Motion Triggered Data Transfer

• US 20130082818A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hodges, Stephen E., Butler, David Alexander, Izadi, Shahram
• Application Number:
  US13/679,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.31
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243

Abstract

Methods of controlling the transfer of data between devices are described in which the manner of control is determined by a movement experienced by at least one of the devices. The method involves detecting a triggering movement and determining a characteristic of this movement. The transfer of data is then controlled based on the characteristic which has been identified.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a triggering motion event applied to a device;

determining a characteristic of the triggering motion event from a plurality of triggering motion event characteristics, wherein the plurality of triggering motion event characteristics includes one or more bumps near at least one other device;

selecting a type of data to be transferred based on the determined triggering motion event characteristic;

selecting a direction of data flow based on the determined triggering motion event by determining whether the device transmits data to the at least one other device or whether the at least one other device transmits data to the device; and

controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device according to the type of data to be transferred and the direction of data flow.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device includes:

accessing a mapping between the determined triggering motion event characteristic and a control parameter; and

controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device according to the control parameter.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the control parameter comprises at least one of a data rate or rules defining a relationship between the device and the at least one other device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of triggering motion event characteristics further includes at least one of:

an orientation of the device during the triggering motion event, a direction of the triggering motion event, or a magnitude of the triggering motion event.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the triggering motion event comprises an impact and the characteristic of the triggering motion event comprises at least one of:

a magnitude of the impact, an orientation of the device at the impact, or a location of the impact on the device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device includes initiating transfer of data to the at least one other device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the device and the at least one other device; and

transferring the data between the device and the at least one other device over the communication link.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting the triggering motion event, changing an aspect of operation of the device to assist in identification of the device by the at least one other device.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a characteristic of the triggering motion event comprises:

accessing data relating to the triggering motion event applied to the device;

receiving data relating to the triggering motion event from the at least one other device; and

analyzing the data applied to the device and the data received from the at least one other device to determine the characteristic of the triggering motion event.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of triggering motion event characteristics further includes a predetermined location on the device of an impact with the at least one other device.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the determined triggering motion event characteristic comprises a location of an impact with the at least one other device; and

selecting a type of data to be transferred based on the determined triggering motion event characteristic comprises;

selecting a first type of data to be transferred if the location of impact comprises a first location of impact; and

selecting a second type of data to be transferred if the location of impact comprises a second location of impact different from the first location.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the bump is determined based on accelerometer data that indicates acceleration followed by rapid deceleration of the device.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the bump is determined based on accelerometer data that indicates a rapid acceleration.

15. One or more device-readable storage memories, storing device-executable instructions for data transfer that, when executed, configure a processor to perform acts comprising:

detecting a triggering motion event applied to a device;

determining a characteristic of the triggering motion event from a plurality of triggering motion event characteristics, wherein the plurality of triggering motion event characteristics includes one or more bumps near at least one other device;

selecting a type of data to be transferred based on the determined triggering motion event characteristic;

selecting a direction of data flow based on the determined triggering motion event by determining whether the device transmits data to the at least one other device or whether the at least one other device transmits data to the device; and

controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device according to the type of data to be transferred and the direction of data flow.

16. The one or more device-readable storage memories of claim 15, wherein controlling transfer of data between the device and the at least one other device further comprises:

accessing a mapping between the determined triggering motion event characteristic and a control parameter; and

controlling transfer of data between the device and at least one other device according to the control parameter.

17. A device comprising:

at least one sensor;

a data transfer component;

a motion detection and analysis component arranged to detect a triggering motion, to determine a characteristic of the triggering motion, and to control transfer of data by the data transfer component based on the determined characteristic; and

memory storing a plurality of mappings, each mapping being between at least one of a plurality of candidate characteristics and at least one of a plurality of control parameters.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the data transfer component comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

19. A device according to claim 17 wherein the motion detection and analysis component comprises a processor.

20. A device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one sensor comprises one of:

a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a microphone, a light sensor, a vibration detector, a camera, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, a switch and a magnetic sensor.