Device-to-device workflows

• US 8,060,627 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Rosenblatt, Michael, Nakajima, Taido Lantz, Mayo, Sean Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz; Asad
• Application Number:
  US12/286,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 715/810
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for performing a workflow with two or more electronic devices. Embodiments include an initiator electronic device that may function to control the workflow and send instructions for executing the workflow to a target electronic device. The initiator device may generate instructions for the workflow based on properties received from the target device. The instructions generated by the initiator may allow both devices to accomplish a shared goal, such as exchanging contact information. In some embodiments, the initiator device may include a graphical user interface for creating workflows, downloading workflows from a web service, and entering preferences governing the performance of the workflows.

Claims

1. A method for determining a sequence of actions to be performed using an initiator device and a target device, the method comprising:

displaying on the initiator device a menu screen that presents a plurality of action sequences stored on the initiator device, wherein each of the plurality of action sequences comprises one or more actions executable by the initiator device, and wherein at least one of the actions within each of the plurality of action sequences employs data, received from the target device, in an application stored on the initiator device to complete the at least one action on the initiator device;

receiving a user input selecting an action sequence from the plurality of action sequences;

receiving properties from the target device that describe functionality of the target device for performing the actions of the selected action sequence; and

determining instructions for the selected action sequence based on the received properties, wherein the instructions enable the target device to execute the selected action sequence and wherein determining instructions comprises;

retrieving a workflow script corresponding to the selected action sequence and customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to enable the target device to generate the data for the application stored on the initiator device, wherein a corresponding application is not present on the target device; and

customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to remove one or more actions of the selected action sequence that are unsupported by the target device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving properties comprises establishing a near field communication link between the target device and the initiator device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected action sequence comprises a plurality of actions and wherein determining instructions comprises:

displaying on the initiator device a summary screen that identifies each of the plurality of actions of the selected action sequence;

receiving a user input selecting at least one of the plurality of actions for removal from the selected action sequence; and

customizing the workflow script to remove the selected action from the selected action sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining instructions comprises accessing preferences stored in the initiator device to identify data files stored in the initiator device or the target device for retrieval using the instructions.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising initiating the selected action sequence on the initiator device in response to receiving a device identifier from the target device, wherein the device identifier is associated with the selected action sequence.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising storing a data file received from the target device in a storage location of the initiator device, wherein the data file is determined by the target device using the instructions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving properties comprises requesting the properties from the target device, and wherein the requested properties are determined based on the selected action sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the properties specify an operating system for the target device or a software application stored on the target device, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on the initiator device a menu screen comprises displaying the menu screen in response to detecting a near field communication link between the initiator device and the target device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of action sequences comprises an action sequence for exchanging contact information, and wherein the action sequence for exchanging contact information comprises an action for obtaining electronic contact information for a new contact person and an action for taking a picture of the new contact person.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of action sequences comprises an action sequence for connecting to a contact person on a social networking site, and wherein the action sequence for connecting to a contact person on a social networking site comprises actions including navigating to the social networking site, entering contact information for the contact person on the social networking site, and requesting a connection to the contact person through the social networking site.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the workflow script comprises associating the workflow script with a device identifier received from the target device to enable the initiator device to initiate the selected action sequence in response to detecting a near field communication link between the initiator device and the target device.

13. A method of creating an action sequence for an initiator device, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface presenting a plurality of user selectable actions on the initiator device, each of the selectable actions having corresponding instructions stored in the initiator device;

receiving a user input selecting two or more actions from the plurality of user selectable actions, wherein at least one of the selected two or more actions employs data, received from a target device, in an application stored on the initiator device to complete the at least one action on the initiator device;

compiling the selected two or more actions into an action sequence based on the user input;

generating a workflow script for the action sequence based on the corresponding instructions;

receiving properties from the target device that describe functionality of the target device for performing the selected two or more actions of the action sequence;

customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to enable the target device to generate the data for the application stored on the initiator device, wherein a corresponding application is not present on the target device; and

customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to remove one or more actions of the action sequence that are unsupported by the target device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a user input comprises displaying a screen of the user interface to facilitate user identification of an order of execution for the selected two or more actions, and wherein the workflow script enables the initiator device to perform the selected two or more actions in the user identified order of execution.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying a screen of the user interface for assigning preferences to the action sequence, wherein the preferences determine whether the action sequence is initiated automatically or is initiated in response to receiving a user acknowledgement.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising:

verifying the action sequence to ensure the functionality of the electronic initiator device supports each of the selected two or more actions in the action sequence; and

storing the action sequence within the initiator device.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising:

displaying a screen for associating the target device with the action sequence; and

associating the workflow script with a device identifier of the target device to enable the initiator device to initiate the selected action sequence in response to detecting a near field communication link between the target device and the initiator device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of user selectable actions comprise an action for exchanging contact information and an action for taking a picture.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a workflow script comprising customizing one or more of the corresponding instructions based on the received properties of the target device.

20. An electronic device for determining a sequence of actions to be performed using the electronic device and a target device, the electronic device comprising:

means for displaying on the electronic device a menu screen that presents a plurality of action sequences stored on the electronic device, wherein each of the plurality of action sequences comprises one or more actions executable by the initiator device, and wherein at least one of the actions within each of the plurality of action sequences employs data, received from the target device, in an application stored on the initiator device to complete the at least one action on the initiator device;

means for receiving a user input selecting an action sequence from the plurality of action sequences;

means for receiving properties from the target device that describe functionality of the target device for performing the actions of the selected action sequence; and

means for determining instructions for the selected action sequence based on the received properties, wherein the instructions enable the target device to execute the selected action sequence and wherein determining instructions comprises;

retrieving a workflow script corresponding to the selected action sequence and customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to enable the target device to generate the data for the application stored on the initiator device, wherein a corresponding application is not present on the target device; and

customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to remove one or more actions of the selected action sequence that are unsupported by the target device.

22. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the means for determining instructions comprise a processor operably coupled to the means for receiving properties from the target device and configured to execute application instructions stored within a storage of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the application instructions comprise:

code to determine, based on the received properties, whether the target device supports the one or more actions in the selected action sequence;

code to retrieve a workflow script that corresponds to the selected action sequence; and

code to customize the workflow script based on the received properties to remove one or more actions of the selected action sequence that are unsupported by the target device.

21. The electronic device 20, wherein the means for receiving properties from the target device comprise a near field communication interface.

24. A method for determining a sequence of actions to be performed using an initiator device and a target device, the method comprising:

displaying on the initiator device a menu screen that presents a plurality of action sequences stored on the initiator device, wherein each of the plurality of action sequences comprises two or more actions executable by the initiator device;

receiving a user input selecting an action sequence from the plurality of action sequences;

requesting properties from the target device that describe functionality of the target device for performing the actions of the selected action sequence;

receiving the properties from the target device;

identifying, based on the received properties, one or more actions in the selected action sequence that employ data, received from the target device, in an application stored on the initiator device and not present the target device; and

determining instructions for the selected action sequence based on the properties, wherein the instructions enable the target device to execute the selected action sequence, and wherein determining instructions comprises;

retrieving a workflow script corresponding to the selected action sequence and customizing the workflow script based on the received properties to enable the target device to generate the data for the one or more identified actions; and

customizing the workflow script based on the received properties to remove one or more actions of the selected action sequence that are unsupported by the target device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining instructions comprises comparing the two or more actions of the selected action sequence to user preferences stored in the initiator device that identify user prohibited actions and customizing the workflow script to remove one or more actions of the selected action sequence that correspond to the user prohibited actions.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the application comprises a web browser, and wherein customizing the workflow script comprises adding instructions to the workflow script for displaying a screen that simulates a website on the target device.

27. The method of claim 24, comprising customizing the workflow script to enable the initiator device to initiate the selected action sequence in response to detecting a near field communication link between the initiator device and the target device.

28. A method for determining a sequence of actions to be performed using an initiator device and a target device, the method comprising:

displaying on the initiator device a menu screen that presents a plurality of action sequences stored on the initiator device, wherein each of the plurality of action sequences comprises one or more actions executable by the initiator device, and wherein at least one of the actions within each of the plurality of action sequences employs data, received from the target device, in an application stored on the initiator device to complete the at least one action on the initiator device;

receiving a user input selecting an action sequence from the plurality of action sequences;

receiving properties from the target device that describe functionality of the target device for performing the actions of the selected action sequence; and

determining instructions for the selected action sequence based on the received properties, wherein the instructions enable the target device to execute the selected action sequence and wherein determining instructions comprises retrieving a workflow script corresponding to the selected action sequence and customizing the workflow script based on the received properties of the target device to enable the target device to generate the data for the application stored on the initiator device, wherein a corresponding application is not present on the target device;

wherein the selected action sequence comprises a plurality of actions and wherein determining instructions comprises;

displaying on the initiator device a summary screen that identifies each of the plurality of actions of the selected action sequence;

receiving a user input selecting at least one of the plurality of actions for removal from the selected action sequence; and

customizing the workflow script to remove the selected action from the selected action sequence.