Wireless device with an aggregate user interface for controlling other devices

• US 9,621,701 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Malamud, Mark A., Lord, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/718,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 455 302, 455 412, 455557, 455564, 455 45, 455410, 455414, 455420, 455 411, 455418, 4554561, 4554563, 4554564, 455521, 455566, 379 8811, 379131, 340 532, 34082569, 705 53, 348734, 725109, 345169, 709245
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that make a determination that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one secondary wireless device, and determine an aggregate user interface on the wireless device based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device;

responsive to the determining that the first wireless device is in proximity to the at least one second wireless device, presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device;

receiving a first user input selecting the at least one user interface element identifying the second wireless device;

responsive to the first user input, presenting, on the first wireless device, a second user interface including one or more selectable menu options each associated with an operation performable by the at least one second wireless device;

receiving a second user input selecting at least one of the one or more selectable menu options associated with an operation performable by the at least one second wireless device; and

controlling the at least one second wireless device to perform the at least one operation responsive to the second user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device includes:

determining that at least one of the first wireless device or the at least one second wireless device are connected to a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining that at least one of the first wireless device or the at least one second wireless device are connected to a wireless network includes:

determining that the first wireless device and the at least one second wireless device are connected to a common wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device includes:

determining that the first wireless device and the at least one second wireless device are within a threshold distance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device includes:

determining a closure rate of the first wireless device with respect to the at least one second wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device includes:

determining a physical contact between the first wireless device and the at least one second wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device includes:

determining at least one signal transmitted directly between the first wireless device and the at least one second wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting the at least one user interface on at least one of;

a personal digital assistant, a media player, a camera, a laptop computer, a desktop computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting the at least one user interface on at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting the at least one user interface on a remote control.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second wireless device includes at least one of:

a home audio device, a television, a vehicle, a banking device, a financial transaction device, a printer, a satellite receiver, a cable set-top box, a camera, a personal computer, a digital photo frame, a personal digital assistant, a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, or a gaming system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second wireless device includes at least one of:

a heating system, an air conditioning system, a home appliance system, or a home lighting system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting at least one graphical user interface on the first wireless device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

displaying at least one user interface on a touch screen of the first wireless device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting a single user interface on the first wireless device including both;

a user interface element identifying the second wireless device, and a user interface element identifying a third wireless device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device includes:

presenting at least one user interface on a touch screen of the first wireless device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the at least one user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one user input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the updating the at least one user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one user input includes:

updating the at least one user interface on the first wireless device in response to at least one of;

at least one actuation of a button of the first wireless device, at least one gesture associated with the first wireless device, or at least one tilting of the first wireless device.

30. The method of claim 10, wherein the presenting the at least one user interface on at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer includes:

presenting, on at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control one or more operations performable by at least one of;

a home audio device, a television, a vehicle, a banking device, a financial transaction device, a printer, a satellite receiver, a cable set-top box, a camera, a personal computer, a digital photo frame, a personal digital assistant, a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, or a gaming system, an environmental control system, or a home appliance.

31. The method of claim 11, wherein the presenting the at least one user interface on a remote control includes:

presenting, on a remote control, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control one or more operations performable by at least one of;

an home audio device, a video device television, a vehicle, a banking device, a financial transaction device, a printer, a satellite receiver, a cable set-top box, a camera, a personal computer, a digital photo frame, a personal digital assistant, a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, or a gaming system, an environmental control system, or a home appliance.

2. A system comprising:

at least one processor device; and

one or more instructions that, when implemented in the at least one processor device, program the at least one processor device for;

determining that a first wireless device is in proximity to at least one second wireless device; and

responsive to the determining that the first wireless device is in proximity to the at least one second wireless device, presenting, on the first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the at least one second wireless device and selectable to control one or more operations performable by the at least one second wireless device;

receiving a first user input selecting the at least one user interface element identifying the second wireless device;

responsive to the first user input, presenting, on the first wireless device, a second user interface including one or more selectable menu options each associated with an operation performable by the at least one second wireless device;

responsive to the first user input, presenting, on the first wireless device, a second user interface including one or more selectable menu options each associated with an operation performable by the at least one second wireless device; and

controlling the at least one second wireless device to perform the at least one operation responsive to the second user input.

20. A method comprising:

determining that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one vehicle;

responsive to the determining that the wireless device is in proximity to the least one vehicle, presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle;

receiving a first user input selecting the at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle;

responsive to the first user input, presenting, on the wireless device, a second user interface including one or more selectable menu options each associated with an operation performable by the vehicle;

responsive to the first user input, presenting, on the wireless device, a second user interface including one or more selectable menu options each associated with an operation performable by the vehicle; and

controlling the vehicle to perform the at least one operation responsive to the second user input.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes:

presenting, on a first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control at least one of;

an entertainment system of the at least one vehicle;

an ignition system of the at least one vehicle;

a lighting system of the at least one vehicle;

or

a driver settings system of the at least one vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes:

presenting, on a first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control at least one of;

entering into a rental agreement associated with rental of the vehicle;

extending an existing rental agreement associated with rental of the vehicle;

terminating a rental agreement associated with rental of the vehicle;

or

displaying rental rates associated with rental of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes:

presenting, on a first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control at least one of;

viewing a location of the vehicle;

or

unlocking the doors of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes:

presenting, on a first wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control making a payment for rental of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 20,

wherein the determining that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one vehicle includes:

determining that at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer is in proximity to at least one vehicle; and

wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes;

presenting, on the at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the presenting, on the at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes:

presenting, on the at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element selectable to control at least one of;

an entertainment system of the at least one vehicle,

an ignition system of the at least one vehicle,

a lighting system of the at least one vehicle,

a driver settings system of the at least one vehicle,

a payment for rental of the vehicle,

a location of the vehicle, or

the doors of the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

wherein the determining that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one vehicle includes;

determining that a smartcard is in proximity to at least one vehicle; and

wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes;

presenting, on at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 20,

wherein the determining that a wireless device is in proximity to at least one vehicle includes:

determining that a smartcard is in proximity to at least one vehicle; and

wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes;

presenting, on the vehicle, at least one user interface including one or more menu selections for performing at least one operation with respect to the vehicle, the one or more menu selections being specified according to one or more preferences of the user.

29. The method of claim 20,

wherein the determining that a user wireless device is in proximity to at least one vehicle includes:

determining that a smartcard is in proximity to at least one vehicle; and

wherein the presenting, on the wireless device, at least one user interface including at least one user interface element identifying the vehicle and selectable to control one or more operations performable with respect to the vehicle includes;

presenting at least one user interface on at least one of a cellular phone or a tablet computer, the at least one user interface including one or more menu selections for performing at least one operation with respect to the vehicle.