METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO AUTOMATED FUNCTIONALITY BASED UPON DETECTED INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVICES
Detection of a physical interaction between a first device that is logically coupled to a second device, wherein the physical interaction comprises one of a plurality of physical interactions that involve movement of one of the first device and the second device, results in automatically performing a function that corresponds to the physical interaction. The detected physical interaction can comprise one or more of a physical reorientation of the first device, a pivoting movement between the first device and the second device, a sliding movement between the first device and the second device, and a momentary change in physical proximity of the first device with respect to the second device. This activity can also include determining whether the physical interaction occurs within a predetermined period of time, and when the physical interaction does not occur within the predetermined period of time, prohibiting the automatic performing of the function.
1 . A method comprising:
detecting a physical interaction between a first device that is logically coupled to a second device, wherein the physical interaction comprises one of a plurality of physical interactions that involve movement of one of the first device and the second device;
automatically performing a function that corresponds to the physical interaction.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a characteristic of the movement is utilized, at least in part, to detect the physical interaction.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic is at least one of:
a direction of movement;
an orientation of the first device with respect to the second device;
which of the first device and the second device is moved;
a type of motion.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical interaction comprises, at least in part, at least one of:
a physical reorientation of the first device;
a pivoting movement between the first device and the second device;
a sliding movement between the first device and the second device;
a momentary change in physical proximity of the first device with respect to the second device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting physical interaction comprises detecting the physical interaction using data from at least one sensor.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of:
a magnetic field-based sensor;
a light-based sensor;
a color-based sensor;
an acceleration-based sensor;
a power/radiation-level-based sensor;
a location-based sensor.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring a passage of time;
determining whether the physical interaction occurs within a predetermined period of time;
when the physical interaction does not occur within the predetermined period of time, prohibiting the automatic performing of the function that corresponds to the physical interaction.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device operably couples to the second device via, at least in part, a wireless coupling.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function comprises, at least in part, compensating a display of information on the first device to account for physical misalignment between the first device and the second device.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to:
detect a physical interaction between a first device and a second device, wherein the physical interaction comprises one of a plurality of physical interactions that involve movement of one of the first device and the second device;
automatically facilitate a functionality that corresponds to the physical interaction.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the physical interaction comprises, at least in part, at least one of:
a physical reorientation of the first device;
a pivoting movement between the first device and the second device;
a sliding movement between the first device and the second device;
a momentary change in physical proximity of the first device with respect to the second device.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a sensor operably coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the physical interaction.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:
a magnetic field-based sensor;
a light-based sensor;
a color-based sensor;
an acceleration-based sensor;
a power/radiation-level-based sensor;
a location-based sensor.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first device operably couples to the electronic device via a physical coupling.
15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the physical coupling comprises a pivoting physical coupling.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the physical coupling comprises a non-pivoting physical coupling.
17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first device operably couples to the second device via a sliding physical coupling.
18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first device operably couples to the second device via, at least in part, a wireless coupling.
19 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first device and the second device comprise a portable electronic device and an electronic device that is discrete from the portable electronic device, respectively.