Device with multidirectional control for selecting actions to perform on a telecommunication device

• US 8,160,565 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wang, Winston, Valalik, Jason W., Mann, Jonathan L., Ewing, Richard Alan Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US12/788,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/66.1, 700/61, 327/100
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

An electronic device and a telecommunication device that are locally connected and methods of utilizing those devices are described herein. The electronic device detects a pattern or duration of user interactions with a multidirectional control of the electronic device. Based on the pattern or duration and association data mapping patterns or durations to commands, the electronic device selects a command and then transmits the command to the telecommunication device. The telecommunication device enables a user to associate actions to be performed by the telecommunication device with patterns or durations of user interaction with the multidirectional control. Also, the telecommunication device receives a signal from the electronic device that is recognized as a command to perform an action, the recognition being based on association data mapping the signal to a pattern or duration of user interaction. The telecommunication device then performs the action.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an electronic device, at least one of a pattern or duration of user interactions with a multidirectional control of the electronic device;

selecting, by the electronic device, a command to transmit to a telecommunication device based at least on the detected pattern or duration and on association data mapping patterns or durations of user interactions to commands; and

transmitting, by the electronic device, the command to the telecommunication device via a local connection between the electronic device and the telecommunication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of user interactions includes at least one of a linear movement, an amount of linear movement, a sequence of linear movements, a circular movement, an amount of circular movement, a sequence of circular movements, or any sequence of movements of the multidirectional control in any order.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an additional user interaction with the electronic device and determining a mode of the electronic device based on the additional user interaction, the electronic device having a plurality of modes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a same pattern or duration of user interaction is associated with multiple commands, each command associated with a combination of a pattern or duration of user interaction and a mode.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the mode is associated with a group of commands or a telecommunication device application or feature.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a result of the command from the telecommunication device and providing haptic, visual, or auditory feedback to a user of the electronic device to indicate the result of the command.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting an indication of a selected mode of the electronic device or an identifier of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data stored on the electronic device to the telecommunication device in response to user interaction with the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is a signal interpreted by the telecommunication device based on one or more of a telecommunication device context, an electronic device mode, or an electronic device identifier.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a physical control coupled to the housing that is moveable with respect to the housing in a plurality of directions;

a processing unit contained by the housing; and

a plurality of executable instructions configured to be operated by the processing unit to perform operations including;

detecting user interaction with the physical control;

selecting a command to transmit to a telecommunication device based on the user interaction and on a selected mode of the electronic device, the electronic device having a plurality of modes each associated with a plurality of commands; and

transmitting the selected command to the telecommunication device via a personal area network connection between the electronic device and the telecommunication device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is one of a watch, a key fob, a necklace pendant, a head set, glasses, a brooch, or a belt buckle.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the control is one of a watch face, a pendant stone, or a decorative attachment.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is specific to an application of the telecommunication device.

14. A method comprising:

enabling, by a telecommunication device, a user to associate actions to be performed by the telecommunication device with patterns or durations of user interaction with a control of an electronic device that is separate and distinct from the telecommunication device;

receiving, by the telecommunication device, a signal from the electronic device that is recognized as a command to perform an action, the recognition being based on association data mapping the signal to a pattern or duration of user interaction with the control, the pattern or duration being associated with the action; and

performing, by the telecommunication device, the action.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the action is one of answering a voice call, initiating a voice call with a contact, accepting a calendar appointment, rejecting a calendar appointment, playing telecommunication device content, pausing telecommunication device content, stopping playing of telecommunication device content, fast-forwarding telecommunication device content, or rewinding telecommunication device content.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the association data to the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is associated with multiple commands and the command is further recognized based on at least one of a telecommunication device context, an electronic device mode, or an electronic device identifier.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving multiple signals from multiple electronic devices, each electronic device associated with an application or feature of the telecommunication device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the enabling includes providing a user interface associated with one of a telecommunication device platform or a telecommunication device application.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating with a server to identify an unknown signal received from the electronic device.