Stacked device position identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9373302-B2
Application number	US-201213634914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2012
Priority date	Aug 10, 2012
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

Methods and electronic devices for identifying a location of a top electronic device stacked on top of a bottom electronic device are described. In one example embodiment, the top electronic device and the bottom electronic device are configured to communicate. In one example embodiment, the method includes: receiving camera data associated with a camera of the top electronic device; obtaining display data identifying a pixel arrangement on at least a portion of a display of the bottom electronic device; and identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device based on the camera data and the display data.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A processor implemented method of identifying a location of a top electronic device stacked on top of a bottom electronic device, the top electronic device and the bottom electronic device being configured to communicate, the method comprising:
receiving, at the processor, camera data associated with a camera of the top electronic device, the camera being mounted on a bottom of the top electronic device and facing a display on a top surface of the bottom electronic device when the top electronic device is stacked on top of the bottom electronic device;
obtaining, by the processor, display data identifying a pixel arrangement on at least a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device, the display data comprising information about a locating pattern which occupies the entirety of the display of the bottom electronic device;
identifying, by the processor, the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device based on the camera data and the display data, wherein identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device based on the camera data and the display data comprises identifying the portion of the locating pattern corresponding to the camera data; and
after the position of the top electronic device has been identified relative to the bottom electronic device, displaying a further locating pattern on a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device, and wherein the further locating pattern does not occupy the entirety of the display of the bottom electronic device and wherein the further locating pattern is only displayed at a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device,

wherein, in response to a movement of the top electronic device with respect to the bottom electronic device, the further locating pattern moves along the display of the bottom electronic device to remain aligned with the camera of the top electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device comprises:
identifying a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is represented by the camera data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locating pattern is displayed to be invisible to a human eye.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying a further locating pattern on a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device comprises: displaying the further locating pattern on a portion of the display that is aligned, at least in part, with the camera associated with the top electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying a further locating pattern on a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device comprises: displaying the further locating pattern on a portion of the display that is aligned with the camera associated with the top electronic device and that is aligned with a portion of the top electronic device surrounding the camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving camera data associated with a camera of the top electronic device comprises: receiving the camera data from the top electronic device via a communication subsystem associated with the bottom electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining display data identifying a pixel arrangement on at least a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device comprises: receiving the display data from the bottom electronic device via a communication subsystem associated with the top electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device comprises determining the relative orientation of the top electronic device and the bottom electronic device, the method further comprising:
determining whether the relative orientation satisfies first predetermined criteria and, if so, performing a first function on one or both of the top electronic device and the bottom electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining whether the relative orientation satisfies second predetermined criteria and, if so, performing a second function on one or both of the top electronic device and the bottom electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein performing a first function comprises implementing a preference profile.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein performing the first function comprises setting an alarm to a quiet mode and wherein performing the second function comprises setting an alarm to an audible mode.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on the identified position, providing a complementary user interface mode in which a display screen is displayed on the top electronic device that is related to a display screen displayed on the bottom electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing a complementary user interface mode comprises:
displaying, on a display on a top surface of the top electronic device, a display screen having one or more features aligned with features on a display screen displayed on the display of the bottom electronic device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device comprises identifying a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is aligned with a display of the top electronic device and wherein providing a complementary user interface mode comprises displaying, on the display of the top electronic device, content extracted from a display screen intended for display on the identified portion of the display of the bottom electronic device.

15. A top electronic device comprising:
a camera mounted on a bottom of the top electronic device;
a communication subsystem for communicating with a bottom electronic device; and
a processor configured to:
receive camera data associated with the camera of the top electronic device, the camera facing a display on a top surface of the bottom electronic device when the top electronic device is stacked on top of the bottom electronic device;
obtain display data identifying a pixel arrangement on at least a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device, the display data comprising information about a locating pattern which occupies the entirety of the display of the bottom electronic device;
identify the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device based on the camera data and the display data, wherein identifying the position of the top electronic device relative to the bottom electronic device based on the camera data and the display data comprises identifying the portion of the locating pattern corresponding to the camera data;
after the position of the top electronic device has been identified relative to the bottom electronic device, displaying a further locating pattern on a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device, and wherein the further locating pattern does not occupy the entirety of the display of the bottom electronic device and wherein the further locating pattern is only displayed at a portion of the display of the bottom electronic device that is obscured by the top electronic device,

wherein, in response to a movement of the top electronic device with respect to the bottom electronic device, the f

Assignees

• Walker David Ryan
• Pasquero Jerome
• Mckenzie Donald Somerset Mcculloch
• Fyke Steven Henry
• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Walker David Ryan
• Pasquero Jerome
• Mckenzie Donald Somerset Mcculloch
• Fyke Steven Henry

Classifications

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• H04M2250/52

  including functional features of a camera · CPC title

• G09G2370/16

  Use of wireless transmission of display information · CPC title

• G09G2356/00

  Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens · CPC title

• G06F1/1686

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title