20240077583.INDOOR/OUTDOOR DETECTION USING WIRELESS SIGNALS simplified abstract (apple inc.)

INDOOR/OUTDOOR DETECTION USING WIRELESS SIGNALS

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Harsha Shirahatti of Santa Clara CA (US)

Sujeet Milind Patole of Cupertino CA (US)

Jouya Jadidian of Los Gatos CA (US)

Mikheil Tsiklauri of San Jose CA (US)

Shun Liu of Cupertino CA (US)

Vaneet Pathak of Los Altos CA (US)

Lei Wang of Santa Clara CA (US)

Kumar Gaurav Chhokra of San Mateo CA (US)

INDOOR/OUTDOOR DETECTION USING WIRELESS SIGNALS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240077583 titled 'INDOOR/OUTDOOR DETECTION USING WIRELESS SIGNALS

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for an electronic device that can determine whether it is indoors or outdoors by transmitting and receiving wireless signals and analyzing the reflections of those signals.

• The electronic device transmits wireless signals, such as radar signals.
• It receives reflections of the wireless signals.
• The device determines if the power amplitude of the reflections is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
• Based on this determination, the device operates in either outdoor or indoor mode.

Potential Applications

This technology could be used in smartphones, smart home devices, and wearables to automatically adjust settings based on whether the device is indoors or outdoors.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of devices not being able to accurately determine their location (indoors or outdoors) and adjust settings accordingly.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved user experience, longer battery life, and more efficient operation of electronic devices.

Potential Commercial Applications

Commercial applications of this technology could include smart home automation systems, fitness trackers, and navigation devices.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be existing GPS systems that determine outdoor location but may not be as accurate for indoor positioning.

What are the specific wireless signals used in this technology?

The specific wireless signals used in this technology are radio detection and ranging (radar) signals.

How does the device determine the threshold value for the power amplitude of reflections?

The device likely determines the threshold value based on testing and calibration to ensure accurate detection of indoor or outdoor environments.

Original Abstract Submitted

an electronic device may utilize various methods or systems to determine whether the electronic device is indoors or outdoors. the electronic device transmits wireless signals (e.g., radio detection and ranging (radar) signals). the electronic device receives reflections of the wireless signals. using these received reflections of the wireless signals, the electronic device determines whether a power amplitude of the reflections is greater than or equal to a threshold value. in response to a determination that the power amplitude is not greater than or equal to the threshold value, the electronic device operates in an outdoor mode or an indoor mode.