WiRELESS Dt VK F-

RELATED APPLICATION

{IHH I j The present application, is related to and claims the benefit u»def ^' 3 ^' 5 USXl §1 1 (e) of th following U.S. Provisional Patent Ap lication: Serial No. 61 91 8,547, filed December 19 _> 21113, titled ''Me h d and Apparatus for De enmiiimg Direciioa Infommtion far a Wireless Device ^' ' (attorney docket no, CS 1602), which is commonly owned with this application, by Motorola Mobility, inc., and the entire cements of which is Incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE I LOSURE:

|i> 2] The present disclosure relates generally to determin ng relative direelioos of wi reless devices and more parti ularly to dcten»iai»g relative directions of wi reless communicatio devices sing beamibrming antennas. C O OUN

[00O3J Moliile electronic devices, such as .is.mafiphon.es and tablets, continue to evolve through increasing levels of performance and functionality as manufacturers design feat\n¾-rkh products that offer eonsu mars greater eon venteuce and.

productivity. Today, a single smartphone can operate as a. phone, two-way radio, media player, web browser, giobabposiiionirsg-sysiern receiver, camera, personal digital assistant gaming device, aad remote control where separate, dedicated devices would have been required a the tern of the century. Supporting these n)obile devices are ubiquitous wireless devices of varying type and purpose with which the mobile devices can operate to expand their functionality. [f!MMf G er), congestion of radio traffic from, these many wireless devices in certain locat ons, suc as urban envimnments, it can be difficult for a mobile device to iscriminate one wireless device from another or to identify a wireless device with which to connect Moreover it can be di fficult for a user of & mobile devic to locate specific electronic resources or peer device when the mobile device lacks the capability to determine directions for detected wireless devices.

Barer- DBSCR^ S O t>r Ti n SGD S

[IHMB ^' j T e accompanying figures, here like reference numerals refer to identical, or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in. and form pari of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts thai include the claimed invention, and explain various pnneiples and ad vantages of those embodiments.

[118061 FIG,. I is a diagram of eyewear and a mobile device in accordance with some embodiments of the present teachings.

00071 FIG, 2 is a schematic .diagram of eyewear in accordance with some embodiments of the .present teachings.

[ 0O8| FIG, 3 is schematic of beam ormmg antennas in accordance with some embodi ments of the prese teachings,

[0009| FIG. 4 is a logical flowchart illustrating a method performed by eyewear fbr determining direction information fbr wireless devices in accordance with some embodiments of the present teachings..

[00ϊθ| FIG, 5 is a logical flowchart illustrating a method performed by eyewear for determining direction information for wireless devices accordance with some embodiments of the present teachings. \Wi i I FIG. 6 is. a schematic■ ^' diagram of ey wear in moiiori relative to fi ed wireless devices irs accordance with some embodiment of the present teachings,

[0012] FIG. 7 is & schematic diagram of eyewear in. motion relative to mobile and. fixed wireless devices i accordance with some embodiments of the present teachings.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that lements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beers, drawn to scale. For example, the dime&sions of some of the elements in the figures ma be exaggerated relative to ot her elements to help to improve -understanding, of mrtx>dime«.ts of the presen t invention. n addition, the description and drawings do not necessarily require the order presented. It will be further appreciated that certain, actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in. a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will u ders and that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required.,

[0 14] The apparatus and method components have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details; that are pertinent to understanding the embo ime ts of t he present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that wi ll be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in he art: having the benefit of the description herein..

DETAILED DESCRIPTI N

{ _. 00.15J Generall speaking, pmsuant to the various embo men s, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for determining direction information for wireless devices. In accordance with the teachings herein, a method performed by eyewear for determinin direction information tor a wireless device includes scanning at least one of multiple radio frequencies using at least, two heamforrning antennas of a plurality o heamforniing antennas coupled t the eyewear, and detecting, on a first scanned radio frequency, first externally emitted radio energy. The method furt er includes identifying, a first wireless device using the deteeied first externally emitted, radio energy and determining a first direction of the fi rst wireless device relative to he eyewear.

[0016| Also in accordance with the teachings herein is eyewear configured for deternr ning direction information for a wireless device, the eyewear including an. eyewear frame and antenna arrangement having a plurality of beaniformfng antennas attached to the eyewear ame and coupled to an antenna control module, which is configured to control the plurality of beaniformmg antennas. T e eyewear farther includes a transceiver coupled to the antenna arrangement and configured to receive radio signals using the plurality of heamfonmng antennas. The eyewear has a processing clement coupled to the antenna arrangement and the transceiver, wherein the processing element is configured to cooperatively operate with the antenna arrangement and the transceiver to scan multiple radio frequencies using at least two be&mforrnifig antennas of the plurality of beamfbrmlng antennas and detect, on. a first scanned radio freq enc _. , first externally emitted, radio energy. The processing element of the eyewear is further configured, to identify a first wireless device using the first externally emitted radio energy and determine direction mforn tiou for fire first wireless device.

[ l 7] By equipping an apparatus, such as eyewear, with a plurality of beamformiug antennas that can simultaneously sca Multiple directions and/or frequencies, the apparatus ca detect, distinguish between, and idemify multiple wireless devices in shorter amount of time as compared to a smarip.hone,. for example. Further, where the smartphone only has an omnidirectional antenna, the sniartphone is enable to differentiate between numerous signals of similar frequency originating from multiple wireless devices located in different directions. By using its plurality of besoiibrniing antennas, the apparatus also determines direction information for the detected wireless device relative to itself This direction information is used by the apparatus, or coniomnieated to another coupled apparatus, to improve functionality ^' and performance of the appar s and to make intell igent selections with, regard t connecting with w e e s device based on. their relative directions,

0018] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG, L two device implementing embodiments in accordance with the present teachings are shown and indicated generally at 1 0. The first device represents eyewear 1 2 that includes a frame to which a plurality dfbeamtbratiag antennas are attached. Specifically, a first 104, second 108, third 1 10, and fourth 106 beamtorm ig antennas are shown attached to the eyewear 102 in a specific antenna arrangement. An antenna arrangement a used, herein, refers to how beamforming antennas are positioned spatially on eyewear to operate individually or together to detect radio energy .

[00.1#J As defined herein, eyewear is any apparatus designed to be warn on about the head in a hands-free configuration that has a structure to which a plurality of besmforrftmg antennas are attached. The second device indicated at 1 12 is a optional, inobile device that is comnmnieatively coupled to the eyewear 102. The nrobile device 1 12 sh w is a cellular phone having a display 114 on which a direction,, relative to the direction the eyewear is lacing, Is displayed. As used herein, a mobile device Is any portable electronic device, such as a smarrphone, tablet, or phableh for example, that is capable of establishing a communication link to the eyewear 1.02 a d, establishi g _, a. wireless dat connection, to at least one othe electronic device.

1002 1 Referring to FIG, 2, a block diagram tor eyewear in accordance with embodimen ts of the presen t teachings is shown and indicated generally at 200, For one embodiment, the block diagram 200 represents the eyewear 102. Specifically, the block diagram 200 shows; a wireless personal-area network iWPAN) transceive 2112, an antenna control module 204, beamformi.ng antennas 206 (e.g.. 104, 106, 108, 1 10), a wireless local-area network (WLAN) transceiver .208, .memory 210, a processing deme t 212, and a power supply 214, which, aye all operationally interconnected by a us 216,

(8021 j A limited number of eyewear elements 202, 204, 20 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 are sho s at 200 for ease of illustration, but other embodiments m y include a leaser or greater number of such elements in eyewear. Moreover, other elements needed for a commercial embodiment of eyewear that incorporates the elements shown at 200 are omitted from F1CL 2 for clarity in describin the enclosed embodiments. Such additional elements might include, for example: an. angular motion detector, such as a gyroscope; a iieads-uj? display; an acoustic transducer;: and a micro switch and/or sensor to give the eyewear 102 the capability to detect whether it is unfolded and being worn or folded and n t being worn,

0022] We tern now to a brief description of the eyewear elements shown in the block .diagram 200. In general the heam!brming antenna 2.06, is additio to the antenna control module 204 and the processing element 212, are configured with functionality in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure a described in detail below with respec to the remaining figures 3-7, "Adapted,"- ^{^} operative" or "configured/ ^' as used herein, me ns that the indicated elements are imple e te sin one or more hard warn devlees such as one or more opemtively coupled., processing cores, memory devices, and interfaces, which, ma or may no be programmed with software and/or firmware as the means tor the indicated elements to implement their desired fiinctiona!ify. Such functionality is supported by the other hardware shown in FIG, 2, including the system lements 202, 208, 210, and 21.4, |0023] Continuing with the brief description of the system elements shown at 200 _» as included within the eyewear 102, the WFAN transceiver 202 allows the eyewear to establish a wireless connection and communicate with a mobile device, assumed to be the mobile device 112 tor the embodiments described herein. The eyewear 102 used the WFAN transceiver 202 to at least provide to the mobile device 1 12 direction information for wireless devices as described herein. For & particular embodiment, the WA ransceiver 202 is a Bluetooth transceiver that allow the eyewear 1.02 to pair a n d eonum ueate with the mobile device 1 12, which is also a Bluetooth, capable device. A Bloetooth capable device, as used herein, is a device that contains hardware and/or software that coafigures; the device to perform a standard Bluetooth pairing with another Bluetooth capable device, m accordance with the Bluetooth wireless mmm:ricaiioa stedird, aud io establish cormiumicadons over a Bluetooth connection with that device. The Bluetooth wireless communication standard is defined b the Bluetooth Special interest Group iSIG) Core Specification version 4,1 dated. December 3, 2 1 in addition to any previous and subsequent versions, in other embodiments, the WFA transceiver 202 allows the eyewear 102 to

communicate with the mobile device 1 12 xmtug communication protocols based on other personal-area network protocols, such as the 2,4 GHz Zi Bee protocols based on the institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802,15 st nd rds the short-range 60 GHz IEEE 802 J 1 ad protocol, and oilier short-range wireless protocols. In an. alternative embodiment the eyewear 102 includes a wired Interface and is directly connected to the mobile device 1 1 ,

{#024} The WEAN transceiver 208 allows the eyewear 102 to send an - eceive radio signals to and .from similarly equipped electronic devices using wireless distribution method, soeh as a spread-spectrum or orthogonal frequency-division, multiplexing (OFDM) method. For embodiments, the ^■ WLAN transceiver 208 uses aa IEEE 802, 1 1 standard to communicate with other electron c devices in the 2,4, 3.6, 5, ami 60 GH frequency bands. In a particular embodiment, the WLAN transceiver 208 uses Wi-Fi interoperability standards as specified by the Wi-Fi Alliance to

communicate with other Wi-Fi certified devices. Other IEEE 802.1 1 -compliant devices with which the eyewear 102 can communicate include, but are not limited to: wireless access points (WAPs), peer devices, and electronic resources, For example, the WLA ^' trmsc-eiver 2G& allows- .th eyewear 102 to hnk witll ^' APs that provide internet connections, to locate electronic resources such as wireless printers, and. to communicate with mobile devices other than the mobile device .1 :12 to which, the eyewear is connected using the PA.N transcei er 20 . In ant alternate embodiment, hardware element 20¾ is a. receiver that receives radio signals but does not transmit them,

j ^' 0025] The beamforming antennas 206 allows the eyewear .102 to employ directional selectivity when receiving and transmitting radio signals- from and to other electronic devices. For an effi odiment, individual reception and transmission elements within each, beamforming antenna, are controlled by the antenna control module 204 as a phased array to generate & constructive interference pattern that favors an intended direction of reception and transmission. A more detailed description of the bes forrning antennas 206 and the antenna control module 204, as they are used in connectio with the present teachings, is provided with reference to FIG. 3.

{0026.} The processing element 212 represents one or more processing cores and, includes arithmetic logic and registers necessary to perform the digital processing required- by the antenna control module 204 to control and operate the beamformln antennas 206 in. a manner consistent with, the embodiments described herein. For a particular embodiment, the: processing element 212 is implemented as a system-on- chip (SoC).

0027] The memory 210 provides temporary storage of electronic data used by th e processing element 212 in performing its functionality For one embodiment, the memory 210 represents random access memory (RAM). For other embodiments, the memory 2.10 represents volatile or non-volati le memory used b the processing element 12 to cache data. [(HI28.I The p wer supply 214 sup l es electric power to the eyewear el counts, m seeded, during the course of their normal operation. The power is supplied to oieet the individual voltage and load re uirernents of the eyewear elements thai draw electric current. The power supply 214 also powers up and powers clown the eyewear 102. For a particular embodiment the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

(M29J FG. 3 shows a schematic diagram 300 illustrating an operation of the bearnfbrming antennas 206 in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosiire. in . particular, the first 104 and second 1 8 beamfermiog antennas of FIG. I are shown operating together to determine a direction of a wireless device, in this case a WAP 314. By controlling the relative phase between beantiomring elements of the first beam brming antenna. 104 as a function of time, the antenna, control module 204 creates a dynamic interference pattern for the first be nifbrrning antenna 10*1· that results in a detection beam 306 that s eeps ou a¾ arc to scan for radio signals, As shown, the detection beam 306 scans direction in front of toe first eam form ng antenna 104 over an angular range of approximately ISO degrees. I other em diments, or In other modes, the range is restricted. For one ent odiment, .an. Inverse detection beam !o the defection beam 306 also allows the first, bearnfbrmhig antenna 104 to scan behind itself In another embodirnent.. a hacking is applied to the first beamfbnning antertna 104, and to other beamrbrming antennas of the eyewear 102, to block radio energy. Blocking radio energy becomes important when the beam forming antenna 104 is transmitting to protect users wearing the eyewear 102 from, radio emissions

0030] As the detection, bean? 306 sweeps out an are, the processing element 212 mon tors the si nal strength of detected radi energy. Where the signal strength is strongest, the detection beam 306 is directed toward the W AP 314. The directions of radio sources detected by the eyewear 102 are determined relative to the position of eyewear 102, For an. em odituent, h processing -element 212 can also make i ferences a to the distance of the WAP 314 from the strength of the signal it detects.

[0031] In th - embodiment, shown, the second be&mfoiraing snte»»¾ 1.08 Is also being used to scan .for the WAP 314. By controlling the first 104 and sec nd 108 beam-forming antennas to both scan for the ^" WAP 3 1.4, the .direction of the WAP 314 Is determined m re quickly. By having the fir t 104 and second J OS heamforming antennas scan oat of phase, there is a higher detection opportunity for burst transmissions. Farther, the angular measure of the detection beam 3 1.0 cars be used together with the angular measure of the detection beam 306 to determine the direction of the WAP 3.1 with greater accuracy or to triangula e an approximate distance of the WAP 314 f om the eyewear 102.

10032] For an embodiment, the processing element 212 is coupled to the antenna, arrangement of the eyewear 102 and the WLAN transceiver 208 to .cooperatively operate with the antenna artasgeroent and the WLAN 208 transceiver to scan for and detect externally emitted radio energy. Externally emitted radio energy, as defined, herein, is one or more radio signals transmitted by an electronic device other than the eyewear 102, and other than the mobile device 1 12, to which the eyewear 10 is coupled using ike WPAN transceiver 202. The processing element 212 can also control the antenna control module 204 to control beamformsng antennas 1.04,. 1.06, 108, i 10 of the antenna arrangement to scan for radio energy independently of one another, For example, the first heamfornung antenna 1 4 scans for radio energy on a. channel of a 2.4 GHz WLAN 802.1 1 hand while the second heanrforuhng antenna 108 contemporaneously scans for radio energy on a channel of a 5 GHz WLAN 802, 1 1 hand. As the beaoithnuing antennas 1.04, 1.08 detect radio energ of different frequencies being emitted by different wireless devices, each heanrforrning anteuua is independently controlled to determine a direct ion for one or more of the wireless devices. Irs a f rther embodimcoi, the processing e «$e«i 2.i2 also uses the be&mfbrmiiig antennas .104, I OS to identify the wireless devices,

[0033] Identifying a wireless device, as used herein, means to resolve, distinguish, or differentiate a single wireless device as a source of detected radio energy and. to ascertain one or mo e definitive characteristics of the wireless device beyond the direction of the wireless device and the frequency at which the wireless device is transmitting. In a. first example, the eyewear 102, or more specifically, the processing element 21.2 of the eyewear .102, identifying a. wireless device includes the eyewear 102 ascertaining that the wireless device is a WAP and further determining at leas orss of a service provider, a host, a service set identifier (SSID), or an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the WAP, in a second example, the eyewear 102 identifying a. WAF includes the eyewear 102 ascertaining information necessary tor the eyewear 1.02, or the mobile device 1 12 communicativel coupled to the eyewear 102, to establish an internet connection using the WAP. In a third example, the eyewear identifying a wireless device includes the eyewear 102 ascertaining that the wireless device is a peer device and further that the peer device belongs to a user indicated, on a friends list. In a fourth, example, the eyewear identifies an electronic device as a particular electronic resource, such as a public printer,

[0034| We t rn now to a detailed description of the functionality of the eyewear 1 2 and the eyewear elements shown in. FfGs, 1 and 2 at 100 and 200, respectively, in accordance with the teachings herein and Ir reference to the remaining figures, FlGs, 4 and 5 show a first 400 and second 500 portion of a logical flow diagram that illustrates a method, performed by the eyewear 102 for determining direction information for wireless devices. The method includes the eyewear 102 looking for radio activity by scanning 402 multiple . frequencies using at least two beanrfomung antennas of the plurality of beamtbrmlng antennas 206, In one embodiment, each, bcaorrorming antenna scans a different channel of a same WLA 802.1 1 band, i n n another eraki iment, each, eamibmimg antenna scans within a different LAN ¾)2, l l band.

[0035 For a particular ^■■ em od me t a beasiformtag ante»»a is used to delect radio traffic within a band more quickly by talcing advantage of band-channel overlap to skip channels, while scanning for externally emitted radio energy . For example, in the 2.4 GHz WLAN 802. i .1 band, each channel i overlapped by its four nearest neighboring channels. Tbe first beanrrbrming antenna 104 is used to scan channels 1 , 6, and 1 .1 , f radio energy is detected on channels 1 and 6, tbe eyewear also scans channels 2, 3, 4, and 5 to determine the channel, being used to transmit tbe detected radio energy.

i036| From first detected 404 energy on a first scanned frequency or channel, tbe eyewear 102 identifies 412 a first wireless device transmitting on the first scanned frequency or channel. The eyewear identifies the ^" first wireless device by monitoring the first frequency for a beacon frame transmitted by tbe first wireless device.

Alternatively, in m optional embodiment, the eyewear 102 identifies 41 ,2 the first ^• wireless device by monitoring the first frequency for a probe response from the first wireless device. Using its WPAN transceiver 202, tbe eyewear 102 sends 406 a first message to the mobile device 11 that indicates the firs scanned fre uenc o which, the wireless device i transmitti . The mobile device 1 2 then sends! out a probe request oft. the first frequency and sends a second, message back the eyewear .102 indicating transmission of the probe request, Tbe eyewear 102 receives 408 the indication of the probe request sent by the mobile device on the first scanned radio frequency and. scans 410 the f¾¾t frequency, using at least one of the beamtbnning antennas 206, for a probe response sent by the firat wireless device. The eyewear 102 then indentifies 41 2 the first wireless device from, the probe response.

[0037] In a particular instance, multiple wireless devices operating on the first frequency respond to the probe request transmitted by the mobile device 1 .12 a the same um& .Having s ^' n onnudirectional antenna, the mobile, device ! 12 is un ^' able.io discriminate bei een the nsiu pte probe res _. .fts s and perceives signal, clutter as a result. The e ewear 102, however, can scan far multiple probe responses by t ning multiple, beamformtng antennas 206 in different directions. When the multiple probe responses are received, the eyewear 102 cart diserimifiaie between tern and identify the individual wireless device operating on the first frequency and also determine their directions relative to the eyewear 102..

|CM 8| The eyewear 102 provides 418 the first direction of the first wireless device to a mobile device 1 I 2 communicatively coupled to the eyewear for establishing a connection ^' between the mobile device 1 12 nd the first wireless device. In the instance that the eyewear 102 identifies multiple wireless devices, It also provides the mobile device 1 12 with relative directions to the other wireless devices. The direction information the eyewear 102 provide the mobile device 1 12 can be explicit or implicit hi a first embodiment, the eyewear 102 provides the mobile device 1 12 with a list of detected W AP and their directions relative to a. direction, of travel fo the eyewear .102. in a second embodiment, the eyewear 102 provides the mobile device 1 12 with n ordered list of the detected WAP m which, the WAPs are listed .¾ order of alignment with a direction, of travel for the eyewear 102 without including explicit direction information. The second WAP 6.16 is prioritized over the third W P 6:1 S in the ordered list based, on the second direction 626 being more closel aligned with the direction of tra vel than the third direction. 61 ih hi embodiments consistent with the teachings herein, the eyewear 102 also provides the mobile device 112 with additional information on detected WAPs, including, but not. limited to SSlDs and received signal, strength i dicate (RRSlsl.

[0039] Continuing the assumption that the Identified wireless devices are WAPs, the mobile device 1 12 establishes a connection, with the first WAP based on the direction preference htfonnai n received from the eyewear 1.02. Of multiple WAPs, the direction of the first WAP, for example, might be most closely afigaed with the direction of travel for toe eyewear 102, Becaus the mobile device 22 is carried by a user with tbe eyewear 102, the direction of travel for the eyewear 102 is als the direction of travel for tbe mobile -device 1 12. The direction of travel- s specifically the direction in which die eyewear 202 -and the mobile device 112 are moving.

Because the- direction of travel periodically changes, the eyewear 10:2 repeatedly determines 420 or monitors the direction, of travel Hie mobile device 1 .12 is expected to maintain a longer connection with a WAP in the direction of travel because the mobile device .1 12 is moving toward the WAP,

{CHMOJ As the eyewear 102 and the mobile device 1 12 move closer to the first WAP, the direction of the first WAP will change relative io die eyewear 102 (assuming the first W P i$ not directly in from of the eyewear 102), The eyewear 102 uses a set of its beamforroing antennas 206 to track the changing direction of the first WAP. As defined herein, a set inclu es one or more elements, Tbe eyewear 102 maintains direction information for the first wireless device by detemiimng 502, at a first time and using the set of bearnforming antennas of the plnrality of beanrforniing antennas 206, a second direction o die first wireless device relati ve to the eyewear and aiming 504 a first ^' bean:rforining antenna of the plnra!hy of beamformlng antennas in the second direction. The eyewear 102 then determines 506, at a second, time after the first time and using the set of beamformlng antennas, a third dlreoiion. of die first wireless device relative to the eyewear and changes 508 the aiming of the first beamlbrming antenna from the second direction o the third direction. In different embodiments, the third direction, is determined in response to translations! motion of the eyewear 102 relati ve to the lirsi WAP and/or rotational, motion of the eyewear 102.

(ΘΜΙ j As the eyewear 102 and the mobile device 12 continue to travel, they will eventually move past the first WAP, After this point, the first WAP fails behind the mobile device 1.1.2 as ^' the mobile device ! 12 m ves forward. In response to fee eyewear 102 approaching sad/or passing the first WAP, the eyewear begins to scan for replacement WAPs before the dgnsl strength for the first WAP degrades to the poin of dimi is ed performance, 1» this way., the eyewea 102 is able to "antici ate'" the need for a replacement WAP based on its direction of; travel and the: tracked direction of the first WAP relative to the eyewear 102 and thus improve on normal sc nnin procedures that are utilizing just signal strength and may not have enough time to select a replacement WAP before getting s degraded signal, in other embodiments, the eyewear 1 2 intermittently or continuously scans for new WAPs that might serve as " and dates ^* ' for a handoff based ø», for example, signal strcag h, a. preferred direction, a preferred service provider, or greater available bandwidth.

{0042 J As the eyewear 102 cont n es to aim t he first bearaformmg ante n of the plurality of bean iormmg: antennas 206 at the first WAP, the eyewear 102 scans 510 at least one of mult iple radio frequencies using a second heamfortmng antenna of the plurality of beamforming antennas 2 to detect 51 on at least one of the scanned radio frequencies, second and third externally emitted radio energy. The eyewear 102 then identifies §14 a second and third WAP using the detected second and third externally emitted radio energy, respectively, The eyewear 102 also determines 516 directions for the second and third WAP using one or more beamforming antennas 206. After receiving identity and direction information o the second and. third WAP from the eyewear 1.02, the mobile device 1 12 selects 518 the second WAP instead of the third WAP for a handoff from the first WAP to the second WAP.

[0043] In an embodiment, the eyewear 1 2 continues to aim the first beamforrmng antenna at the first WAP to perform tasks involving the first WAP on behalf of the mobile device .1 .12. If for example, the mobile device 112 is receiving a video stream in real. iim it can delegate the task of scanning the first WAP for data packets for the eyewear 1 2, leaving the mobile device 1 12 free to perform other junctions. \W44] Tatniog momentarily to FIG. 6, . selecting a WAP for a handofi is described in greater detail FIXX 6 shows a schematic ^' d mm 600 of the eyewear 02 in motion relative to .fixed wireless devices in accordance with, some embodiments of the present teachings. More particularly, PKh 6 represents a "snapsho in time thai shows the eyewear } 02 traveling away from a ^' first WAP 614 and toward a second 6 ! 6 and third 6.18 WAR Not shown in the diagram. 60(5 is the mobile device 1 12, While not explicitly indicated, the presence of the mobile device 1 12

coiinmsnieati vely coupled to the eye wear 102 is assumed for some embodiments. In other embodiments, the eyewear .102 establishes connections to one or more W ^' APs and operates autonomously, independent of any mobile device. As shown at 600, either the eyewear 102 or the ntobile device 1 12 is connected to the first WAP 614 while the second 616 and third 618 W ^' APs are candidates for a handoif

[00451 At a time thai precedes the snapshot 600, the first WAP 614 is ahead of the eyewear 102 in the direction of travel 620 for the eyewear 102, It is assumed that either the eyewear 102 or the mobile device 1 12, if present, has a established connection with the first WAP 614. As the eyewear 1.02 closes its distance with the first WAP 614, it tracks the direction of the first WAP using one- or more

eamfortning antennas 206 as described, with reference to HQ. 3 , The eyewear J 02 d te mi es thai it has passed the .first WAP 614 when, if detects that a com one t of the direction to the first WAP 614 is sniiparallel to the direction of travel 620. At this point, the eyewear 102 either begins to scan or scans more aggressively for additional WAPs that may have corne into a range of detection for the eyewear 102 while the eyewear 102 was traveling. Scanning for a replacement. WAP- n at least one of multiple frequencies is based on the eyewear 102 defecting fhat .it is traveling away from the first wireless device 614, which, baring a change in irection, indicates that a handoff will need to be performed due to the growing distance between the mobile device 1 .1 and the connected WAP 614. As show in the snapshot 600, the two additional WAPs 616, 618 are detected fey toe eyewear 102 whew the direction to the connected WAP {i.e.., the first direction 624 of the T i WAP 14) is directed opposite to the direction of travel 620 tor the eyewear 102. When the corrected WAP 614 is behind the eyewear 102, the eyewear detects WAPs 16, 61 located ahead or itself, which become candidates for a harsdoff.

( 046j The eyewear 102 determines a second direction 626 to the second WAP 616 and a. third direction 628 to the third WAP 618. The selection, of a WAP for a handoff is based, in whole or in part, on the determined, directions 626, 62.8. if the selection is made by the mobile device 1 12, then the eyewear 102 provides the mobile device J 12 With, the direction mfbrniation for the first 616 and second 618 WAP. The eyewear 102 also determines or updates the direction of travel 620. In one embodiment the eyewear 102 determine i ts direction of travel 620 by tracking the directions to fixed, reference points, namely the first 614, second.616, and third 618 WAPs, For example, the eyewear 102 uses a set of beamf rm ing antennas of the plurality of beami rming antennas 206 to determine a change in the first direction 634 of the first wireless aeeess poin t relative to the eyewear 10 over an interval of time, hi another embodiments, the eyewear 102 may be equipped with a Global Positionin System {GPS) receiver or determ ne its direction of na e! 620 by refere cing map data in connection with directions determined, to identified wireless deviees,

0 47] In different embodiments _* the eyewear 102 or the mobile device 112 selects the second WAP 616 o a' the third WAP 618 for a handoff from the first WAP 61 based on the second direction 626 being more closely aligned with the direction of travel 620 than the third direction 628. For a particular embodiment, the eyewear selects the second WAP 6.16 over the third WAP 61 S to a handoff from the first WAP 614 based on information in addition to direction information thai the eyewear .102 received from the second 616 and third 18 WAPs during a scan, The processing element 1 of the eye ear ssi ns a weight t the direction in!bnriai i rs. and selects the second WAP 16 for a imocJoff based on al.1 the information the eyewear received,

For an embodiment in which the eyewear .10 is operating independently of any mobile device, the eyewear 102 establishes the connection to the first WAP 614, ^' file eyewear 1 2 also scans at least one of multiple radio trequencies using a second beamforming antenna white it aims a first beamforrmng antenna in the first direction 626 at the first AP 61 , Prom radio energy it detects, the eyewear i 02 identifies and determines directions for the second 16 and third 618 WAP, The eyewear 102 determines Its direction of travel 620 and selects, based on the second 626 and third 628 directions relative to the direction of travel 620, the second WAP 616 instead of the third WAP 618 for handoff by the eyewear 1 2, of the network connection from the first WAP 614 to the second WAP 61 .

101) :91 In another embodiment, the eyewear 102 display the first direction 624 of the first WAP 614 on the eyewear 102. For example, the eyewea 102 determines that the signal strength, for the first WAP 614 is eak due t the distance between, the eyewear 102 and. the first WAP 61 , Moreover, the eyewear 102 is usable t perform a kaodofT because it. does not have the necessary credentials to establish a connection with the firs 616 or second 618 WAP. The eyewear 1 2 emits an audible tone alerting a user to the fact that the first WAP 614 is passing beyond range and that there are no alternative WAPs available, In this wa the user m y then decide whether to possibly lose the connection or adjust position t improve on the radio link quality.. By displaying the first direction 624, on the lenses of the eyewear 102 in a heads-iip configuration, for instance, the eyewear 102 guides the user toward the .first WAP 614 to Improve the cpsaiily of the connection, with the first WAP 6.14.

(ΘΘ501 The processing element 212 of the eyewear 102 can use directional information, ascertained using one or more beamforming antennas 206 of the eyewear 102 to determine if a user of the eyewear 102 is turning his head. Further, the is processing demen* 212 can process directional nformati n to distinguish a head turn ^• from tiansiational motion of the eyewear 102 , if a user turns k head 30 degrees to the right, as indicated at 622, the detected directions 624, 626, 628 for each of the fixed WAPs 614, 616, 618 shift: to the eri by the ame 30 degrees, hidepersdeoi of the distance of any WAP from the eyewear 2. F r translations! motion of the eyewear J 02, angular ch nges in the directions of WAPs relative to the eyewear 102 are de etidetiC upon distances of the WAPs front the eyewear 102, As the eyew passes two wireless devices to the left, tor instance, the angular change in the direction of the closet of the two devices with respect t the eyewear 102 will be larger than for the farther device. The capability of the eyewear 102 to determine its direction of travel 620, even during the occurrence of -frequent head turns, also allows the ey ewear 102 to select a WAP that Is aligned with the direction of travel for a handoff. In alternate embodiments, a head turn or the direction in which a user is looking weights the selection of a WAP for a handoff where the preference from the travel of direction, might not otherwise distinguish t em,

{00511 For one embodiment, the user is looking to his right relative to the direction he is traveling and the eyewear 102 responsive! favors or prioritizes wireless devices that appear to the user's- righ over those that appear to the user ^' s left, in a first example, the eyewear 102 detects that the eser is walking away from -the. first WAP 6.14 to which It or an accompanying mobile device 1 1 is connected. The eyewear 102 begins to scan for a replacement. WAP for a linndoiTtmd detects the second 616 and third 618 WAP, Instead of perforrning a hando from the first 614 to the second 616 WAP, the eyewear 102 performs a ando.Tfrom the first 614 to the third 618 W AP. While the second direction 626 to the second. W AP 6.16 is most closely ali ned wi the direction of travel 620, the third direction 628 of the third WAP 618 is most closel aligned with, the direction the user is looking. \W52\ If the user changes his direction of travel to his right, the eyewear 102 can. maintain a connection with the third WAF 618 for a I onger period of time before moving out of range. If the eyewear 102 is eoni unieatively coupled to the mobile device 112, the eyewear 1 2 will prioritize a detected. WAF with a ^' direction of 30 degrees to the right of the dilut on of travel 620, the direction in -which. -the user is looking, over a detected WAP with a. direction of 30 degrees to the left of the direction of travel 620. in a. list of detected WAP t e eyewear 102 provides to the mobile device 112 a a candidate list for a haodoff from the first WAP 61 .

10i¾53| The candidate list the eyewear 102 provides the mobile device 112, which at a minimum includes direction infotmation for detected WAPs» allows the mobile device 1 12 to make a higher quality selection for a hand ff than if the mobile device 1 12 were operating without the added cap lity of the eyewear 102. For an embodiment the selection is made by an algorithm running on the mobile device 1 1.2. that weighs direction information together with additional information regardin service providers, signal strength, and available bandwidth.

1§0S ] In. other embodiments, the eyewear 102 alerts a itser when the use is looking away from the direction of travel 620. The eyewear 102 detects from, the rate at which direction to fixed wireless devices are changing that the user is traveling at a high rate of speed, for example:, driving an automobile. The eyewear 102 further determines that the user has been lo king away from the direction, of travel. 620 for more an a threshold amount of time, and conse uently, emits an audible warning to the user. In one embodiment, a WAP or other radio source fixed at the trout of the automobile. near the steering wheel provides the eyewear 102 with a reference direction associated with the direction of travel 620. Using this reference direction, the eyewear alerts the user if the user looks away from the road or if the user's head starts to dip relative to the reference direction, indicating that the use is nodding off. The eyewear 102 ghees an audible warning using a speaker of the eyewear 102 or using, an audio s stem of the automobile when the eyewear is interlaced with the audio system.

0Θ55] Returning to FIG. 5, the e e e 102 dentifying a retail establishment using the. detected first externally emitted radio energy and determining a direction of the retail establishment relative to the eyewear 192 u i g a set of beam forming aafensas 206 of the eyewear 102 is indicated as an optional embodiment at 520 and 522, 'respectively. The eyewear 102 cars, then also display 524 a direction to the retail establishment to assist a iser in finding it. addition to locating retail

directions to wireless devices associated with other types of establishments, such as office spaces, government buildings, and educational institutions. The eyewear 102 locating and determining directions for retail establishments and other wireless devices is described further with reference to FIG. 7,

£0.05$] FIG.7, shows a schematic diagram 700 that illustrates the eyewear 10 movin in a direction of travel 720 relati ve to other wireless devices, more

specifically, a wireless device associated with a location such as a. retail establishment: an. electronic resource 704,. a:nd a first 708 and second 710 peer device, that are all within a range of detection, for the eyewear 102. In describing embodiments -with refere ce- to e diagram ?00, it is assumed that the eyewear 102 is communicatively coupled, to, and operates with, the mobile device 112. For each described

embodiment, there is an alternate embodiment for which the eyewear 102 operates autonomously, independent of any connected mobile device.

571 When a user runs one or more applications on the mobile device 1 12, the coupled eyewear 102 detects and determines the directions of specific wireless devices. On & short lunch, break, for example, the user would, like to quickly locate an. eating esta lishmen in his immediate vicinity, and he launches the appropriate application on his mobile device 1 12, The application allows the mobile device 1 12 to operate together with he eyewear 102, which, in turn, ses its multiple

beamfbrming antennas 206 to simultaneously se s for radio traffic and fe=saco».s. When radio enemy is detected, the eyewear 102 ca« wait to detect a beacon frame or isolate a. frequency and ansmit a probe request, either directly or using ths. oMe device 1 .12. From & probe response or an initially detected beacon f ame, the eyewear J 02 determ nes, if the detected wireless device identifies an eating esiaMlsrninent, and further, what type of food the establishment serves. The eyewear 102 eats also receive transmitted e-eoupoos. If addi ional information Is sought from a wireless device after I is identified., the eyewear 102 interrogates the device by sending data requests,

18058] The eyewear 102 uses its beamforniing antennas 206 to determine directions to wireless devices associated with identified eating establishments and sends ibe mobile device 1 12 a. list that specifies the eating establishments, along with direction information, lunch specials, and any other information ihe eyewear 1 2 might have gathered. For the embodiment shown at 700, the list includes a coffee sho 706 identified behind the user. The eyewea 102 can alternatively determine a relative direction to a particular eating establishment after the user has selected it from the list: using his mobile device 1 12. The eyewear 102 s nds the determined directio to the mobile device 1 12. where it is displayed n the displa 1 14 of the mobile device 1 12 as shown in. FIG. I . In. an alternate embodiment, the eyewear 102 includes a display, such as heads-ιφ display, coupled to the processing element 212 and configured to display the direction information for the detected wireless device for the selected, eating establishment, In another embodiment the eyewear 102 includes audio speakers associated with, the cars of the user and can offer a soft ping on the side of the direction of interest This would help guide the user to change the facing direction. Note that various audio clues (e,g., pitch, volume) conld be used to suggest scale . of turn or closeness of target. \W59\ In a other embodiment, the user of the .mobile device 1 12 is .in a crowded airport and ½ unable to sec an electronic kiosk 704 its would like io use for checking in, The heanribnriit5g ao amss 206 of th.e eyewear 102 are able to detect, den fy, and dete m ne a direction to the electronic kiosk 704. The eyewear 102 provides the mobile device 1 12 with, direction information that allows the mobile device 1. 1.3 to guide the y,ser to tbe electronic kiosk 704 by displaying the direction to the electronic kiosk 704 relative to the direction the user i looking and/or walking, in a further embodiment, the user purchases bis e-ticket online at the airport using his mobile device 1 12 and would like to locate a public printer (not shown) to obtain a hardcopy. Again, under he control of tbe mobile de vi ce 1 12 running the appropriate application, the eyewear 102 uses its beamforniiug antennas; to locate and direct the user to tbe public printer, or any other electronic resource, be i seeking. As the nser negotiates obstacles in approaching the printer/the eyewear 1 2 continues to scan the printer and updates the mobile device 1 12 with ^' the current direction to the printer relative to the position of the eyewear 102,

{0 1 For one .em o iment, the eyewear 102 identifying the first wireless device comprises ide ifyin a peer device. By running a "'friend finder" application on the mobile device .1 .12, a user is able t ntitwe the coupled eyewear 10 to locate Ids friends. When in. a city where friends of ihe user work, reside, o are scheduled to e, the mobile device 1 12 uses the eyewear 102 to scan for peer devices belonging to tbe friends., if the eyewear 1 cannot locate the friends by passively scanning, the eyewear 102 can. also actively scan by sending oat transmissions configured to elicit responses tmm any of the peer devices within range.

61] Upon locating first peer device 708, tbe eyewear 102 determines the direction of the first peer device 708 relative to the eyewear 102. For a particular embodiment, the eyewear 102 determines a direction in which the user must turn his head to be facing the first peer device 70S, taking into account the direction, the user

2i Is already lacing. While the user is moving m the direction of travel 720, the first peer device 708 also moving wit a direction nd speed indicated at 7 ! 2, A both the eyewear 102 and the first peer device 708 move, the eyewear continuously or intermittently scans radio transmissions fiom. the first peer device 708 to determine a direction ^' o tli.e first peer device 708.

\ i62\ The eyewear 102 also use at least one of its beamforming antennas 206 to detect and Identify a second peer device 710 moving with a direction and speed Indicated at 71 , The eyewear 102 tracks the direction of both the first 708 and second 710 peer devices independently, using different hearnl nnhag antennas, as the relative position of the eyewear 102 changes with respect to the first 708 and second 710 peer devices, The user is able to use this direction information, to adjust his heading to stay within range of his friends or to mee up with them.

\i 63\ In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and: changes ca ^' be made without departing from, the scope of the invention as set forth, in the claims below. Accordingly, the speeifica ion acd figures are to he regarded, is. an illustrative rather than* restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included, within, the scope of present teachings,

t064| The benefits, -ad antages, solutions to problems, and any ele ent(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur o become more pronounced, are not to be eonstmed as a critical required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims, The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made d uring the pendency of this appl ication and al l equi valents of those claims as issued .

|00 S| Moreover in this document, relational fcrrns such as first and second, top and bottom, a.nd the like may he used solel to distinguish one entit or action from. another entity or action without necessarily re mrifig or implying any actual, such relationship or order between such entities Or actions. The terms "comprises/' "comprising," "has," "having, ^' ' "includes," "including," "contains," "containing'' or an other variation thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements docs not include only those elements but m y include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus, An element proceeded by "comprises . .. a," "has ... a," "includes ... a," or "contains ... a" does not, without more constrain ts, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms " " and "a " are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The teruis "substantially," "essenti lly,"

" ^■ approximately, ^' ' ^ik aboist" or an other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and. in one non-limiting em odiment the term is defined to b within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another enibodimeot within. 0,5%. The term "coupled" as used herein is defined &$ connected, although not necessarily directly d not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is

is configured in at least that way, hot may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

(0066,1 it will be appreciated thai some embodiments may be comprised, of one o more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices '} _, such as

microprocessors, digital, signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (PPG As) a«d unique stored program, instructions

{including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in. conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein.. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemeated by a state machine s at has no stored program instructions, or m one or more applleatlon specific integrated circuits ^' (ASICs), n which each function or so e combin t ns of certain, of the finreiions are

implemen ted as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.

(M67J Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code tored thereo for programming a. computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are «ot l mited to, a bard disk, a CD-ROM, aft optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read ^' Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ead Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected thai one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort ^' and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, .and economic considerations, hm guided, by the concepts and principles disclosed . herein ^' will be readily capable of generating such software Instructions and rograms and l€s with minimal experlrnematlom

[CMM81 The _: Abstract of the Disclosure is prc ided to al low the reader to quickly ascertain the tUre of the technical disclosure. It is ubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it. can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting a intentio that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect,, inventive subject matter lies i less than ail features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following clams are hereby incorporated istto the Detailed Description, with each claim st ndn o« ts o rs as a separately e m.ed subject mailer.