Device behavior based on surrounding devices

• US 20050237270A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Maguire, Justin Michael III, Ledbetter, Carl J., DeMaio, Pasquale, Beck, Taryn K., Adams, Aditha M., Chandley, Adrian Mark, Crosier, Dale Clark
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/2.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A method for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the detection of a remote device is provided. In the method, the remote device is detected, and communications with the remote device are established responsive to the detection of the remote device. A determination is made as to whether a feature of the device is affected by the establishment of communications with the remote device, and an action with respect to the feature of the device is initiated.

Claims

1. A method for modifying the operation of a first device responsive to the detection of a second device, comprising:

detecting the second device;

establishing communications with the second device responsive to said detection of the second device;

determining that a feature of the first device is affected by said establishment of communications with the second device; and

initiating an action with respect to the feature of the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a present operational state of the first device, and wherein said initiation of the action is in accordance with the present operational state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the present operational state of the first device is affected by a battery power level of the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises identifying a device type of the second device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the feature of the first device is specific to the device type of the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises receiving a wireless transmission from the second device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises wirelessly interrogating the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communications further comprises determining that the second device is within a predetermined distance from the first device, and establishing a security protocol between the first and second devices in response to said distance determination.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature of the first device is affected by said establishment of communications with the second device if an implementation of the feature requires the second device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating step comprises enabling the feature of the first device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating step comprises providing the feature without user intervention.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature of the first device is a first feature, and further comprising determining that a second feature of the first device is not affected by said establishment of communications with the second device, and initiating a second action with respect to the second feature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second action is disabling the second feature.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second action is removing the second feature from a presentation of information to a user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating step comprises presenting the feature of the first device to a user of the first device.

16. A device capable of modifying its behavior based on a detection of a remote device, the device comprising:

a memory, wherein said memory stores a plurality of features;

a wireless interface, wherein said wireless interface detects the remote device and establishes communications with the remote device; and

a processor, wherein said processor determines that one of the plurality of features is affected by said establishment of communications with the remote device and initiates an action with respect to the one of the plurality of features responsive to said determination.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said wireless interface detects a RFID tag associated with the remote device.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising a user interface for presenting information to a user.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the action initiated by the processor is the presentation of information relating to the one of the plurality of features on the user interface.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor further initiates the action by enabling the one of the plurality of features.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor further determines whether the remote device is within a predetermined distance, and establishing a security protocol with the remote device in response to the distance determination.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor further determines that a second one of the plurality of features is not affected by said establishment of communications with the remote device, and initiates a second action with respect to the second one of the plurality of features.

23. A method for modifying the operation of a first device responsive to a second device, comprising:

means for detecting the second device;

means for establishing communications with the second device responsive to said detection of the second device;

means for determining that one of a plurality of features is affected by said establishment of communications with the second device; and

means for initiating an action with respect to the one of the plurality of features.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

means for measuring a distance between the first and second devices;

means for determining whether the measured distance is within a predetermined threshold; and

means for establishing a security protocol in response to the determination that the measured distance is within the predetermined threshold.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said initiating means further comprises means for enabling the action with respect to the one of the plurality of features.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising means for presenting information regarding the one of the plurality of features to a user.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising means for determining that a second one of the plurality of features is not affected by said establishment of communications with the second device, and initiating a second action with respect to the second one of the plurality of features.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing a method for modifying the operation of a first device responsive to the detection of a second device, the method comprising:

detecting the second device;

establishing communications with the second device responsive to said detection of the second device;

determining that a feature of the first device is affected by said establishment of communications with the second device; and

initiating an action with respect to the feature of the first device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises determining a present operational state of the first device, and wherein said initiation of the action is in accordance with the present operational state.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the present operational state of the first device is affected by a battery power level of the first device.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said detecting step comprises receiving a wireless transmission from the second device.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said detecting step comprises wirelessly interrogating the second device.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein establishing communications further comprises determining that the second device is within a predetermined distance from the first device, and establishing a security protocol between the first and second devices in response to said distance determination.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the feature of the first device is affected by said establishment of communications with the second device if an implementation of the feature requires the second device.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said initiating step comprises enabling the feature of the first device.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said initiating step comprises providing the feature without user intervention.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the feature of the first device is a first feature, and further comprising determining that a second feature of the first device is not affected by said establishment of communications with the second device, and initiating a second action with respect to the second feature.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the second action is disabling the second feature.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the second action is removing the second feature from a presentation of information to a user.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein said initiating step comprises presenting the feature of the first device to a user of the first device.