Sensor-initiated exchange of information between devices

• US 20060256074A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Krum, David Michael, Schmidt, Hauke
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• 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 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Information exchange systems and methods (“IES”) are described that allow users of portable devices to initiate exchanges of information with a simple gesture. Detection of this gesture causes the host device to perform a number of actions including one or more of selecting data for an exchange transaction, identifying one or more destination devices to receive the selected data, transferring the selected data to the destination devices, and receiving complementary or corresponding data from the destination devices. The IES thus avoids the requirement for users to perform time consuming and error prone interactions involving complex operations with a device interface in order to initiate data exchanges.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a sensor system that senses motion of the device;

an information exchange system (IES) coupled to the sensor system, wherein the IES identifies motion signatures of the sensed motion, transfers the identified motion signatures between the device and at least one local device, compares the transferred motion signatures to identify corresponding motion signatures of at least one different device, selects data in response to the corresponding motion signatures, and automatically initiates exchange of the selected data between two or more of the devices from which the corresponding motion signatures originated.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a communication system configured to communicate with at least one local device, wherein the communication system is at least one of a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, and a hybrid wireless and wired communication system.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the information exchange system, wherein the database includes information of the motion patterns and the selected data.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion signatures each include at least one of timing information and a signal representing the sensed motion.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein transferring the identified motion signatures comprises at least one of transmitting a motion signature and receiving a motion signature.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the IES further associates data stored in a memory with at least one motion signature.

7. A method comprising:

detecting motion of a device;

identifying a motion pattern that corresponds to the motion;

selecting information that corresponds to the identified motion pattern;

identifying at least one local device having at least one local motion that corresponds to the identified motion pattern; and

exchanging the selected information with the identified local device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying at least one local device further comprises transmitting a motion signature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the motion signature includes information of the identified motion pattern of the transmitting device, wherein the information of the identified motion pattern comprises at least one of timing information and a description corresponding to the motion.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying at least one local device further comprises determining a correspondence between a motion signature of the device and a motion signature of the identified local device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitted motion signature is transmitted to the identified local device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying at least one local device further comprises receiving a motion signature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the received motion signature is received from the identified local device.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising associating information stored at the device with at least one motion pattern.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the motion pattern includes a signal representing at least one of making contact with another device, a gesture through which the device is moved, and tapping of the device.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the exchange is automatic.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing feedback to a user of the device, the feedback indicating a successful exchange of the selected information.

18. A method comprising:

identifying motion patterns that correspond to detected motion of devices;

exchanging the identified motion patterns between the devices;

comparing the exchanged motion patterns and identifying corresponding motion patterns;

selecting data in response to at least one of the identified motion patterns and the identified corresponding motion patterns; and

automatically initiating exchange of the selected data between two or more of the devices from which the corresponding motion patterns originated.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein exchanging the identified motion patterns further comprises at least one of transmitting the motion patterns and receiving the motion patterns.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the motion signature includes at least one of timing information and a signal representing the detected motion.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein identifying corresponding motion patterns comprises determining a signal match between a motion pattern of a first device and a motion pattern of a second device.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising associating data stored in a memory of at least one of the devices with at least one identified motion pattern.

23. A system comprising:

means for identifying motion signatures of devices as associated with at least one gesture performed with the device;

means for exchanging the identified motion signatures among the devices and identifying two or more of the devices with matching motion signatures; and

means for selecting data in accordance with the identified gesture and automatically initiating exchange of the selected data between the two or more devices.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for comparing the exchanged motion signatures.

25. A machine-readable medium that includes executable instructions, which when executed in a processing system, initiates an automatic exchange of data between two devices by:

identifying motion signatures of devices as associated with at least one gesture performed with the device;

exchanging the identified motion signatures among the devices and identifying two or more of the devices with matching motion signatures; and

selecting data in accordance with the identified gesture and automatically initiating exchange of the selected data between the two or more devices.