Device-to-device communications based on capacitive sensing and coupling via human body or direct device-to-device coupling
Systems, devices and techniques disclosed in this document provide device-to-device communications via a human body of a user between (1) a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen that includes capacitor sensors and provides a display function and (2) a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors that detect or sense, based on capacitive sensing and without providing a display function, signals transmitted from the capacitor sensor touch screen of the capacitor sensor touch screen device. The human body of a user operates as a signal transmitting medium. In addition, the systems, devices and techniques disclosed in this document provide device-to-device communications via direct device-to-device coupling between two capacitor sensor touch screen devices each including capacitor sensor touch screen that includes capacitor sensors and provides a display function.
1. A method for providing communications between (1) a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen that includes capacitor sensors and provides a display function and (2) a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors that detect or sense, based on capacitive sensing and without providing a display function, signals transmitted from the capacitor sensor touch screen of the capacitor sensor touch screen device, comprising:
placing the capacitor sensor device without a display function in proximity of, or in contact with, a body part of a user to be in capacitive coupling with the body part;
operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to (1) control the capacitor sensor touch screen to provide touch-based user interfacing between the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device, and (2) operate the same capacitor sensor touch screen to sense a device-to-device communication signal from the capacitor sensor device without a display function to allow device-to-device signaling between the capacitor sensor touch screen device and the capacitor sensor device without a display function via capacitive coupling through the human body of the user;
operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to initiate a device-to-device connection initiation signal and to multiplex the device-to-device connection initiation signal in time with a touch screen signal that provides touch-based user interfacing between touching of the capacitor sensor touch screen by the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device so as to direct the multiplexed signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen;
operating the capacitor sensor touch screen to receive an acknowledgement to the device-to-device connection initiation signal in a device-to-device communication signal from the capacitor sensor device without a display function;
when the acknowledgment is detected, operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to send the capacitor sensor device without a display function an acknowledgment back signal that is multiplexed in time with a touch screen signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen; and
subsequently operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to use one or more time slots in a touch screen signal that are not used for touch-based user interfacing between touching of the capacitor sensor touch screen by the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device to communicate with the capacitor sensor device without a display function.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a portable communication device that wirelessly communicates with a wireless communication network.
3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a portable computer.
4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device configured to attach to a wrist of the user.
5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is attached to a belt worn by the user.
6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a shoe worn by the user.
7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in an article which is attached to the user.
8. The method as in claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device that includes at least one other sensor,
the at least one other sensor collects sensor data, and
the method further includes operating the one or more capacitor sensors to carry the collected sensor data from the at least one other sensor onto a device-to-device communication signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen device.
9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a biological parameter of the user.
10. The method as in claim 9 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a temperature of the user.
11. The method as in claim 9 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a blood pressure of the user.
12. The method as in claim 9 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a body pulse rate of the user.
13. The method as in claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a motion parameter of the user.
14. The method as in claim 1 , comprising:
modulating information for device-to-device communication based on a frequency modulation protocol for device-to-device signaling between the capacitor sensor touch screen device and the capacitor sensor device without a display function via capacitive coupling through the human body of the user.
15. A method for providing communications between a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen with capacitor sensors and a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors for capacitive sensing without a display function, comprising:
placing the capacitor sensor device without a display function in proximity of, or in contact with, a body part of a user to be in capacitive coupling with the body part;
operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to (1) control the capacitor sensor touch screen to provide touch-based user interfacing between the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device, and (2) operate the same capacitor sensor touch screen to initiate a device-to-device connection initiation signal and to multiplex the device-to-device connection initiation signal in time with a touch screen signal that provides touch-based user interfacing between touching of the capacitor sensor touch screen by the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device so as to direct the multiplexed signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen;
operating the capacitor sensor device without a display function to detect the device-to-device connection initiation signal via capacitive coupling through the human body of the user and, in response, to generate an acknowledgement to the device-to-device connection initiation signal;
operating the capacitor sensor touch screen of the capacitor sensor touch screen device to receive the acknowledgement from the capacitor sensor device without a display function;
when the acknowledgment is detected, operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to send the capacitor sensor device without a display function an acknowledgment back signal that is multiplexed in time with a touch screen signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen;
operating the capacitor sensor device without a display function to detect the acknowledgment back signal from the capacitor sensor touch screen device and, in response, to set the capacitor sensor device into a device-to-device communication mode to send data to the capacitor sensor touch screen device; and
subsequently operating the capacitor sensor touch screen device to use one or more time slots in a touch screen signal that are not used for touch-based user interfacing between touching of the capacitor sensor touch screen by the user and the capacitor sensor touch screen device to communicate with the capacitor sensor device, including receiving the data from the capacitor sensor device without a display function.
16. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device attached to a wrist of the user.
17. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is attached to a belt worn by the user.
18. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a shoe worn by the user.
19. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in an article which is attached to the user.
20. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device that includes at least one other sensor,
the at least one other sensor collects sensor data, and
the method further includes operating the one or more capacitor sensors to carry the collected sensor data from the at least one other sensor onto a device-to-device communication signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen device.
21. The method as in claim 20 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a biological parameter of the user.
22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a temperature of the user.
23. The method as in claim 21 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a blood pressure of the user.
24. The method as in claim 21 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a heart pulse rate of the user.
25. The method as in claim 20 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a motion parameter of the user.
26. The method as in claim 15 , comprising:
modulating information for device-to-device communication based on a frequency modulation protocol for device-to-device signaling between the capacitor sensor touch screen device and the capacitor sensor device without a display function via capacitive coupling through the human body of the user.
27. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a portable communication device that wirelessly communicates with a wireless communication network.
28. The method as in claim 27 , wherein:
the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
29. The method as in claim 27 , wherein:
the portable communication device is a portable tablet computer.
30. The method as in claim 15 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a portable computer.
31. The method as in claim 30 , wherein:
the portable computer is a laptop computer.
32. The method as in claim 30 , wherein:
the portable computer is a tablet computer.
33. A method for providing communications between a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen with capacitor sensors and a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors for capacitive sensing without a display function and is attached to or in proximity of a human body of a user, comprising:
operating the capacitor sensor device without a display function to detect a device-to-device connection initiation signal from the capacitor sensor touch screen device via capacitive coupling through the human body of the user and, in response, to generate an acknowledgement to the device-to-device connection initiation signal;
operating the capacitor sensor device without a display function to detect an acknowledgment back signal generated by the capacitor sensor touch screen device after receiving the acknowledgment from the capacitor sensor device without a display function; and
subsequently operating the capacitor sensor device without a display function in a device-to-device communication mode to send data via the one or more capacitor sensors to the capacitor sensor touch screen device without a display function.
34. The method as in claim 33 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device attached to a wrist of the user.
35. The method as in claim 33 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is attached to a belt worn by the user.
36. The method as in claim 33 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a shoe worn by the user.
37. The method as in claim 33 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in an article which is attached to the user.
38. The method as in claim 33 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor device without a display function is included in a device that includes at least one other sensor,
the at least one other sensor collects sensor data, and
the method further includes operating the one or more capacitor sensors to carry the collected sensor data from the at least one other sensor onto a device-to-device communication signal to the capacitor sensor touch screen device.
39. The method as in claim 38 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a biological parameter of the user.
40. The method as in claim 39 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a temperature of the user.
41. The method as in claim 39 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a blood pressure of the user.
42. The method as in claim 39 , wherein:
the biological parameter of the user includes a heart pulse rate of the user.
43. The method as in claim 38 , wherein:
the at least one other sensor measures a motion parameter of the user.
44. A method for providing communications between a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen with capacitor sensors and a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors for capacitive sensing, comprising:
placing the capacitor sensor device in capacitive coupling with the capacitor sensor touch screen device to enable electrical signaling between the capacitor sensor device and the capacitor sensor touch screen device;
operating a first device of the capacitor sensor device and the capacitor sensor touch screen device to initiate a device-to-device connection initiation signal via the capacitive coupling to a second device of the capacitor sensor device and the capacitor sensor touch screen device;
operating the second device to detect the device-to-device connection initiation signal via capacitive coupling and, in response, to generate an acknowledgement to the device-to-device connection initiation signal to the first device;
operating the first device to receive the acknowledgement from the second device and, upon receiving the acknowledgment from the second device, operating the first device to (1) send the second device an acknowledgment back signal and (2) turn the first device into a connect state for device-to-device communications with the second device;
operating the second device to (1) detect the acknowledgment back signal from the capacitor sensor touch screen device and, (2) upon receiving the acknowledgment back signal from the first device, set the second device into a connect state for device-to-device communications with the first device, thus enabling device-to-device communications between the first device and the second device via the capacitive coupling.
45. The method as in claim 44 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a smart phone or tablet computer, and
the capacitor sensor device is a sensor device without a display function.
46. The method as in claim 44 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a smart phone or tablet computer, and
the capacitor sensor device is a sensor device that includes a display panel that is not associated with or separated from the one or more capacitor sensors for capacitive sensing.
47. The method as in claim 44 , wherein:
the capacitor sensor touch screen device is a smart phone or tablet computer, and
the capacitor sensor device is a second smart phone or tablet computer.