The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 18, 2018
Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc, Redmond, WA (US);
Eric Manaolana Herrmann, Mill Valley, CA (US);
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A technique is described for assigning a location-finder role to a mobile computing device (a 'location-finder device') within a spatially-clustered group of mobile computing devices. The location-finder device determines its location based on signals received from one or more external sources (such as a GPS system), to provide location data. The location-finder device then transmits a signal to other members of the group of mobile computing devices using a local communication channel (such as a BLUETOOTH communication channel). That signal conveys the location data. Each of the other members of the group uses the location data to define its position, in lieu of independently determining its own location from the external source(s). By virtue of this behavior, the other members can reduce their consumption of power.