METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE WORKSPACE

• US 20110252320A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Arrasvuori, Juha Henrik, Korhonen, Hannu J., Boberg, Marion, Keränen, Jaakko, Jokela, Tero, Lucero, Andrés, Holopainen, Jussi Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/704
• 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 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An approach is provided for creating a virtual workspace among devices based, at least in part, on location information. The virtual workspace corresponds to an application or a service common to the devices. Monitoring of the movement of one or more of the devices causes manipulation of the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the movement. Example applications and services include media editing, media playback, image processing, social networking, and social control functionality.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing, at least in part, detection of location information associated with a plurality of devices;

creating a virtual workspace among the devices based, at least in part, on the location information, wherein the virtual workspace corresponds to an application or a service common to the devices;

causing, at least in part, monitoring of movement of one or more of the devices; and

causing, at least in part, manipulation of the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the movement.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a level of zoom based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or combination thereof; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of at least a portion of the virtual workspace on the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the level of zoom,

wherein the presentation includes any virtual objects associated with the devices, the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to store state information associated with the devices, the virtual workspace, the application, the service or a combination thereof;

determining the state information based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

causing, at least in part, storage of the state information,

wherein the state information enables restoration of the virtual workspace.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the one or more devices includes a movement along a plane of the virtual workplace, a movement in or out of the plane of the virtual workplace, a rotation of the one or more devices, a stacking of the one or more devices, an alignment of the one or more devices, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the application or the service is media editing, the method further comprising at least one of:

causing, at least in part, presentation of one or more media files on the one or more devices;

determining respective lengths of the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, a splicing or a separation of the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, editing of the one or more media files to include text, still images, audio, transitions effects, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, combination of the one or more media files as tracks of a final media file based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

associating a media effect with at least one of the devices, wherein the media effect is applied on the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the application or the service is media playback, the method further comprising at least one of:

causing, at least in part, playback of one or more media files on a first one of the devices and a second one or more of the devices, wherein the playback of the media files on the second ones of the devices is delayed with respect to the playback of the media files on the first one of the devices, and wherein the delay is based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, control of the playback of the one or more media files on the first one of the devices, the second ones of the devices, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, replay of at least a portion of the media files currently playing on the first one of the devices on the second ones of the devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

detecting an eye movement of a user associated with one of the devices, wherein the eye movement selects the first one of the devices from among the devices.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the application or the service is image processing, the method further comprising at least one of:

causing, at least in part, compiling of a collage of images presented respectively on the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

determining a level of image processing to apply on the respective images based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

defining a perspective of at least one of the images based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the application or service is social networking, the method further comprising at least one of:

causing, at least in part, presentation of a social graph for the respective one or more devices, wherein the social graphs are combined based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

identifying one or more common contacts of the combined social graph with respect to the one or more devices, wherein the common contacts are offered a common benefit;

generating a recommendation for one or more new contacts based, at least in part, on the one or more common contacts;

receiving an input for specifying one or more contact criteria, wherein the combined social graph is searched according to the contact criteria;

causing, at least in part, establishment of a communication session between the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the combined social graph, the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

causing, at least in part, presentation of descriptions of the relationship types in the combined social graph; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of different portions of the combined social graph on the one or more devices based, at least in part, the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the one or more devices with a virtual controller corresponding to a function common to the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

receiving an input for actuating the virtual controller;

causing, at least in part, control of the function with respect to a local implementation of the function and one or more remote implementations of the function corresponding respectively to the one or more devices.

10. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a different application or service with one or more of the devices; and

combining features, user interface elements, or a combination thereof of the different applications and services based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a level of zoom based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of at least a portion of the virtual workspace on the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the level of zoom,

wherein the presentation includes any virtual objects associated with the devices, the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more computer programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

cause, at least in part, detection of location information associated with a plurality of devices;

create a virtual workspace among the devices based, at least in part, on the location information, wherein the virtual workspace corresponds to an application or a service common to the devices;

cause, at least in part, monitoring of movement of one or more of the devices; and

cause, at least in part, manipulation of the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the movement.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a request to store state information associated with the devices, the virtual workspace, the application, the service or a combination thereof;

determine the state information based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, storage of the state information,

wherein the state information enables restoration of the virtual workspace.

14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the movement of the one or more devices includes a movement along a plane of the virtual workplace, a movement in or out of the plane of the virtual workplace, a rotation of the one or more devices, a stacking of the one or more devices, an alignment of the one or more devices, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application or the service is media editing, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform at least one of:

cause, at least in part, presentation of one or more media files on the one or more devices;

determine respective lengths of the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, a splicing or a separation of the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, editing of the one or more media files to include text, still images, audio, transitions effects, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, combination of the one or more media files as tracks of a final media file based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

associate a media effect with at least one of the devices, wherein the media effect is applied on the one or more media files based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application or the service is media playback, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform at least one of:

cause, at least in part, playback of one or more media files on a first one of the devices and a second one or more of the devices, wherein the playback of the media files on the second ones of the devices is delayed with respect to the playback of the media files on the first one of the devices, and wherein the delay is based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, control of the playback of the one or more media files on the first one of the devices, the second ones of the devices, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, replay of at least a portion of the media files currently playing on the first one of the devices on the second ones of the devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

detect an eye movement of a user associated with one of the devices, wherein the eye movement selects the first one of the devices from among the devices.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application or the service is image processing, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform at least one of:

cause, at least in part, compiling of a collage of images presented respectively on the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

determine a level of image processing to apply on the respective images based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof; and

define a perspective of at least one of the images based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application or service is social networking, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform at least one of:

cause, at least in part, presentation of a social graph for the respective one or more devices, wherein the social graphs are combined based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

identify one or more common contacts of the combined social graph with respect to the one or more devices, wherein the common contacts are offered a common benefit;

generate a recommendation for one or more new contacts based, at least in part, on the one or more common contacts;

receive an input for specifying one or more contact criteria, wherein the combined social graph is searched according to the contact criteria;

cause, at least in part, establishment of a communication session between the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the combined social graph, the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

cause, at least in part, presentation of descriptions of the relationship types in the combined social graph; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of different portions of the combined social graph on the one or more devices based, at least in part, the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

associate the one or more devices with a virtual controller corresponding to a function common to the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof;

receive an input for actuating the virtual controller;

cause, at least in part, control of the function with respect to a local implementation of the function and one or more remote implementations of the function corresponding respectively to the one or more devices.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused:

associate a different application or service with one or more of the devices; and

combine features, user interface elements, or a combination thereof of the different applications and services based, at least in part, on the location information, the movement, or a combination thereof.

21-61. -61. (canceled)