Adding social networking to devices

• US 20090102645A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Borovoy
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Borovoy
• Inventors: Borovoy, Richard D.
• Application Number:
  US11/975,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices

Abstract

A communication interface of a device communicates with a personal electronic device, and a processor associated with the communication interface automatically directs the personal electronic device, through the communication interface, either to operate in a first mode in which the personal electronic device interacts with a wearer of the personal electronic device or to operate in a second mode in which the wearable personal electronic device interacts with a person other than the wearer, based on how the wearable device is being used.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface for communicating with a personal electronic device; and

a processor associated with the communication interface to automatically direct the personal electronic device, through the communication interface, either

to operate in a first mode in which the personal electronic device interacts with a wearer of the personal electronic device or

to operate in a second mode in which the wearable personal electronic device interacts with a person other than the wearer,

based on how the wearable device is being used.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the communication interface and the processor comprise a module to be coupled to the personal electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a sensor to detect how the personal electronic device is being used.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the sensor comprises an electronic device to generate signals in response to an external event indicative of a change in how the wearable device is being used.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which

the processor is also to receive a signal from the personal electronic device through the communication interface indicating how the personal electronic device is being used.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising:

a second communication interface to communicate with another apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the second communication interface comprises a radio transceiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which

the second communication interface has a limited directionality and is oriented to transmit and receive signals in a direction generally orthogonal to a graphic display of the personal electronic device when the apparatus is mechanically coupled to the personal electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a surface to accommodate a printed label.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which

the surface is positioned to be visible to a viewer of a graphic display on the personal electronic device when the apparatus is mechanically coupled to the personal electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which

the surface is positioned not to be visible to the wearer of the personal electronic device when a graphic display of the personal electronic device is visible to the wearer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which

the surface is also positioned to be visible to a viewer of a graphic display of the personal electronic device when the viewer is other than the wearer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising

a first graphic display positioned to be visible to a viewer of second a graphic display on the personal electronic device when the apparatus is physically coupled to the personal electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a network communication interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 also including a coupling to mechanically couple the apparatus to the personal electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising an element to make the personal electronic device wearable.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which

the element to make the electronic device wearable comprises an extendable lanyard, and in which

how the device is being used comprises an amount to which the lanyard is extended.

19. A method comprising:

in a first electronic device,

detecting how a personal second electronic device in digital communication with the first electronic device is being used; and

based on the detection, instructing the second electronic device either

to operate in a first mode in which the second electronic device interacts with a wearer of the second device or

to operate in a second mode in which the second electronic device interacts with a person other than the wearer.

20. The method of claim 19 in which

detecting how the second device is being used comprises detecting whether the wearer is interacting with the wearable second device.

21. The method of claim 19 in which

detecting how the second device is being used comprises detecting whether the person other than the wearer is interacting with the wearable second device.

22. The method of claim 19 in which

detecting how the second device is being used comprises receiving a signal from the second device through a communication interface.

23. The method of claim 19 in which

detecting how the second device is being used comprises receiving a communication from a third electronic device.

24. The method of claim 19 also comprising, in the first electronic device, using a network communication interface of the second device.

25. An add-on device including

a mechanical coupling to couple to a portable personal electronic device that includes a display, and

a communication port to carry communications between the add-on device and the portable personal electronic device,

the communications relating to use of the electronic device and its display for social networking when the electronic device is being worn.