Methods And Systems For Service Transfer

• US 20150327213A1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hertz, Richard, Scott, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 9,584,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods and systems for service transfer are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a service at a first/current user device, detecting a movement of the first user device, determining a direction of the movement, and requesting the service be provided to a second/target user device in the direction of the movement. Service can be a communication session, network access, video service, audio service, short message service, multimedia message service, and the like. The movement of a user device can be detected by one or more sensors implemented in the user device. For example, to enable a service transfer, a user can point the first user device to a second user device. The pointing can be achieved, for example, by moving the first user device to the direction of the second user device at certain speed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a service at a first device;

detecting a movement of the first device at the first device;

determining a direction of the movement; and

requesting the service be provided to a second device associated with the direction of the movement of the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is one or more of:

a communication session, network access, video service, audio service, short message service, multimedia message service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a movement of the first device comprises receiving a signal from one or more of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, a compass.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a direction of the movement comprises receiving a signal from one or more of a magnetometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a radio transceiver, a global positioning system, a compass.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the service be provided to a second device in the direction of the movement comprises providing the direction of the movement.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the second device that is in the direction of the movement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein requesting the service be provided to a second device in the direction of the movement comprises identifying the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the movement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein requesting the service be provided to a second device in the direction of the movement comprises providing the speed of the movement.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the second device based on the direction of the movement and the speed of the movement.

11. A method comprising:

providing a service to a first device;

receiving a request from the first device to provide the service to a second device;

receiving data representing a direction of movement of the first device relative to the second device;

identifying the second device; and

providing the service to the second device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the service is one or more of:

a communication session, network access, video service, audio service, short message service, multimedia message service.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a speed of a movement of the first device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the second device comprises determining the second device based on the direction and the speed of the movement.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the second device comprises:

receiving registration information for the first device and the second device;

updating registration information for the first device and the second device to reflect a change in a position of the first device and the second device; and

accessing the registration information to determine the second device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the second device comprises:

determining a relative signal strength indicator for each of a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises the first device and the second device; and

utilizing the relative signal strength indicator of the second device to identify the second device.

17. A method comprising:

transmitting a request from a first device to provide a service to one of a plurality of second devices;

receiving data representing a direction of movement of the first device relative to the plurality of second devices;

identifying the one of the plurality of second devices based on the received data; and

providing the service to the identified one of the plurality of second devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the service is one or more of:

a communication session, network access, video service, audio service, short message service, multimedia message service.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the one of the plurality of second devices based on the received data comprises:

updating registration information for the first device and the plurality of second devices to reflect a change in a position of the first device and each of the plurality of second devices; and

identifying the one of the plurality of second devices via accessing the updated registration information.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the one of the plurality of second devices comprises:

determining a relative signal strength indicator for the first device and each of a plurality of second devices; and

comparing the relative signal strength indicator of the first device and each of the plurality of second devices to identify the second device.