Method of device selection using sensory input and portable electronic device configured for same

• US 8,352,639 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Dods, Jeffrey Alton Hugh, Almalki, Nazih, Simmons, Sean Bartholomew, Boucher, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Titus
• Application Number:
  US13/102,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20120284427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 710/3
• US Class Current: 710/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of device selection using sensory input and portable electronic device configured for same. In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a method for use in a portable electronic device for selecting a peripheral device for connection with the portable electronic device, comprising: measuring a magnetic field within the vicinity of the portable electronic device; determining a relative location of at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with magnetic fields uniquely associated with the at least two available peripheral devices; selecting a peripheral device from the at least two available peripheral devices in accordance with the measured magnetic field; and connecting the portable electronic device to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communications path.

Claims

1. A method for use in a portable electronic device for selecting a peripheral device for connection with the portable electronic device, comprising:

measuring magnetic fields within the vicinity of the portable electronic device;

identifying at least two peripheral devices in accordance with measured magnetic fields and one or more distinct characteristics of a magnetic field generated by each of the at least two peripheral devices which uniquely identify each of the at least two peripheral devices;

determining a relative location of the at least two peripheral devices in accordance with a magnetic flux density of the measured magnetic fields and a relationship between magnetic flux density and relative location;

receiving a selection input;

identifying the peripheral device from the at least two peripheral devices in accordance with the selection input;

selecting the identified peripheral device; and

connecting the portable electronic device to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communications path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection input is a received gesture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection input is a directional input.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the identifying comprises:

comparing the directional input with the relative locations of the at least two available peripheral devices;

determining which of the at least two available peripheral devices has a relative location nearest to a direction of the directional input; and

selecting the peripheral device having a relative location nearest to the direction of the directional input.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the directional input is a touch gesture detected by a touch-sensitive display.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the directional input is a motion gesture.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending requests to one or more peripheral devices in response to receiving input to connect to a peripheral device or switch the peripheral device which the portable electronic device is connected to;

receiving responses from the at least two peripheral devices, wherein the responses include identifying information concerning the at least two peripheral devices.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating on the at least two peripheral devices a magnetic field having one or more distinct characteristics which are uniquely associated with a particular peripheral device in response to receiving the request.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the requests are only sent to peripheral devices for which a profile is stored in a memory of the portable electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two peripheral devices generate a time varying magnetic field which provides a distinct magnetic signature which provides the one or more distinct characteristics of a magnetic field generated by each of the at least two peripheral devices.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication path is a BLUETOOTH communication path.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the time varying magnetic field has a characteristic period, offset and/or amplitude.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the time varying magnetic field has a characteristic waveform type.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the time varying magnetic field is a sinusoidal wave, square wave, triangular wave, saw tooth wave or pulse wave.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the time varying magnetic field has a characteristic period, offset and/or amplitude.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a magnetic sensor coupled to the processor for detecting magnetic fields within the vicinity of the electronic device;

a wireless communication subsystem coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured for;

measuring magnetic fields within the vicinity of the portable electronic device;

identifying at least two peripheral devices in accordance with measured magnetic fields and one or more distinct characteristics of a magnetic field generated by each of the at least two peripheral devices which uniquely identify each of the at least two peripheral devices;

determining a relative location of the at least two peripheral devices in accordance with a magnetic flux density of the measured magnetic fields and a relationship between magnetic flux density and relative location;

detecting a touch gesture on a touch-sensitive display;

comparing a direction of the touch gesture with the relative locations of the at least two available peripheral devices;

determining which of the at least two available peripheral devices has a relative location nearest to the direction of the touch gesture;

selecting the peripheral device having a relative location nearest to the direction of the touch gesture; and

connecting to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communication path.

17. A method for use in a portable electronic device for selecting a peripheral device for connection with the portable electronic device, comprising:

measuring magnetic fields within the vicinity of the portable electronic device;

identifying at least two peripheral devices in accordance with measured magnetic fields and one or more distinct characteristics of a magnetic field generated by each of the at least two peripheral devices which uniquely identify each of the at least two peripheral devices;

determining a relative location of the at least two peripheral devices in accordance with a magnetic flux density of the measured magnetic fields and a relationship between magnetic flux density and relative location;

detecting a touch gesture on a touch-sensitive display;

comparing a direction of the touch gesture with the relative locations of the at least two peripheral devices;

determining which of the at least two peripheral devices has a relative location nearest to the direction of the touch gesture;

selecting the peripheral device having a relative location nearest to the direction of the touch gesture; and

connecting the portable electronic device to the selected peripheral device using a wireless communications path.