Communication between devices using tactile or visual inputs, such as devices associated with mobile devices

• US 9,326,108 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ungari, Joseph, Collins, Maura, Goulart, Valerie, Small, Andrea, Temple, Sinclair, Carney, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, James H
• Application Number:
  US13/705,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/41.2, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and system for communication between users is described. In some examples, the system provides two or more dedicated communication devices that communicate with one another without voice-based or written communications. In some cases, the devices provide single input/out capabilities. In some cases, the devices provide multiple input/output capabilities.

Claims

1. A communication device associated with a system containing two or more communication devices, the communication device, comprising:

a first communication device, wherein the first communication device includes;

a first input component,

wherein the first input component is configured to receive a single, tactile input from a first user;

a first message transmission component,

wherein the first message transmission component is configured to only send a first pre-defined message to a first pre-defined address associated with a second communication device in response to receiving the single input from the first user via the first input component,

wherein the first pre-defined address is selected from one of multiple available addresses;

a first output component,

wherein the first output component is configured to only perform a single action in response to receiving a second pre-defined message from the second communication device; and

a first housing for at least partially enclosing the first input component, the first message transmission component, and the first output component, wherein the housing does not carry an audio input device or an audio output device,

wherein the second communication device paired to the first communication device, and

wherein the first and second communication devices wirelessly communicate via IEEE 802.15 communications, Bluetooth personal area networking communications, piconet communications, ZigBee communications, or nearfield communications.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are sold as a set with the first and second pre-defined addresses, and wherein no additional monthly wireless service charges need be paid for the first and second communication devices to communicate with one another.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device performs a first action in response to receiving the second pre-defined message from the second communication device and the second communication device performs a second, different action in response to receiving the first pre-defined message from the first communication device.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are pieces of jewelry or garments.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is a lamp, vase, sculptural element, digital picture frame, or desk accessory.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices include nearfield communications components and the first pre-defined message and the second pre-defined message are exchanged between the first and second communication devices using nearfield communications.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first input component includes a rotation element, a button, and a touch screen.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device includes a camera.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the first communication device includes a communication component configured to transmit a photograph taken by the camera to the second communication device over a network.

10. In a system of two communication devices for use with a wireless cellular telecommunications network, an apparatus consisting essentially of:

a first wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device includes;

a first input component that receives input from a user of the first wireless communication device;

a first output component that provides a single human-perceptible output for a user of the first wireless communication device,

wherein the single human-perceptible output is a tactile output or a non-text output,

a first data storage, processing and communication component that is configured to at least;

store a single electronic address,

receive transmitted information from a second wireless communication device,

process a received input at the first input component, and

in response to the received input at the first input component, transmit information from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device directly or indirectly via the wireless cellular telecommunications network,

wherein the single electronic address is associated with the second wireless communication device, and

wherein the first wireless communication device is in communication with a first mobile device, and

wherein the first wireless communication device causes the first mobile device to transmit the information to the second wireless communication device via a second mobile device in communication with the second wireless communication device;

a first power component to supply power to the first wireless communication device; and

a first housing for at least partially enclosing the first input component, the first output component, the first data storage, processing and communication component, and the first power component,

wherein the first and second wireless communication devices wirelessly communicate via IEEE 802.15 communications, Bluetooth personal area networking communications, piconet communications, ZigBee communications, or nearfield communications.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second wireless communication devices include nearfield communication components to wirelessly communicate via nearfield communications.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second wireless communication devices include a camera.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second wireless communication devices include a GPS component.

14. A system for communicating non-voice based or non-text based messages from one device to another, the system comprising:

means for receiving tactile, manual, visual or image input at a first device associated with a first mobile device connected to a point-to-point network;

means for transmitting an indication of the input via a wireless connection to the first mobile device;

means for sending, via the point-to-point network, a message from the first mobile device to a second mobile device associated with a second device,

wherein the message is associated with the received input, and

wherein the message is one of a finite number of different messages that may be associated with a received input at the first device;

means for receiving, at the first mobile device, a message from the second mobile device,

wherein the message from the second mobile device is associated with an input received at the second device;

means for transmitting, from the first mobile device to the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device;

means for receiving, at the first device, an indication of the received message from the second mobile device; and

means for performing an action at the first device in response to the received indication.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the point-to-point network is a wireless personal area network.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for sending, via the point-to-point network, the message from the first mobile device to the second mobile device associated with the second device includes means for wirelessly communicating via IEEE 802.15 communications, Bluetooth personal area networking communications, piconet communications, ZigBee communications, or nearfield communications.

17. A communications device comprising:

means for receiving a non-voice based and non-text based input at the communications device,

wherein the non-voice based and non-text based input is received from a first operator of the communications device,

wherein the non-voice based and non-text based input received at the communications device is one of a finite number of non-voice based and non-text based inputs;

means for identifying the non-voice based and non-text based input with one of the finite number of non-voice based and non-text based inputs;

means for mapping the non-voice and non-text based input received at the communications device to a selected message,

wherein the selected message is one of a finite number of different selected messages that are non-voice based and non-text based messages;

means for wirelessly sending, via a wireless network, the selected message from the communications device to a second communications device,

wherein the wireless network includes information is received via an IEEE 802. 15 communication, a Bluetooth personal area networking communication, a piconet communication, a ZigBee communication, or a nearfield communication;

means for receiving, at the communications device, an incoming selected message from a second communications device operated by a second user and sent through the wireless network;

means for determining an action to be performed at the communications device based on the incoming selected message received form the second communications device,

wherein the action is a non-voice based and non-text based action, and

means for performing, at the communications device, the action associated with the incoming selected message.

18. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the action includes emitting a colored light.

19. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the wireless network includes a personal area network and the means for wirelessly sending the selected message includes means for transmitting the selected message via nearfield communications.