Sony Corporation

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab

Sony Mobile Communications Inc.

Sony Mobile Communications Ab

Emil Hansson

Magnus Nambord

Hannes Bergkvist

Simon Lessing

Mattias Falk

Anders Wihlborg

Fredrik Ramsten

Ivar Bergkvist

Daniel Dzuban

J Magnus Andersson

Brian Johnson

Mathias Jeppsson

Lars-Gunnar Lundgren

Jonas M Andersson

Karolina Bengtsson

Zoltan Imets

Pedro Pinho

David ÖSterdahl

A device () is placed on an object (). A reference feature of the object () is aligned with a reference feature of the device (). Based on signals transmitted between at least one measurement point of the device () and a further device (), a position of the at least one measurement point is measured. The position of the object () is then determined based on the measured position of the at least one measurement point and based on information on arrangement of the at least one measurement point in relation to the reference feature of the device ().

Determination of object position by aligned device placement

A first near field communication (NFC) circuit includes an antenna, a charging circuit, a transceiver circuit, and a transmission delay circuit. The antenna is configured to inductively couple to signals emitted by a second NFC circuit. The charging circuit is configured to output power provided by the inductive coupling through the antenna to the signals emitted by the second NFC circuit. The transceiver circuit is configured to be powered by the charging circuit to transmit data for receipt by the second NFC circuit. The transmission delay circuit is configured to be powered by the charging circuit and control the transceiver circuit to delay transmission of the data until expiration of a defined delay time after the transceiver circuit has become sufficiently powered on to operate to transmit the data. Related accessories for user equipment, user equipment, and methods are disclosed.

NFC collision avoidance with controllable NFC transmission delay timing

Context data () is determined for an ambient media playback () in the surrounding of a user equipment. Based on the determined context data (), identification data () for the ambient media playback () is determined.

Context-sensitive media classification

An accessory for a user equipment (UE) includes a housing and a near field communication (NFC) circuit. The housing is slid on the UE to become attached in a stored position relative to the UE. The NFC circuit is attached at a location on the housing and configured to become powered by inductive coupling to signals emitted by another NFC circuit within the UE to temporarily operate to transmit data to the other NFC circuit within the UE as the accessory NFC circuit passes over the other UE NFC circuit while the housing is being slid on the UE before reaching the stored position relative to the UE. While the housing is in the stored position relative to the UE, the NFC circuit may be configured to be inhibited from transmitting data to the other NFC circuit within the UE irrespective of whether the other NFC circuit within the UE is emitting signals to attempt to provide inductive coupling to the NFC circuit.

Avoiding NFC communication collisions between accessories and user equipment

An apparatus includes an NFC circuit and an electrically conductive layer. The NFC circuit includes an antenna configured to inductively couple to signals emitted by another NFC circuit, a charging circuit configured to output power provided by the inductive coupling through the antenna to the signals emitted by the other NFC circuit, and a transceiver circuit configured to be powered by the charging circuit to transmit data for receipt by the other NFC circuit. The electrically conductive layer is removable from being on the NFC circuit, and while the electrically conductive layer is on the NFC circuit the transceiver circuit is prevented from transmitting. The electrically conductive layer can include a removable conductive sticker that electrically connects to one or more locations on the antenna, to a ground plane of the NFC circuit, and/or to another circuit node of the NFC circuit to prevent the transceiver circuit from transmitting.

Removable conductive layer that shields and/or shorts nodes of an NFC circuit to control transmissions therefrom

A cover for a user equipment, such as a cell phone, includes a housing, a display device, and a near field communication (NFC) circuit. The housing is attachable to the user equipment, and while attached covers a back surface of the user equipment. The display device is at least partially disposed within the housing. The NFC circuit that is configured to generate power through inductive coupling to another NFC circuit within the user equipment, the NFC circuit configured to operate using the power to receive data from the other NFC circuit within the user equipment, and to supply the power and the data to the display device to cause the data to be displayed for viewing by a user. Related user equipment, methods, and computer program products are disclosed.

Phone covers with NFC circuit powered display devices

An accessory for a user equipment (UE) is disclosed that includes a housing configured to be connected to the UE and accessory near field communication (NFC) circuit attached to the housing. The accessory NFC circuit includes an antenna, a charging circuit, and a transceiver circuit. The antenna is configured to inductively couple to signals emitted by a UE NFC circuit within the UE. The charging circuit is configured to output power provided by the inductive coupling through the antenna to the signals emitted by the UE NFC circuit. The transceiver circuit is configured to be powered by the charging circuit to transmit information to the UE NFC circuit that will be used by the UE to retrieve content stored on a content server and/or to authorize use of content stored on the UE. Related UEs and methods are disclosed.

Retrieving/authorizing content on user equipment based on information from connectable accessory with NFC circuit

Second screen content for a display of an electronic device is generated and displayed in coordination with video content displayed on a display of another electronic device. The generation of the second screen content includes identifying keywords from subtitle data for the video content and identifying links to media content that relate to one or more of the keywords.

System and method for generating a second screen experience using video subtitle data

The present invention relates to a method and an electronic equipment for reducing the set-up time required to establish video calls between handheld communication devices, wherein the method comprises the steps of detecting (, S) a signal to establish a video call via a communication link, determining () the party to which the video call has to be established, searching, in a data base (), for information indicating the capability of the party with respect to the video call, defining, for the electronic equipment (), specifications for the video call based on the information, and initialling the electronic equipment () according to the specifications. By storing the negotiated result of a previous video call between communication devices, no further negotiation is necessary in the following video calls. The calling device can start its camera () and load its codecs during the calling phase and the called device can do it after receiving the set-up message from the network.

Electronic equipment for a communication system

A system and method for generating a thumbnail image for an audiovisual file. The thumbnail image may be used to convey information about the content of the audiovisual file to a user. With respect to audio files, the information may be the type of audio content, a musical genre, a tempo of the audio content, and one or more indications of the popularity of the audio content.

System and method for generating a thumbnail image for an audiovisual file

A system compiles a music playlist to accommodate the tastes of various participants in a group setting. A music profile is created for each participant, the profile containing representations of songs that are characteristic of the participant's tastes. A master device may then compile a 'super profile' that constitutes a compilation of the various participant profiles. Each participant device may then access the super profile and search among its specific song collection to find music that is similar to one or more songs represented in the super profile. From such songs, the master device may compile a playlist of songs that are similar among the participant devices, thereby representing the songs that correspond to the collective musical tastes of the participants. The playlist may be updated as participants enter and leave the group to track the changing collective tastes of the participants.

Music player connection system for enhanced playlist selection

Disclosed is a system, method and computer application for local communication between electronic equipment in a user-friendly manner. In one aspect of the invention, a mobile telephone initiates a search for electronic equipment having a predetermined modality and within communication range of the mobile telephone. Electronic equipment capable of responding to the request transmit information through a local interface adapter. Such information may include, for example, a unique identifier that may include a telephone number, session initiation protocol (SIP) address of the electronic equipment, user social security number, user and/or contact biometric information, and the like. By receiving the unique identifier of the electronic equipment, the mobile telephone may search an associated electronic phonebook application to identify contact information associated with the unique identifier. For example, if the unique identifier is stored in the electronic phonebook application of the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone may display a user-friendly designation corresponding to contact information previously stored in the electronic phonebook to the associated user of the mobile telephone

Short range connectivity usability by using contact information

A communication terminal includes a communication module, a camera device, a display device, and a controller. The communication module receives a display characteristic command and an input video data stream from a remotely located other communication terminal and sends an output video data stream thereto. The camera device generates an initial video data stream based on incident light. The display device displays a received input video data stream from the remote communication terminal. The controller generates the output video data stream based on the initial video data stream and a received display characteristic command from the remote communication terminal.

Communication terminals that vary a video stream based on how it is displayed

A method, device and application for combining one or more multimedia content sources (e.g., songs) together and rendering the composite output to a user in a user sensible format that is audibly pleasing to the user through a player. A first multimedia content source and a second multimedia content source is selected. An analysis is made of the sources to find at least one candidate from each source to mix together. At least one candidate from each source is selected. The beat length associated with each the selected candidate is set and adjusted, if necessary. A fade mixing profile is selected. The fade mix profile adjusts a volume parameter associated with the selected candidate from each source over a transition period of time. The selected candidate from each source together is mixed according to the fade mixing profile to transition over the transition period time between the first multimedia content source and the second multimedia content source to form a beat mix transition. The beat mix transition is rendered between the first multimedia content source and the second multimedia content source.

Growing community of inventors

Lund, Sweden

Emil Hansson