COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEVICES USING TACTILE OR VISUAL INPUTS, SUCH AS DEVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100210323A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Small, Andrea, Carney, Patrick, Goulart, Valerie, Collins, Maura, Temple, Sinclair
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and system for communication between users is described. In some examples, the system provides two or more dedicated communication devices that communicate with one another without voice-based or written communications. In some cases, the devices provide single input/out capabilities. In some cases, the devices provide multiple input/output capabilities.

Claims

1. A communication system containing two or more communication devices, the system, comprising:

a first communication device, wherein the first communication device includes;

a first input component, wherein the first input component is configured to only receive a single, tactile input from a first user;

a first message transmission component, wherein the message transmission component is configured to only send a first pre-defined message to a first pre-defined address associated with a second communication device in response to receiving the single input from the first user via the first input component,

wherein the first pre-defined address is selected from one of multiple available addresses;

a first output component, wherein the first output component is configured to only perform a single action in response to receiving a second pre-defined message from the second communication device;

a first housing for at least partially enclosing the first input component, the first message transmission component, and the first output component, wherein the housing does not carry an audio input device or an audio output device; and

a second communication device paired to the first communication device,

wherein the second communication device includes;

a second input component, wherein the second input component is configured to only receive a single, tactile input from a second user;

a second message transmission component, wherein the second message transmission component is configured to only send the second pre-defined message to the first pre-defined address associated with the first communication device in response to receiving the single input from the second user via the second input component;

a second output component, wherein the second output component is configured to only perform a single action in response to receiving a pre-defined message from the first communication device; and

a second housing for at least partially enclosing the second input component, the second message transmission component, and the second output component, wherein the second housing does not carry an audio input device or an audio output device.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are sold as a set with the first and second pre-defined addresses, and wherein no additional monthly wireless service charges need be paid for the first and second communication devices to communicate with one another.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first message transmission component of the first communication device causes a mobile device, in communication with the first communication device, to send the first pre-defined message to a pre-defined address for a mobile device associated with the second communication device.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first communication device performs a first action in response to receiving the second pre-defined message from the second communication device and the second communication device performs a second, different action in response to receiving the first pre-defined message from the first communication device.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are pieces of jewelry or garments.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is a lamp, vase, sculptural element, digital picture frame, or desk accessory.

7. A system of two communication devices for use with a wireless cellular telecommunications network, the system consisting essentially of:

a first wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device includes;

a first input component that receives input from a user of the first wireless communication device;

a first output component that provides a single human-perceptible output for a user of the first wireless communication device,

wherein the single human-perceptible output is a tactile output or a non-text output,

a first data storage, processing and communication component that is configured to at least;

store a single electronic address,

receive transmitted information from the second wireless communication device,

process a received input at the first input component, and

in response to the received input at the first input component, transmit information from the first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device directly or indirectly via the wireless cellular telecommunications network,

wherein the single electronic address is associated with the second wireless communication device;

a first power component to supply power to the first wireless communication device;

a first housing for at least partially enclosing the first input component, the first output component, the first data storage, processing and communication component, and the first power component;

the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device includes;

a second input component,

a second data storage, processing and communication component that is configured to at least;

store a single electronic address associated with the first wireless communication device,

process a received input at the second input component,

in response to the received input at the second input component, transmit information from the second wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device directly or indirectly via the wireless cellular telecommunications network,

receive the transmitted information from the first wireless communication device;

a second power component to supply power to the second wireless communication device; and

a second output component that provides a single human-perceptible output for a user of the second wireless communication device in response to any received information,

wherein the single human-perceptible output is a tactile output or a non-text output, and

a housing for at least partially enclosing the second input component, the second output component, the second data storage, processing and communication component, and the second power component.

8. An apparatus associated with a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing facilitates viewing of one of multiple colors of light, and contains;

a communications device, wherein the communications device wirelessly receives information from an associated wireless mobile device, wherein the housing is separate from the associated wireless mobile device;

a control device, wherein the control device selects one of the multiple colors of light based on the received information; and

an output device, wherein the output device outputs only the selected color viewable via the housing, and

wherein the housing lacks any microphone, speaker, or other audio input/output device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the housing is approximately spherical, and wherein the communication and control devices are monolithically formed on a single semiconductor substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a desk accessory that performs typical functions of the accessory.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communications device receives information from the associated wireless mobile device via the Bluetooth wireless protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communications device receives the information from the associated wireless mobile device via a local area network that includes the associated wireless mobile device and the apparatus.

13. A method for wirelessly communicating a non-voice based or non-text based message from one device to another, the system comprising:

receiving tactile or visual input at a first device associated with a first mobile device connected to a wireless network;

wirelessly transmitting an indication of the input via a Bluetooth protocol connection to the first mobile device; and

wirelessly sending, via the wireless network, a message from the first mobile device to a second mobile device associated with a second device, wherein the message is associated with the received input;

wherein the first and second devices are substantially similar.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received input is a digital photograph taken by a digital camera within the first device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the input is received via a touch screen within the first device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein sending the message to a second mobile device includes sending the message to an address associated with the second mobile device related to the received input and stored within the first device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the first mobile device, a message from the second mobile device, wherein the message from the second mobile device is associated with an input received at the second device;

transmitting, from the first mobile device to the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device;

receiving, at the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device; and

performing an action at the first device in response to the received indication.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving a squeeze of a housing of the first device.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving a squeeze of a certain duration at a housing of the first device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving a squeeze of a certain force at a housing of the first device.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving input via a touch screen of the first device

22. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving a touch of a housing of the first device.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a tactile or visual input at the first device includes receiving an indication of a rotation of a rotation component of a housing of the first device.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

charging a user associated with the first mobile device for the sent message.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein wirelessly sending, via the wireless network, the message from the first mobile device to the second mobile device associated with the second device includes:

reviewing historical information associated with communications between the first device and the second device; and

selecting the message to be sent based on the historical information.

26. A system for communicating non-voice based or non-text based messages from one device to another, the system comprising:

means for receiving tactile, manual, visual or image input at a first device associated with a first mobile device connected to a network;

means for transmitting an indication of the input via a wireless connection to the first mobile device;

means for sending, via the network, a message from the first mobile device to a second mobile device associated with a second device, wherein the message is associated with the received input.

means for receiving, at the first mobile device, a message from the second mobile device, wherein the message from the second mobile device is associated with an input received at the second device;

means for transmitting, from the first mobile device to the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device;

means for receiving, at the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device; and

means for performing an action at the first device in response to the received indication.

27. A system for facilitating communications between users, the system comprising:

a first communication device, wherein the first communication device includes;

a camera configured to take photographs;

a memory component configured to store one photograph taken by the camera or one photograph received by the first communication device;

a display component configured to display the one stored photograph; and

a communication component configured to only transmit the one photograph taken by the camera to a second communication device over a network; and

a second communication device, wherein the second communication device includes;

a camera configured to take photographs;

a memory component configured to store one photograph taken by the camera or one photograph received by the first communication device;

a display component configured to display the one stored photograph; and

a communication component configured to only transmit the one photograph taken by the camera to the first communication device over the network.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a database component within the network, wherein the database component is configured to store information associated with the photographs transmitted over the network.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a display component within the network, wherein the display component is configured to display the photographs in an order transmitted over the network.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the communication devices do not includes components that provide voice communications.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the first communication device includes:

an alert component, wherein the alert component is configured to perform an action in response to receiving a photograph from the second communication device.