SWITCHING STATES BETWEEN TWO COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20120110187A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: HAWKINS, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,643 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A method for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device is provided. The method may be performed by the first computing device. An event is detected while a first application is operated on the first computing device. In response to detecting the event, data corresponding to the first application is automatically transmitted to the second computing device, and a second application is automatically initiated on the second computing device. The second application has a functionality that is equivalent to the functionality of the first application on the first computing device and utilizes the data transmitted from the first device in performing one or more operations.

Claims

1. A method for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device, the method being performed by one or more processors of the first computing device and comprising:

detecting an event while a first application is operated on the first computing device; and

in response to detecting an event, (i) automatically transmitting data for the first application to the second computing device, and (ii) automatically initiating a second application on the second computing device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application and that utilizes the data transmitted from the first device in performing one or more operations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data for the first application includes state information relating to a state of the first application at the time the event is detected.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second application on the second computing device is automatically initiated in a state corresponding to the state of the first application based on the state information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event corresponds to one or more user actions that signal a user'"'"'s intent to switch use of the first computing device to the second computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device have at least one different set of capabilities.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data of at least a first type includes account information of a user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to detecting the event, disabling the first computing device.

9. A computing device comprising:

a communication port;

one or more processors coupled to the communication port; and

a memory resource coupled to the one or more processors, the memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

detect an event while a first application is operated on the first computing device; and

in response to detecting an event, (i) automatically transmit data for the first application to the second computing device, and (ii) automatically initiate a second application on the second computing device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application and that utilizes the data transmitted from the first device in performing one or more operations.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the data for the first application includes state information relating to a state of the first application at the time the event is detected.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second application on the second computing device is automatically initiated in a state corresponding to the state of the first application based on the state information.

12. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the event corresponds to one or more user actions that signal a user'"'"'s intent to switch use of the first computing device to the second computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device have at least one different set of capabilities.

14. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the data of at least a first type includes account information of a user.

15. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.

16. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the memory resource stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, in response to detecting the event, disable the first computing device.

17. A system for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device, the system comprising:

a first computing device comprising;

a communication port;

one or more processors coupled to the communication port; and

a memory resource coupled to the one or more processors, the memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

detect an event while a first application is operated on the first computing device; and

in response to detecting an event, (i) automatically transmit data for the first application to the second computing device, and (ii) automatically initiate a second application on the second computing device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application and that utilizes the data transmitted from the first device in performing one or more operations.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data for the first application includes state information relating to a state of the first application at the time the event is detected.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second application on the second computing device is automatically initiated in a state corresponding to the state of the first application based on the state information.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.