USE OF VISIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN DEVICES TO REPRESENT CONNECTIONS AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE DEVICES

• US 20140363168A1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US13/659,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conveying using a visual representation extending between an electronic device and a target device, information relating to a wireless connection established between the electronic device and a target device. The visual representation may be setup and/or configured based on a determination of the location and/or position of the target device relative to the electronic device. The visual representation may comprise a visual light or laser beam, which may be emitted by a light or laser source in the electronic device, and may be projected at the target device. The conveying of information may comprise color adjustment of the visual representation based on information being conveyed. The conveyed information may relate to the status of the wireless connection and/or the transfer of data over the wireless connection. The electronic device may comprise a handheld mobile communication device, such as, for example, a smartphone or a tablet.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the electronic device and a target device;

determining a location of the electronic device based on a GPS location of the electronic device;

determining a location of the target device relative to the location of the electronic device;

configuring a visible light beam, separate from the wireless connection, based on the determined location of the target device, wherein the configuring comprises controlling directionality of the visible light beam, which comprises a narrow and directional light beam, such that the visible light beam projects from the electronic device towards the target device, wherein the visible light beam comprises a first color indicating that the wireless connection for transferring data, the wireless connection being separate from the visible light beam, is established between the electronic device and the target device;

conveying, via the visible light beam, information relating to the wireless connection or information relating to communication of data over the wireless connection; and

transferring data between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection, wherein a color of the visible light beam is adjusted from the first color to a second color indicating that data is currently being transferred between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection that is separate from the visible light beam;

wherein the directionality of the visible light beam is adjusted based on movement of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the color of the visible light beam is adjusted from the second color to the first color after data transfer between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection is complete or ceased.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the location of the target device relative to the electronic device based on determination of location of each of the electronic device and the target device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising interacting with the target device via the visible light beam.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising interacting with the target device via the visible light beam by adjusting characteristics of the visible light beam.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting characteristics of the visible light beam comprises modifying projection position of the visible light beam on the target device.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the target device relative to the electronic device is determined by comparing an independently determined location of the electronic device to an independently determined location of the target device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic device and the target device each include components for determining absolute positions of the electronic device and the target device.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the narrow and directional light beam comprises a laser beam.

3. (canceled)

8. A method in an electronic device, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the electronic device and a target device;

configuring an external visual representation, which comprises a narrow and directional light beam, such that the external visual representation projects from the electronic device towards the target device, wherein the external visual representation comprises a first color indicating that the wireless connection for transferring data, the wireless connection being separate from the external visual representation, is established between the electronic device and the target device;

conveying, via the external visual representation extending between the electronic device and a target device, information relating to the wireless connection established between the electronic device and the target device; and

transferring data between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection, wherein a color of the external visual representation is adjusted from the first color to a second color indicating that data is currently being transferred between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection, wherein the external visual representation is separate from the wireless connection, and wherein the directionality of the visible light beam is adjusted based on movement of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the color of the external visual representation is adjusted from the second color to the first color after data transfer between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection is complete or ceased.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the visual representation comprises a visible light beam or a laser beam.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising interacting with the target device via the visual representation.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising interacting with the target device via the visual representation by adjusting characteristics or parameters associated with the visual representation.

32. The method of claim 8, wherein the narrow and directional light beam comprises a laser beam.

10. (canceled)

14. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one light emitter;

at least one wireless front-end module;

at least one processor; and

a memory containing executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the electronic device to perform a method for controlling display functions in the electronic device, the method comprising;

establishing via the at least one wireless front-end module, a wireless connection between the electronic device and a target device;

determining a location of the electronic device based on a GPS location of the electronic device;

determining a location of the target device relative to the location of the electronic device;

configuring the at least one light emitter to emit a visible light beam based on the determined location of the target device, wherein the configuring comprises controlling directionality of the visible light beam, which comprises a narrow and directional light beam, such that the visible light beam projects from the electronic device towards the target device,

wherein the visible light beam comprises a first color indicating that the wireless connection for transferring data, the wireless connection being separate from the visible light beam, is established between the electronic device and the target device;

conveying, via the visible light beam and separate from the wireless connection, information relating to the established wireless connection or information relating to communication of data over the wireless connection; and

causing the at least one wireless front-end module to transfer data between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection, wherein a color of the visible light beam is adjusted from the first color to a second color indicating that data is currently being transferred between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection that is separate from the visible light beam;

wherein the directionality of the visible light beam is adjusted based on movement of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the color of the visible light beam is adjusted from the second color to the first color after data transfer between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection is complete or ceased.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the method comprises determining the location of the target device relative to the electronic device based on a determination of location of each of the electronic device and the target device.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the method comprises interacting with the target device via the visible light beam.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein interacting with the target device via the visible light beam comprises adjusting characteristics of the visible light beam.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein adjusting characteristics of the visible light beam comprises modifying projection position of the visible light beam on the target device.

29. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the location of the target device relative to the electronic device is determined by comparing an independently determined location of the electronic device to an independently determined location of the target device.

30. The electronic device of claim 29, wherein the electronic device and the target device each include components for determining absolute positions of the electronic device and the target device.

33. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the narrow and directional light beam comprises a laser beam.

16. (canceled)

21. A system, comprising:

a target device; and

an electronic device configured to;

control directionality of an external visual representation, which comprises a narrow and directional light beam, such that the external visual representation projects from the electronic device towards the target device, wherein the external visual representation comprises a first color indicating that a wireless connection for transferring data, the wireless connection being separate from the external visual representation, is established between the electronic device and the target device;

convey, via the external visual representation extending between the electronic device and a target device, information relating to a wireless connection established between the electronic device and the target device; and

transfer data between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection established between the electronic device and the target device, wherein the color of the external visual representation is adjusted from the first color to a second color indicating that data is currently being transferred between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection, wherein the external visual representation is separate from the wireless connection, and wherein the directionality of the visible light beam is adjusted based on movement of the electronic device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the color of the external visual representation is adjusted from the second color to the first color after data transfer between the electronic device and the target device using the wireless connection is complete or ceased.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic device is configured to convey the information relating to the wireless connection based on color adjustment in the visual representation.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the visual representation comprise a visible light beam or a laser beam.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic device is configured to interact with the target device via the visual representation.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein interacting with the target device via the visual representation comprises adjusting characteristics or parameters associated with the visual representation.