Method and system for conducting communication between mobile devices

• US 8,391,719 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid, Hede, William S., Vannatta, Louis J., Schellinger, Michael W., Paitl, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sedighian, M. R.
• Application Number:
  US12/645,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 398/115, 398/118, 398/116, 398/121, 398/127, 398/128, 398/130, 398/132, 398/133, 398/135, 398/138, 398/140, 398/156, 398/169, 398/170, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/426.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/73, 455/74.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/151.2
• US Class Current: 398/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72505 Radio link set-up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for conducting communication between mobile devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of achieving communications between first and second mobile devices that are in proximity with one another includes transmitting a first signal from the first mobile device and receiving a first reflected signal at that mobile device, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object in proximity to that mobile device. The method also includes transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object, and receiving a confirmation signal from the second mobile device in response to the second signal. The method further includes achieving a paired relationship of the first mobile device relative to the second mobile device, whereby because of the paired relationship the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween.

Claims

1. A method of achieving communications between first and second mobile devices that are in proximity with one another, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting a first signal from the first mobile device;

(b) receiving a first reflected signal at the first mobile device, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object in proximity to the first mobile device;

(c) based upon receipt of the first reflected signal, transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object;

(d) receiving a confirmation signal from the second mobile device in response to the second signal;

(e) achieving a paired relationship of the first mobile device relative to the second mobile device, whereby because of the paired relationship the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween, and

(f) transmitting a third signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object, wherein the third signal is representative of data that is to be communicated from the first mobile device to the second mobile device,

wherein reflections of the first and second signals associated with (b) and (c) occur off of the object as the object is passing by the first and second mobile devices a first time, wherein a reflection of the third signal associated with (f) occurs off of the object as the object is passing by the first and second mobile devices a second time, and wherein each of the first, second, and third transmitted signals is an infrared signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a data file transfer path for sending one or more data files from the first mobile device based on at least one of data file size and an encoded instruction, wherein the third signal is in accordance with the determined data file transfer path and the data includes at least one of the one or more data files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third signals is modulated in accordance with an orthogonal code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the orthogonal code is a Hadamard code, and wherein the first mobile device is selected from a group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, and a computer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second signals is coded in a first manner that is orthogonal relative to a second manner of coding of the third signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is capable of detecting a number of object portions of the object within a set time interval, based upon at least one characteristic of at least one of the first reflected signal and one or more additional reflected signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the number of object portions detected is intended to convey at least one of:

a number of data files to be transferred, and a level of security encryption for data file transfer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to (d), transferring additional data between the first and second mobile devices using a radio access technology.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal includes a handshake code.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal includes a shared key.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to (d), transferring additional data from the first mobile device using at least one of WiFi, Bluetooth, or a cellular network.

12. A first mobile device for achieving communications with a second mobile device that is in proximity with the first mobile device, the first mobile device comprising:

an infrared transmitter capable of transmitting first and second signals from the first mobile device;

an infrared receiver capable of receiving a first reflected signal, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object; and

a processor coupled to the infrared transmitter and the infrared receiver and configured to determine, based upon the first reflected signal, if the object is in proximity to the first mobile device,

wherein the processor causes the infrared transmitter to transmit a second signal upon determining that the object is present in proximity to the first mobile device and wherein the second signal is configured to enable a paired relationship to be established between the first and second mobile devices via reflection off the object,

whereby, because of the paired relationship, the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween, and

wherein an additional signal transmitted under the control of the processor, the additional signal being transmitted either by the infrared transmitter for reflections by the object and receipt by the second mobile device, or by another transmitter for receipt by the second mobile dvice, wherein the additional signal includes data to be transferred from the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

13. The first mobile device of claim 12, wherein the additional signal is a third infrared signal, wherein the third infrared signal is coded in a manner that is orthogonal to at least one of the first and second signals.

14. The first mobile device of claim 12, wherein the infrared transmitter and the infrared receiver are within a pyramid-type sensing assembly of the first mobile device, wherein the pyramid-type sensing assembly has a plurality of photodiodes, and wherein based upon information provided from the pyramid-type sensing assembly, the first mobile device is capable of detecting directional movement of the object as the object passes by the first mobile device.

15. The first mobile device of claim 12, wherein, the first mobile device is selected from a group consisting of:

personal digital assistant, cellular telephone, smart phone, portable computer, portable video player, portable audio player, geopositioning device, navigation device, gaming console, television, kiosk, automated teller machine, vending machine, and automobile.

16. A second mobile device for achieving communications with a first mobile device that is in proximity with the second mobile device, the second mobile device comprising:

an infrared transmitter capable of sending first and second signals from the second mobile device;

an infrared receiver capable of receiving a first reflected signal, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object; and

a processor coupled to the infrared transmitter and the infrared receiver and configured to determine, based upon the first reflected signal, if the object is in proximity to the second mobile device,

wherein the infrared receiver is enabled to receive an additional signal originating from the first mobile device upon determining that the object is present in proximity to the second mobile device and

wherein the processor, upon receiving the additional signal, causes the infrared transmitter to transmit the second signal for receipt by the first mobile device via reflection by the object passing the second mobile device, the second signal confirming an acceptance by the second mobile device of a pairing offer represented by the additional signal,

whereby a paired relationship between the second and first mobile devices is established and, because of the paired relationship, the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween.

17. The second mobile device of claim 16, wherein a shared key is required for the additional communications, and at least one of the additional signal and a further signal received by the second mobile device includes the shared key.