Task switching between two computing devices

• US 8,103,308 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeffrey, Hawkins
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/160,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110258321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 4555561-557, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455418-420, 455/466, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A method is provided to enable the person to switch use of computing devices when working with records and/or documents. A method such as described may be implemented for an individual operating two (or more) computing devices that share and synchronize sets of records. One or more operations may be performed to update and maintain correspondence between the two sets of records. A switchover event may be detected, where the event corresponds to the individual using a second computing device while already using a first computing device. Once the switchover event is detected, state of use information may be received on the second computing device. This information indicates the state of use of one or more records on the first computing device. This information may be used to affect the state of use of corresponding records on the second computing device. In particular, the corresponding records on the second computing device may be placed in a state of use, or in a selected state for subsequent use.

Claims

1. A method for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device, the method comprising:

pairing the first computing device to the second computing device when the first computing device is within a predetermined distance from the second computing device;

detecting an event corresponding to a switching operation of a first application on the first computing device to a second application on the second computing device, wherein a functionality of the first application is equivalent to a functionality of the second application;

determining state information corresponding to the operation of the first application on the first computing device; and

placing the second application of the second computing device in a state that is equivalent to the first application of the first computing device based, at least in part, on the state information of the first application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing one or more data records stored on the first computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device when the first computing device is paired with the second computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing one or more data records stored on the first computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device in response to detecting the event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event corresponds to one or more user actions that signal the user'"'"'s intent to switch use of the first computing device to the second computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising launching the second application on the second computing device in response to receiving the state information of the first application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are paired via a wireless communication channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a calendar application or a document application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second application is one of a messaging application, a calendar application or a document application.

9. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

pairing the first computing device to the second computing device when the first computing device is within a predetermined distance from the second computing device;

detecting an event corresponding to a switching operation of a first application on the first computing device to a second application on the second computing device, wherein a functionality of the first application is equivalent to a functionality of the second application;

determining state information corresponding to the operation of the first application on the first computing device; and

placing the second application of the second computing device in a state that is equivalent to the first application of the first computing device based, at least in part, on the state information of the first application.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising synchronizing one or more data records stored on the first computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device when the first computing device is paired with the second computing device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising synchronizing one or more data records stored on the first computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device in response to detecting the event.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the event corresponds to one or more user actions that signal the user'"'"'s intent to switch use of the first computing device to the second computing device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising launching the second application on the second computing device in response to receiving the state information of the first application.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are paired via a wireless communication channel.

15. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory operatively coupled to the one or more processors, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

pair the computing device to a second computing device when the second computing device is within a predetermined distance;

detect an event corresponding to a switching operation of a first application on the computing device to a second application on the second computing device, wherein a functionality of the first application is equivalent to a functionality of the second application;

determine state information corresponding to the operation of the first application on the computing device; and

transfer the state information of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device such that second application on the second device may be placed in a state that is equivalent to the first application of the computing device.

16. The computing device of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to synchronize one or more data records stored on the computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device when the computing device is paired with the second computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to synchronize one or more data records stored on the computing device with one or more data records stored on the second computing device in response to detecting the event.

18. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the event corresponds to one or more user actions that signal the user'"'"'s intent to switch use of the first computing device to the second computing device.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the computing device and the second computing device are paired via a wireless communication channel.

20. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a calendar application or a document application.