WEARABLE DEVICE MULTI-MODE SYSTEM

• US 20170140170A1
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrill, Daniel Lawrence, DiBona, Christopher James, Berlin, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,296,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed for detecting whether a wearable computing device is worn by a user or not. The detection can be made based on whether the device is secured to a user or based on a sensor. A device worn by a user may be operated in a private mode such that the user wearing the device is provided information that is useful while wearing the device. For example, the user may receive message notifications, news updates, telephone call information, or the like. A wearable computing device maybe operated in a public mode while not being worn by a user. While in the public mode, the device may provide non user specific information such as a current time, media items, or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting that a wearable computing device is worn by a user;

operating the wearable computing device in a private mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is worn by the user wherein the private mode provides at least a private data element that is not available when the wearable computing device is not in the private mode;

detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user; and

operating the wearable computing device in a public mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user wherein the public mode provides at least a public data element that is not secure and does not provide at least one data element based on an amount of battery power from a battery of the wearable computing device needed to provide the at least one data element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the private data element from an electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, and a hard drive.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wearable computing device does not provide the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the public mode by not requesting the at least one data element from the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wearable computing device requests the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the private mode.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the wearable computing device does not provide the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the public mode by blocking an alert for the at least one data element.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the wearable computing device is not within a threshold proximity to an electronic device; and

operating the wearable computing device in a public mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by a user and on detecting that the wearable computing device is not within a threshold proximity to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the wearable computing device is worn by a user further comprises detecting whether a securable portion of the wearable computing device is secured.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the wearable computing device in a public mode further comprises placing the wearable computing device in public mode configuration.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting an authentication element prior to operating the wearable computing device in a private mode;

receiving the authentication element; and

operating the wearable computing device in a private mode based on the authentication element.

12. A system comprising:

a wearable computing device;

the wearable computing device configured to;

detect that the wearable computing device is worn by a user;

operate in a private mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is worn by the user wherein the private mode provides at least a private data element that is not available when the wearable computing device is not in the private mode;

detect that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user; and

operate in a public mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user wherein the public mode provides at least a public data element that is not secure and does not provide at least one data element based on an amount of battery power from a battery of the wearable computing device needed to provide the at least one data element.

11. The method of claim 13 wherein the authentication element is selected from a group consisting of a pin code, a biometric attribute, and a gesture.

13. The system of claim 12 further configured to receive the private data element from an electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, and a hard drive.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wearable computing device does not provide the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the public mode by not requesting the at least one data element from the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wearable computing device requests the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the private mode.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the wearable computing device does not provide the at least one data element when the wearable computing device is operating in the public mode by blocking an alert for the at least one data element.

18. The system of claim 12 further configured to:

detect that the wearable computing device is not within a threshold proximity to an electronic device; and

operate the wearable computing device in a public mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by a user and on detecting that the wearable computing device is not within a threshold proximity to the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein detecting that the wearable computing device is worn by a user further comprises detecting whether a securable portion of the wearable computing device is secured.

20. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions which are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

detecting that a wearable computing device is worn by a user;

operating the wearable computing device in a private mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is worn by the user wherein the private mode provides at least a private data element that is not available when the wearable computing device is not in the private mode;

detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user; and

operating the wearable computing device in a public mode based on detecting that the wearable computing device is not worn by the user wherein the public mode provides at least a public data element that is not secure and does not provide at least one data element based on an amount of battery power from a battery of the wearable computing device needed to provide the at least one data element.