Activity illumination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9669298-B2
Application number	US-201314087548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Jun 29, 2007
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A method to indicate that a first device is in communication with a second device is disclosed. The first device may receive an indication activity from the second device. The indication activity may change the display and the illumination object on the first device and the displays on the illumination object and the display are similar.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A first portable media device comprising
a processor; and
stored instructions that are executable to indicate information regarding a game being played on a second portable media device by
receiving a communication from the second portable media device, the communication comprising current information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device and illumination information that indicates how the current information is to be visually indicated by the first portable media device; and
in response, presenting the information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device within a game being played on the first portable media device, and presenting the illumination information by performing an indication activity on the first portable media device separate from presenting the information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device, the indication activity comprising outputting light at one or more of a brightness and a color according to the illumination information.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to output the light via an illumination object that is separate from a display of the first portable media device.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to output the light via a display of the first portable media device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the current information regarding the game matches a stored communication in memory on the first portable media device, and wherein the instructions are executable to select the indication activity based upon the stored communication in memory.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the current information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device comprises current score information.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions are executable to output brighter light if a score of the game being played on the first portable media device is higher than a score of a game being played on the second media device, and output dimmer light if a score of the game being played on the first portable media device is lower than a score of the game being played on the second portable media device.

7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions are executable to output light that indicates a high score in the game being played on the second portable media device.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the current information regarding the game comprises one or more of victory information and remaining game play information.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the current information received from the second portable media device regarding the game being played on the second portable media device comprises the indication activity.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to receive the communication from the second portable media device via a central access point.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to receive the communication directly from the second portable media device.

12. On a second portable media device, a method of communicating with a first portable media device regarding a game being played on the second portable media device and a game being played on the first portable media device, the method comprising:
sending a communication to the first portable media device, the communication to the first portable media device comprising current information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device for presentation by the first portable media device and illumination information that indicates how the current information is to be visually indicated by a receiving media device;
receiving a first communication from the first portable media device, the first communication from the first portable media device comprising current information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device and illumination information that indicates how the current information is to be indicated by the second portable media device;
in response to receiving the first communication from the first portable media device, presenting the current information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device within a game being played on the second portable media device, and presenting the illumination information by performing an indication activity on the second portable media device separate from presenting the information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device, the indication activity comprising outputting light at one or more of a brightness and a color according to the illumination information;
receiving a second communication from the first portable media device comprising additional information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device and updated illumination information that indicates how the additional information is to be visually indicated by the second portable media device; and
in response to receiving the second communication from the first portable media device, presenting the additional information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device within the game being played on the second portable media device, and presenting the updated illumination information by changing the indication activity by one or more of changing a brightness of the light and changing a color of the light according to the updated illumination information separate from presenting the additional information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein outputting the light comprises outputting the light via an illumination object that is separate from a display of the second portable media device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein outputting the light comprises outputting the light via a display of the second portable media device.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the current information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device matches a stored communication in memory on the second portable media device, and wherein the indication activity is selected by the second portable media device based upon the stored communication in memory.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the current information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device and the current information regarding the game being played on the first portable media device comprise current score information.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication is received from the first portable media device via a central access point.

18. A first portable media device comprising
a processor; and
stored instructions that are executable to indicate information regarding a game being played on a second portable media device by
receiving a communication from the second portable media device, the communication comprising current score information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device;
in response, selecting an indication activity and performing the indication activity on the first portable media device, the indication activity comprising outputting light at one or more of a brightness and a color that indicates the current information regarding the game being played on the second portable device;
receiving the communication from the second portable media device comprising additional information regarding the game being played on the second portable media device; and
changing the indication ac

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Andrews Anton Oguzhan Alford
• Proctor David Walter
• Fong Jeffrey Cheng-Yao
• Abanami Thamer A

Classifications

• H04M1/72519

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04B17/23

  Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means · CPC title

• H04M1/22 Primary

  Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials · CPC title

• A63F13/12 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• H04M1/724

  User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones · CPC title