Usability using BCC enabled devices

• US 10,133,459 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Andreasson, Markus, Bengtsson, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/713,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20160334968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a methods and devices for interaction with one or several users, where each user carries at least one personal communication device which is Body Coupled communication, BCC, enabled. A communication device comprises screen which displays information comprising user interface components and the communication device comprises a BCC enabled selection indication means and the users uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of user interface components. A method of the communication device comprises registering a selection indication, determining the position of the selection indication, identifying a user interface component associated with the position, sending a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component, receiving a BCC response from a personal communication device, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component and initiating an action based on the second information.

Claims

1. A method, performed in a communication device comprising a screen, for interaction with a user, wherein the user carries a personal communication device which is Body Coupled communication (BCC) enabled, the screen displays, to the user, information comprising one or several user interface components, and wherein the communication device comprises a selection indication means which is BCC enabled and the user uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of the user interface components on the screen, the method comprising:

registering a selection indication on the screen;

determining the position of the selection indication on the screen;

identifying a user interface component of the one or several user interface components which is associated with the position;

while detecting a user touch at the selection indication means;

sending a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component; and

receiving a BCC response signal through the selection indication means, in response to the BCC send signal, from the personal communication device, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component;

determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means;

presenting, in response to the determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means, an indication on the screen, indicating a need for the user to hold or resume touch of the selection indication means to complete BCC signaling; and

initiating an action based on the second information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identified user interface component is one of:

an application icon, a button, a text field, a menu item, an application window, a content of an application window, an item in an application window, a specified area of the touch screen, an image, a video.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection indication means is a touch screen and the selection indication is a touch on the touch screen and wherein the sending and receiving comprises sending and receiving BCC signals through the touch screen.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection indication means is a mouse and the selection indication is a mouse cursor over a user interface component or a mouse click on a user interface component or the selection indication means is a keyboard and the selection indication is the press of a key on the keyboard at a selected area.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

confirming that the selection indication is performed by a user carrying the BCC enabled personal communication device by receiving at least one BCC signal from the personal communication device in connection with the registered selection indication on the screen.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising:

communicating, to an application associated with the identified user interface component, that a selection indication has taken place on the identified user interface component and that the selection indication was performed by a user carrying the BCC enabled personal communication device; and

receiving, from the application, a third information associated with the use of the application.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first information associated with the identified user interface component comprises a fourth information associated with the received third information associated with the use of the application.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the third information associated with the use of the application comprises a security challenge, from the application, associated with accessing the identified user interface component and wherein the received second information comprises a response to the security challenge and wherein the initiated action comprises sending the response to the security challenge to the application.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the third information associated with the use of the application comprises a request for device specific information associated with the use of the application and wherein the second information comprises the requested device specific information associated with the use of the application.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first information associated with the identified user interface component comprises information that identifies the identified user interface component.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first information associated with the identified user interface component comprises a request for the second information associated with the identified user interface component.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving identification information from the personal communication device via BCC at the selection indication on the screen.

13. A method, performed in a system, the system comprising a personal communication device and a communication device comprising a screen for interaction with a user, wherein the user carries the personal communication device which is Body Coupled Communication (BCC) enabled, the screen displays, to the user, information comprising one or several user interface components and wherein the communication device comprises a selection indication means which is BCC enabled and the user uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of user interface components on the screen, the method comprising:

registering, in the communication device, a selection indication on the screen;

determining, in the communication device, the position of the selection indication on the screen;

identifying, in the communication device, a user interface component of the one or several user interface components which is associated with the position;

while the communication device detects a user touch at the selection indication means, sending, by the communication device, a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component;

receiving, in the personal communication device, the BCC send signal through the selection indication means and via the body of a user of the personal communication device comprising first information associated with the identified user interface component;

sending, by the personal communication device, a BCC response signal, in response to the received BCC send signal, through the selection indication means comprising second information associated with the identified user interface component;

while the communication device detects a user touch at the selection indication means, receiving, by the communication device, a BCC response signal through the selection indication means, in response to the BCC send signal, from one of the personal communication devices, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component;

determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means;

presenting, in response to the determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means, an indication on the screen, indicating a need for the user to hold or resume touch of the selection indication means to complete BCC signaling; and

initiating, in the communication device, an action based on the second information.

14. A communication device comprising a screen, the screen configured to interact with a user, wherein the user carries at least one personal communication device which is Body Coupled communication (BCC) enabled, wherein the screen displays, to the user, information comprising one or several user interface components and wherein the communication device comprises a selection indication means which is BCC enabled and the user uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of user interface components on the screen, the communication device further comprising:

communication circuitry; and

processing circuitry configured to;

register a selection indication on the screen;

determine the position of the selection indication on the screen;

identify a user interface component of the one or several user interface components which is associated with the position;

while detecting a user touch at the selection indication means;

send a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component; and

receive a BCC response signal through the selection indication means, in response to the BCC send signal, from the personal communication device, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component;

determine that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means;

present, in response to the determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means, an indication on the screen, indicating a need for the user to hold or resume touch of the selection indication means to complete BCC signaling; and

initiate an action based on the second information.

15. A system comprising a personal communication device and a communication device comprising a screen, the screen configured to interact with a user, wherein the user carries the personal communication device and wherein the personal communication device is Body Coupled Communication (BCC) enabled, wherein the screen displays, to the user, information comprising one or several user interface components, and wherein the communication device comprises a selection indication means which is BCC enabled and the user uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of user interface components on the screen, wherein the communication device further comprises:

communication circuitry;

processing circuitry configured to;

register a selection indication on the touch screen;

determining the position of the selection indication on the screen;

identify a user interface component of the one or several user interface components which is associated with the position;

while detecting a user touch at the selection indication means;

send a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component; and

receive a BCC response signal through the selection indication means, in response to the BCC send signal, from the personal communication device, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component;

determine that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means;

present, in response to the determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means, an indication on the screen, indicating a need for the user to hold or resume touch of the selection indication means to complete BCC signaling; and

initiate an action based on the second information; and

wherein the personal communication device comprises;

communication circuitry;

processing circuitry configured to;

receive a BCC send signal through the selection indication means and via the body of a user of the personal communication device comprising first information associated with an identified user interface component of the one or several user interface components; and

send a BCC response signal, in response to the received BCC signal, through the selection indication means comprising second information associated with the identified user interface component.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution on a communication device, the communication device comprising a screen for interaction with a user, wherein the user carries a personal communication device, wherein the personal communication device is Body Coupled Communication (BCC) enabled, wherein the screen displays, to the user, information comprising one or several user interface components and wherein the communication device comprises a selection indication means which is BCC enabled and the user uses the selection indication means to make selection indications of user interface components on the screen, wherein the computer program, when executed on the communication device, causes the communication device to perform the steps comprising:

registering, in the communication device, a selection indication on the screen;

determining, in the communication device, the position of the selection indication on the screen;

identifying, in the communication device, a user interface component of the one or several user interface components which is associated with the position;

while the communication device detects a user touch at the selection indication means, sending, by the communication device, a BCC send signal through the selection indication means comprising a first information associated with the identified user interface component;

while the communication device detects a user touch at the selection indication means, receiving, by the communication device, a BCC response signal through the selection indication means, in response to the BCC send signal, from the personal communication device, comprising a second information associated with the identified user interface component;

determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means;

presenting, in response to the determining that the sending a BCC signal and the receiving a BCC signal exceeds an amount of time it takes the user to make a selection indication using the selection indication means, an indication on the screen, indicating a need for the user to hold or resume touch of the selection indication means to complete BCC signaling; and

initiating, in the communication device, an action based on the second information.