Multiple devices sharing a common asccessory

• US 20060135204A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anders Angelhag
• Original Assignee: Anders Angelhag
• Inventors: Angelhag, Anders
• Application Number:
  US10/560,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• 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: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Method and apparatus for controlling connection between a plurality of connectable devices are provide. An individual indicia is associated with a first device having a predetermined identity and being connectable to a second device. The indicia is output in a manner that is observable by a user in response to the first device being selected for connection to the second device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling connection between a plurality of connectable devices, the method comprising:

associating individual indicia with a first device having a predetermined identity and being connectable to a second device; and

outputting said indicia in a manner that is observable by a user in response to said first device being selected for connection to said second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting said indicia in response to a command for selecting said first device for connection to said second device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the device identity linked with connection parameters for said first device and with control data for outputting the associated indicia of said first device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing from outputting of a first indicia associated with a first device to outputting a second indicia associated with a second device in response to an input change signal; and

establishing a selection for connection of said second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing from selecting a first connectable device and outputting the indicia of said first device to selecting a second connectable device and outputting the indicia of said second device in response to receiving an input change signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a re-connection process for connecting a selected first device to a second device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining in a pairing process connectability parameters for connecting a first device to a second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein connectability of a plurality of devices is defined and associated individual indicia as well as individual connection parameters are stored linked with the device identity of each of said devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein indicia of a first device to be output from a second device is stored in the first device and is communicated to the second device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a predetermined order of priority for selecting for connection each of a plurality of connectable devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a predetermined order of priority for selecting for connection each of a plurality of connectable devices, wherein said order of priority is based on a last selected first to use scheme.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a record of the last time selected is stored linked to each of said connectable device identities.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, after an interrupted connection, outputting the indicia of the device that was last selected and selecting for connection to said last selected device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to receiving an input change signal, outputting the indicia associated with the next device in a falling order of last selected and selecting for connection to said next device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a predetermined order of priority for selecting for connection each of a plurality of connectable devices, wherein said order of priority is based on an individual fixed priority that is associated with each of said connectable devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a record of a fixed priority is stored linked to each of said connectable device identities.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, after an interrupted connection, outputting the indicia of the device that has the highest fixed priority and selecting for connection to said highest priority device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a combination of a first predetermined order of priority for selecting for connection a plurality of connectable devices, wherein said first order of priority is based on an individual fixed priority that is associated with a first number of connectable devices, and a second predetermined order of priority for selecting for connection each of a plurality of connectable devices, wherein said second order of priority is based on a last used first to use scheme for a second number of connectable devices.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia associated with a device is selectable in response to a predetermined sequence of input control signals.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is associated with a fixed position in a predetermined order of priority and the fixed position is associated with a predetermined device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is visible and is output by means of a visible signal output device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is a colour that is output by means of a colour emitting device.

24. The method of claim 1 any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicia is a visible symbol that is output by means of a display.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is a combination of characters that is output by means of a display.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is audible and is output by means of a sound emitting device.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is tactile and is output by means of a sensory detectable stimulation device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are connected by means of a wireless communication link.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are connected by means of a short range radio communication link.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are connected by means of a wired communication link.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said devices is an accessory to which a plurality of other devices are connectable.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a hands free equipment and the devices are mobile telephones.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data storage adapted for storing the device identity linked with connection parameters for said device and with control data for outputting the associated indicia of said device.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further being adapted to changing from selecting for connection a first connectable device and outputting the indicia of said first device to selecting for connection a second connectable device and outputting the indicia of said second device in response to receiving an input change signal from a signal input switch.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further being adapted to performing a re-connection process for connecting a selected first device to a second device.

18. The method of, further comprising, in response to receiving an input change signal, outputting the indicia associated with the next device in a falling order of fixed priority and selecting for connection to said next device.

33. An apparatus for controlling connection between a plurality of connectable devices, said apparatus being adapted to defining connectability parameters for connecting a first device having a predetermined identity to a second device, the apparatus comprising:

a device operable to associate individual indicia to said first device; and

an output device operable to output said indicia in a manner that is observable by a user when said first device is selected for connection to said second device.

37. (canceled)

38. A method of controlling connection between a plurality of telephone devices and a hands free device the method comprising:

associating individual indicia with an identifiable telephone device; and

outputting said indicia from said hands free device in response to said identifiable telephone device being selected for connection to said hands free device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the indicia is coloured light.

40. An apparatus for controlling connection between a plurality of telephone devices and a hands free device, the apparatus comprising:

a device operable to associate individual indicia with an identifiable telephone device; and

an output device operable to output said indicia from said hand free device in response to said identifiable device being selected for connection to said hands free device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the indicia is coloured light output by means of a light emitting diode (LED).