System and method for sharing information based on proximity

• US 20050138576A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Heath, Pamela J., Goldthwaite, Flora P., Baumert, David W., Cluts, Jonathan, Woodman, Aaron F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A method and system are provided for facilitating interaction between a device and a device environment. The system may include a detection module for automatically detecting proximity of a participant within the device environment. The system may additionally include a user-configurable authorization module for authorizing the device to adjust a device user interface in a pre-determined manner in response to the detection of the participant. The system may also provide for sharing resources among multiple participating devices, wherein each of the multiple participating devices has a device specific set of application resources. The system may additionally include a configurable resource regulation mechanism for making the device specific application resources from the second participating device available to the first participating device.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating interaction between a device and a device environment, the system comprising:

a detection module for automatically detecting proximity of a participant within the device environment; and

a user-configurable authorization module for authorizing the device to adjust a device user interface in a pre-determined manner in response to the detection of the participant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization module identifies the device as one of a controlling device and a controlled device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controlling device comprises shared resources for sharing with the controlled device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection module detects one of an active participant and a passive participant.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the detection module detects a passive participant and the device user interface adjusted is the detecting device user interface.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the detection module detects an active participant and the authorization module authorizes adjustment of the detected active participant user interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization module includes an authorization status to control another device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization module includes an authorization status to be controlled by another device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization module comprises an arbitration module for resolving disputes between devices having an identical authorization status.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a command and control translation module for receiving instructions from a user regarding actions to be taken by the controlling device.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a list of nearby devices for each device.

11. The system of claim 11, further comprising a UI element manager for taking directions from the command and control translation module.

13. A method for facilitating interaction between a device and a device environment, the method comprising:

detecting a participant present within the device environment; and

adjusting a device user interface based on user-configured rules set forth in a device authorization module in response to the detection of the participant.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying a device as one of a controlling device and a controlled device using the authorization module.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sharing resources from the controlling device with the controlled device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting one of an active participant and a passive participant.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting a passive participant and the authorizing the detecting device to adjust the detecting device user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the passive participant has an RFID tag and the detecting device launches an application in response to the detection of the RFID tag.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting an active participant, and authorizing adjustment of the active participant user interface.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an authorization status as one of controlled or controlling.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising resolving disputes between devices having an identical authorization status.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving instructions from a user regarding actions to be taken by the controlling device.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining a list of nearby devices for each device.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 13.

25. A system for sharing resources among multiple participating devices, wherein each of the multiple participating devices has a device specific set of application resources, the system comprising:

a detection module for detecting proximity of a first participating device to a second participating device; and

a configurable resource regulation mechanism for making the device specific application resources from the second participating device available to the first participating device.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising an authorization module for providing each participating device with an authorization status as one of a controlled device and a controlling device.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising an arbitration mechanism for resolving disputes between devices having an identical authorization status.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising a nearby device list for maintaining a record of device locations.

29. A method for facilitating resource sharing between multiple devices, the method comprising:

allowing a user to configure regulation of shared resources between multiple participating devices; and

enabling regulation of device resources based on proximity of a first participating device to a second participating device, wherein regulation includes making device specific application resources of the first participating device available to the second participating device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising identifying each device as one of a controlling device and a controlled device using an authorization module.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising sharing resources from the controlling device with the controlled device.