US-20260129404-A1 - USER-TO-DEVICE ASSOCIATION TRACKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

US20260129404A1US 20260129404 A1US20260129404 A1US 20260129404A1US-20260129404-A1

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, user-to-device association tracking systems and methods. A physical association of a user with a user device is determined, tracked, and recorded in a device association database via a device association server. The device association database records at least a user identification, a user device location, an association status, and an association reason. The association reason records information indicative of a context where the physical association between the user and the user device takes place. One or more sensors arranged to sense users and user devices can be registered in the device association database and provide an additional layer of information supplementing or enhancing the physical association of users with user devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Inventors

Michael Gonzales
Yupeng Jia
Joseph Soryal
Daniel Vivanco
Ari Craine
Adrianne Binh Luu
Robert Moton, JR.
Robert Koch

Assignees

AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (20)

1 . A method comprising: establishing, by a processing system including a processor, a device association database; registering, by the processing system, a target user device in the device association database; receiving, by the processing system, physical association detection data between a target user and the target user device; recording, by the processing system, the physical association detection data in an association status field of the device association database; receiving, by the processing system, a query regarding a location of the target user; and generating, by the processing system, a response to the query including the location of the target user device recorded in the device association database as the location of the target user.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the recording further comprises recording the physical association detection data including a type of physical association and a timestamp of the physical association.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the type of physical association comprises one of touch, worn, carry, speech and facial.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the generating the response further comprises generating the response including the response including a last location of the target user device, based on the timestamp of the physical association recorded in the device association database, as the location of the target user.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, by the processing system, a context of the physical association detection data between the target user and the target user device in an association reason field of the device association database.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the receiving physical association detection data further comprises receiving the physical association detection data from a device association application running on the target user device; and wherein the method further comprises receiving data indicative of the context of the physical association detection data from the device association application.
7 . The method of claim 5 , comprising: receiving, by the processing system, a request to share association status information with a group of trusted users from the target user; determining, by the processing system, that the association reason field is indicative of an emergency event; and transmitting, by the processing system, to the group of trusted users, a last location of the target user device, recorded in the device association database, as the location of the target user, wherein the group of trusted users include an emergency crew.
8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising: registering, by the processing system, an external sensor in the device association database, wherein the external sensor is arranged in a location facilitating to sense information about the target user; utilizing, by the processing system, the location of the external sensor in generating the response to the query including the location of the target user device recorded in the device association database as the location of the target user; and utilizing, by the processing system, the sensing information about the target user by the external sensor to authenticate the target user.
9 . A device, comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: registering a first type of user device including a location thereof and a second type of user device including a location thereof, respectively, in a device association database; receiving first physical association detection data between a first user and the first type of user device and second physical association detection data between a second user and the second type of user device; storing the first physical association detection data and the second physical association detection data in a device association database; providing, by the processing system, the location of the first type of user device recorded in the device association database as the location of the first user; and providing, by the processing system, the location of the second type of user device recorded in the device association database as the location of the second user.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the storing further comprises: storing the first physical association detection data including a first user identification, the location of the first type of user device, a first association status, a first user device address, wherein the first association status comprises one of a touch status, a carry status, a speech status and a facial status; and storing the second physical association detection data including a second user identification, the location of the second type of user device, a second association status, a second user device address, wherein the second association status comprises one of the touch status, the carry status, the speech status, the facial status and a worn status, and wherein the second type of user device is a wearable device.
11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise: communicating with a device association application running on the first type of user device; and receiving, from the device association application, one or more touch detections of the first type of user device by the first user; and wherein the storing further comprises storing every touch detection by the first user or a last touch detection by the first user.
12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise: communicating with a device association application running on the second type of user device; receiving, from the device association application, one or more facial detections of the second type of user device by the second user; and communicating with an image sensor arranged proximate to the second user and receiving sensing information about the second user, wherein the image sensor is positioned external to the second type of user device.
13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise: communicating with a device association application running on the first type of user device; receiving, from the device association application, one or more carry state detections of the first type of user device by the first user; and receiving, from onboard sensors of the first type of user device, a prediction indicative of an environment surrounding the first type of user device with a level of confidence, utilizing an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) model.
14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise: communicating with a device association application running on the second type of user device; receiving, from the device association application, a worn state detection of the second type of user device by the second user; and receiving, from the second type of user device, biometric information of the second type of user device to authenticate the worn state detection by the second user.
15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise: communicating with a device association application running on the first type of user device; receiving, from the device association application, one or more speech detections by the first user; and storing a voice print of the first user in the first type of user device or the device association database.
16 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: configuring a device association database to record a device ID, a user ID, a device location, a physical association status between a user and a device, and a device address; receiving, from a device association application running on the device, physical association detection data between the user and the device; dynamically updating the physical association status along with a timestamp updated with the receiving of the physical association detection data; and based on the recorded physical association status, transmitting the device location recorded in the device association database as a user location.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a query regarding the user location; and generating a response to the query including a last device location, based on the timestamp of the physical association status recorded in the device association database, as the user location.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the configuring further comprises configuring the device association database to record a context of the physical association status between the user and the device in an association reason field.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving, from the user, a request to share association status information with a group of trusted users; determining that the association reason field is indicative of an emergency event; and transmitting to the group of trusted users, a last location of the device, recorded in the device association database, as the user location, wherein the group of trusted users include an emergency crew and other users designated by the user.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise: configuring the device association database to record an external sensor ID, a location of an external sensor, and an operation range of the external sensor, wherein the external sensor is arranged in a location capable of sensing information about the user; utilizing the location of the external sensor in generating the response to the query including the last device location as the user location; and utilizing the sensed information about the user by the external sensor to authenticate the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The subject disclosure relates to user-to-device association tracking systems and methods. BACKGROUND It is often useful to understand when and if a device is physically associated with its user, that is, whether the user has the device on their person, is wearing it, is carrying it, has it in a container nearby, or is touching it. This can be useful information, particularly in the case of an emergency situation when it may be necessary to understand not only the location of the device, but whether the location of the device is a true indication of the location of the user. Therefore, there is a need to be able to determine, track and use this physical association of a device with the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a sensor registration stage in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a device registration stage in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2D is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a device-user physical association stage including a touch association in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2E is a block diagram illustrating another example, non-limiting embodiment of a device-user physical association stage including a facial association in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2F is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of an association context in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2G is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a query/response for association status in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2H depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 2I depicts an illustrative embodiment of another method in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a mobile network platform in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a communication device in accordance with various aspects described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments for user-to-device association tracking systems and methods. In particular, a physical association of a user with a user device is determined, tracked, and recorded in a device association database via a device association server. The device association database records at least a user identification, a user device location, an association status, and an association reason. For instance, the association status includes various different types including TOUCH, CARRY, WORN, FACIAL, SPEECH, etc. The association reason records information indicative of a context where the physical association between the user and the user device takes place. For instance, the association reason includes a 911 call, a facial recognition, a finger print input, calling a virtual assistant, etc. One or more sensors arranged to sense users and user devices can be registered in the device association database and provide an additional layer of information supplementing or enhancing the physical association of users with user devices. Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure. One or more aspects of the subject disclosure are directed to a method including establishing, by a processing system including a processor, a device association database; registering, by the processing system, a target user device in the device association database; receiving, by the processing system, physical association detection data between a target user and the target user device; recording, by the processing system, the physical association detection data in an association status field of the device association database; receiving, by the processing system, a query regarding a location of the target user; and generating, by the processing system, a response to the query including the location