Devices and methods for establishing a communicative coupling in response to a gesture

• US 9,389,691 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Grdenfors, Dan Zacharias, Lewin, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): ALVESTEFFER, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US13/923,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20140380187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and a device are disclosed, whereby the device can be a first electronic device. The first electronic device is adapted to be coupled to a second electronic device. The method comprises outputting, with the first device, a request to communicatively couple with a second device in response to a gesture performed with the first device. The second electronic device and method of operating it are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting at a first electronic device a gesture being performed with the first electronic device; and

outputting from the first electronic device, a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of the gesture detected at the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with a second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture is a predetermined gesture, and the request is output in response to detection by the first electronic device that the gesture is the predetermined gesture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting data by the first electronic device to the second electronic device indicative of the gesture.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the request comprises the data indicative of the gesture, and the request is transmitted to the second electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting to the second electronic device, in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device, a signal comprising one or more of:

electromagnetic radiation, such as light, a visual pattern, and/or a radio frequency signal; and

sound.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a user-selection of data from the first electronic device for receipt at the second electronic device, wherein the request to communicatively couple with the second electronic device is a request to transfer the selected data to the second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response from the second electronic device indicative that the second electronic device is available for communicative coupling.

8. A method of operating a second electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a second electronic device, a request and data outputted in a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link from a first electronic device, the data being indicative of a gesture detected at the first electronic device being performed with the first electronic device and the request being to communicatively couple with the first electronic device based on the second device having stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting of the request and data being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

outputting from the second electronic device a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein outputting a response to the communicative coupling request comprises one of outputting a response to the first electronic device to notify the first electronic device that a communicative coupling can be established and outputting an instruction to the first electronic device indicative of allowing data to be transferred to the second electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining, based on a predetermined criterion, if a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device can be established, and establishing the communicative coupling only if the predetermined criterion is met.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting at the second electronic device a gesture performed with the first electronic device;

and the step of outputting the response comprises outputting the response only if a gesture is detected.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of outputting comprises outputting the response only if the detected gesture is one of one or more predetermined gestures known to the second electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising comparing the data indicative of the detected gesture with the stored data indicative of the one of the one or more predetermined gestures stored in memory in the second electronic device, wherein the step of outputting comprises outputting the response only if the data indicative of the detected gesture is sufficiently similar to the data indicative of one of the one or more predetermined gestures.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein outputting a response comprises:

detecting a signal output by the first electronic device;

determining, based on a signal strength of the detected signal, if a communicative coupling should be established between the second electronic device and the first electronic device; and

outputting an instruction indicative of establishing a communicative coupling to the first electronic device if it is determined that a communicative coupling should be established with the first electronic device.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving data indicative of the gesture performed with the first electronic device;

detecting, at the second electronic device, the gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

comparing the detected gesture with the data indicative of the gesture to determine a similarity between the detected gesture and the data,

wherein the step of outputting the response comprises outputting a message indicative of allowing a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device only if there is a sufficient similarity between the detected gesture and the data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of comparing comprises determining if the gesture is aimed at the second electronic device, and only if it is determined that the gesture is aimed at the second electronic device, outputting the message to the first electronic device.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving data indicative of the gesture performed with the first electronic device;

comparing the data indicative of the gesture with data stored in the second electronic device indicative of a predetermined gesture to determine a similarity between the received data and data indicative of the predetermined gesture,

wherein the step of outputting the response comprises outputting a message indicative of allowing a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device only if there is a sufficient similarity between the received data and the data indicative of the predetermined gesture.

18. A method of operating a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting at a first electronic device a gesture being performed with the first electronic device;

outputting, with the first electronic device, a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of the gesture detected at the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with a second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device;

receiving, with the second electronic device, the request to communicatively couple with the first electronic device; and

outputting, with the second electronic device, a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

detect, at a first electronic device, a gesture being performed with the first electronic device;

output from the first electronic device a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of the gesture detected at the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with a second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed on processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:

receive, at a second electronic device, a request and data outputted in a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link from a first electronic device, the data being indicative of a gesture detected at the first electronic device being performed with the first electronic device and the request being to communicatively couple with the first electronic device based on the second device having stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting of the request and data being in response to a gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

output, from the second electronic device, a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.

21. An electronic device being a first electronic device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform the method of

detecting at a first electronic device a gesture being performed with the first electronic device;

and

outputting from the first electronic device, a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of the gesture detected at the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with a second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting of the request and data being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device.

22. An electronic device being a second electronic comprising processing circuitry configured to perform the method of:

receiving, at a second electronic device, a request and data outputted in a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link from a first electronic device, the data being indicative of a gesture detected at the first electronic device being performed with the first electronic device and the request being to communicatively couple with the first electronic device based on the second device having stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting of the request and data being in response to a gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

outputting from the second electronic device a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.

23. An electronic device being a first electronic device comprising processing circuitry configured to communicatively couple with a second electronic device and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

output from the first electronic device, a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of the gesture detected at the first electronic device being performed with the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with the second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the gesture is a predetermined gesture, and the response is output in response to detection by the first electronic device that the gesture is the predetermined gesture.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output data to the second electronic device indicative of the gesture.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the request comprises the data indicative of the gesture, and the request is transmitted to the second electronic device.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output, in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device, a signal comprising one or more of:

electromagnetic radiation, such as light, a visual pattern, and/or a radio frequency signal; and

sound.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output a user-selection of data to the second electronic device in response to receipt of an instruction from the second electronic device to output the user selection of data.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive a response from the second electronic device indicative that the second electronic device is available for communicative coupling.

30. An electronic device being a second electronic device comprising processing circuitry configured to communicatively couple with a first electronic device, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive at a second electronic device, a request and data outputted in a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link from the first electronic device, the data being indicative of a gesture detected at, and being performed with, the first electronic device and the request being to communicatively couple the second electronic device with the first electronic device based on the second electronic device having stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture; and

output a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform one of output a response to the communicative coupling request by outputting a response to the first electronic device to notify the first electronic device that a communicatively coupling can be established or output an instruction to the first electronic device indicative of allowing data to be transferred to the second electronic device.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on a predetermined criterion, if a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device can be established, and establishing the communicative coupling if the predetermined criterion is met.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect at the second electronic device a gesture performed with the first electronic device;

and output the response only if a gesture is detected.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output the response only if the detected gesture is one of one or more predetermined gestures known to the second electronic device.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to compare data indicative of the detected gesture with data indicative of the one of the one or more predetermined gestures stored in memory in the second electronic device, and output the response only if the data indicative of the detected gesture is sufficiently similar to the data of one of the one or more predetermined gestures.

36. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

detect a signal output by the first electronic device;

determine, based on a signal strength of the detected signal, if a communicative coupling should be established between the second electronic device and the first electronic device; and

output an instruction indicative of establishing a communicative coupling to the first electronic device if it is determined that a communicative coupling should be established with the first electronic device.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive data indicative of the gesture performed with the first electronic device;

detect the gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

compare the detected gesture with the data indicative of the gesture to determine a similarity between the detected gesture and the data,

wherein the output of a response by the processing circuitry is output of a message indicative of allowing a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device which occurs only if there is a sufficient similarity between the detected gesture and the data.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to compare the detected gesture with the data indicative of the gesture by determining if the gesture is aimed at the second electronic device, and only if it is determined that the gesture is aimed at the second electronic device, output the message to the first electronic device.

39. The device of claim 30, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive data indicative of the gesture performed with the first electronic device;

compare the data indicative of the gesture with data stored in the second electronic device indicative of a predetermined gesture to determine a similarity between the received data and data indicative of the predetermined gesture,

wherein the output of a response is the output of a message indicative of allowing a communicative coupling between the first electronic device and the second electronic device which occurs only if there is a sufficient similarity between the received data and the data indicative of the predetermined gesture.

40. A system comprising a first electronic device and a second electronic device:

the first electronic device comprising first processing circuitry configured to communicatively couple with the second electronic device and output, via a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the broadcast data signal comprising data indicative of a gesture detected at, and being performed with, the first electronic device and a request to communicatively couple with the second electronic device that has stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture, the data of the predetermined gesture having been stored in advance of the performed gesture, the outputting of the request and data being in response to the gesture performed with the first electronic device; and

the second electronic device comprising second processing circuitry configured to communicatively couple with the first electronic device, wherein the second processing circuitry is further configured to;

receive, via a broadcast data signal over a short-range radio frequency link, the data indicative of the gesture detected at, and being performed with, the first electronic device and the request to communicatively couple with the first electronic device based on the second device having stored data indicative of a predetermined gesture that matches the data indicative of the performed gesture; and

output a response to the received request if it is determined that the second electronic device can be communicatively coupled with the first electronic device.