DYNAMIC DEVICE COLLABORATION

• US 20140237015A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bruins, Jay N., Soto Matamala, Leonardo A., Huang, Ronald K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/26 using dedicated tools for LAN [Local Area Network] management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Using various functionalities of electronic devices such as applications that gather location information to provide a service to the user can come at the cost of significant power consumption, and consequently battery drainage. A data sharing system enables the creation of a network of participant devices where participant devices in the network can take turns in collecting and sharing data with the rest of the participant devices in the network. The one or more participant devices can share the obtained data through Bluetooth® low energy (BTLE) or other low consumption channel, so that the ensemble of participant devices could have better battery life, higher availability, and/or better accuracy, compared to each device having to individually obtain the data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a device in a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices to be part of a local network for sharing one or more predetermined information items;

determining a sharing pattern for the local network, the sharing pattern designating the device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a first period of time, the sharing pattern further designating another device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items when a criteria is satisfied;

receiving, based on the sharing pattern, an indication to obtain the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time;

obtaining the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time; and

distributing the one or more predetermined information items to the other devices in the plurality of devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is satisfied when the first period of time is over or when a power level of the device has reached a threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharing pattern further designates the other device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a second period of time when the criteria is satisfied.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a sharing session for the plurality of devices using the local network, wherein the plurality of device communicate with each other via the local network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined information items includes at least one of a location, a weather condition, a frequency, or a time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharing pattern is determined based on at least one of a battery life of the plurality of devices, a network connectivity of the plurality of devices, or hardware capability of the plurality of devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the local network is a Bluetooth®

network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined information items is obtained on a periodic basis.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sharing the sharing pattern for the local network with the other devices in the plurality of devices; and

causing, based on the sharing pattern, the other device in the plurality of devices to obtain the one or more predetermined information items for the second period of time after the first period of time.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device including instructions to be executed, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

identify a plurality of devices to be part of a local network for sharing one or more predetermined information items;

determine a sharing pattern for the local network, the sharing pattern designating the device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a first period of time, the sharing pattern further designating another device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items when a criteria is satisfied;

receive, based on the sharing pattern, an indication to obtain the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time;

obtain the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time; and

distribute the one or more predetermined information items to the other devices in the plurality of devices.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the criteria is satisfied when the first period of time is over or when a power level of the device has reached a threshold.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the sharing pattern further designates the other device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a second period of time when the criteria is satisfied.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

create a sharing session for the plurality of devices using the local network, wherein the plurality of device communicate with each other via the local network.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one or more predetermined information items includes at least one of a location, a weather condition, a frequency, or a time.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the sharing pattern is determined based on at least one of a battery life of the plurality of devices, a network connectivity of the plurality of devices, or hardware capability of the plurality of devices.

16. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising:

identifying a plurality of devices to be part of a local network for sharing one or more predetermined information items;

determining a sharing pattern for the local network, the sharing pattern designating a device in the plurality of devices to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a first period of time, the sharing pattern further designating another device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items when a criteria is satisfied;

receiving, based on the sharing pattern, an indication to obtain the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time;

obtaining the one or more predetermined information items for the plurality of devices for the first period of time; and

distributing the one or more predetermined information items to the other devices in the plurality of devices.

17. The computer product of claim 16, wherein the criteria is satisfied when the first period of time is over or when a power level of the device has reached a threshold.

18. The computer product of claim 16, wherein the sharing pattern further designates the other device to obtain and share the one or more predetermined information items with other devices in the plurality of devices for a second period of time when the criteria is satisfied.

19. The computer product of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions further comprises:

creating a sharing session for the plurality of devices using the local network, wherein the plurality of device communicate with each other via the local network.

20. The computer product of claim 16, wherein the one or more predetermined information items includes at least one of a location, a weather condition, a frequency, or a time.