Touch-based system for transferring data

• US 8,924,858 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Mistry, Pranav Kirtikumar, Nanayakkara, Suranga Chandima, Maes, Patricia Emilia
• Primary Examiner(s): Kujundzic, Dino
• Application Number:
  US13/282,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 715/748, 709/213, 709/214, 719/319
• US Class Current: 715/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals

Abstract

Data transfer system. The system transfers data by touch from a first digital device to a second digital device and includes a first digital device having a touch screen along with a second digital device also having a touch screen. The first and second digital devices are connected to a network including a data storage cloud wherein the first digital device is programmed to copy a touched visual representation of a data item to the data storage cloud and wherein the second digital device is programmed to retrieve the data item from the data storage cloud when a paste-able area in the second digital device is touched. The first and second digital devices may be touch-enabled smart phones, tablet computers or other digital devices.

Claims

1. System for transferring data by touch by a user'"'"'s finger from a first digital device to a second digital device comprising:

a first digital device having a touch screen displaying a first user interface, the first user interface comprising a first paste-able area and a second area that is not paste-able, wherein a paste-able area allows for content to be pasted into such area, and wherein the second area comprises a visual representation of a data item; and

a second digital device having a touch screen displaying a second user interface comprising a third paste-able area;

the first and second digital devices connected to a network including a data storage cloud, wherein the first digital device is programmed to copy a touched visual representation of the data item located in the second area to the data storage cloud, and wherein the second digital device is programmed to retrieve the data from the data storage cloud when the third paste-able area is touched, wherein the touch is by the user'"'"'s finger, wherein the system checks whether compatible data from the second area previously copied by the same user is available on the data storage cloud and then downloads the compatible data from the data cloud to the second device to be displayed in the third paste-able area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second digital device are touch-enabled smart phones, tablet computers or other digital devices.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is the internet or an intranet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the data is text.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the data is a still photograph.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data is video.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data is linked to a data item on the internet.

8. The system of claim 1 further including a user authentication module wherein user authentication is achieved by face recognition, fingerprint detection, picture selection, drawing a pattern on the screen, or username/password.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein copying and pasting operations are controlled by drawing a user selected pattern on the screen.