Extending digital artifacts through an interactive surface

• US 20060294247A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Andrew D., Hinckley, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A unique system and method that facilitates extending input/output capabilities for resource deficient mobile devices and interactions between multiple heterogeneous devices is provided. The system and method involve an interactive surface to which the desired mobile devices can be connected. The interactive surface can provide an enhanced display space and customization controls for mobile devices that lack adequate displays and input capabilities. In addition, the interactive surface can be employed to permit communication and interaction between multiple mobile devices that otherwise are unable to interact with each other. When connected to the interactive surface, the mobile devices can share information, view information from their respective devices, and store information to the interactive surface. Furthermore, the interactive surface can resume activity states of mobile devices that were previously communicating upon re-connection to the surface.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates extending input/output capabilities of mobile devices comprising:

an interactive surface component comprising enhanced input/output resources;

at least a first mobile device connected to the interactive surface component to employ the enhanced input/output resources of the interactive surface component; and

a communication component that creates and controls at least one communication channel between the first mobile device and the interactive surface component to allow for transparent interaction there-between.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a registration component that identifies the at least a first mobile device according to at least one of a unique visual or non-visual pattern associated with the device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second mobile device connected to the interactive surface component.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an association component that groups one or more mobile devices based at least in part on position and orientation of the devices to facilitate interaction between the devices or interaction between a group of devices and other devices connected to the interactive surface component.

5. The system of claim 1, the communication component creates at least one communication channel when the mobile device is placed on the interactive surface component.

6. The system of claim 1, the communication component creates at least one communication channel when the mobile device is within a physical proximity of the interactive surface component.

7. The system of claim 1, the interactive surface component is oriented in a horizontal manner.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an object sharing component that allows an exchange of data between the mobile device and the interactive surface component to facilitate optimizing operation of the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1, the interactive surface component projects content from the mobile device'"'"'s display onto the interactive surface component'"'"'s display space for easier viewing and data manipulation by a user.

10. The system of claim 1, the mobile device comprising at least one of the following:

cell phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet PC, laptop computer, watch, wearable computing device, and a memory card.

11. A method that facilitates extending input/output capabilities of mobile devices comprising:

establishing a connection between at least one mobile device and an interactive surface component;

identifying the at least one mobile device;

determining at least one of a position and orientation of the mobile device; and

visualizing a display from the at least one mobile device on a display space of the interactive surface component to facilitate a transparent interaction between the mobile device and the interactive surface for a user.

12. The method of claim 11, establishing the connection between the mobile device and the interactive surface component comprises:

placing the mobile device on the interactive surface component;

reading at least one of a unique visual or non-visual pattern associated with the mobile device; and

calling one or more protocols specific to the mobile device to allow for communication and interaction between the interactive surface component and the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising employing input controls on the interactive surface component to more readily customize and manipulate data on the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising copying data from the interactive surface component to the mobile device at least in part by placing the mobile device over the data.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising sharing data between at least two mobile devices connected to the interactive surface component by way of the interactive surface component.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing the mobile device on the interactive surface component;

and creating additional workspace for the mobile device around the mobile device using at least a portion of display space on the interactive surface component to facilitate background monitoring of less important programs and data.

17. A method that facilitates interaction between multiple heterogeneous mobile devices comprising:

providing an interactive surface component;

connecting at least two mobile devices to the interactive surface component; and

determining a spatial relationship of the mobile devices to facilitate transparent communication between them.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising grouping the mobile devices based in part on the spatial relationship of the devices.

19. The method of claim 18, sharing data between devices or groups of devices to mitigate performing repetitive data transfers to each device that belong to one group.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating with the interactive surface component and at least one mobile device connected to the interactive surface component in a virtual manner from a remote location.