Wireless Device with an Aggregate User Interface for Controlling Other Devices

• US 20130237156A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,621,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that make a determination that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one secondary wireless device, and determine an aggregate user interface on the wireless device based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device; and

determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device based on a determination that the first wireless device is in proximity to the at least one second wireless device.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to a second wireless device includes:

determining that at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device are connected to a wireless network.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the determining that at least one of the first wireless device or the second wireless device are connected to a wireless network includes:

determining that the first wireless device and the second wireless device are connected to a common wireless network.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to a second wireless device includes:

determining that the first wireless device and the second wireless device are within a threshold distance.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to a second wireless device includes:

determining a closure rate of the first wireless device with respect to the second wireless device.

45. The method of claim 1, determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to a second wireless device includes:

determining a physical contact between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

46. The method of claim 1, determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to a second wireless device includes:

detecting at least one signal transmitted directly between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device includes at least one of:

a cellular phone, personal digital assistant, a media player, a camera, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or a remote control.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first wireless device includes:

a cellular phone.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the first wireless device includes:

a remote control.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device includes at least one of:

an audio device, a video device, a vehicle, a banking device, a financial transaction device, a printer, a satellite receiver, a cable set-top box, a camera, a personal computer, a photo frame, a personal digital assistant, a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, a gaming system, or an environmental control system.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the environmental control system includes at least one of:

a heating system, an air conditioning system, or a refrigeration system.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device includes:

a non-wireless device operably coupled to at least one intermediary device configured for wireless communications.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the non-wireless device operably coupled to at least one intermediary device configured for wireless communications includes at least one of:

an audio device, a video device, a vehicle, a banking device, a financial transaction device, a printer, a satellite receiver, a cable set-top box, a camera, a personal computer, a photo frame, a personal digital assistant, a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, a gaming system, or an environmental control system.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

determining an aggregate graphical user interface on the first wireless device.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

displaying an aggregate user interface on a touch screen of the first wireless device.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

determining an aggregate user interface including at least one user interface element associated with the second wireless device on the first wireless device.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

determining an aggregate user interface including at least one user interface element associated with control of at least one operation of the second wireless device on the first wireless device.

58. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

determining an aggregate user interface including at least one user interface element associated with the first wireless device and at least one user interface element associated with the second wireless device on the first wireless device.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

determining an aggregate user interface including at least one user interface element associated with the second wireless device and at least one user interface element associated with at least a third wireless device on the first wireless device.

60. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device;

receiving at least one input associated with the aggregate user interface; and

controlling the second wireless device in response to the at least one input associated with the aggregate user interface.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

displaying an aggregate user interface on a touch screen of the first wireless device.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the controlling the second wireless device in response to the at least one input associated with the aggregate user interface includes:

controlling at least one of;

a power status of the second wireless device, a volume of the second wireless device, a channel of the second wireless device, a media file playback status of the second wireless device, a recording status of the second wireless device, a file download operation of the second wireless device.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to a relative proximity of the second wireless device and a third wireless device.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to a relative proximity of the second wireless device and a third wireless device:

configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device to display an indication of whether the second wireless device or the third wireless device is closer.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to a relative proximity of the second wireless device and a third wireless device:

configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device to display an user interface element associated with the second wireless device more prominently than a user interface element associated with the third wireless device.

66. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

updating the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one input.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the updating the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one input includes:

configuring the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one of;

at least one actuation of a button of the first wireless device, at least one gesture associated with the first wireless device, or at least one tilting of the first wireless device.

68. The method of claim 60, wherein the displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to a capability of one or more wireless devices.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein the displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to an ownership of one or more wireless devices.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein the displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device includes:

displaying the aggregate user interface on the first wireless device according to a history of use of one or more wireless devices.

2-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing

one or more instructions for;

determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one secondary wireless device; and

determining an aggregate user interface on the first wireless device based on a determination that the first wireless device is in proximity to the at least one second wireless device.

35-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that, when executed on the computing device, configure the computing device for;

determining that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one secondary wireless device, and

determining an aggregate user interface on the wireless device based on a determination that the first wireless device is in proximity to the at least one second wireless device.

39-40. -40. (canceled)