Motion triggered data transfer

• US 8,391,786 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hodges, Stephen, Izadi, Shahram, Butler, David Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): THIAW, CATHERINE B
• Application Number:
  US11/627,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/571, 455/41.2, 455/557, 455/3.01, 370/328, 709/232
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243

Abstract

Methods of controlling the transfer of data between devices are described in which the manner of control is determined by a movement experienced by at least one of the devices. The method involves detecting a triggering movement and determining a characteristic of this movement. The transfer of data is then controlled based on the characteristic which has been identified.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a triggering motion event administered or received at a device;

determining a characteristic of said triggering motion event from a plurality of triggering motion event characteristics, wherein said plurality of triggering motion event characteristics comprises;

a number of bumps with at least one other device, whether said device has administered a bump against at least one other device comprising said device administering the bump by moving towards and coming in contact with the at least one other device while the at least one other device is stationary, the bump determined based on accelerometer data that indicates acceleration followed by rapid deceleration of said device;

whether said device has received a bump from at least one other device comprising said device being stationary and receiving the impact bump by receiving a contact from the at least one other device, the bump determined based on accelerometer data that indicates a rapid acceleration;

a magnitude of acceleration or deceleration associated with a detected bump; and

a location of an impact with at least one other device, said location of impact comprising a first location of impact or a second location of impact different from said first location of impact;

controlling transfer of data between said device and said at least one other device comprising;

selecting a type of data to be transferred based on the determined triggering motion event characteristic, and

selecting a direction of data flow based on the determined triggering motion event, wherein selecting a direction of data flow comprises determining whether said device transmits data to said at least one other device or whether said at least one other device transmits data to said device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling transfer of data between said device and at least one other device further comprises:

accessing a mapping between said determined triggering motion event characteristic and a control parameter; and

controlling transfer of data between said device and at least one other device according to said control parameter.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said control parameter comprises at least one of:

a data rate and rules defining a relationship between said device and said at least one other device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of triggering motion event characteristics further comprises at least one of:

an orientation of the device during said triggering motion event, a direction of said triggering motion event and a magnitude of said triggering motion event.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling transfer of data between said device and at least one other device further comprises:

initiating transfer of data to said at least one other device.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link between said device and said at least one other device, and

wherein controlling transfer of data between said device and said at least one other device based on said determined triggering motion event characteristic comprises;

controlling transfer of data between said device and said at least one other device over said communication link based on said determined triggering motion event characteristic.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

on detection of said triggering motion event, changing an aspect of operation of said device to assist in identification of said device by said at least one other device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a characteristic of said triggering motion event comprises:

accessing data relating to said triggering motion event administered or received at said device;

receiving data relating to said triggering motion event from said at least one other device; and

analyzing said data administered or received at said device and said data received from said at least one other device to determine a characteristic of said triggering motion event.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for devices located in proximity to said device; and

on detection of said at least one other device in proximity, monitoring motion of said device.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said device is a mobile device.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of triggering motion event characteristics further comprises a predetermined location on said device of an impact with at least one other device.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the determined triggering motion event characteristic comprises the location of an impact with the at least one other device; and

selecting a type of data to be transferred based on the determined triggering motion event characteristic comprises;

selecting a first type of data to be transferred if said location of impact comprises said first location of impact; and

selecting a second type of data to be transferred if said location of impact comprises said second location of impact.

14. One or more device-readable storage memories, storing device-executable instructions for data transfer that, when executed, configure a processor to perform acts comprising:

detecting a triggering motion administered or received at a device;

determining a characteristic of said triggering motion from a plurality of triggering motion characteristics, wherein said plurality of triggering motion characteristics comprises;

predetermined locations of impacts with at least one other device, said predetermined locations of impacts comprising corners of said device;

whether said device has administered a bump against at least one other device comprising said device administering the bump by moving towards and coming in contact with the at least one other device while the at least one other device is stationary, the bump determined based on accelerometer data that indicates acceleration followed by rapid deceleration of said device;

whether said device has received a bump from at least one other device comprising said device being stationary and receiving the impact bump by receiving a contact from the at least one other device, the bump determined based on accelerometer data that indicates a rapid acceleration;

a magnitude of acceleration or deceleration associated with a detected bump; and

a location of an impact with at least one other device, said location of impact comprising a first location of impact or a second location of impact different from said first location of impact; and

controlling transfer of data between said device and at least one other device based on said determined triggering motion characteristic, wherein controlling said transfer of data comprises;

accessing a mapping between a corner of an impact of said predetermined impact corners and a control parameter; and

transferring data between said device and said at least one other device according to said control parameter, said control parameter comprising;

data selection criteria and determining a direction of data flow, wherein said determining said direction of data flow comprises transmitting data from said device in a direction of said at least one other device or transmitting data from said at least one other device in a direction of said device.

15. A device comprising:

at least one sensor at each of four corners of said device;

a data transfer component;

a motion detection and analysis component arranged to detect a triggering motion, to determine a characteristic of said triggering motion, and to control transfer of data by said data transfer component based on said characteristic;

memory storing a plurality of mappings, each mapping being between at least one of a plurality of candidate characteristics and at least one of a plurality of control parameters, said mappings comprising;

an impact detected at a first sensor at a first corner of said device, said impact detected at said first sensor being mapped to a transfer of image files;

an impact detected at a second sensor at a second corner of said device, said impact detected at said second sensor being mapped to a synchronization of user files;

an impact detected at a third sensor at a third corner of said device, said impact detected at said third sensor being mapped to a transfer of business card information;

or

an impact detected at a fourth sensor at a fourth corner of said device, said impact detected at said fourth sensor being mapped to a pause in a transfer of data; and

wherein said motion detection and analysis component is configured to;

select a sensor at said first, second, third, or fourth corner of said device based on a detected impact;

access said mapping between said sensor at said first, second, third, or fourth corner of said device and at least one control parameter; and

control transfer of data by said data transfer component based on said control parameter, said control parameter comprising;

data selection criteria and determining a direction of data flow, wherein said determining said direction of data flow comprises transmitting data from said device in a direction of at least one other device or transmitting data from said at least one other device in a direction of said device.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said data transfer component comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

17. A device according to claim 15 wherein said motion detection and analysis component comprises a processor.

18. A device according to claim 15 wherein said at least one sensor comprises one of:

a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a microphone, a light sensor, a vibration detector, a camera, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, a switch and a magnetic sensor.