AD-HOC CONNECTION BETWEEN ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140101558A1
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pohja, Seppo, Hietasarka, Juha, Hussmann, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 9,794,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of creating an ad-hoc connection between two electronic devices. In order to enable a particularly user-friendly creation of such a connection, it is proposed that a first device detects a hugging state between the first device and a second device, in which the first device and the second device are in close vicinity and a piece of information is received at the first device directly from the second device. In case a hugging state is detected, a handle is obtained proceeding from the received piece of information. The handle comprises an address of some device other than the first device. Finally, a communication channel is established between the first device and the other device using the address included in the handle. The invention relates equally to a corresponding device, to an expandable framework for such a device, and to a corresponding software program product.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a user interface;

an RFID communication portion configured to detect a mobile device in close proximity to the apparatus, while a particular application of the apparatus is currently selected as a foreground application to receive user input via the user interface; and

a link creation portion configured to cause establishment of a communication channel with the mobile device detected via the RFID communication portion, and configured to notify the foreground application about the established communication channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is configured to enable transfer of one or more files associated with the foreground application selected by a user of the apparatus via the user interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the one or more selected files associated with the foreground application to the detected mobile device via the established communication channel in response to receiving a user input via the user interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising terminating said established communication channel in response to at least one of cease of interaction between the apparatus and the detected mobile device, and receipt of communication channel termination from the foreground application.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™

communication channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the communication channel comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operating system configured to control operation of the apparatus, wherein the operating system is configured to register the particular application as the foreground application to receive user input via the user interface.

8. A method comprising:

detecting, by an apparatus, a mobile device in close proximity to the apparatus, while a particular application of the apparatus is currently selected as a foreground application to receive user input via a user interface;

causing, by the apparatus, establishment of a communication channel with the mobile device detected via the RFID communication portion; and

notifying, by the apparatus, the foreground application about the established communication channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication channel is configured to enable transfer of one or more files associated with the foreground application selected by a user of the apparatus via the user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the one or more selected files associated with the foreground application to the detected mobile device via the established communication channel in response to receiving a user input via the user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising terminating said established communication channel in response to at least one of cease of interaction between the apparatus and the detected mobile device, and receipt of communication channel termination from the foreground application.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™

communication channel.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication channel.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling, by an operating system of the apparatus, operation of the apparatus, and registering, by the operating system, the particular application as the foreground application to receive user input via the user interface.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, which when executed by a processor causes an apparatus to perform:

detecting a mobile device in close proximity to the apparatus, while a particular application of the apparatus is currently selected as a foreground application to receive user input via a user interface;

causing establishment of a communication channel with the mobile device detected via the RFID communication portion; and

notifying the foreground application about the established communication channel.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the communication channel is configured to enable transfer of one or more files associated with the foreground application selected by a user of the apparatus via the user interface.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer executable program code, when executed by a processor, further causes the apparatus to perform:

transmitting the one or more selected files associated with the foreground application to the detected mobile device via the established communication channel in response to receiving a user input via the user interface.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer executable program code, when executed by a processor, further causes the apparatus to perform:

terminating said established communication channel in response to at least one of cease of interaction between the apparatus and the detected mobile device, and receipt of communication channel termination from the foreground application.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the communication channel comprises a Bluetooth™

communication channel.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the communication channel comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication channel.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer executable program code, when executed by a processor, further causes the apparatus to perform:

registering the particular application as the foreground application to receive user input via the user interface.