Method and apparatus for synchronizing device information

• US 6,874,037 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc., Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gudorf, Gregory D., Tobin, Christopher M., Raymond, Brian, Iso, Kazuaki, Beckwitt, Marc, Abram, Philip Michael, Siegel, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/596,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/201, 709/246, 701/29, 370/332, 370/401, 370/503, 370/216, 370/347, 375/340, 375/503, 375/354, 340/539, 340/636, 340/7.23, 340/825, 342/174, 342/29, 342/357, 320/115, 707/203, 707/10, 713/500, 455/456, 455/517, 455/419, 455/436
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/007 detection of error based on maximum signal power, e.g. peak value, maximizing autocorrelation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation

Abstract

Two electronic devices automatically perform a synchronization session when one of the electronic devices is brought in proximity to the other electronic device. The synchronization session is initiated without user intervention based simply on the fact that the two devices have recently been brought within a predetermined distance of each other. The two electronic devices communicate in a wireless manner. The two devices may determine that they are within a predetermined distance of each other using global positioning technology, via which one of the devices determines its own position and compares it to a known position of the other electronic device. Alternatively, one of the electronic devices may output a low level signal that can be received by the other electronic device when within a certain range. Once the low level signal is received, the recipient of the low level signal outputs a stronger signal to ensure that it is received by the other electronic device requesting a synchronization session, which once established enables synchronization of information between the two devices.

Claims

1. A method for automatically synchronizing a first electronic device with a second electronic device comprising:

detecting automatically a proximity of the first electronic device relative to the second electronic device;

wherein said step of detecting includes determining a position of a first electronic device and comparing the position to a known position of the second electronic device;

updating automatically information in the second electronic device with information in the first electronic device;

wherein if the position of the first electronic device lies within a predetermined distance of the known position of the second electronic device then initiating a synchronization communications session, during which said step of updating is performed; and

preventing synchronization if a predetermined time period has not expired since the last synchronization session.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the second electronic device is authorized to receive information from the first electronic device prior to performing the step of updating.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of detecting further comprises:

transmitting a low level signal from one of the electronic devices; and

detecting the low level signal with the other of the electronic devices.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of detecting further comprises transmitting a synchronization session initiation signal in response to said detecting the low level signal.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the synchronization session initiation signal, and

transmitting a signal including synchronization information in response to the receipt of the synchronization session initiation signal, said signal including synchronization information having a higher signal level than said low level signal.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting the low level signal includes transmitting the low level signal on a predetermined periodic basis.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting the low level signal includes transmitting the low level signal from the one of the electronic devices that is coupled to an AC power source.

8. An apparatus for enabling synchronization of information between a first electronic device in which the apparatus is disposed and a second electronic device comprising:

a location detector determining a position of the first electronic, wherein said step of detecting includes determining a position of a first electronic device and comparing the position to a known position of the second electronic device;

a processor coupled to the location detector and comparing the position of the first electronic device relative to a position of the second electronic device;

wherein if the position of the first electronic device lies within a predetermined distance of the known position of the second electronic device then initiating a synchronization communications session, during a step of updating is performed; and

a transceiver coupled to the processor and initiating a wireless communications session with the second electronic device said transceiver transmitting synchronization information between said first and second electronic devices during the wireless communications session and preventing synchronization if a predetermined time period has not expired since the last synchronization session.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transceiver comprises a bluetooth compatible transceiver.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transceiver determines whether the second electronic device is authorized to receive information from the first electronic device as part of the wireless communications session.