Method and apparatus for synchronizing tasks performed by multiple devices

• US 8,996,729 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Taivalsaari, Antero, Paimen, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): KATSIKIS, KOSTAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/445,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/230, 709/228, 709/223, 370/503, 375/354
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• 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: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

Provided herein is a method, which may include an indication that is received that a view of a task is presented by a first device. State information may be provided to a second device to permit the second device to be synchronized with the first device and to present a view of the task, either the same view or a different view than that presented by the first device. Information may also be received relating to a change in state of the task that is provided by one of the devices while a first view of the task is presented thereupon. Further, updated state information may be provided to another one of the devices to cause the other device to remain synchronized and to update a second view of the task that is presented.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a view of a task is presented by a first device;

causing state information relating to the task to be provided to at least a second device to permit the second device to be synchronized with the first device;

causing the second device to present a different view of the task than that presented by the first device, wherein the different view of the task is determined by the second device in response to a user input at the second device;

receiving information relating to a change in state of the task that is provided by one of the first or second devices while a first view of the task is presented thereupon; and

causing updated state information related to the task to be provided to another one of the first or second devices to cause the another device to remain synchronized and to update a second view of the task that is presented thereupon.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving user input indicating that the task is to be synchronized with the second device.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving a swipe gesture defined by two fingers spaced from one another while being swiped.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing updated state information related to the task to be provided to the first and second devices in response to receiving the information relating to the change in state of the task.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing a task list to be provided at least to the second device in response to receiving the indication that the view of the task has been presented by the first device.

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

causing state information relating to the task to be provided to a third device from the second device to permit the third device to be synchronized with at least one of the first device or the second device, wherein the third device presents a different view of the task than the first device or the second device.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that a view of a different task is presented by one of the first or second devices; and

causing state information relating to the different task to be provided to another one of the first or second devices to permit the another device to remain synchronized and to present a different view of the different task.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an indication that a view of a task is presented by a first device;

cause state information relating to the task to be provided to at least a second device to permit the second device to be synchronized with the first device;

cause the second device to present a different view of the task than that presented by the first device, wherein the different view of the task is determined by the second device in response to a user input at the second device;

receive information relating to a change in state of the task that is provided by one of the first or second devices while a first view of the task is presented thereupon; and

cause updated state information related to the task to be provided to another one of the first or second devices to cause the another device to remain synchronized and to update a second view of the task that is presented thereupon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating that the task is to be synchronized with the second device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive the user input by receiving a swipe gesture defined by two fingers spaced from one another while being swiped.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause updated state information related to the task to be provided to the first and second devices in response to receiving the information relating to the change in state of the task.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause a task list to be provided at least to the second device in response to receiving the indication that the view of the task has been presented by the first device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an indication that a view of a different task is presented by one of the first or second devices; and

cause state information relating to the different task to be provided to another one of the first or second devices to permit the another device to remain synchronized and to present a different view of the different task.

14. A method comprising:

causing a first view of a task to be presented;

causing an indication to be provided that the first view of the task is being presented;

receiving updated state information related to the task that has originated with another synchronized device while a second view of the task is presented by the another device, wherein the second view of the task is different from the first view of the task, and wherein the second view of the task is determined by the another device in response to receiving a user input at the another device; and

causing an updated first view of the task to be presented based upon the updated state information.

15. The method according to any one of claim 14 further comprising receiving user input indicating that the task is to be synchronized with the another device.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving a swipe gesture defined by two fingers spaced from one another while being swiped.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the second view is different than the first view.

18. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

receiving an indication that a view of a different task is presented by the another device;

receiving state information relating to the different task; and

causing a view of the different task to be presented in a manner that is synchronized with the another device based upon the state information relating to the different task.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

receiving user input directing that a different view of the different task is to be presented than that presented by the another device;

causing the different view of the different task to be presented,

wherein the different view of the different task remains synchronized with the another device based upon the state information relating to the different task.

20. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

cause a first view of a task to be presented;

cause an indication to be provided that the first view of the task is being presented;

receive updated state information related to the task that has originated with another synchronized device while a second view of the task is presented by the another device, wherein the second view of the task is different from the first view of the task, and wherein the second view of the task is determined by the another device in response to receiving a user input at the another device; and

cause an updated first view of the task to be presented based upon the updated state information.