WIRELESS COORDINATION OF APPARATUS INTERACTION

• US 20090248913A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: SALOKANNEL, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A system for implementing wireless control between apparatuses. In at least one scenario, an apparatus may, after an event (e.g., receiving wireless communication), create a wireless message based on the event, and may then send the wireless message to a peripheral apparatus. The peripheral apparatus may utilize some or all of the message data to formulate and display a user interface. Inputs (e.g., soft-coded or hardware based buttons) in the peripheral device may be actuated in accordance with the user interface, which may result in a response message being sent to the apparatus. The response message may, in turn, trigger functionality in the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving communication at a main apparatus, the communication being directed to a user of the main apparatus;

maintaining characteristic information regarding a user interface in another apparatus;

creating a message comprising at least image information usable for displaying an image on the user interface, the image information being created based at least in part upon the received communication and the characteristic information; and

sending the message to the other apparatus via a wireless link for displaying the image on the user interface of the other apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the main apparatus receives at least part of the characteristic information from the other apparatus via the wireless link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises instruction information configured to cause the image to be displayed on the user interface of the other apparatus, the image comprising indicia corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the instruction information further causes the displayed user interface to blink.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response message from the other apparatus, wherein the response message is sent from the at least one other apparatus in response to user actuation of one or more real or soft-coded buttons.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the response message causes the main apparatus to establish communication with another apparatus different from the other apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying the source of the communication.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying functionality corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons in the other apparatus.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the image information comprises one or more images each corresponding to different possible sources of the communication, the one or more images being stored in a database along with corresponding source contact information.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

a computer executable program code configured to receive communication at a main apparatus, the communication being directed to a user of the main apparatus;

a computer executable program code configured to maintain characteristic information regarding a user interface in another apparatus;

a computer executable program code configured to create a message comprising at least image information usable for displaying an image on the user interface, the image information being created based at least in part upon the received communication and the characteristic information; and

a computer executable program code configured to send the message to the other apparatus via a wireless link for displaying the image on the user interface of the other apparatus.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the main apparatus receives at least part of the characteristic information from the other apparatus via the wireless link.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the message further comprises instruction information configured to cause the image to be displayed on the user interface of the other apparatus, the image comprising indicia corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the instruction information further causes the displayed user interface to blink.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising receiving a response message from the other apparatus, wherein the response message is sent from the at least one other apparatus in response to user actuation of one or more real or soft-coded buttons.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the response message causes the main apparatus to establish communication with another apparatus different from the other apparatus.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying the source of the communication.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying functionality corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons in the other apparatus.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the image information comprises one or more images each corresponding to different possible sources of the communication, the one or more images being stored in a database along with corresponding source contact information.

19. A main apparatus comprising:

at least one communication module; and

a processor, the processor being configured to;

receive communication, the communication being directed to a user of the main apparatus;

maintain characteristic information regarding a user interface in another apparatus;

create a message comprising at least image information usable for displaying an image on the user interface, the image information being created based at least in part upon the received communication and the characteristic information; and

send the message to the other apparatus via a wireless link for displaying the image on the user interface of the other apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the main apparatus receives at least part of the characteristic information from the other apparatus via the wireless link.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the message further comprises instruction information configured to cause the image to be displayed on the user interface of the other apparatus, the image comprising indicia corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instruction information further causes the displayed user interface to blink.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising receiving a response message from the other apparatus, wherein the response message is sent from the at least one other apparatus in response to user actuation of one or more real or soft-coded buttons.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the response message causes the main apparatus to establish communication with another apparatus different from the other apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying the source of the communication.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the image comprises pixel information, the pixel information identifying functionality corresponding to one or more real or soft-coded buttons in the other apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the image information comprises one or more images each corresponding to different possible sources of the communication, the one or more images being stored in a database along with corresponding source contact information.

28. A main apparatus comprising:

means for receiving communication, the communication being directed to a user of the main apparatus;

means for maintaining characteristic information regarding a user interface in another apparatus;

means for creating a message comprising at least image information usable for displaying an image on the user interface, the image information being created based at least in part upon the received communication and the characteristic information; and

means for sending the message to the other apparatus via a wireless link for displaying the image on the user interface of the other apparatus.

29. A system comprising:

a main apparatus configured to communicate via at least one of wired or wireless communication; and

another apparatus on which a user interface is to be display, the other apparatus being configured to communicate at least via wireless communication;

the main apparatus receiving communication at a main apparatus, the communication being directed to a user of the main apparatus;

the main apparatus further maintaining characteristic information regarding a user interface in another apparatus and creating a message comprising at least image information usable for displaying an image on the user interface, the image information being created based at least in part upon the received communication and the characteristic information; and

the main apparatus further sending the message to the other apparatus via a wireless link for displaying the image on the user interface of the other apparatus.