Dynamic interconnection of mobile devices

• US 7,817,991 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hinckley, Ken, Sarin, Raman
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, KUO-KONG
• Application Number:
  US11/511,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 455/416, 455/456.3, 455/41.3, 455/418, 370/338, 370/341, 370/347, 707/100, 345/1.1
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for connecting two wireless devices to share information is disclosed. To connect the wireless devices the users communicate to each other a desire to connect their devices. Following this communication the users electronically identify each device, initiate and propose the connection. Once the connection has been made the users are able to share information across the devices. Alternative embodiments provide the user with expedited methods to identify the wireless device, identify the information to share, or provide additional security in forming the connection.

Claims

1. A method of connecting at least two mobile devices together to enable the devices to share information across a wireless connection, the method comprising:

opening a wireless connection protocol on each of the at least two mobile devices;

proposing a shared wireless connection from a first one of the mobile devices to a second one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device having a first plurality of keys and the second mobile device having a second plurality of keys corresponding to the first plurality of keys, wherein proposing comprises;

pressing a first key sequence on the first mobile device, the first key sequence comprising the first plurality of keys pressed in a first order;

pressing a second key sequence on the second mobile device, the second key sequence comprising the second plurality of keys pressed in a second order;

determining whether the first order of the first key sequence pressed on the first mobile device is the same as the second order of the second key sequence pressed on the second mobile device and determining whether the first and second key sequences were pressed substantially simultaneously; and

determining whether to form the shared wireless connection, wherein the shared wireless connection is formed between the first and second mobile devices if the orders of the first and second key sequences are the same and the first and second key sequences were pressed substantially simultaneously; and

transferring information between the connected mobile devices through the wireless connection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring information comprises:

identifying the information on the mobile device to be shared;

pressing a key on one of the mobile devices; and

transferring the information associated with the key from the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, displaying on the receiving device an indication that information is to be received.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

accepting or rejecting the receipt of the indicated information;

if accepting the information, allowing the indicated information to be received; and

if rejecting the information, blocking the receipt of the indicated information.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the indicated information is displayed as a preview of the actual information to be received.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a display, on a display portion of the mobile device of a selection menu;

creating on the display a plurality of sections, each section related to information that can be shared across the connection; and

associating a key on the mobile device with each section in the plurality of sections, wherein each section has a different key.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein proposing the shared connection comprises:

displaying a list of devices that can be connected to;

selecting one of those devices to connect to; and

proposing the connection to that device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying comprises:

displaying the list of devices in a manner that allows a users of the device to determine the relative distance to each device.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying comprises:

displays the devices in a perspective view where closer devices are presented towards a bottom portion of the display and further devices are displayed towards a top portion of the display; and

wherein the devices displayed towards the top portion of the display appear further away from the screen than devices displayed towards the bottom portion of the display.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a display device;

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

at least one wireless radio; and

an application program that provides connectivity between the mobile device and a second mobile device when a given key on the keypad of the mobile device is simultaneously pressed with a corresponding given key on the second mobile device;

wherein the application program manages the connections between the mobile device and the second mobile device and promotes the transfer of information between the mobile device and the second mobile device by generating a display on the display device that allows a user to indicate a physical orientation of the second mobile device relative to the mobile device, wherein the user provides an input to the mobile device to indicate the physical orientation of the second mobile device relative to the mobile device; and

wherein the application program manages the connections to share an image across display portions of the mobile device and the second mobile device based on the user indication of the physical orientation of the second mobile device relative to the mobile device such that a portion of the image is displayed on the display portions of both mobile devices so that when the mobile devices are placed adjacent one another in the physical orientation indicated by the user of the mobile device, the image is displayed in its entirety.

11. The mobile device of claim 10 where the application program is configured to display on the display to a user a list of mobile devices to connect to.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the application program displays the list of devices by relative distance.

13. The mobile device of claim 10 wherein the application program displays a grid on the display where each sector of the grid represents a piece of information that can be transmitted.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein each sector of the grid corresponds to a key on the keypad.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the application program permits navigation through the grid through the use of a pointing device located on the mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the pointing device is a scroll wheel.

17. The mobile device of claim 10 wherein the application program is configured to allow a connection for a period of time.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein the connection is held open for as long as a key is pressed on the mobile device.