Method of transferring data

The invention relates to a method of transferring data from a first device to a second device.

Contemporary ubiquitous communication networks provide their users with various network resources such as computing resources, data resources and data presentation resources. Users become increasingly mobile. While on the move or at remote locations they often have the desire to share e.g. their personal content, or application software, with other users in their direct proximity.

International patent application WO 2005/109829 Al (attorney docket

PHN 17069) discloses a method of a seamless transfer of an execution of application software between devices. User interaction is limited to selecting the software application to be transferred, and the destination device to which the selected software application is to be transferred. Once successfully transferred, the software application on the device from which the transfer took place, is terminated.

A disadvantage of this method is that this is not user- friendly, because the transferred execution of application software suppresses other application software currently executing on the destination device of the transfer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced method of transferring a function between a first and a second device.

This object is achieved according to invention in a method as stated above, characterized by receiving from a user a selection of a presentation method of the transferred function at the second device, and presenting the function at the second device according to the selected presentation method. This means that the user has control over the presentation method of the transferred function on the second device. Therefore, the function transfer is no longer unfriendly as it is not just an automatic execution of the transferred application software that suppresses other user application software on the second device.

Preferably, the function comprises at least one software application executing on the first device, at least one data stream being accessed by the device to provide said function, at least one parameter used to configure said software application to provide said function, and at least one user input data to provide for an interaction of a user with said function. Thus, in this embodiment the software application is, after the transfer, executed on the second device. The transferred parameter is used to configure the software application to operate in a same state as the software application was in when it was being executed on the first device. The data stream is transferred so that the software application may use it. At least one user input previously entered by the user on the first device is also transferred to the second device. This means that the function transferred to the second device is an exact copy of the function of the first device.

Preferably, the data comprises at least one of: a software application, a control parameter, a data stream, and a user input data.

In an embodiment, the function transfer is performed in response to the first device being brought into close spatial proximity to the second device. Such transfer in response to a relative proximity of the first device and the second device provides the user with an intuitive approach to invoke the function transfer.

In another embodiment, the function transfer further comprises the software application of the first device, already transferred to the second device, being brought to a different execution mode on the first device. This way the first device can benefit from the power savings enabled from a different execution mode of the software application. This is especially relevant for portable devices dependent on the batteries as power supplies.

Optionally, the selecting of the presentation method is done through changing of a spatial position of the first device with respect to the second device. This way of making the selection is simple and intuitive. It replaces cursor type input interaction by the gesture interaction, which does not require fine motor skills / dexterity.

The invention further provides a first device and a second device for use in the method according to the invention.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a first device and a second device transferring data, and also reveals details of examples of the first device and the second device;

Figs. 2A-C illustrate different presentation methods that can be used to present a transferred function;

Fig. 3 shows data streams used by the transferred function present at the first device; Fig. 4 shows data streams used by the transferred function present at a third device;

Fig. 5 illustrates close spatial proximity of the first device and the second device;

Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that enables selecting the presentation method through changing of a spatial position of the first device with respect to the second device.

Throughout the figures, same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features. Some of the features indicated in the drawings are typically implemented in software, and as such represent software entities, such as software modules or objects.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a first device 100 and a second device 200 transferring data, and also reveals details of examples of the first device 100 and the second device 200.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the first device 100 and the second device 200 are computing devices, for example personal data assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, laptop computers, portable audio or video players, personal computers (PCs), home entertainment systems, and such like. Although in this example only one-second device 200 is depicted, it is possible that the data is transferred to the multiple second device simultaneously.

In Fig. 1 antennas 107 and 207 illustrate that the devices 100 and 200 are connected through a wireless network such as e.g. WIFI or BlueTooth. Other types of communication, such as e.g. wired, may also be used for a communication between the devices.

The first device 100 can support various functions, e.g. displaying of a video, browsing through pictures, Internet browsing, games, displaying news or teletext, or listening to music, or others.

For example, for displaying of a video on the first device 100, a data stream is accessed in a storage means 103, and processed by a microprocessor 104, on which an application software supporting this function is executing. Successively, the microprocessor 104 provides to a display 101 a presentation of the function to be displayed to a user. When the user decides to transfer, for example, the function discussed above from the first device 100 to the second device 200, the user uses a keyboard 105 to generate a user input data conveying the transfer information that is subsequently passed to the microprocessor 104. The micro-processor 104, on which the software applications supporting this function is executing, requests at the storage means 103 the application software corresponding to this function, as well as the data streams used by this software application, and parameters used to configure this software application. All data requested from the storage means 103 corresponding to the function to be transferred are transferred to the second device 200 by means of a communication module 102 and the antenna 107. The second device 200 has a corresponding microprocessor 204, a corresponding display 201, a corresponding communication module 202, a corresponding antenna 207, and optionally a storage means 203 and/or a keyboard 205.

Although single microprocessors 104 and 204 are depicted in the example, the application software can be executing on multiple microprocessors pertaining to the device. Similarly, multiple storage means can constitute the storage means 103 and 203. The same holds for other device modules when multiplicity or fragmentation of the modules is applicable.

Each of the devices 100 and 200 can support a multiplicity of functions. Each of the functions comprises at least one software application executing on the first device 100, at least one data stream being accessed by the first device 100 to provide the function, at least one parameter used to configure the software application to provide the function, and at least one user input data to provide interaction of a user with the function. For example for displaying of video, an application corresponding to this function is a video renderer, a video data stream is received and processed, a parameter is e.g. playback speed or audio volume, and a user input is play/pause or desired speed. The data corresponding to the transferred function comprises at least one of: the software application, the configuration parameter, the data stream, and the user input data.

The data streams stored in the storage means 103 can be an image, a video, a text message such as e-mail or SMS, an MMS picture or video, an audio, or other, depending on a data stream type used by the function.

In the example discussed above the first device 100 carries out function displaying images and/or video on the display 101. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the data stream could be an audio stream or file. In such a case speakers should be used to present the audio to the user.

The keyboard 105 provides the user interaction. Alternatively or in addition thereto, a scroll-button, a joystick, a tag-pen applied to a touch-sensitive screen, a voice control, or other, can be provided to serve the user interaction purpose.

It is also possible that the user provides the interaction through the second device 200 using the interaction means provided there, e.g. the keyboard 205.

In the example discussed above, the function transfer from the first device 100 to the second device 200 is initiated from the first device 100. Of course it is also possible that the function transfer is initiated at the second device 200 to transfer the function from the first device 100 to the second device 200.

Before or during the function transfer the user is presented with a selection of a presentation method of the transferred function at the second device 200. Successively, the chosen presentation method is used to present the transferred function at the second device 200. In Fig. 1 three keys 106: A, B, and C are used to make a selection between three different presentations methods.

Figs. 2A-C illustrate different presentation methods that can be used to present the transferred function. By way of example, only three presentation methods applied on the display 201 are shown in there. The presentation 251 of the transferred function and the presentation 252 of the application software executing at the second device before the function transfer are shown in the figures. According to Fig. 2A, when the selection A is made the presentations 251 and 252 are presented in a split-screen mode. According to Fig. 2B, when the selection B is made the presentation 251 is presented as Picture-in-Picture within the presentation 252. According to Fig. 2C, when the selection C is made the presentation 251 is presented on the full screen on the display 201 , suppressing the presentation 252.

Although only these three presentation methods are shown as methods for displaying the video, they are not limiting. Other presentation methods are also possible.

When the function uses audio as the data stream, the possible presentation methods can relate to e.g. volume, sound adjustment, mixing, playing different audio content on a left and right channels/speakers etc.

The selection means, i.e. the three keys 106, are just an example and other means of making selection are applicable.

Although the selection means in this example are present in the first device 100, this should not be limiting. Alternatively, the selection means could be present in the second device 200 as e.g. the keyboard 205.

Fig. 3 shows data streams used by the transferred function present at the first device 100, as in the third embodiment of the present invention.

The data stream used by the transferred function is stored locally in the storage means 103 of the first device 100. To support the transferred function on the second device 200, this device 200 is operable to access the data stream from the first device 100. For example this is realized by copying the data stream from the first device 100 to the second device 200. Alternatively, data streaming as a background or real-time data flow to the second device 200 can be used.

Fig. 4 shows data streams used by the transferred function present at a third device, as in the fourth embodiment of the invention. The third device 300 can, for example, be a server on the Internet that comprises a storage means 303. The first device 100 is operable to access the data streams from the storage means 303, as shown in case A. When the function is transferred from the first device 100 to the second device 200, the access to the data stream on the storage means 303 is handed over to the second device 200, as shown in case C.

As alternative (not shown in the figure), the data stream from the third device 300 could be seamlessly streamed through the first device 100 to the second device 200.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is possible that the function at the first device 100, which has been transferred, is brought into another mode of operation at the first device 100. For example, for displaying of video this could mean that the frame rate of the video stream could be lowered, i.e. the video frames are less frequently displayed by skipping some of the frames in-between. Another possibility is that the resolution or color quality of the video could be lowered. These steps result in lower computational power needed at the microprocessor 104. These and other options, such as e.g. pausing the function or stopping the function, have a direct impact on the power savings in the first device 100. This possibility to bring the function in other operation mode is

especially relevant for the portable devices that are dependent on batteries as the power supply. It is conceivable that the user is offered an interactive dialog at the first device 100 to choose between modes to which the function, already transferred to the second device 200, is to be brought. Another aspect of the invention relates to handling subsequent user input at the second device 200. The second device 200 may lack user input means. For example, a standalone display screen may not be equipped with a keyboard or mouse, making it difficult for a user to enter text or operate a cursor on the screen. In such a situation input can be provided at the first device 100 using e.g. keyboard 105. This means that the user input data must be transferred from the first device 100 to the second device 200 when the user is interacting with the function. Alternatively, the user input could be provided directly from the second device 200 using e.g. keyboard 205.

Fig. 5 illustrates close spatial proximity of the first device 100 and the second device 200, as addressed in one of the embodiments. According to this embodiment, the function transfer is performed in response to the first device 100 being brought into close spatial proximity 600 to the second device 200. This is enabled by proximity sensing present in both the first device 100 and the second device 200. The meaning of the term "close" depends on the circumstances. In the context of a near- field communication this means e.g. a few centimeters in line of sight. For more advanced near- field wireless technologies the distance may be up to twenty centimeters. When a technology such as Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11 is used, the distance may be several meters. In other words, the actual range of the close proximity is determined by the proximity sensing and/or communication technologies that are used.

Such proximity sensing can be implemented by way of e.g. near- field communication, or by using simple radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags and readers. Hence, the function transfer can commence when the first device 100 is placed in a local proximity to the second device 200.

In the embodiment, the first device 100 is preferably portable in order to enable bringing it to the close proximity of the second device. In Fig. 5, the second device 200 is a TV set with a large screen, and the first device 100 is a mobile phone. These are just examples. The first device 100 can also be a PDA, laptop computer, portable music or video player, etc. The second device 200 can also be e.g. stereo/radio set or home entertainment system, PC, etc. Of course the device 200 could also be a portable device.

Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that enables selecting the presentation method through changing of a spatial position of the first device 100 with respect to the second device 200. The portable first device 100 as shown here is used to select the presentation method to be used at the second device 200 through changing of a spatial position of the first device 100 with respect to the second device 200, as indicated by 161.

On the display 201 of the second device 200 three presentation methods: A, B, and C are shown. A box surrounds each of these presentation methods. The solid line of the box around B indicates that the method B is selected, while the dashed line of the boxes around A and C indicates that methods A and B are not selected. Such way of highlighting a selection choice is just one of many. Other graphical effects could be used to indicate the selected choice. As alternative, e.g. color- coding could be applied to the fill-in of the boxes that surround the presentation methods. The green fill-in could be used to highlight the selected method, while the red fill-in could be used to indicate the presentation methods that are not selected. As shown in Fig. 6, by moving the first device 100 in the direction 161 the highlighting of the selected method moves in a corresponding direction 261 on the display 201.

The movement 161 can take different forms. It could be, for example, a horizontal shift of the first device in the front of the second device 200. The movement component from left to right can be measured and passed to the device 200, so that the highlighting on the display 201 also moves from left to right.

Alternatively, it could be a rotation of the first device. The clockwise rotation could, for example, be translated into a horizontal shift from left to right of the highlighting on the display 201. Correspondingly, the anti-clockwise rotation is then translated into a horizontal shift from right to left. The amount of shift could correspond to the angle of the rotation movement. Of course other movements of the first device are also possible. The three dimensional movement of the first device must always be accompanied by an appropriate translation of this movement into two-dimensional movement of the highlight on the display 201. Fig. 6 exemplifies one of the realizations of the embodiment based on a use of a gyroscope 400 attached and connected to the first device 100. The gyroscope 400 is used to detect and measure the movement 161 of the first device 100. The movement information is passed to the first device 100 and further transferred as the data to the second device 200. At

the device 200 the movement information is translated into a specific graphical effect 261 associated with selecting of the presentation method and depicted on the display 201.

Many other ways of implementing this embodiment can be thought of. One of the alternatives is to use a camera that detects the movement 161 of the first device 100, and passes the movement information to the second device 200 to change the highlighting in correspondence to the detected movement 161 of the first device 100.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For instance instead of a display an audio output could be used.

In the accompanying claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer.

In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.