Methods and apparatus for operating an ensemble of wireless electronic devices based on user activity

• US 7,689,167 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Choudhury, Tanzeem K., Philipose, Matthai, Schilit, William N., Sengupta, Uttam K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rego; Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US11/187,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/500, 455/515, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455/343.1, 455/343.5
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for operating an ensemble of wireless electronic devices based on user activity are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering a first wireless electronic device with a second wireless electronic device to form an ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

monitoring user activity associated with the first wireless electronic device of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

transmitting, by the first wireless electronic device, a probe message to the second wireless electronic device to determine whether the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

verifying, by the first wireless electronic device, based at least in part on an acknowledgement received by the first wireless electronic device from the second wireless electronic device in response to the probe message, that the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices; and

after said transmitting the probe message and said verifying, communicating user activity information based on an operating application associated with the first wireless electronic device from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device for enabling the second wireless electronic device to perform an action based on the user activity information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said monitoring the user activity associated with the first wireless electronic device comprises detecting at least one of a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said communicating the user activity information from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device comprises communicating at least one of information associated with a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or information associated with a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said communicating the user activity information from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device comprises communicating information to the second wireless electronic device to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising generating the user activity information at the first wireless electronic device based on user interaction with respect to the first wireless electronic device, wherein the user activity information comprises information to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the ensemble of wireless electronic devices comprises one or more of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a gaming device, a digital camera, a navigation device, a wireless peripheral, or a medical device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising registering a first wireless electronic device with a second wireless electronic device to form the ensemble of wireless electronic devices.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said registering the first wireless electronic device with the second wireless electronic device comprises:

transmitting, by the first wireless electronic device, an ensemble formation message to the second wireless electronic device; and

receiving, by the first wireless electronic device, a device registration message responsive at least in part to the ensemble formation message, from the second wireless electronic device.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first wireless electronic device, a request from the second wireless electronic device to transmit the user activity information;

wherein said communicating the user activity information is performed only after said receiving the request to transmit the user activity information.

10. An article of manufacture comprising:

a storage medium; and

a plurality of programming instructions stored on the storage medium and configured to program a computing device to;

registering a first wireless electronic device with a second wireless electronic device to form an ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

monitor user activity associated with the first wireless electronic device of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

transmit, by the first wireless electronic device, a probe message to the second wireless electronic device to determine whether the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

verify, by the first wireless electronic device, based at least in part on an acknowledgment received by the first wireless electronic device from the second wireless electronic device in response to the probe message, that the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices; and

after said transmitting the probe message and said verifying, communicate user activity information based on an operating application associated with the first wireless electronic device from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device for enabling the second wireless electronic device to perform an action based on the user activity information.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are configured to program a computing device to monitor the user activity associated with the first wireless electronic device by detecting at least one of a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are configured to program a computing device to communicate the user activity information from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device by communicating at least one of information associated with a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or information associated with a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are configured to program a computing device to communicate information to second wireless electronic device to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are configured to program a computing device to identify the operating application or a user interaction associated with the first wireless electronic device.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of programming instructions are configured to program a computing device to generate the user activity information at the first wireless electronic device based on user interaction with respect to the first wireless electronic device, and wherein the user activity information comprises information to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the ensemble of wireless electronic devices comprises one or more of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a gaming device, a digital camera, a navigation device, a wireless peripheral, or a medical device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a user activity monitor to monitor user activity associated with a first wireless electronic device of an ensemble of wireless electronic devices; and

a communication interface coupled to the user activity monitor to;

transmit, by the first wireless electronic device, a probe message to a second wireless electronic device to determine whether the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

verify, by the first wireless electronic device, based at least in part on an acknowledgement received by the first wireless electronic device from the second wireless electronic device in response to the probe message, that the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices; and

after said transmitting the probe message and said verifying, communicate user activity information based on an operating application associated with the first wireless electronic device from the first wireless electronic device to a second wireless electronic device of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices for enabling the second wireless electronic device to perform an action based on the user activity information.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the user activity monitor is configured to detect at least one of a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the user activity monitor is configured to generate the user activity information at the first wireless electronic device based on user interaction with respect to the first wireless electronic device, and wherein the user activity information comprises information to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the user activity monitor is configured to identify the operating application or a user interaction associated with the first wireless electronic device.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate at least one of information associated with a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or information associated with a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate the user activity information to the second wireless electronic device via at least one of a wireless link or a wired link.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising a user interface to receive user input at the first wireless electronic device, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of an alphanumeric keyboard, a number keypad, a touchpad, a track point, a mouse, a voice recognition system, a motion detection system, a fingerprint reader, a touch-sensitive screen, a light pen, a button, a knob, or a lever.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising a sensor to monitor user interaction with respect to the wireless electronic device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a tracking device.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is integrated into at least one of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a gaming device, a digital camera, a navigation device, a wireless peripheral, or a medical device.

26. A system comprising:

a flash memory; and

a processor coupled to the flash memory to;

registering a first wireless electronic device with a second wireless electronic device to form an ensemble of wireless electronic devices;

monitor user activity associated with the first wireless electronic device of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices,

transmit, by the first wireless electronic device, a probe message to the second wireless electronic device to determine whether the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices,

verify, by the first wireless electronic device, based at least in part on an acknowledgement received by the first wireless electronic device from the second wireless electronic device in response to the probe message, that the second wireless electronic device is still a part of the ensemble of wireless electronic devices, and

after said transmitting the probe message and said verifying, communicate user activity information based on an operating application associated with the first wireless electronic device from the first wireless electronic device to the second wireless electronic device for enabling the second wireless electronic device to perform an action based on the user activity information.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to detect at least one of a condition indicative of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device or a condition indicative of a lack of user interaction with the first wireless electronic device.

28. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to identify the operating application or a user interaction associated with the first wireless electronic device.

29. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to generate the user activity information based on user interaction with respect to the first wireless electronic device, and wherein the user activity information comprises information to control at least one of a power management application, a browser application, a processing application, a communication service application, an entertainment application, a security application, a maintenance application, or a user interface component of the second wireless electronic device.

30. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the flash memory is configured to store the user activity information, and wherein the user activity information comprises an operating application identifier and a user interaction identifier.