Sony patents method to group nearby phones by signal strength
Sony describes a way for a cell tower to sort connected devices into groups based on how similar their radio signals are. The tower receives data on signal quality from each device and uses this to identify which phones are likely close to each other. It then keeps these groups organized to manage the network connection.
In the filing’s own words
A method of operating infrastructure equipment in a wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving, from each of a plurality of communications devices, an indication of at least one radio channel characteristic associated with that device. The infrastructure equipment and the devices together form a subnetwork. Based on the received indications, the infrastructure equipment determines that one or more proximity groups are to be formed, each group including at least two devices having similar channel characteristics. The infrastructure equipment maintains the one or more proximity groups.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network configured to transmit signals to and/or to receive signals from a communications device via a wireless access interface, the method comprising receiving, from each of a plurality of communications devices, an indication of at least one radio channel characteristic associated with that communications device, wherein the plurality of communications devices together with the infrastructure equipment form a subnetwork of the wireless communications network, determining, based on the received indications of the at least one radio channel characteristic, that one or more proximity groups are to be formed, wherein each of the proximity groups is to comprise at least two of the plurality of communications devices of the subnetwork, the at least one radio channel characteristic being similar for all of the at least two communications device in each proximity group, and maintaining, at the infrastructure equipment, the one or more proximity groups.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- METHODS, INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT, AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES
- Publication number
- US20260304539A1
- Application number
- 19477792
- Filed
- Mar 27, 2024
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 25
Classified under
H04W 76/25 Electricity & electronicsH04B 17/318 Electricity & electronicsH04L 1/0003 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/1273 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.