displaying information  116  on display  14  so that a user of device  10  can confirm that the user wishes to send information  116  to device  10 ′, or it may include automatically sending information  116  to device  10 ′. As an example, information  116  may include contact information. If the user of device  10  wishes to exchange contact information with the user of device  10 ′, the two users may place devices  10  and  10 ′ in the appropriate trigger location (e.g., end-to-end as shown in the example of  FIG. 16 , side-to-side, or other suitable arrangement). Upon detecting that device  10  and device  10 ′ are in the appropriate trigger location, control circuitry  22  may automatically send contact information  116  to device  10 ′ (or may prompt the user to take action before sending contact information  116  to device  10 ′). 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate how device  10  may provide other types of output for a user to inform the user where nearby devices are located relative to device  10 . Control circuitry  22  may, for example, adjust user interface elements on display  14  based on where other devices such as device  10 ′ are located relative to device  10 . This may include, for example, creating images with shadows on display  14  that clue the user of device  10  in as to where device  10 ′ is located. For example, as shown in  FIG. 17 , display  14  may have user interface elements  118 . Shadows  120  may be displayed on the lower left corner of elements  118  when device  10 ′ is to the right of device  10  (e.g., where device  10 ′ would be casting a shadow in direction  122 ). As shown in  FIG. 18 , shadows  120  may be displayed on the lower right corner of element  118  when device  10  is to the left of device  10  (e.g., where device  10 ′ would be casting a shadow in direction  124 ). 
     This is, however, merely illustrative. In general, any display change may be used to inform the user of device  10  as to the location of other devices  10 ′ in its vicinity. Display changes may include background changes, icon changes, or other suitable changes (e.g., changes in shape, shade, location, size, or other characteristic of elements on display  14 ). 
     The examples of  FIGS. 12-18  in which control circuitry  22  uses display  14  to provide a user of device  10  with a visual indication of the presence, location, orientation of, and connection to nearby devices is merely illustrative. If desired, control circuitry  22  may supplement or replace the visual aid of display  14  with audio output from speakers  34 , haptic output from one or more vibrators, light-based output from one or more light sources, or other informative output. Similar to how images on display  14  may change location, shape, color, etc. to help inform the user of where nearby devices  10 ′ are located and when wireless communications links are established, output from other output devices may be adjusted to provide this type of information. For example, an audible beeping, a vibration, or a light pulse on the left side of device  10  may indicate the presence, proximity, or wireless communications capabilities of a device  10 ′ on the left hand side of device  10 . Any suitable characteristic of the output may be adjusted to alert the user of an approaching device, an established or broken wireless connection, proximity, orientation (e.g., the volume or tone of the audio output, the intensity or frequency of the vibration, the brightness of the light pulse, etc.). 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170906
Publication Date: 20210727
Grant Date: 20210727
Priority Date: 20160916
Inventors: MEYER, ADAM S.
KERR, DUNCAN ROBERT
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W84/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/023", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/80", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/14", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/80", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/80", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/14", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 76971565