Mixed use multi-device interoperability

• US 8,803,817 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Froment, Arnaud, Kim, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US12/715,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 715/700
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers

Abstract

An electronic book reader device leverages a secondary device via an ad hoc network connection to enhance user experience as the user is consuming content on the electronic book reader device. In particular, the secondary device may be equipped with a touch screen and notepad functionality, which may be leveraged to receive user input with respect to content being presented on the electronic book reader device. The user input may take any number of forms, including freeform entry of information (e.g., read notes), control commands, highlights, and so forth.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with executable instructions,

presenting a portion of a media item on the electronic book reader device;

establishing a connection with a secondary notepad device, the secondary notepad device being independent of, but communicatively coupled to, the electronic book reader device and being configured with a touch responsive display;

synchronizing a location within the media item with the secondary notepad device to allow the secondary notepad device to execute one or more operations respective of the portion of the media item being displayed on the electronic book reader device, the one or more operations relating to one or more non-text components of the electronic book that are associated with, and that are different from, the portion of the media item and that are presented via the touch responsive display of the secondary notepad device; and

receiving, from the secondary notepad device, user input that is entered via the touch responsive display of the secondary notepad device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the media item comprises an electronic book.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the establishing comprises establishing a connection over an ad hoc network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations to be executed by the secondary device comprise any one or more of:

receipt of freeform entry;

presentation of questions and receipt of user response to the questions;

receipt of user selection of control functions to control operation of the electronic book reader device;

annotate a selection of the media item presented on the electronic book reader device; and

highlight a section of the media item presented on the electronic book reader device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secondary notepad device is embodied as a second electronic book reader device configured with the touch responsive screen.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secondary notepad device comprises one of a tablet computer, a PDA, or a multi-function communication device.

7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

rendering a portion of an electronic book on an electronic book reader device; and

utilizing a secondary electronic device independent of, but communicatively coupled to, the electronic book reader device to receive user input pertaining to the portion of the electronic book rendered on the electronic book reader device, the secondary electronic device being configured with a touch responsive display to receive the user input, and the user input being associated with one or more non-text components of the electronic book.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the secondary electronic device is communicatively coupled to the electronic book reader device via an ad hoc network link.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises freeform entry using the touch responsive display of the secondary electronic device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises an annotation to the portion of the electronic book being rendered on the electronic book reader device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises a highlight of the portion of the electronic book being rendered on the electronic book reader device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the secondary electronic device is further configured to receive other forms of user input, the other forms of user input comprising at least one of an interaction with an audio clip, an image, or a video clip stored on the secondary electronic device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing, to the secondary electronic device, one or more questions pertaining to the electronic book being rendered on the electronic book reader device;

presenting the one or more questions on the touch responsive display; and

receiving user responses to the questions entered using the touch responsive display.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

directing the secondary electronic device to present one or more control functions, for controlling the electronic book reader device, on the touch responsive display;

receiving user selection of a control function; and

executing the control function selected by the user on the electronic book reader device.

15. A handheld electronic book reading device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible by the processor;

a display;

an electronic book application stored in the memory and executable by the processor to render a portion of an electronic book on the display;

a network interface to facilitate connection with a secondary electronic device over an ad hoc network; and

the processor being configured to receive, over the ad hoc network, user input entered using a touch screen on the secondary electronic device and to execute one or more operations relative to the portion of the electronic book in response to the user input, the user input including at least a response to a question that is associated with the portion of the electronic book.

16. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the display comprises an electronic paper display.

17. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises freeform entry.

18. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises receipt of user selection of control functions to control operation of the electronic book reader device.

19. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises an annotation of a selection of the media item presented on the electronic book reader device.

20. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises at least one of an audio clip, an image, or a video clip.

21. The handheld electronic book reading device of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises highlighting a section of the media item presented on the electronic book reader device.

22. A computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct a processor to perform acts comprising:

render an electronic book on a first display device;

establish a network connection between the first display device and a secondary device equipped with a touch responsive display;

facilitate user input using the touch responsive display on the secondary device, the user input being associated with non-text components of the electronic book and being communicated via the network connection from the secondary device to the first display device; and

associating the user input with a portion of the electronic book being displayed on the first display device and that is associated with the non-text components of the electronic book.

23. The computer-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein the first display device comprises an electronic book reader device having an electronic paper display, and the rendering comprises displaying the electronic book on the electronic paper display.

24. The computer-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein the instructions that facilitate user input comprise instructions that, when executed, facilitate user entry of freeform text using one of a stylus, a finger, or a pointing device.

25. The computer-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein the instructions that facilitate user input comprise instructions that, when executed, present one or more soft key buttons depicted on the touch responsive display.

26. The computer-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein the instructions that associate the user input comprise instructions that receive the user input from the secondary device and store that user input as metadata related to the electronic book.

27. A system comprising:

an electronic book reader device having an electronic paper display to render digital content items, the electronic book reader device having a network module to facilitate connection over a network; and

a secondary electronic device having a touch responsive display to facilitate user input via the touch responsive display, the secondary electronic device having a network module to facilitate connection over the network such that when a connection is established with the electronic book reader device, the user input entered via the touch responsive display on the secondary device being associated with non-text components that are associated with a content item being rendered on the electronic book reader device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the secondary electronic device comprises an electronic book reader device having an electronic paper display and a touch screen operating in cooperation with the electronic paper display.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the secondary electronic device has a notepad module that facilitates entry of freeform notes, the freeform notes being associated with the content item being rendered on the electronic book reader device.

30. The system of claim 27, further comprising one or more additional electronic devices, each additional electronic device having a user input component to receive input from a user and a network module to facilitate connection over the network such that when a connection is established with the electronic book reader device, the user input entered via said each additional electronic device is provided to the electronic book reader device, the user input being at least one of audio, an image, video, a command, or freeform entry.