Method of enabling interaction using a portable device

• US 20040264916A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van De Sluis, Bartel Marinus, Diederiks, Elmo Marcu Attila, Vrielink, Koen Hendrik Johan
• Application Number:
  US10/498,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A method of enabling interaction between a portable device (201) operated by a user and another device (202) comprising detecting that a distance between the portable device (201) and the other device (202) is suitable for the interaction, suggesting to the user that a virtual link can be established between the portable device (201) and the other device (202) for allowing the interaction, and upon receiving confirmation from the user, establishing the virtual link.

Claims

1. A method of enabling interaction between a portable device operated by a user and another device, comprising detecting that a distance between the portable device and the other device is suitable for the interaction, suggesting to the user that a virtual link can be established between the portable device and the other device for allowing the interaction, and upon receiving a confirmation from the user, establishing the virtual link.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the confirmation as a user action performed on the portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the confirmation as an indication of a physical action performed with the portable device.

4. The method of claim 3, in which the physical action comprises bringing the portable device in the immediate proximity of the other device.

5. The method of claim 3, in which the physical action comprises bringing the portable device in the immediate proximity of an object representative of a device cluster comprising the other device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising deriving an action that is desired by the user from the manner in which the confirmation is given by the user, and subsequently executing the action using the virtual link.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a further user action indicative of desired termination, and in response to said detecting, terminating the virtual link.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the further user action comprises bringing the portable device outside the distance suitable for interaction.

9. A computer program product arranged for causing a processor to execute the method of claim 1.

10. A portable device arranged to be operated by a user, comprising interacting means for interacting with another device, detecting means for detecting that a distance between the portable device and the other device is suitable for the interaction, output means for indicating that a virtual link can be established between the portable device and the other device for allowing the interaction, confirmation reception means for receiving a confirmation from the user, linking means for, upon receiving a confirmation from the user, activating the interacting means and establishing the virtual link.

11. The portable device of claim 10, further comprising means for detecting a physical action performed with the portable device, coupled to the confirmation reception means.