Method for initiating a wireless transfer of data between at least two electronic devices, electronic device and software program therefor

• US 8,165,523 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mäkelä, Jakke, Erola, Timo, Juhola, Mikko, Linjama, Jukka, Naula, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelley, Steven
• Application Number:
  US10/557,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,973 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 709/227
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of initiating a wireless transfer of data between two electronic devices. In order to make the initiation particularly user friendly, it is proposed that a concept called “hugging” is employed. A hugging state between two electronic devices is assumed to be given if a first electronic device and a second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other. Only in case such a hugging state is detected at a first device, a data transfer channel is opened for transferring data between the first device and some other device, e.g. the second device. The invention relates equally to a corresponding device and to a software program product with a corresponding software code.

Claims

1. A method comprising at a first one of at least two electronic devices:

detecting a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices, a hugging state being assumed to be given if said first electronic device and said second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other, wherein said detecting a hugging state comprises;

opening a polling channel as a local wireless link of said first electronic device;

transmitting signals on said polling channel and receiving signals on said polling channel; and

determining whether said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second electronic device by evaluating data measured by said first device and signals received via said polling channel; and

opening a data transfer channel as a local wireless link of said first electronic device for transferring data between said first electronic device and another than said first one of said electronic devices, when it has been detected that said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a second one of said electronic devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second electronic device comprises a detection of at least one of a mechanical and an electrical interaction between said first electronic device and a second electronic device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said polling channel is opened by said first electronic device upon initiation by a user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said polling channel is opened automatically by said first electronic device at least one of:

when a regular sampling of said polling channel shows that a second electronic device located in the vicinity is transmitting signals on said polling channel;

when proximity measurements performed by said first electronic device indicate that a second electronic device is in the vicinity; and

when data of a predetermined type is currently uniquely identified in said first electronic device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing at said first electronic device proximity measurements using a proximity sensor for detecting close objects when said polling channel is opened, wherein said first electronic device transmits a proximity indication on said polling channel in case a close object is detected by said proximity sensor, and wherein said first electronic device determines that it is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case said first electronic devices receives basically at the time of transmission of said proximity indication a proximity indication transmitted by a second electronic device on said polling channel.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the acceleration of said first electronic device using an acceleration sensor in said first electronic device when said polling channel is opened, wherein said first electronic device transmits an acceleration indication on said polling channel in case said acceleration sensor detects a predefined acceleration-deceleration profile which can be expected for said first electronic device in case said first electronic device and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other, and wherein said first electronic device determines that it is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case said first electronic device receives basically at the time of transmission of said acceleration indication a corresponding acceleration indication transmitted by a second electronic device on said polling channel.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device measures the intensity of signals received on said polling channel, and wherein said first electronic device determines that it is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case at least one of:

a measured intensity of signals received on said polling channel behaves according to a predefined function of time which can be expected in case said first and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other; and

a measured intensity of received signals corresponds to a predefined intensity, which can be expected if said first electronic device and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device determines based on at least one of the following approaches whether it is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel:

an audio-based proximity sensing, a detection which is based on the sound of a contact, a detection using application-specific contact sensors, and a visual identification of said specific motion pattern.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device only determines that it is in a hugging state with a second electronic device, in case a plurality of conditions are met which indicate that said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors of said first electronic device are employed for detecting a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices, each sensor providing an indication when it determines that a hugging state is entered, and each sensor being calibrated such that it erroneously determines with a known probability that a hugging state is entered, said method further comprising monitoring for each sensor the frequency of an indicated hugging state and excluding a sensor from further consideration in case a monitored frequency of an indicated hugging state deviates from a frequency expected due to said known probability, and detecting a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices based on the indications from all sensors not excluded from consideration.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices is detected by weighting and combining the indication from all sensors not excluded from consideration.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein fuzzy reasoning is employed for determining whether said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein an intensity of a possible contact between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices is monitored, and wherein in case an intensity of a contact is determined to exceed a predetermined value, an alarm is output and/or the detection of a hugging state is disabled.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a hugging state between said first electronic device and a second one of said electronic devices is activated by at least one of a user input to said first electronic device and an indication from an application of said first electronic device.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said data is transferred in form of packages or objects of data.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said other than said first one of said electronic devices is the same as said second one of said electronic devices.

17. The method according to claim 1, where said other than said first one of said electronic devices is a third one of said electronic devices, said second electronic device functioning as a medium for opening a data transfer channel for transferring data between said first electronic device and said third electronic device.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic device is a mobile device and wherein said second electronic device is a mobile device.

19. An electronic device comprising implemented software and a processing component, the software with the processing component configured to cause the electronic device to perform at least:

determine whether said electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second electronic device, a hugging state being assumed to be given if said electronic device and said second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other, wherein determining whether said electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second electronic device comprises

open a polling channel as a local wireless link;

cause a transmission of signals on said polling channel and a reception of signals on said polling channel; and

evaluate data measured by said electronic device and signals received via said polling channel; and

open a data transfer channel as a local wireless link for enabling a transfer of data between said electronic device and another electronic device, when it has been determined that said electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is further configured to cause the electronic device to:

determine upon initiation by one of a user and an application whether said electronic device entered a remote hugging state, a remote hugging state being assumed to be given if said electronic device is determined to undergo a predetermined motion pattern; and

open a data transfer channel for enabling a transfer of data between said electronic device and another electronic device, when it has been determined that said electronic device is in a remote hugging state.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20, further comprising a user interface, the software with the processing component further configured to cause the electronic device to present to a user of said electronic device a list of other electronic devices via said user interface and to enable a user to select electronic devices from said list via said user interface, wherein a data transfer channel is opened only for other electronic devices selected by a user.

22. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein said electronic device is a mobile device and wherein said second electronic device is a mobile device.

23. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is configured to cause the electronic device to open said polling channel automatically at least one of:

when a regular sampling of said polling channel shows that a second electronic device located in the vicinity is transmitting signals on said polling channel;

when proximity measurements performed by said electronic device indicate that a second electronic device is in the vicinity; and

when data of a predetermined type is currently uniquely identified in said electronic device.

24. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is configured to cause the electronic device to perform proximity measurements using a proximity sensor for detecting close objects when said polling channel is opened, to transmit a proximity indication on said polling channel in case a close object is detected by said proximity sensor, and to determine that said electronic devices is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case said electronic devices receives basically at the time of transmission of said proximity indication a proximity indication transmitted by a second electronic device on said polling channel.

25. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is configured to cause the electronic device to determine the acceleration of said electronic device using an acceleration sensor when said polling channel is opened, to transmit an acceleration indication on said polling channel in case said acceleration sensor detects a predefined acceleration-deceleration profile which can be expected for said electronic device in case said electronic device and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other, and to determine that said electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case said electronic device receives basically at the time of transmission of said acceleration indication a corresponding acceleration indication transmitted by a second electronic device on said polling channel.

26. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is configured to cause the electronic device to determine based on at least one of the following approaches whether said electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel:

an audio-based proximity sensing, a detection which is based on the sound of a contact, a detection using application-specific contact sensors, and a visual identification of said specific motion pattern.

27. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the software with the processing component is configured to cause the electronic device to measure an intensity of signals received on said polling channel, and to determine that the electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device which has equally opened said polling channel, in case at least one of:

a measured intensity of signals received on said polling channel behaves according to a predefined function of time which can be expected in case said electronic device and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other; and

a measured intensity of received signals corresponds to a predefined intensity, which can be expected if said first electronic device and said second electronic device undergo said specific motion pattern relative to each other.

28. The electronic device according to claim 19, further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to be employed for detecting a hugging state between said electronic device and said second electronic device, each sensor being configured to provide an indication when it determines that a hugging state is entered, and each sensor being calibrated to determine with a known probability that a hugging state is entered in false positives;

wherein the software with the processing component is further configured to cause the electronic device to perform;

monitor for each sensor the frequency of an indicated hugging state and for excluding a sensor from further consideration in case a monitored frequency of an indicated hugging state deviates from a frequency expected due to said known probability; and

detect a hugging state between said electronic device and said second electronic device based on the indications from all sensors not excluded from consideration.

29. The electronic device according to claim 19, where said other electronic device is a third electronic device, said second electronic device functioning as a medium for opening a data transfer channel for transferring data between said electronic device and said third electronic device.

30. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

31. A software program product in which a software code is stored, said software code realizing the following when running in a processing unit of a first one of at least two electronic devices:

determining whether said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second one of said electronic devices, a hugging state being assumed to be given if said first electronic device and said second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other, wherein said determining whether said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second one of said electronic devices comprises;

opening a polling channel as a local wireless link of said first electronic device;

transmitting signals on said polling channel and receiving signals on said polling channel; and

determining whether said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a corresponding second electronic device by evaluating data measured by said first device and signals received via said polling channel; and

opening a data transfer channel as a local wireless link of said first electronic device for transferring data between said first electronic device and another than said first one of said electronic devices when it has been determined that said first electronic device is in a hugging state with a second electronic device.