Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130013938 | ACCESSORY ID RECOGNITION BY POWER CYCLING - Various embodiments are described herein for a peripheral device and a method of identifying the peripheral device via power cycling. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining characteristic information about the peripheral device, encoding the characteristic information in a power signal at the peripheral device and sending the power signal to an electronic device that is operably connected with the peripheral device. The electronic device can then take action such as adjusting its settings or applications based on the characteristic information of the peripheral device. | 01-10-2013 |
20130095757 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL ACCESSORIES - Methods and apparatus to control accessories are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a first close-proximity communication connection via a first protocol by providing connection information via a second close-proximity communication connection via a second protocol, obtaining configuration information via the second close-proximity communication connection, and configuring a response to an event associated with the second close-proximity communication connection. | 04-18-2013 |
20140065955 | WIRELESS DEVICE FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A wireless device for providing notifications associated with a mobile electronic device is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a body enabled to mate with a mobile electronic device, the body comprising the indicator such that when the body is mated to the mobile electronic device, the indicator is not obscured by the body; an induction device for wirelessly receiving signals from the mobile electronic device to control the indicator; and, a circuit connecting the induction device to the indicator, the circuit enabled to receive the signals and control the indicator in response thereto. | 03-06-2014 |
20140146455 | CARRYING CASE FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE DEVICE - A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146464 | CARRYING CASE FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE DEVICE - A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152537 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING CONTACTLESS GESTURES - Methods and devices for identifying contactless gestures are described. In one example, the present disclosure describes a method of detecting a contactless gesture on an electronic device. The electronic device has an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and an electromagnetic radiation receiver. The electromagnetic radiation receiver is configured for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from the electromagnetic radiation transmitter and reflected by an object. The method includes: monitoring an amplitude of received electromagnetic radiation at the electromagnetic radiation receiver; detecting a proximity event by comparing the amplitude to a predetermined proximity threshold; after detecting the proximity event, continuing to monitor the amplitude of the received electromagnetic radiation at the electromagnetic radiation receiver; and, in response to detecting the proximity event, performing an analysis on the received electromagnetic radiation to determine whether the received electromagnetic radiation indicates a predetermined gesture. | 06-05-2014 |
20140198081 | IMAGE ZOOM CONTROL USING STYLUS FORCE SENSING - The present disclosure provides for an electronic device and method for displaying an image on a screen of the electronic device. In response to a stylus location input, a region of the screen is selected. A first part of the image associated with the selected region of the screen is determined, along with a second part of the image associated with the region of the screen outside of the selected region. In response to a stylus force input, the first part of the image is modified and displayed in the selected region of the screen. The second part of the image is displayed on the screen outside of the selected region. The modified image may be a magnified image, for example. | 07-17-2014 |
20140244268 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOICE CONTROL OF A MOBILE DEVICE - A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received. | 08-28-2014 |
20140333431 | DEVICE FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS WHILE MATED WITH A CARRYING CASE - A device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration. | 11-13-2014 |
20140335787 | SHORT RANGE WIRELESS FILE SHARING - In one embodiment, for example, a method of short range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. The method includes establishing a short range wireless communications link between a local computing device and a peer computing device and transmitting to the peer computing device over the short range wireless communications link a consolidated catalog of accessible files stored locally in the local computing device, remotely in a remote computing device, or both. The method further includes receiving from over the short range wireless communications link a request by the peer computing device to retrieve a selected one of the files. The method includes responding to a determination that the selected one of the files is stored remotely in the remote computing device by facilitating the retrieval by the peer computing device of the selected one of the files from the remote computing device for delivery to the peer computing device. | 11-13-2014 |
20140361876 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING A CARRYING CASE - A device for detecting a carrying case, and methods there for, are provided. The device includes: an orientation sensor; a near field communication (NFC) reader; and, a processor configured to place the device in a carrying case mode when an orientation of the device is within a given angular range as determined using the orientation sensor, and the NFC reader detects an NFC tag. | 12-11-2014 |
20140370867 | Apparatus and Method Pertaining to the Obtainment and Use of Call Information - An apparatus, such as a portable communication device, has a wireless transceiver configured to conduct voice calls, a close-proximity reader (such as, but not limited to, a near-field communications (NFC) reader), and a control circuit that operably couples to the wireless transceiver and the close-proximity reader. The control circuit uses the close-proximity reader to obtain call information from another device and uses the wireless transceiver to initiate a call using the call information to thereby permit joining, or establishing, a conference call with three or more access points. | 12-18-2014 |
20150065037 | DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENTLY POWERING A NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A device, method and system for efficiently powering a near field communication device are provided. The devices comprises: a module configured to: exchange data with a near field communication (NFC) device; and transmit energy to the NFC device; and, a processor configured to: receive, using the module, energy data from the NFC device, the energy data comprising data for determining a difference between a current energy level of an energy storage apparatus at the NFC device and a given amount of energy for performing a given function at the NFC device; determine the difference from the energy data; and, transmit, using the module, an amount of energy corresponding to the difference, to the NFC device. | 03-05-2015 |