IP Library Granted Patent US 8,160,565
Granted Patent B2
US 8,160,565 · App. 12/788,236 · Granted Apr 17, 2012

Device with multidirectional control for selecting actions to perform on a telecommunication device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,160,565
App. No.
12/788,236
Granted
Apr 17, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device and a telecommunication device that are locally connected and methods of utilizing those devices are described herein. The electronic device detects a pattern or duration of user interactions with a multidirectional control of the electronic device. Based on the pattern or duration and association data mapping patterns or durations to commands, the electronic device selects a command and then transmits the command to the telecommunication device. The telecommunication device enables a user to associate actions to be performed by the telecommunication device with patterns or durations of user interaction with the multidirectional control. Also, the telecommunication device receives a signal from the electronic device that is recognized as a command to perform an action, the recognition being based on association data mapping the signal to a pattern or duration of user interaction. The telecommunication device then performs the action.

Claims (33)

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by an electronic device, at least one of a pattern or duration of user interactions with a multidirectional control of the electronic device;

selecting, by the electronic device, a command to transmit to a telecommunication device based at least on the detected pattern or duration and on association data mapping patterns or durations of user interactions to commands; and

transmitting, by the electronic device, the command to the telecommunication device via a local connection between the electronic device and the telecommunication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of user interactions includes at least one of a linear movement, an amount of linear movement, a sequence of linear movements, a circular movement, an amount of circular movement, a sequence of circular movements, or any sequence of movements of the multidirectional control in any order.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an additional user interaction with the electronic device and determining a mode of the electronic device based on the additional user interaction, the electronic device having a plurality of modes.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a same pattern or duration of user interaction is associated with multiple commands, each command associated with a combination of a pattern or duration of user interaction and a mode.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the mode is associated with a group of commands or a telecommunication device application or feature.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a result of the command from the telecommunication device and providing haptic, visual, or auditory feedback to a user of the electronic device to indicate the result of the command.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting includes transmitting an indication of a selected mode of the electronic device or an identifier of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data stored on the electronic device to the telecommunication device in response to user interaction with the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is a signal interpreted by the telecommunication device based on one or more of a telecommunication device context, an electronic device mode, or an electronic device identifier.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a physical control coupled to the housing that is moveable with respect to the housing in a plurality of directions;

a processing unit contained by the housing; and

a plurality of executable instructions configured to be operated by the processing unit to perform operations including:

detecting user interaction with the physical control;

selecting a command to transmit to a telecommunication device based on the user interaction and on a selected mode of the electronic device, the electronic device having a plurality of modes each associated with a plurality of commands; and

transmitting the selected command to the telecommunication device via a personal area network connection between the electronic device and the telecommunication device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the electronic device is one of a watch, a key fob, a necklace pendant, a head set, glasses, a brooch, or a belt buckle.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the control is one of a watch face, a pendant stone, or a decorative attachment.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the electronic device is specific to an application of the telecommunication device.

14. A method comprising:

enabling, by a telecommunication device, a user to associate actions to be performed by the telecommunication device with patterns or durations of user interaction with a control of an electronic device that is separate and distinct from the telecommunication device;

receiving, by the telecommunication device, a signal from the electronic device that is recognized as a command to perform an action, the recognition being based on association data mapping the signal to a pattern or duration of user interaction with the control, the pattern or duration being associated with the action; and

performing, by the telecommunication device, the action.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the action is one of answering a voice call, initiating a voice call with a contact, accepting a calendar appointment, rejecting a calendar appointment, playing telecommunication device content, pausing telecommunication device content, stopping playing of telecommunication device content, fast-forwarding telecommunication device content, or rewinding telecommunication device content.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting the association data to the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the signal is associated with multiple commands and the command is further recognized based on at least one of a telecommunication device context, an electronic device mode, or an electronic device identifier.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving multiple signals from multiple electronic devices, each electronic device associated with an application or feature of the telecommunication device.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the enabling includes providing a user interface associated with one of a telecommunication device platform or a telecommunication device application.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising communicating with a server to identify an unknown signal received from the electronic device.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC
Reel/Frame 052969/0381 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.
Reel/Frame 052969/0314 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
Reel/Frame 041225/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037125/0885 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2010
From: WANG, WINSTON; VALALIK, JASON W.; MANN, JONATHAN L.; EWING, RICHARD ALAN, JR.
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 024446/0709 →