Indicators for relative positions of connected devices

• US 10,228,841 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dan, Ronnie, Cressey, Robert, Patitucci, Patricia, Frebourg, Olivier, Dyke, Simon, Zamler-Carhart, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Toan H
• Application Number:
  US14/730,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20160357385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

Various embodiments utilize a portable electronic device determining the relative physical location of a connected device and displaying a location indicator on a display of the portable electronic device. This location indicator can “point” to the connected device and provide an indication as to how far away the connected device is. The portable electronic device can facilitate user interaction with the connected device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying content on a display, the display comprising an inner portion surrounded by an annulus, the method comprising:

determining a relative location of a nearby connected electronic device from a current position of a portable electronic device;

first displaying a first graphical user interface element in a position in the annulus, the position of the first graphical user interface element in the annulus defining a relative bearing between the portable electronic device and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device;

changing a physical characteristic of the first graphical user interface element in response to a change in distance between the portable electronic device and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device, the changing comprising changing a size, shape and/or color of the first graphical user interface as it appears in the annulus; and

displaying, in response to receiving a user input, a second graphical user interface element within the inner portion of the display for interacting with the nearby connected electronic device while simultaneously displaying in the position in the annulus either the first graphical user interface or another visual marker;

wherein the user input comprises a swipe across the first graphical user interface element.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising viewing more information about the connected electronic device, share information about the connected electronic device to an email address, or save information about the connected electronic device for later viewing.

3. A system for displaying content on a display, the display comprising an inner portion surrounded by an outer periphery, the system comprising:

a wireless interface;

memory;

a display having an inner portion surrounded by an annulus;

a processor connected to the wireless interface, memory, and display, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a relative location of a nearby connected electronic device from the current position of the system;

first display a first graphical user interface element in a position in the annulus of the display, the position of the first graphical user interface element indicating in the annulus defining a relative bearing between the system and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device; and

change a physical characteristic of the first graphical user interface element in response to a change in distance between the portable electronic device and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device, the changing comprising changing a size, shape and/or color of the first graphical user interface as it appears in the annulus; and

display, in response to receiving a user input, a second graphical user interface element within the inner portion of the display for interacting with the nearby connected electronic device while simultaneously displaying in the position in the annulus either the first graphical user interface or another visual marker;

wherein the user input comprises a swipe across the first graphical user interface element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to permit viewing more information about the connected electronic device, share information about the connected electronic device to an email address, or save information about the connected electronic device for later viewing.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer executable instructions stored thereon, the instructions being effective cause a computer to display content on a display, the display comprising an inner portion surrounded by an annulus, the instructions being programmed to cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

determine a relative location of a nearby connected electronic device from the current position of computer;

first display a first graphical user interface element in a position in the annulus, the position of the first graphical user interface element indicating in the annulus defining a relative bearing between the computer and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device; and

change a physical characteristic of the first graphical user interface in response to a change in distance between the portable electronic device and the relative location of the nearby connected electronic device, the changing comprising changing a size, shape and/or color of the first graphical user interface as it appears in the annulus; and

display, in response to receiving a user input, a second graphical user interface element within the inner portion of the display for interacting with the nearby connected electronic device while simultaneously displaying in the position in the annulus either the first graphical user interface or another visual marker;

wherein the user input comprises a swipe across the first graphical user interface element.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein the operations includes configuring the graphical user interface to permit viewing more information about the connected electronic device, share information about the connected electronic device to an email address, or save information about the connected electronic device for later viewing.