Unified object transfer for multiple wireless transfer mechanisms

• US 20030134629A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobs, Andrew W., Ollis, Joseph K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing

Abstract

A source wireless device is capable of transmitting items over a wireless network using a number of different wireless transfer mechanism such as, for example, Infra-Red (IR) or Bluetooth. Several potential destination wireless devices may be capable of receiving the item using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms. The user selects one or more destination wireless devices to send items to using a unified user interface that lists the various potential destination wireless devices. After a user selects items to transfer as well as the destination wireless device(s), the wireless transfer mechanism appropriate for transfer to each device is then automatically identified without requiring user selection of the particular wireless transfer mechanism.

Claims

1. In a wireless network that includes a number of wireless devices including a source wireless device capable of transferring items over the wireless network using a plurality of different wireless transfer mechanisms, and including one or more potential destination wireless devices capable of receiving items over the wireless network using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms, a method for facilitating user selection of one or more destination wireless devices from the one or more potential destination wireless devices without requiring that the user of the source wireless device identify a wireless transfer mechanism, the method comprising the following:

an act of the source wireless device presenting the one or more potential destination wireless devices to the user in a unified user interface;

an act of receiving a user selection of one or more destination wireless devices of the one or more potential destination wireless devices; and

an act of automatically, and without user intervention, identifying wireless transfer mechanisms to use when transferring one or more items to each of the one or more selected destination wireless devices.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of sending the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices using the identified wireless transfer mechanisms.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of determining that it is appropriate to send the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the following:

an act of sending the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices using the identified wireless transfer mechanisms.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of determining that it is inappropriate to send at least some of the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the following:

an act of sending all of the one or more items except for the at least some of the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices using the identified wireless transfer mechanisms.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of identifying the one or more items to be sent based on the receipt of a user selection of the one or more items.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless transfer mechanisms includes one or more infrared wireless transfer mechanisms.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the plurality of wireless transfer mechanisms also includes a Bluetooth wireless transfer mechanism.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless transfer mechanisms includes a Bluetooth wireless transfer mechanism.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wireless transfer mechanism available to each of the presented one or more potential destination wireless device is obscured from user view.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wireless transfer mechanism available to each of the presented one or more potential destination wireless devices is identified in the unified user interface by using a visually distinguishable feature for each of the plurality of wireless transfer mechanisms.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the one or more potential destination wireless devices are presented in a color that depends on the wireless transfer mechanism to be used.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the one or more potential destination wireless devices are presented in a font that depends on the wireless transfer mechanism to be used.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the one or more potential destination wireless devices are presented in a size that depends on the wireless transfer mechanism.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wireless transfer mechanism available to each of the one or more potential destination wireless devices is identified in the unified user interface by using an audibly distinguishable features for each of the plurality of wireless transfer mechanisms.

17. In a wireless network that includes a number of wireless devices including a source wireless device capable of transferring items over the wireless network using a plurality of different wireless transfer mechanisms, and including one or more potential destination wireless devices capable of receiving items over the wireless network using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms, a method for facilitating user selection of one or more destination wireless devices without requiring that the user of the source wireless device identify a wireless transfer mechanism, the method comprising the following:

a step for using a unified user interface to identify one or more destination wireless devices; and

automatically, and without user intervention, identifying wireless transfer mechanisms to use when transferring one or more items to each of the one or more selected destination wireless devices.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the step for using a unified user interface to identify one or more destination wireless devices comprises the following:

an act of the source wireless device presenting the one or more potential destination wireless devices to the user in a unified user interface; and

an act of receiving a user selection of one or more destination wireless devices of the one or more potential destination wireless devices.

19. A computer program product for use in a wireless network that includes a number of wireless devices including a source wireless device capable of transferring items over the wireless network using a plurality of different wireless transfer mechanisms, and including one or more potential destination wireless devices capable of receiving items over the wireless network using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms, the computer program product for implementing a method for facilitating user selection of one or more destination wireless devices from the one or more potential destination wireless devices without requiring that the user of the source wireless device identify a wireless transfer mechanism, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for causing the one or more potential destination wireless devices to be presented to the user in a unified user interface;

computer-executable instructions for detecting the receipt of a user selection of one or more destination wireless devices of the one or more potential destination wireless devices; and

computer-executable instructions for automatically, and without user intervention, identifying wireless transfer mechanisms to use when transferring one or more items to each of the one or more selected destination wireless devices.

20. A computer program product in accordance with claim 19, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical storage media.

21. A computer program product in accordance with claim 19, wherein the one or more computer-readable media further have stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for causing the one or more items to sent to the selected one or more destination wireless devices using the identified wireless transfer mechanisms.

22. A computer program product in accordance with claim 19, wherein the one or more computer-readable media further have stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for determining that it is appropriate to send the one or more items to the selected one or more destination wireless devices.

23. A computer program product in accordance with claim 19, wherein the one or more computer-readable media further have stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions identifying the one or more items to be sent based on the receipt of a user selection of the one or more items.

24. A wireless network comprising the following:

a source wireless device capable of transferring items over the wireless network using a plurality of different wireless transfer mechanisms; and

one or more potential destination wireless devices capable of receiving items over the wireless network using at least one of the different wireless transfer mechanisms;

wherein the source wireless device configured to perform the following;

present the one or more potential destination wireless devices to the user in a unified user interface;

receive a user selection of one or more destination wireless devices of the one or more potential destination wireless devices; and

automatically, and without user intervention, identify wireless transfer mechanisms to use when transferring one or more items to each of the one or more selected destination wireless devices.