System and method for synchronization using device pairings with docking stations

• US 9,619,299 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Welker, Mark W., Cox, Claude Lano, Quinn, Liam B., Ancona, Rocco
• Primary Examiner(s): Mudrick, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/308,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20150370612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 719318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing information from an information handling system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a device within a pre-determined range of a docking station, the device operable to communicate with the docking station. The method also includes pairing with the device, determining a user of the device, and predicting, based upon past activity by the user at another docking station, content to be launched on the device. The method further include presenting the content for launching on the device, receiving a selection of the content; and launching the content on the device.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing content for an information handling system comprising:

identifying a first device within a pre-determined range of a first docking station, the first device operable to communicate with the first docking station;

pairing with the first device;

determining a user of the first device;

predicting, based upon past activity by the user at a second docking station, content to be launched on the first device, wherein predicting includes polling the second docking station to determine whether the user had previously accessed content through the second docking station;

presenting, based upon the prediction, the content for launching on the first device;

receiving a selection of the content; and

launching the content on the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by the user through the second docking station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by a second device of the user docked to the second docking station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device further includes determining a pattern of usage by the user at the second docking station and by the first device docked to the first docking station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

presenting the content includes presenting at least two options encapsulating different sets of the content;

receiving the selection of the content includes receiving a selection of one of the options;

launching the content includes launching the selected option on the first device; and

the method further comprises, subsequent to launching the selected option, allowing selection of the other option and launching of the other option.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising polling the second docking station to determine whether the first device had previously accessed content through the second docking station.

7. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a first docking station; and

a synchronization module including instructions in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor, the instructions, when executed, configure the synchronization module to;

identify a first device within a pre-determined range of a first docking station, the first device operable to communicate with the first docking station;

pair with the first device; and

determine a user of the first device;

a predict module including instructions in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor, the instructions, when executed, configure the synchronization module to;

predict, based upon past activity by the user at another docking station, content to be launched on the first device, wherein predicting includes polling the other docking station to determine whether the user had previously accessed content through the other docking station;

present, based upon the prediction, the content for launching on the first device;

receive a selection of the content;

launch the content on the first device.

8. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by the user through the other docking station.

9. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by a second device of the user docked to the other docking station.

10. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device further includes determining a pattern of usage by the user at the other docking station and by the first device docked to the first docking station.

11. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein:

presenting the content includes presenting at least two options encapsulating different sets of the content;

receiving the selection of the content includes receiving a selection of one of the options;

launching the content includes launching the selected option on the first device; and

the predict module is further configured to, subsequent to launching the selected option, allow selection of the other option and launching of the other option.

12. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the synchronization module is further configured to poll the other docking station to determine whether the first device had previously accessed content through the other docking station.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions, when read and executed for causing the processor to:

identify a first device within a pre-determined range of a first docking station, the first device operable to communicate with the first docking station;

pair with the first device;

determine a user of the first device;

predict, based upon past activity by the user at a second docking station, content to be launched on the first device, wherein predicting includes polling the second docking station to determine whether the user had previously accessed content through the second docking station;

present, based upon the prediction, the content for launching on the first device;

receive a selection of the content;

launch the content on the first device.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by the user through the second docking station.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device includes determining content that was most recently accessed by a second device of the user docked to the second docking station.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein predicting content to be launched on the first device further includes determining a pattern of usage by the user at the second docking station and by the first device docked to the first docking station.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein:

presenting the content includes presenting at least two options encapsulating different sets of the content;

receiving the selection of the content includes receiving a selection of one of the options;

launching the content includes launching the selected option on the first device; and

the processor is further caused to, subsequent to launching the selected option, allow selection of the other option and launching of the other option.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further cause to poll the second docking station to determine whether the first device had previously accessed content through the second docking station.