WO2012060681A1

WO2012060681A1 - System and method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication means

Info

Publication number: WO2012060681A1
Application number: PCT/MY2011/000076
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cheng Suan Lee; Khong Neng Choong
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2010-11-03
Filing date: 2011-06-06
Publication date: 2012-05-10

Abstract

A system comprising a Monitoring Manager (23) engaged with a Controller Module (27) and Session Transfer (22), a Tracking Module (26) communicatively connected to the system, a Device Analysis Module (25) detachably connected to the system accommodating different tracking algorithms and a Device Lookup Table (24) connected to the Device Analysis Module (25). A method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication comprising detecting a plurality of alternative communication devices using short range communication protocols, requesting for information from a plurality of alternative communication devices to a first communication device, collecting information from the plurality of alternative communication devices in proximity to the first communication device, selecting Device Analysis Module to process information and storing a result into a table.

Description

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SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ENABLE DEVICE SWITCHING BY IDENTIFYING NEARBY DEVICES WITH SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATION MEANS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device switching system and method for transferring session from one device to another using short range communication means and more particularly to a system and method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication.

BACKGROUND ART

Nowadays, users may use multiple devices in their daily communications such as mobile phone, house phone, desktop phone and soft phone, be it in the office or at home. Users may use any device for conversation at the user's convenience. To accommodate such requirement, flexible transfer of ongoing session across device is necessary.

There is an existing publication that describes a method of improving user experience by simplifying the process of call transfer with the use of location information. However, there are some limitations with the method proposed by the publication wherein the system and method require infrastructure of location server and WiFi access points in order to be functional. This means existing real-time session could not be transferred in an ad-hoc manner. Precise calculation and determination of the location of devices should be determined and this remained as a challenge. Particularly, at least three access points are needed to perform the triangulation process.

Patent number US 2003/0073431 A1 discloses a system to transfer communication over a network. In this system, when a device is communicating with another party's device over the communication network, a close proximity signal received is processed when there is an identifiable electronic device in close proximity thereto. In response to the close proximity signal, the device determines if a transfer request signal is to be generated indicative of the identifiable electronic device being a potential replacement for the electronic device. Comparing to the present invention, the present invention uses Near Field Communication which includes Bluetooth, ZigBee, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and etc. The session transfer is triggered in an ad-hoc manner without the need of setting up expensive location server infrastructure. The present invention has an extra feature of closest device selection with the use of 3^rd party location and distance calculation modules. Furthermore, no location server or even WiFi application is required.

In another example of a published prior art, patent number US 2006/ 0040692 A1 discloses a system that includes a first terminal, and a second terminal engaged in a communication session with the first terminal across one or more networks. The system also includes a third terminal capable of communicating with the second terminal across a short range communication link between with the second terminal. The present invention differs from this prior art wherein the present invention incorporate the concept of closest device selection with the use of 3^rd party location tracking and distance calculation modules. This feature is not available in the prior art.

Therefore, there exists a need for a system and method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication which is capable of transferring an ongoing session from an active device over to a passive device and vice versa using any short range communication protocol. Furthermore, users are not required to enter the contact or IP address of the target device where the session will be transferred to. The device is also able to perform device switching in an ad- hoc manner without the need of setting up a location server and network infrastructure. The absence of both server and network infrastructure means cheaper setup cost and easier configuration. Hence, it will be suitable for smart home environment. The present invention also able to interface with third party location tracking and distance calculation module so as to identify the nearest device among the surrounding devices to an active device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a device switching method and system for transferring session from one device to another using short range communication means and more particularly to a method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication comprising detecting a plurality of alternative communication devices using short range communication protocols, requesting for information from a plurality of alternative communication devices to a first communication device, collecting information from the plurality of alternative communication devices in proximity to the first communication device, selecting Device Analysis Module to process information and storing a result into a table.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, detecting the plurality of alternative communication devices using short range communication protocols includes Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band, Zigbee and means of Near Field Communications.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, requesting for information from a plurality of device includes requesting radio signal characteristic, name and properties of the alternative communication devices.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, collecting information from the plurality of alternative communication devices includes collecting radio signal characteristic, properties and device name.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, storing the result into a table includes allowing frontend thread to retrieve the nearest device.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication comprising a Monitoring Manager engaged with a Controller Module and Session Transfer, a Tracking Module communicatively connected to the system, Device Analysis Module detachably connected to the system accommodating different tracking algorithms and a Device Lookup Table connected to the Device Analysis Module.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Monitoring Manager further consists of Device Analysis Module, Device Lookup Table and Tracking Module. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Tracking Module performs device searching, requesting and receiving response for plurality of alternative communication devices by engaging with Controller Module.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Device Analysis Module analyzes nearest alternative communication devices.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Device Lookup Table storing results obtained from the Device Analysis Module. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Device Lookup Table further allowing Session Transfer to retrieve the nearest alternative communication device.

The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated, in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG.1 illustrates device switching using short range communication in smart home environment scenario (10).

FIG.2 illustrates architecture of short-range communication driven device switching system (20). FIG.3 illustrates process of short-range enabled device switching (30). FIG.4 illustrates Session transfer sequence flow diagram (100).

FIG. 5 shows Session Reclaim SIP message flow (200). _

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Now referring to FIG. 1 , the figure shows a scenario where an active device labeled as Bob (15) in the centre tracks and identifies, the nearest passive such as softphone (12), home phone (13) and phone (14) using short range communication in smart home environment. The scenario starts with Bob establishes a voice session with Alice (1 1 ) using his mobile device (16) on his way home. When he reaches home, his mobile device (15) will search and identify the nearest device surrounded it using short range communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. The mobile device is triggered to start searching once it is connected to home network for instance by selecting "Home Profile" when reaching home.

Upon selecting "call transfer" button at Bob's mobile device (15) while he is at the living room, the on-going session will be switched from current active device to nearest passive device which is identified as "Phone@LivingRoom" in this case.

According to FIG. 2, Monitoring Manager (23) is the main component in the application (21 ) that to be implemented into the system. The Monitoring Manager (23) starts to search and track the static and passive devices while the user is having ongoing call. A Tracking Module (26) sends request to a Controller Module (27) in order to activate and interact with short-range communication like Bluetooth, Zigbee, and ultra wide band, and thereafter broadcasts the inquiry request to surrounding static devices. The response from the devices will be stored into a Device Lookup Table (24). Thereafter, an Analysis Module (25) will calculate distance from Device Lookup Table (24) and further update calculated result into Device Lookup Table (24). The Analysis Module (25) may use available methods to calculate the distance based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication). With the use of properly designed interface, the Analysis Module (25) is made interchangeable. The process of Monitoring Manager (23) is described in FIG.3. When the user presses button on his active device, Session Transfer Manager (22) will perform device switching after determining and checking the nearest device and then extract the SIP URI of the nearest device from Device Lookup Table (24) as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.5. The Monitoring Manager (23) handles the interaction between Controller Module (27) and Session Transfer Manager (22). Monitoring Manager (23) consists of three modules which are Device Analysis Module (25), Device Lookup Table (24) and Tracking Module (26). It is responsible to send request to Controller Module (27) to search surrounding passive devices and to receive the response from Controller Module (27). The Monitoring Manager (23) also performs calculation for the nearest device and response result of nearest device to Session Transfer Manager (22) after receiving request from session Transfer Manager (22).

The Controller Module (27) is a stack to activate and interact with any short-range communication such as Bluetooth, UWB, Zigbee and etc. The Controller Module (27) is responsible for tracking the surrounding devices by broadcasting and/or receiving inquiry request or response from all the surrounding devices.

The Tracking Module (26) is responsible for performing device searching. The Tracking Module (26) broadcasts inquiry request to surrounding devices and receives the inquiry response from the devices and stores the results into Device Lookup Table (24).

Once the devices have been found, the search result will be stored in the table. The Device Lookup Table (24) stores device address, device name, signal strength, transmitted power, radio signal characteristics or properties.

Device Analysis Module (25) analyzes the nearest device based on the searched results in Device Lookup Table (24). The Device Analysis Module (25) will calculate based on the information received from the devices. This module is replaceable by different algorithms on performing location tracking or distance calculation.

After the user activates session transfer, Session Transfer Manager (22) will then engage with the nearest device from Monitoring Manager.

FIG. 3 shows process flow of short range enable device switching. The process commences (31 ) with starting VOIP application (32) and establishes VOIP session (33). The process triggers backend thread (34) and send discovery message (35) to surrounding devices and wait for response (36) to collect name, radio signal characteristic and properties (37). The process then proceeds by selecting Device Analysis Module to process the collected info (38). The result obtained is then stored in the Device Lookup Table (47).

On the same time, when VOIP session is established (33), a session transfer request is initiated (41 ). The nearest device is then checked from the Device Lookup Table (42) to establish connection to nearest device (43). The session then request address (44) from the nearest device and transfer (45) the session accordingly. Once the session has been transferred, the previous session is then terminated (46). According to FIG. 4, the sequence flow diagram shows the process after Bob pressed a button to perform session transfer to another device. After Bob presses the button and get SIP URI of the device that to be transferred to, SIP REFER is sent to Alice's device to request to transfer to another device. Subsequently, Alice's device will establish session between her device and phone at living room for example, Alice will send the connecting status with Bob's mobile device by sending SIP NOTIFY message. Once the session is established between Alice and phone at living room, the existing session between Alice and Bob's mobile device will be terminated. According to FIG.5 the sequence flow diagram shows the interaction between Bob's mobile device (15), Living Room's device (13) and Alice (1 1 ) after Bob's mobile device (15) pressed a button to reclaim the session back from Living Room Device (1 3). In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the various embodiments discussed above and the claims that follow. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements as described herein.

Claims

1. A method to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication comprising:

detecting a plurality of alternative communication devices using short range communication protocols;

requesting for information from a plurality of alternative communication devices to a first communication device;

collecting information from the plurality of alternative communication devices in proximity to the first communication device;

selecting Device Analysis Module to process information; and

storing a result into a table.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein detecting the plurality of alternative communication devices using short range communication protocols includes

Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band, Zigbee and means of Near Field Communications.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein requesting for information from a plurality of device includes requesting radio signal characteristic, name and properties of the alternative communication devices.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein collecting information from the plurality of alternative communication devices includes collecting radio signal characteristic, properties and device name.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein storing the result into a table includes allowing frontend thread to retrieve the nearest device.

6. A system to enable device switching by identifying nearby devices with short range communication comprising:

a Monitoring Manager (23) engaged with a Controller Module (27) and Session Transfer (22);

a Tracking Module (26) communicatively connected to the system,

a Device Analysis Module (25) detachably connected to the system accommodating different tracking algorithms; and

a Device Lookup Table (24) connected to the Device Analysis Module (25).

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the Monitoring Manager (23) further consists of Device Analysis Module (25), Device Lookup Table (24) and Tracking Module (26).

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the Tracking Module (26) performs device searching, requesting and receiving response for plurality of alternative communication devices by engaging with Controller Module (27).

9. The system according to claim 6 wherein the Device Analysis Module (25) analyzes nearest alternative communication devices.

10. The system according to claim 6 wherein the Device Lookup Table (24) storing results obtained from the Device Analysis Module (25).

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the Device Lookup Table (24) further allowing Session Transfer (22) to retrieve the nearest alternative communication device.