Methods and systems for service transfer

• US 10,555,123 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Jim, Hertz, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US15/407,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20170325054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods and systems for service transfer are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a service at a first/current user device, detecting a movement of the first user device, determining a direction of the movement, and requesting the service be provided to a second/target user device in the direction of the movement. Service can be a communication session, network access, video service, audio service, short message service, multimedia message service, and the like. The movement of a user device can be detected by one or more sensors implemented in the user device. For example, to enable a service transfer, a user can point the first user device to a second user device. The pointing can be achieved, for example, by moving the first user device to the direction of the second user device at certain speed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first device from a second device, a communication service;

updating registration information of at least one of the first device or a third device to reflect a change in a position of at least one of the first device or the third device;

detecting, by the first device, a movement of the first device;

determining a direction of the movement;

determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, an intent to transfer the communication service from the first device to the third device; and

requesting, based on determining the intent to transfer the communication service from the first device to the third device, transfer of the communication service from the first device to the third device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the first device from the second device, the communication service comprises receiving the communication service from a communication provider, and wherein the communication service comprises a phone call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting, by the first device, the movement of the first device comprises receiving data from at least one of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, or a compass.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the direction of the movement comprises receiving data from at least one of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, or a compass.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, the intent to transfer the communication service from the first device to the third device comprises determining, based on the registration information, that the third device is located in the direction of the movement.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the movement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, the intent to transfer the communication service from the first device to the third device comprises determining, based on the speed of the movement, the intent.

8. A method comprising:

receiving registration information for a first device and a second device;

updating the registration information for at least one of the first device or the second device to reflect a change in a position of at least one of the first device or the second device;

providing a communication service to the first device;

receiving, from the first device, a request to transfer the communication service to a target device;

receiving data representing a direction of a movement of the first device relative to the target device;

determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement of the first device relative to the target device, that the second device is the target device; and

initiating, based on the determination that the second device is the target device, transfer of the communication service to the second device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device receives the communication service from a communication provider, and wherein the communication service comprises a phone call.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the registration information comprises a position associated with an identifier of the first device and a position associated with an identifier of the second device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a speed of the movement.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement of the first device relative to the target device, that the second device is the target device comprises determining, based on the direction of the movement and the speed of the movement, that the second device is the target device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement of the first device relative to the target device, that the second device is the target device comprises:

determining a relative signal strength indicator for each of a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises the first device and the second device; and

determining, based on a relative signal strength indicator of the second device, that the second device is the target device.

14. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a first device, a communication service;

update registration information of at least one of the apparatus or a second device to reflect a change in a position of at least one of the apparatus or the second device;

detect a movement of the apparatus;

determine a direction of the movement;

determine, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, an intent to transfer the communication service from the apparatus to the second device; and

request, based on determining the intent to transfer the communication service from the first device to the second device, transfer of the communication service from the apparatus to the second device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to receive, from the first device, the communication service further cause the apparatus to receive the communication service from a communication provider, and wherein the communication service comprises a phone call.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to detect the movement of the apparatus further cause the apparatus to receive data from at least one of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, or a compass.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine the direction of the movement further cause the apparatus to receive data from at least one of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, or a compass.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, the intent to transfer the communication service from the apparatus to the second device further cause the apparatus to determine, based on the registration information, that the second device is located in the direction of the movement.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine a speed of the movement.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, based on the registration information and the direction of the movement, the intent to transfer the communication service from the apparatus to the second device further cause the apparatus to determine, based on the speed of the movement, the intent.