INTELLIGENT INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVICES IN A LOCAL NETWORK

• US 20090197524A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cahne, Max, Haff, Olle
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality

Abstract

A device may include a network interface through which the device communicates with a media device in a local network. The device may include a processor to detect whether the device receives a call, determine whether the device is within a predetermined range of the media device based on communication between the device and the media device, and send a message to the media device via the network interface to request the media device to reduce an audio output of the media device when the device is within the predetermined range of the media device and when the device has received the call.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a change in video or audio output of a mobile device;

obtaining a physical location of the mobile device and a physical location of a media device;

determining a distance between the mobile device and the media device based on the physical locations of the mobile device and the media device;

determining whether the distance is within a predetermined range; and

modifying output of the media device when the distance is within the predetermined range.

2. The method of claim 1, where modifying output of the media device includes at least one of:

sending a command from the mobile device to the media device to fade out or reduce an audio output of the media device;

sending a command from the mobile device to the media device to pause the output of the media device;

sending a command from the mobile device to the media device to buffer the output of the media device;

or

sending a command from the mobile device to the media device to store information that indicates what part of content in the output of the media device has been played.

3. The method of claim 2, where sending a command to the media device includes:

sending a Simple Object Access Protocol command.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the distance between the mobile device and the media device;

determining whether the mobile device is within the predetermined range of the media device; and

modifying the output of the media device when the mobile device is not within the predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 1, where detecting a change in video or audio output of a mobile device includes one of:

detecting an incoming phone call;

detecting a termination of a call;

or

detecting a playing of an audio file, a video file, an audio disk, or a video disk.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discovering the media device in a local media network in accordance with Universal Plug and Play protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a service description and a device description of the media device via a local media network.

8. The method of claim 1, where obtaining a physical location of the mobile device and a physical location of the media device includes:

requesting the media device to provide the physical location of the media device.

9. The method of claim 1, where modifying output includes at least one of:

restoring an audio output of the media device to a level prior to the detected change in the output of the mobile device;

causing the media device to resume the output of the media device;

causing the media device to play buffered output of the media device;

or

causing the media device to play un-played part of content based on information that has been stored and that indicates what part of content in the output of the media device has been played.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a user a desired level of volume to which the audio output is to be set when a change is detected in the audio output of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exchanging multimedia content with the media device in accordance with Digital Living Network Alliance protocols.

12. A device comprising:

a network interface through which the device communicates with a media device in a local network; and

a processor to;

detect whether the device receives a call;

determine whether the device is within a predetermined range of the media device based on communication between the device and the media device; and

send a message to the media device via the network interface to request the media device to reduce an audio output of the media device when the device is within the predetermined range of the media device and when the device has received the call.

13. The device of claim 12, where the device includes:

a universal plug and play (UPnP) compliant device.

14. The device of claim 12, where the local network includes:

a network that is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance guidelines.

15. The device of claim 12, where the media device includes one of:

a speaker;

a television;

a personal computer;

a laptop;

a receiver;

a digital video disk player;

or a game playing device.

16. The device of claim 12, where the processor is further configured to:

detect the media device via a discovery protocol.

17. The device of claim 12, where the message includes:

a Simple Object Access Protocol message.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

an accelerometer for determining a position of the device;

a Global Positioning System receiver for determining a location of the device;

a Cell positioning system (CPS) receiver for determining a location of the device;

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) receiver for determining a location of the device, or

a Beidou Navigation system receiver for determining a location of the device.

19. The device of claim 12, where the processor is further configured to:

receive user input for setting a desired level of volume for reducing the output of the media device when the media device is within the predetermined range; and

receive user input indicating the predetermined range.

20. A device comprising:

means for detecting whether the device receives a call;

means for discovering a media device in a local media network;

means for sending a request for a physical location of the media device to the media device;

means for determining whether the device is within a predetermined range of the media device based on a response from the media device; and

means for sending a request to the media device to turn off audio output or reduce the audio output of the media device when the device moves into a predetermined range of the media device while the device is engaged in the call.