Enabling user interface elements based on short range wireless devices

• US 20080194298A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Panabaker, Ruston, DeMaio, Pasquale
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system and method for enabling user interface elements to be displayed on a display device is disclosed. The technology includes a method for enabling user interface elements to be displayed on a display device. The method includes accessing location information corresponding to a first short range wireless device coupled with the display device wherein the location information identifies the location of the first short range wireless device with respect to a viewing surface of the display device. The method also includes enabling a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on the viewing surface of the display device wherein the contactless user interface icon is displayed on the viewing surface proximate the location of the first short range wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for enabling user interface elements to be displayed on a display device comprising:

accessing location information corresponding to a first short range wireless device coupled with said display device, said location information identifying the location of said first short range wireless device with respect to a viewing surface of said display device;

enabling a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device wherein said contactless user interface icon is displayed on said viewing surface proximate said location of said first short range wireless device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device wherein said contactless user interface icon is displayed on said viewing surface proximate said location of said first short range wireless device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

enabling an additional user interface element to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device wherein said additional user interface element pertains to said second short range wireless device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

disabling access to said additional user interface element in response to determining said second short range wireless device is not proximate to said contactless user interface icon.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

enabling a call to an operation based on said identifying of said second short range wireless device wherein said call pertains to said second short range wireless device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

ending said operation in response to determining said second short range wireless device is not proximate to said contactless user interface icon.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a signal strength of a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

determining a location of said second short range wireless device with respect to said viewing surface of said display device based on said signal strength of said second short range wireless device.

8. Instructions on a computer-usable medium wherein said instructions when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for providing user interface elements on a display device, said computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing location information corresponding to a first short range wireless device coupled with said display device, said location information identifying the location of said first short range wireless device with respect to a viewing surface of said display device; and

generating a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device wherein said contactless user interface icon is displayed on said viewing surface proximate said location of said first short range wireless device.

9. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

identifying a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

generating an additional user interface element to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device wherein said additional user interface element pertains to said second short range wireless device.

10. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 9 wherein said method further comprises:

disabling access to said additional user interface element in response to determining said second short range wireless device is not proximate to said contactless user interface icon.

11. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

identifying a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

performing a call to an operation based on said identifying of said second short range wireless device wherein said call pertains to said second short range wireless device.

12. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 11 further comprising:

disabling said operation in response to determining said second short range wireless device is not proximate to said contactless user interface icon.

13. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:

determining a signal strength of a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon; and

determining a location of said second short range wireless device with respect to the viewing surface of said display device based on said signal strength of said second short range wireless device.

14. The instructions on a computer-usable medium as described in claim 8 wherein said location information includes pixel data associated with the viewing surface of said display device.

15. A near field communication controller module comprising:

a near field communication device location determiner for accessing location information corresponding to a first short range wireless device coupled with a display device, said location information identifying where said first short range wireless device is positioned with respect to a viewing surface said display device; and

a user interface enabler module for enabling a first contactless user interface icon to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device such that said first contactless user interface icon is displayed proximate said first short range wireless device.

16. The near field communication controller module as described in claim 15 wherein said user interface enabler module enables an additional user interface element to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device in response to determining a second short range wireless device is proximate said first contactless user interface icon.

17. The near field communication controller module as described in claim 15 wherein said user interface enabler module enables a call to an operation in response to determining a second short range wireless device is proximate said first contactless user interface icon.

18. The near field communication controller module as described in claim 17 wherein said user interface enabler module disables said operation in response to determining said second short range wireless device is not proximate to said contactless user interface icon.

19. The near field communication controller module as described in claim 15 further comprising:

a wireless signal strength module for determining a signal strength of a second short range wireless device proximate said contactless user interface icon wherein a location of said second short range wireless device with respect to the viewing surface of said display device can be determined based on said signal strength of said second short range wireless device.

20. The near field communication controller module as described in claim 15 wherein said user interface enabler module enables an additional user interface element to be displayed on said viewing surface of said display device in response to determining a security attribute associated with a second short range wireless device proximate said first contactless user interface icon.