Task switching between two computing devices

• US 8,175,644 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• 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:
  US13/332,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 139 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 a user to operate a computing device to share data with another device. An event may be detected, where the event indicates the intent of the user to share content to the other device while already using a first computing device. Once the event is detected, information may be received on the second computing device. This information may be used to initiate an application on the other computing device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computing device, the method being performed by one or more processors of the computing device and comprising:

presenting a first content using a first application on a display of the computing device;

establishing a wireless communication link between the computing device and a second device in response to the computing device and the second device being brought into operational proximity with each other;

receiving a user input indicating an intent to transfer data to the second device; and

in response to receiving the user input, transmitting data to the second device and enabling the second device to (i) initiate a second application on the second device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application, and (ii) display a second content related to the first content using the second application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content includes at least one of a message, an email, a document, a calendar entry, a contact record, an image, or a media file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting data to the second device includes transmitting data corresponding to the first content using the wireless communication link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving the user input, the second device is enabled to initiate a second application on the second device automatically.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

presenting a first content using a first application on a display of the computing device;

establishing a wireless communication link between the computing device and a second device in response to the computing device and the second device being brought into operational proximity with each other;

receiving a user input indicating an intent to transfer data to the second device; and

in response to receiving the user input, transmitting data to the second device and enabling the second device to (i) initiate a second application on the second device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application, and (ii) display a second content related to the first content using the second application.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first content includes at least one of a message, an email, a document, a calendar entry, a contact record, an image, or a media file.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computing device is a cellular phone.

11. A computing device comprising:

a display screen;

a wireless communication port;

one or more processors coupled to the display screen and the wireless communication port; and

a memory resource coupled to the one or more processors, the memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

present a first content using a first application on a display of the computing device;

establish a wireless communication link between the computing device and a second device in response to the computing device and the second device being brought into operational proximity with each other;

receive a user input indicating an intent to transfer data to the second device; and

in response to receiving the user input, transmit data to the second device and enable the second device to (i) initiate a second application on the second device, the second application having a functionality that is equivalent to a functionality of the first application, and (ii) display a second content related to the first content using the second application.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the first content includes at least one of a message, an email, a document, a calendar entry, a contact record, an image, or a media file.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the first application is one of a messaging application, a word processing application, a contacts application or a calendar application.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the computing device is a cellular phone.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein in response to receiving the user input, the second device is enabled to initiate a second application on the second device automatically.