Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Inc.

Motorola Corporation

Google Technology Holdings LLC

William S Hede

Rachid M Alameh

Hisashi David Watanabe

Jerome O Vogedes

Merlin J Smith

David Knappenberger

Ajit Panda

Jeffrey S Lee

Jiri Slaby

Axel Fuchs

Mark Clayton

Bernhard P Weisshaar

Parvathy Bhaskaran

Nick E Gavrilos

Steven S Gubka

Richard L Blanco

William Paul Alberth, Jr

Roger William Ady

Thomas Y Merrell

Dean E Thorson

Robert Faust D'Avello

Louis Jay Vannatta

Theodore S Rzeszewski

Paul R Steuer

James A Van Bosch

Kenneth Allen Paitl

Daniel J Declerck

Robert S Witte

Francis W Forest

Michael W Schellinger

Mark R Lemke

Mathew Cucuzella

Robert Patzer

Iqbal Arshad

Kenneth E Wharton

William P Alberth

Roger W Ady

David J Wheatley

Scott Geranen

Brian S Gratch

Hisashi D Watanabe

In embodiments of display viewing detection, a presence module, implemented on an electronic device, enables a first sensor to detect an object responsive to detecting audio via one or more microphones of the electronic device. The first sensor generates data that is used by the presence module to determine that the object is within a viewing range of the electronic device and that movement of the object is below a predetermined threshold. The presence module then enables at least a second sensor to confirm the object is viewing a display of the electronic device. When the object is detected by the second sensor, the presence module enables the display for viewing by the object.

Display viewing detection

A mobile device system and related method are disclosed by which the device is able to communicate wirelessly not only via a Wide Area Network (WAN) communication link but also via an alternate communication link such as a Wi-Fi communication link. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting an availability of an additional (alternate) communication link made possible via an access point (AP), determining whether one or more first criteria relating to one or both of the AP and the device have been met and, provided that the one or more first criteria are met, automatically launching a browser to communicate with one or both of the AP and a remote server. The method further includes determining based upon one or more interactions whether one or more second criteria have been met and, provided that the one or more second criteria are met, conducting communications via the additional communication link.

Method and system for facilitating wireless communication via alternate communication pathway

An electronic device uses one or more infrared sensors to detect infrared light from a person's body (e.g., a user's finger) to initiate a function of the electronic device. According to an implementation, the housing of the electronic device includes a flexible portion that opens an aperture in response to external pressure (e.g., a user pressing down on the flexible portion) to allow infrared light from the person's body to reach an infrared sensor. When the infrared sensor detects the infrared light, it generates a signal in response. A processor of the electronic device receives the signal and, in response, initiates a function of the electronic device. The function may be any function that the electronic device is capable of performing, such as a power-on function, a camera function, changing the speaker volume, and launching an application.

Electronic device with infrared sensor-based user input controls

The disclosure is directed to an electronic device having an internal light source that emits light along a path through the housing. The housing has at least one flexible portion which, when subjected to external pressure flexes, thereby altering the path of the light. A processor receives a signal (from a light sensor receiver) indicating a change in the light and reacts by initiating a function of the device. The particular function that the processor initiates may depend on the mode that the device is currently in. For example, if the device is not currently in a camera mode, then the processor may launch a camera function. If the device is in a camera mode, then the processor may control the zoom of an imager. If the device is in a camera mode and is also motionless, then the processor may cause the imager to capture an image.

Electronic device with flexible housing portion and related method

A writing instrument (e.g., a pen or stylus) is able to wirelessly receive a message, receive a responsive input from a user (either spoken or written using the writing instrument), convert the user input into text, and transmit the text in a first mode (if the responsive input is spoken) or in a second mode (if the responsive input is written). The first mode and the second modes may correspond, for example, to different recipient groups.

Method on a writing instrument having wireless communication capability

A wireless communication device responsive to orientation and movement comprising a housing, a cellular transceiver capable of communicating with a cellular communication network, a WLAN transceiver capable of communicating with a remote device via an ad hoc network, a sensor and a processor. The sensor detects a substantially vertical orientation of the wireless communication device. The sensor also detects a movement of the wireless communication device subsequent to detecting the substantially vertical orientation of the wireless communication device. The processor performs a function of the wireless communication device in coordination with the remove device via the WLAN transceiver. The processor performs this function in response to detecting the substantially vertical orientation and the movement of the wireless communication device.

Wireless communication device responsive to orientation and movement

Methods of operating mobile or other electronic devices so as to achieve a transmission of data between those devices, and related systems and components, are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the mobile device to an additional electronic device includes tracking a positional variation of an object situated proximate a display screen of the mobile device by determining locations of the object over time using a sensing assembly of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a point or region on the display screen based upon the tracked positional variation of the object, identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, where the data is associated with the image portion, and transmitting the data from the mobile device, whereby the data is capable of being received by the additional electronic device.

Method and system for controlling data transmission to or from a mobile device

Method and system for facilitating wireless communication via alternate wireless pathway

A mobile device system and related method are disclosed by which the device is able to communicate wirelessly not only via a Wide Area Network (WAN) link but also via an alternate link such as a Wi-Fi link. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a command from a remote server, via the WAN link, to establish a Wi-Fi link when possible. The method further includes, upon establishing the Wi-Fi link, sending a message for receipt by the server indicating that the Wi-Fi link has been established, and receiving software update information from the server, the information being communicated to the mobile device via the Wi-Fi link. Further, the method includes one or both of (1) sending an acknowledgement for receipt by the server indicating that the information has been received and (2) receiving an instruction from the server that communications via the Wi-Fi link be ended.

An electronic device is operable to display images on a display screen of the device's display. The images include at least one icon and at least one image to be used as a background setting for the display screen. The electronic device includes the display, at least one storage device, and a processing unit. The storage device(s) digitally stores the images and operating instructions for displaying the images. The processing device is operable in accordance with the operating instructions to: retrieve the images from the storage device, determine at least one portion of the background setting that is of higher importance than a remainder of the background setting to produce at least one high importance portion of the background setting, and instruct the display to display the background setting and the icons on the display screen such that the high importance portion(s) of the background setting is viewable.

Electronic device and method for displaying a background setting together with icons and/or application windows on a display screen thereof

A method and apparatus mechanically couple portable communication devices. The apparatus can include a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end, and a second shaft end. The apparatus can include a first portable communication device having a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing width. The apparatus can include a second portable communication device that can have a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with a first portable communication device communication signal interface and can have a second housing that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft length can be at least as long as the first housing width.

Method and apparatus for coupling portable communication devices

Methods and systems for conducting communication between mobile devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of achieving communications between first and second mobile devices that are in proximity with one another includes transmitting a first signal from the first mobile device and receiving a first reflected signal at that mobile device, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object in proximity to that mobile device. The method also includes transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object, and receiving a confirmation signal from the second mobile device in response to the second signal. The method further includes achieving a paired relationship of the first mobile device relative to the second mobile device, whereby because of the paired relationship the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween.

Method and system for conducting communication between mobile devices

Disclosed are devices and methods of an electronic device configured to adaptably process arbitrary conditions to provide a user options for initiating or activating a non-display electronic function of the device. A user is free to determine how to position or orient the device. To determine in real-time, arbitrary conditions of the device, the disclosed devices and methods of an electronic device include determining that the electronic device is at rest and then acquiring a reference in response to determining that the electronic device is at rest. In this way, the device may assume any position or orientation to acquire a reference. Subsequently, subtle movement of the electronic device relative to the acquired reference may be detected to initiate a non-display electronic function of the electronic device. The user therefore may make choices inconspicuously and privately as to which non-display electronic function to initiate.

Devices and methods for initiating functions based on movement characteristics relative to a reference

A method for detecting a gesture and controlling an electronic device includes providing a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter emits infrared light; controlling the emisson of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods during movement of an external object in a geometric shape relative to the electronic device. For each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, a corresponding measured signal is generated which is indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by the photoreceiver. The measured signals are evaluated to identify the geometric shape; and the electronic device is controlled in response to the identification of the geometric shape.

Electronic device with sensing assembly and method for detecting gestures of geometric shapes

A method of a wireless communication device for accessing secure resources of a resource provider or the device itself. A password associated with the wireless communication device is identified. A password identifier is assigned to the password and a non-password identifier is assigned to a non-password different from the password. The password identifier has a non-sequential association with the non-password identifier. The password identifier, the password, the non-password identifier, and the non-password are provided at a user interface of the wireless communication device. Access to a secure resource is granted in response to determining that the password identifier has been detected at the user interface.

System and method for providing secure access to password-protected resources

Growing community of inventors

Lake in the Hills, IL, United States of America

William S Hede