Electrical and Computer Engineering

Buddy Bug

Matt Brennan

Nick Nunns

Brian Roberts

Jeremy Vight

Preliminary Design Review

2Electrical and Computer Engineering

Background Wide spread use of personal

electronics devices (PEDs) • MP3 players, cell phones, personal

gaming systems• Willingness to pay

• iPod = $250• Razor = $199

• The interest in gadgetry has become mainstream*

Traditional PEDs discourage:• Interaction with local social

environment • New social networks

*Steve Jones, professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago

3Electrical and Computer Engineering

Background (continued) 95.7 million single adults in the

United States* Popularity of online

friend/dating services• Eharmony.com reports 10,000

to 15,000 new users every day, with more than 6,000 marriages to its credit.

• Friendster +19 million members

Forbes reports online-dating-service revenues topping $214 million in the first half of 2003.

*Accoring to the U.S. Census Bureau 2004

4Electrical and Computer Engineering

Concept

There is a market gap• People like PEDs• People like friend/dating services• Nothing on the market combining the two

Propose the Buddy Bug • PED to facilitate social interaction• For use primarily at bars, lounges, or any location where

people gather• Allow people to find others with similar interests• Give knowledge of similar interests to allow people to

start conversations• Provide easy contact information exchange

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Vision

A beeper-sized PED At home

• You program interest groups and contact info into Buddy Bug

• Ex. Red Sox fan At the bar

• You have your Buddy Bug clipped to belt• Another Red Sox fan is in the bar• Your Buddy Bug alerts you• You look at the pattern showing on your Buddy Bug.• You look around the bar for Buddy Bug with the same pattern• Go start a conversation • Exchange of contact information

Red Sox Fan

Buddy Bug

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Design Challenges

Match identification• How do I know I’m matched with someone?

Pattern synchronization• What’s a pattern?• How are they chosen?

Wireless communication Small form-factor

• Embedded device• Small battery

7Electrical and Computer Engineering

Design Alternatives

Locating Match• GPS• Visual• Audible

Patterns

Notification• Audible• Visual• Vibration

Mating/Programming• Infrared• Contacts

Communication• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)

• Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)

• ISM Band• OOK• FSK• FHSS

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Design Alternatives

Locating Match• GPS Visual• Audible

Patterns

Notification• Audible• Visual• Vibration

Mating/Programming• Infrared• Contacts

Communication• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)

• Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)

• ISM Band• OOK• FSK• FHSS

9Electrical and Computer Engineering

Design Alternatives

Locating Match• GPS Visual• Audible

Patterns

Notification Audible Visual Vibration

Mating/Programming• Infrared• Contacts

Communication• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)

• Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)

• ISM Band• OOK• FSK• FHSS

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Design Alternatives

Locating Match• GPS Visual• Audible

Patterns

Notification Audible Visual Vibration

Mating/Programming? Infrared? Contacts

Communication• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)

• Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)

• ISM Band• OOK• FSK• FHSS

11Electrical and Computer Engineering

Design Alternatives

Locating Match• GPS Visual• Audible

Patterns

Notification Audible Visual Vibration

Mating/Programming? Infrared? Contacts

Communication• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11)

• Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1) ISM Band

? OOK? FSK? FHSS

12Electrical and Computer Engineering

Matching Algorithm - Challenges

Publicizing yourself Identifying others Distributing group information Matching group information Generating unique patterns for groups Requiring patterns in range to coincide

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Matching Algorithms - Goals

Minimize RF activity• Reduce battery drain• Reduce transmitting collisions

Dynamic and distributed processes• No centralized server

Solid and stable functionality• Handle arbitrary situations and organizations• Settle discrepancies in a timely manner

Minimize code footprint• Leave ample room for flash storage

14Electrical and Computer Engineering

Matching Algorithms - Proposed

Static Matching• Statically place patterns from PC onto Buddy Bug

Match and Propagate• Propagate pattern changes along Buddy Bugs

Match and Average• Iteratively converge changes among Buddy Bugs

All would use a similar initial packet to:• Publicize your Buddy Bug• Convey group and pattern information

15Electrical and Computer Engineering

Matching Algorithms - Simulation

16Electrical and Computer Engineering

Hardware: System Block Diagram

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At the Core: Chipcon CC1010

System on a chip• 8051 Microcontroller• ISM-band RF Transceiver• Persistent Flash Memory

Most major block level components combined into one package

Less PCB “real estate”• Smaller form factor• Simpler PCB design

18Electrical and Computer Engineering

CDR Deliverables

Design documentation and specifications Several functional prototypes

• Enough to show validity of the design

PC Dock & Software• Used for programming

Research results • Justification for algorithms chosen

19Electrical and Computer Engineering

Proposed MDR Deliverables

Two bugs Communication between bugs

• Wireless• Wired

Displays• LCD

• Print characters received from other bug• LEDs

• Vary colors and blinking frequency

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Comments / Questions?