USRE44191E1

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Publication number: USRE44191E1
Application number: US12/788,218
Authority: US
Inventors: Holger Hussmann
Original assignee: Amosmet Investments LLC
Current assignee: Iot Innovations LLC
Priority date: 2004-04-16
Filing date: 2010-05-26
Publication date: 2013-04-30
Also published as: US7379975B2; US20050235029A1; WO2005101275A1

Abstract

A method, a system, electric devices applying the method, and computer programs implementing the method are provided. According to the invention, a second set of information is communicated between electric devices over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device. A correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of a first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with a first user application and the second user application is evaluated on the basis of a first set of information and the second set of information, wherein the first set of information is associated with a first user application of the first electric device. On the basis of the correspondence indicator value, a decision is made whether to execute the at least one command.

Description

FIELD

The invention relates to a method of setting up a user application in a plurality of electric devices, to electric devices, to a system, and to computer programs for executing a computer process in an electric device.

BACKGROUND

Some user applications of electric devices involve application data, which are shared between at least two electric devices and communicated from one electric device to another over a wireless interface.

The electric devices may detect the presence of each other based on a wireless proximity interface, such as those based on Bluetooth communication, on which at least a portion of a wireless communication may be based.

However, the complexity related to setting up user applications may give rise to situations where the application set up requires complex actions from the users of the electric devices. Such a complexity may be due to, for example, the number of user applications in an electric device, the characteristics of user applications and the user preferences associated with the user applications.

Therefore, it is useful to consider improvements in setting up applications involving shared application data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method, electric device and computer program in order to simplify the application set up of user applications which share application data. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of setting up user applications in a plurality of electric devices, the method including: communicating at least a portion of a second set of information from a second electric device to a first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device; evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric device including: an application unit for executing commands associated with a first user application of the electric device, the first user application using shared application data communicated between the electric device and another electric device by using a wireless interface, the application data being shared with a second user application of the other electric device; a proximity communication unit for providing a proximity interface between the electric device and the other electric device; an application information register connected to the application unit, for storing a first set of information, the first set of information being associated with the first user application; wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to receive at least a portion of a second set of information from the other electric device over the wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with the second user application; a correspondence evaluating unit connected to the proximity communication unit and the application information register, for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of the first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the other electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and a decision unit connected to the correspondence evaluating unit, for deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric device including: an application unit for executing commands associated with a second user application of the electric device, the second user application using shared application data communicated between the electric device and another electric device by using a wireless interface, the application data being shared with a first user application of the other electric device; a proximity communication unit for providing a proximity interface between the electric device and the other electric device; an application information register connected to the application unit, for storing at least a portion of a second set of information, the second set of information being associated with the second user application, the at least a portion of the second set of information being used to evaluate a correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application information register and configured to transmit the at least a portion of the second set of information to the other electric device over the wireless proximity interface; wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit and configured to receive instructions to execute at least one command from the other electric device over the proximity interface, the at least one command being associated with the second user application; and wherein the application unit is configured to execute the at least one command on the basis of the instructions.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps including: using, as input, at least a portion of a second set of information communicated from a second electric device to a first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device; evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps including: inputting instructions to execute at least one command from the other electric device over the proximity interface, the at least one command being associated with the second user application, the second user application using application data shared between the electric device and another electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface; and executing the at least one command on the basis of the instructions.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system including a first electric device and a second electric device, the system further including: communicating means for communicating at least a portion of a second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device; evaluating means for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and deciding means for deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The method, system, electric devices and computer programs of the invention provide several advantages. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a correspondence indicator value is evaluated, which characterizes the readiness of electric devices capable of using shared application data to participate in an interactive operation of the user applications. The evaluation of the correspondence indicator value replaces some application set up actions, such as navigation through a menu structure of the electric device, otherwise being required from the user. As a result, the application set up is simplified.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a first example of a system of electric devices;

FIG. 2 shows a second example of a system of electric devices;

FIG. 3 shows an example of an electric device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first example of a methodology according to embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a second example of a methodology according to embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1, in an aspect, a system includes an electric device (ED#1)100, also referred to as “a first electric device”. Theelectric device100 is associated with another electric device (ED#2)102, also referred to as “a second electric device”.

In another aspect of the invention, the system includes anelectric device102, also referred to as “a second electric device”. Theelectric device102 is associated with anotherelectric device100, also referred to as “a first electric device”.

The firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 include a first user application (APPL#1)104 and a second user application (APPL#2)106, respectively. Thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 use sharedapplication data112, which are communicated between the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 by using awireless interface108.

For the ease of discussion, let a common term “a user application” represent thefirst user application104 and/or thesecond user application106. Furthermore, let a common term “a set of information” represent a first set ofinformation114 and/or a second set ofinformation116. In addition, let a term “electric device” represent the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102. The use of the common terms is justified on the basis of common features included in the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102. However, features specifically related to the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102, respectively, are indicated with the attributes “the first” and “the second”.

The

electric device

100,102 may be a handheld gaming console. The

electric device

100,102 may further include a mobile phone radio modem, thus enabling the

electric device

100,102 to connect to a telecommunications infrastructure. In such a case, the

electric devices

100,102 may both be connected to a network infrastructure of a wireless telecommunications system through which theapplication data112 is communicated between the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102. The wireless telecommunications system may include a GSM (Global System for Mobile telecommunications) and/or a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), for example.

The

electric device

100,102 may further be comprise a personal computer, a video game console, a television set, or a digital adapter connected to a television set and a broadcast system.

It should be noted that the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 may have different characteristics. For example, the firstelectric device100 may be a portable electric device equipped with a mobile phone radio modem while the secondelectric device102 is a permanently mounted type device, such as a television set, a digital adapter or a video game console.

In an embodiment of the invention, thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 are game applications. In such a case, theapplication data112 deliver, for example, the necessary control information and commands from one electric device to another in order to enable interactive operation between the game applications.

In an embodiment of the invention, thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application 106 are communication applications, which enable the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 to exchange data. The communication applications typically implement communication protocols and may be used, for example, to exchange files, such as electric business cards, graphics files, audio files and/or text files between the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102.

Thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 are associated with a first set of information (INFO#1)114 and a second set of information (INFO#2)116, respectively. At least one portion of the first set ofinformation114 is generated in the firstelectric device100. At least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 is generated in the secondelectric device102.

At least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 is communicated from the secondelectric device102 to the first electric100 device over awireless proximity interface110.

The wireless proximitywireless interface110 provides a short-range wireless telecommunications link between the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102. The range of the proximitywireless interface110 may vary, for example, from centimeters to dozens of meters. The range is not, however, restricted to this example.

The wireless proximitywireless interface110 may be based on radio frequency communication, such as a Bluetooth technology. Embodiments may exist which utilize RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. An average skilled person is familiar with the aforementioned wireless proximity technologies, and therefore, the technologies are described only briefly.

In an embodiment of the invention, thewireless interface108 is a wireless proximity interface. In such a case, theapplication data112 and the at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 may be communicated over a sharedwireless proximity interface110.

In the firstelectric device100, a correspondence indicator value is evaluated on the basis of at least one portion of a first set ofinformation114 and the at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116. The correspondence indicator value typically characterizes the readiness of the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 to execute at least one command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106.

On the basis of the correspondence indicator value, a decision is made whether or not to execute the at least one command. If the correspondence indicator value indicates that the readiness of the

electric devices

102,104 is sufficiently high, the at least one command may be executed. If the correspondence value indicates that the readiness of the electric devices is not sufficiently high, the at least one command is not executed.

The at least one command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 is typically a command which gives rise to interactive actions in thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106. An interactive action is typically an action performed by a computer and involves and/or is followed by communication of theapplication data112. The at least one command may be associated with a series of commands, which are executed automatically by the operating system and/or by the

user application

104,106 and which correspond to the most probable actions performed by the user. As a result, the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user, and so the usage of the

user application

104,106 is simplified. For example, navigation steps through a complex user interface menu structure may be replaced with the at least one command.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one command is a start command to start thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106. The start command may be generated in the firstelectric device100 and delivered to the secondelectric device104, embedded in theapplication data112, or transmitted over thewireless proximity interface110. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one command starts a game application.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one command starts the communication of theapplication data112. In such a case, thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 may be running at the moment the command is executed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one command sets the

user application

104,106 and/or the operating systems of the

electric device

100,102 such that the

user application

104,106 is in a standby state. In a standby state, the

user application

104,106 is ready to be started. The standby state may be indicated to the user of the

electric device

104,106. The

user application

104,106 may be started based on a command generated by the user.

The set of

information

114,116 is associated with the

user application

104,106. The set of

information

114,116 may include user application information, such as identification information and application data format information. The user application information typically describes the technical characteristics of the

user application

104,106, thus making it possible to evaluate whether thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 fulfill the technical requirements needed for an interactive operation. In such a case the correspondence indicator may characterize the readiness of the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102 to execute commands associated with the first user application and the second user application from the point of view of the technical characteristics of thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106.

In an embodiment of the invention, the set of

information

114,116 may further include usage information relating to the

user application

104,106. The usage information may include user preferences and usage history of the

user application

104,106.

The user preferences may include user settings relating to the user application and/or the operating system in which the user application operates. A user preference may be, for example, a degree of difficulty setting of a game application. The user preference may include a user setting, which enables or disables the user application to be executed in an interactive mode. In an interactive mode, the application data are being shared between the firstelectric device100 and the secondelectric device102. In such a case, the correspondence indicator value characterizes the match between the user preferences related to thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106. The better the match between thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106, the higher the correspondence indicator value and the readiness of the firstelectric device100 and the second102 electric device to execute the at least one command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106.

The usage history of the user application may include, for example, a participation rate at which the

electric device

100,102 has executed the

user application

104,106 in an interactive mode. The participation rate characterizes the probability of the user of the

user application

104,106 to be willing to participate in the interactive action. The higher participation rate for both thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106, the higher the correspondence indicator value and thus the readiness of the firstelectric device100 and the second102 electric device to execute the at least one command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106.

In an embodiment of the invention, the set of

information

114,116 includes a readiness parameter, which characterizes the user's readiness to use the

user application

104,106.

In an embodiment of the invention, the readiness parameter includes information on the selected menu item shown to the user. The selected menu item is typically a graphical indicator, which indicates to the user a selection item in a selection tree structure. In such a way, the readiness parameter indicates the user's possible preparedness to use the

user application

104,106.

The selected menu item may relate to the

user application

104,106 and/or to the operating system of the

electric device

100,102. When included in the second set ofinformation116, for example, the readiness parameter informs the firstelectric device100 that the secondelectric device102 is willing to participate in an interactive session where theapplication data112 are shared. If the first set ofinformation114 indicates the readiness of the firstelectric device102 to participate an interactive session, the correspondence indicator value increases, which results in a higher probability of executing the at least one command. Finally, the at least one command may lead to an automatic configuration of the

applications

104,106 to participate in the interactive session.

In an embodiment of the invention, the readiness parameter includes action information on the actions performed and/or being performed by the

electric device

100,102. The action information may characterize the current and/or previous actions performed by the user, thus indicating the activity of the user.

The action information may include information on the current and/or previous actions, and possibly time information on the actions. Such actions may be, for example, navigation actions in the user menu structure, actions associated with accepting and/or initiating calls, and/or actions associated with user applications.

With reference toFIG. 2, the firstelectric device202 includes an application unit (AU#1)206 for executing commands associated with thefirst user application104 of the firstelectric device202. Theapplication unit206 may be implemented with a computer and software of theelectric device202. For example, game applications may be run in theapplication unit206.

Theapplication unit206 may be connected to an application data communication unit (ADC#1)224, which provides thewireless interface108 and communicates theapplication data112 with the secondelectric device204. The applicationdata communication unit224 may be implemented with a telecommunications system radio modem, which provides a communication link between the firstelectric device202 and the network infrastructure of the wireless telecommunications system. In an embodiment of the invention, the applicationdata communication unit224 implements thewireless proximity interface110. The applicationdata communication unit224 may input theapplication data112 to theapplication unit206 and receive theapplication data112 outputted by theapplication unit206.

The firstelectric device202 further includes a proximity communication unit (PXU#1)208 for providing theproximity interface110 between the firstelectric device202 and the secondelectric device204. Theproximity communication unit208 may include a radio modem for implementing, for example, a Bluetooth radio interface or an RFID interface. The technology to provide such a wireless proximity interface is known to one skilled in the art, and only details relevant to the present solution are referred to. It should be noted that theapplication communication unit224 and the wirelessproximity communication unit208 may share resources, such as radio transmitters, memory, and processing power. In an embodiment of the invention, theapplication communication unit224 is included in theproximity communication unit208.

In an embodiment of the invention, theproximity communication unit208 requests a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices. The wireless proximity connection may scan the frequency range supported by the wireless proximity interface and transmit a wireless proximity connection request232 to the secondelectric device204.

A positive acknowledgement of the request may be generated in an electric device, which has received a wireless proximity connection request232. Theproximity communication unit208 may receive apositive acknowledgement message234, and a procedure to establish the wireless proximity connection may be carried out on the basis of thepositive acknowledgement message234.

In an embodiment of the invention, the communication of the at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 from the secondelectric device204 to the firstelectric device202 is triggered on the basis of the positive acknowledgement. The firstelectric device202 may, for example, indicate the secondelectric device204 about the preparedness of receiving the second set ofinformation116.

The wirelessproximity communication unit208 receives at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 from the secondelectric device204 over thewireless proximity interface110 and delivers the second set ofinformation116 to a correspondence evaluating unit (CEU)214.

The firstelectric device202 includes an application information register (AIR#1)210 connected to theapplication unit206. Theapplication information register210 includes the first set ofinformation114 of the firstelectric device202. The application information register210 may be implemented with a memory device, for example.

The application information register210 may be provided with parameters, such as readiness parameters and parameters characterizing user settings of the applications from theapplication unit206. In an embodiment of the invention, theapplication information register210 is connected to the user interface of the firstelectric device202 so that the user actions related to usage of the user applications and the menu items, for example, may be registered.

The first set ofinformation114 is inputted from the application information register210 to thecorrespondence evaluating unit214. Furthermore, the second set ofinformation116 is inputted from theproximity communication unit208 to thecorrespondence evaluating unit214.

Thecorrespondence evaluating unit214 evaluates thecorrespondence indicator value230 and outputs thecorrespondence indicator value230 to a decision unit (DU)212 connected to thecorrespondence evaluating unit214.

On the basis of thecorrespondence indicator value230, thedecision unit212 decides whether or not to execute the at least one command.

In an embodiment of the invention, thedecision unit212 compares thecorrespondence indicator value230 with a correspondence indicator threshold value. The correspondence indicator threshold value may be defined by the user or it may have been programmed into the memory of the firstelectric device202 by a manufacturer or an operator. If thecorrespondence indicator value230 exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value, the decision unit generates

instructions

236,242 to execute the at least one command associated with thesecond user application104 and thefirst user application106.

In an embodiment of the invention, the decision unit232 212 inputs theinstructions236 to theproximity communication unit208, which transmits theinstructions236 to the secondelectric device204. The secondelectric device204 may execute the at least one command on the basis of theinstructions236.

In an embodiment of the invention, thedecision unit212 is connected to theapplication unit206 and inputs theinstructions242 to theapplication unit206. Theapplication unit206 executes the at least one command on the basis of theinstructions242.

Thecorrespondence indicator value230 may be used to determine details of the at least one command. For example, a high value of the correspondence indicator indicates a high level of correspondence between the user preferences and the technical requirements of the

electric devices

202,204, and the command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 may replace a series of actions otherwise performed by the users. For example, if the

electric devices

202,204 are technically identical, the

user applications

104,106 are identical, and furthermore, the usage history of the

electric devices

202,204 indicating a strong desire to participate in an interactive session, the command may start the user applications automatically. If the correspondence indicator is lower, some user actions, such as confirmation of the start of the user application, may be required.

Thecorrespondence evaluating unit214 may be implemented with the computer of the firstelectric device202 and software.

Thedecision unit212 may be implemented with the computer of the firstelectric device202 and software.

With further reference toFIG. 2, an aspect the invention provides the secondelectric device204.

The secondelectric device204 includes an application unit (AU#2)216, a proximity communication unit (PXU#2)218, an application information register (AIR#2)220, and an application data communication unit (ADC#2)226.

Theapplication unit216 executes commands associated with thesecond user application106 of the secondelectric device204. Theapplication unit216 may be implemented with a computer and software of the secondelectric device204. For example, game applications may be run in theapplication unit216.

Theapplication unit216 may be connected to the applicationdata communication unit224, which provides thewireless interface108 and communicates theapplication data112 with the firstelectric device202. The applicationdata communication unit226 may be implemented with a telecommunications system radio modem, which provides a communication link between the secondelectric device204 and the network infrastructure of the wireless telecommunications system. In an embodiment of the invention, the applicationdata communication unit226 implements thewireless proximity interface110. The applicationdata communication unit226 may input theapplication data112 to theapplication unit216.

Theproximity communication unit218 provides theproximity interface110 between the firstelectric device202 and the secondelectric device204. Theproximity communication unit218 may include a radio modem for implementing, for example, a Bluetooth radio interface or an RFID interface. The technology to provide such a wireless proximity interface is known to one skilled in the art, and only details relevant to the present solution are referred to. It should be noted that theapplication communication unit226 and the wirelessproximity communication unit218 may share resources, such as radio transmitters, memory, and processing power. In an embodiment of the invention, theapplication communication unit226 is included in theproximity communication unit218.

Theapplication information register220 includes the second set ofinformation116 of the secondelectric device204. The application information register220 may be implemented with a memory device, for example.

The application information register210 may be provided with parameters, such as readiness parameters and parameters characterizing user settings of the applications from theapplication unit216. In an embodiment of the invention, theapplication information register220 is connected to the user interface of the secondelectric device204 so that the user actions related to the usage of the user applications and the menu items, for example, may be registered.

Theapplication information register220 is connected to theproximity communication unit218 and inputs the second set ofinformation216 to theproximity communication unit218. Theproximity communication unit218 transmits at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 to the firstelectric device202.

Theproximity communication unit218 receives theinstructions236 to execute at least one command, the at least one command being associated with thesecond user application106. Theinstructions236 are delivered to theapplication unit216, which executes the at least one command on the basis of theinstructions236.

In an embodiment of the invention, theproximity communication unit218 receives a wireless proximity connection request232. Theproximity communication unit218 may generate a positive acknowledgement of the request and trigger the communication of the second set ofinformation116 to the firstelectric device202 on the basis of the positive acknowledgement. Theproximity communication unit218 may further transmit apositive acknowledgement message234 to the firstelectric device202 in order to confirm that the wireless proximity connection may be established.

With reference toFIG. 3, anelectric device300 may include acomputer310, amemory unit312, auser interface314, and aproximity communication unit302.

An

application unit

206,216, acorrespondence evaluating unit214 and adecision unit212 may be implemented in thecomputer310 by using software stored in thememory unit312. An

application information register

210,220 may be implemented in thememory unit312. The input/output traffic of the

application information register

210,220 may be routed via the computer.

Theproximity communication unit302 typically includes an antenna304, atransceiver306 and abase band unit308. Thebase band unit308 may be connected to thecomputer310 in order to enable signals, such as those associated with theinstructions236 and the second set ofinformation116 to be exchanged.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, a methodology according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated with flow charts.

InFIG. 4, the method starts in400.

In402, a wireless proximity connection is requested from a plurality of electric devices.

In404, the wireless proximity connection is established between a first electric device and a secondelectric device204 on the basis of a positive acknowledgement of a wirelessproximity connection request234.

In406, communication of a second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device is triggered on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

In408, at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116 is communicated from the secondelectric device204 to the firstelectric device202 over awireless proximity interface108, the second set ofinformation116 being associated with asecond user application106 of the secondelectric device204.

In410, acorrespondence indicator value230 is evaluated on the basis of at least one portion of a first set ofinformation114 and the at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116.

In412, on the basis of thecorrespondence indicator value230 it is decided whether to execute the at least one command.

In414, the method ends.

InFIG. 5, the method starts in500.

In502, acorrespondence indicator value230 is evaluated on the basis of at least one portion of the first set ofinformation114 and the at least one portion of the second set ofinformation116.

In504, thecorrespondence indicator value230 is compared with a correspondence indicator threshold value.

In506, the method divides into two cases. If thecorrespondence indicator value230 does not exceed the correspondence indicator threshold value, the method ends.

If thecorrespondence indicator value230 exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value,instructions236 to execute the at least one command associated with thefirst user application104 and thesecond user application106 are generated in508.

In510, theinstructions236 to execute the at least one command associated with thefirst user application114 and thesecond user application116 are transmitted from the firstelectric device202 to the secondelectric device204 over thewireless interface108, theinstructions236 being based on a comparison between thecorrespondence indicator value230 and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

In512, theinstructions236 are received in the secondelectric device204.

In514, the least one command associated with thesecond user application106 is executed on the basis of theinstructions236.

In516, the method ends.

In an aspect, the invention provides a computer program for executing a: computer process, of which embodiments are shown and described in conjunction withFIGS. 4 and 5. The computer program may be stored in thememory unit312 and executed in thecomputer310.

The computer program may be embodied on a computer readable medium, such as a CD (Compact Disc), a hard drive, a diskette, and a portable memory unit. The computer program may further be transferred with an electric signal in a data network, such as the Internet.

Even though the invention has been described above with reference to an example according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear that the invention is not restricted thereto but it can be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of setting up user applications in a plurality of electric devices, the method including:

communicating at least a portion of a second set of information from a second electric device to a first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the atleast one command,

wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user.

2. The method ofclaim 1, further including:

requesting a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices;

establishing the wireless proximity connection between the first electric device and the second electric device on the basis of a positive acknowledgement of a wireless proximity connection request; and

triggering communication of the second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

3. The method ofclaim 1, further including:

comparing the correspondence indicator value with a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

generating instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application if the correspondence indicator value exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value.

4. The method ofclaim 1, further including:

transmitting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the wireless interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value;

receiving the instructions in the second electric device; and

executing at least one command associated with the second user application on the basis of the instructions.

5. An electric device including:

an application unit for executing commands associated with a first user application of the electric device, the first user application using shared application data communicated between the electric device and another electric device by using a wireless interface, the application data being shared with a second user application of the other electric device;

a proximity communication unit for providing a proximity interface between the electric device and the other electric device;

an application information register connected to the application unit, for storing a first set of information, the first set of information being associated with the first user application;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to receive at least a portion of a second set of information from the other electric device over the wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with the second user application;

a correspondence evaluating unit connected to the proximity communication unit and the application information register, for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of the first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the other electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

a decision unit connected to the correspondence evaluating unit, for deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

6. The electric device ofclaim 5, wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to request a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to establish the wireless proximity connection between the electric device and the other electric device on the basis of a positive acknowledgement of a wireless proximity connection request; and

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to trigger communication of the at least a portion of the second set of information from the other electric device to the electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

7. The electric device ofclaim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to compare the correspondence indicator value with a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

wherein the decision unit is configured to generate instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application if the correspondence indicator value exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value.

8. The electric device ofclaim 5, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the decision unit and configured to transmit instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the electric device to the other electric device over the proximity interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

9. The electric device ofclaim 5, wherein the application unit is connected to the decision unit; and

wherein the application unit in is configured to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application on the basis of instructions received from the decision unit.

10. The electric device ofclaim 5, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit; and

wherein the proximity interface unit is configured to communicate at least a portion of the application data with the other electric device.

11. An electric device including:

an application unit for executing commands associated with a second user application of the electric device, the second user application using shared application data communicated between the electric device and another electric device by using a wireless interface, the application data being shared with a first user application of the other electric device;

an application information register connected to the application unit, for storing at least a portion of a second set of information, the second set of information being associated with the second user application, the at least a portion of the second set of information being used to evaluate a correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the other electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application;

wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application information register and configured to transmit the at least a portion of the second set of information to the other electric device over the wireless proximity interface;

wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit and configured to receive instructions to execute at least one command from the other electric device over the proximity interface, the at least one command being associated with the second user application;

wherein the application unit is configured to execute the at least one command on the basis of the instructions; and

12. The electric device ofclaim 11, wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to receive a wireless proximity connection request;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to establish the wireless proximity connection between the electric device and the other electric device based on a positive acknowledgement of a wireless proximity connection request; and

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to trigger a communication of the at least a portion of the second set of information from the electric device to the other electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

13. The electric device ofclaim 11, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit; and

14. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps including:

using, as input, at least a portion of a second set of information communicated from a second electric device to a first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

15. The computer program ofclaim 14, wherein the computer process further includes:

16. The computer program ofclaim 14, wherein the computer process further includes:

17. The computer program ofclaim 14, wherein the computer process further includes:

outputting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the wireless interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

18. The computer program ofclaim 14, wherein the computer process further includes:

inputting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

executing the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application on the basis of instructions.

19. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps including:

inputting instructions to execute at least one command from the other another electric device over the a proximity interface, the at least one command being associated with the second a user application, the second user application using application data shared between the electric device and another the other electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the electric device and the second other electric device by using a wireless interface; and

executing the at least one command on the basis of the instructions, wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user and wherein the at least one command enables interactive operation between the user application of the electric device and a user application of the other electric device.

20. The computer program ofclaim 19, wherein the computer process further includes:

inputtingreceiving, by the electric device, a wireless proximity connection request from the other electric device;

establishing the a wireless proximity connection between the electric device and the other electric device based on a positive acknowledgement of a the wireless proximity connection request, the positive acknowledgement provided by the electric device; and

triggering a communication of the at least a portion of the second a set of information from the electric device to the other electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

21. A system including a first electric device and a second electric device, the system further including:

communicating means for communicating at least a portion of a second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device over a wireless proximity interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

evaluating means for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a wireless interface, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

deciding means for deciding, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

22. The system ofclaim 21, further including:

requesting means for requesting a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices;

establishing means for establishing the wireless proximity connection between the first electric device and the second electric device on the basis of a positive acknowledgement of a wireless proximity connection request; and

triggering means for triggering communication of the second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

23. The system ofclaim 21, further including:

comparing means for comparing the correspondence indicator value with a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

generating means for generating instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application if the correspondence indicator value exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value.

24. The system ofclaim 21, further including:

transmitting means for transmitting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the wireless interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value;

receiving means for receiving the instructions in the second electric device; and

executing means for executing at least one command associated with the second user application on the basis of the instructions.

25. A method of setting up user applications in a plurality of electric devices, the method comprising:

receiving at least a portion of a second set of information from a second electric device at a first electric device over a first wireless interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

determining, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

causing initiation of communication of the second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the first wireless interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving the instructions at the second electric device; and

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the first user application and the second user application use shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first and second wireless interfaces are the same.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein a frequency range associated with the first wireless interface differs from a frequency range associated with the second wireless interface.

33. An electric device including:

an application unit for executing commands associated with a first user application of the electric device,

a proximity communication unit for providing a first interface between the electric device and another electric device;

an application information register, connected to the application unit, for storing a first set of information, the first set of information being associated with the first user application;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to receive at least a portion of a second set of information from the other electric device over the first interface, the second set of information being associated with the second user application;

a correspondence evaluating unit, connected to the proximity communication unit and the application information register, for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of the first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the other electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

a decision unit connected to the correspondence evaluating unit, for determining, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

34. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to request a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to cause initiation of a communication of the at least a portion of the second set of information from the other electric device to the electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

35. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the decision unit is configured to compare the correspondence indicator value with a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

36. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the decision unit and configured to transmit instructions to execute the at least one command associated the first user application and the second user application from the electric device to the other electric device over the first interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

37. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the application unit is connected to the decision unit; and

wherein the application unit is configured to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application on the basis of instructions received from the decision unit.

38. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit; and

39. The electric device of claim 33, wherein the first user application uses shared application data communicated between the electric device and the other electric device by using a second interface, the application data being shared with a second user application of the other electric device.

40. The electric device of claim 39, wherein the first and second interfaces are the same.

41. The electric device of claim 39, wherein a frequency range associated with the first interface differs from a frequency range associated with the second interface.

42. An electric device comprising:

an application unit for executing commands associated with a second user application of the electric device;

an application information register connected to the application unit, for storing at least a portion of a second set of information, the second set of information being associated with the second user application, the at least a portion of the second set of information being used to evaluate a correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the electric device and the electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application;

wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application information register and configured to transmit the at least a portion of the second set of information to the other electric device over the first interface;

wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit and configured to receive instructions to execute at least one command from the other electric device over the first interface, the at least one command being associated with the second user application;

43. The electric device of claim 42, wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to receive a wireless proximity connection request;

wherein the proximity communication unit is configured to cause initiation of a communication of the at least a portion of the second set of information from the electric device to the other electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

44. The electric device of claim 42, wherein the proximity communication unit is connected to the application unit; and

45. The electric device of claim 42, wherein the second user application using shared application data communicated between the electric device and the other electric device by using a second interface, the application data being shared with a first user application of the other electric device.

46. The electric device of claim 45, wherein the first and second interfaces are the same.

47. The electric device of claim 45, wherein a frequency range associated with the first interface differs from a frequency range associated with the second interface.

48. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps comprising:

receiving at least a portion of a second set of information communicated from a second electric device to a first electric device over a first wireless interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

determining, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command, wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user.

49. The computer program of claim 48, wherein the computer process further comprises:

causing initiation of a communication of the second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

50. The computer program of claim 48, wherein the computer process further comprises:

51. The computer program of claim 48, wherein the computer process further comprises:

transmitting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the first interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

52. The computer program of claim 48, wherein the computer process further comprises:

generating instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

executing the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application on the basis of the instructions.

53. The computer program of claim 48, wherein the first user application and the second user application use shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface.

54. The computer program of claim 53, wherein the first and second wireless interfaces are the same.

55. The computer program of claim 53, wherein a frequency range associated with the first wireless interface differs from a frequency range associated with the second wireless interface.

56. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in a first electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps comprising:

receiving instructions to execute at least one command from a second electric device over a first wireless interface, the at least one command being associated with a user application of the first electric device, the user application using application data shared between the first electric device and the second electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface; and

executing the at least one command on the basis of the instructions, wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user and wherein the at least one command enables interactive operation between the user application of the first electric device and a user application of the second electric device.

57. A system including a first electric device and a second electric device, the system further comprising:

receiving means for receiving at least a portion of a second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device over a first wireless interface, the second set of information being associated with a second user application of the second electric device;

evaluating means for evaluating a correspondence indicator value on the basis of at least a portion of a first set of information and the at least a portion of the second set of information, the first set of information being associated with a first user application of the first electric device, the correspondence indicator value characterizing the readiness of the first electric device and the second electric device to execute at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application; and

determining means for determining, on the basis of the correspondence indicator value, whether to execute the at least one command,

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

means for requesting a wireless proximity connection from a plurality of electric devices;

means for establishing the wireless proximity connection between the first electric device and the second electric device on the basis of a positive acknowledgement of a wireless proximity connection request; and

means for causing initiation of communication of the second set of information from the second electric device to the first electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

comparing means the correspondence indicator value with a correspondence indicator threshold value; and

generating means instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application if the correspondence indicator value exceeds the correspondence indicator threshold value.

60. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting instructions to execute the at least one command associated with the first user application and the second user application from the first electric device to the second electric device over the first wireless interface, the instructions being based on a comparison between the correspondence indicator value and a correspondence indicator threshold value.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving the instructions at the second electric device; and

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the first user application and the second user application using shared application data communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the first and second wireless interfaces are the same.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein a frequency range associated with the first wireless interface differs from a frequency range associated with the second wireless interface.

65. A method comprising:

receiving instructions, at a first electric device, to execute at least one command from a second electric device over a first wireless interface, the at least one command being associated with a user application of the first electric device, the user application using application data shared between the first electric device and the second electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface; and

executing the at least one command on the basis of the instructions, wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user of the first electric device.

66. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in an electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps including:

receiving, by the electric device, a wireless proximity connection request from another electric device;

establishing a wireless proximity connection between the electric device and the other electric device based on a positive acknowledgement of the wireless proximity connection request, the positive acknowledgement provided by the electric device;

triggering a communication of a set of information from the electric device to the other electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement;

inputting instructions to execute at least one command from the other electric device over a proximity interface, the at least one command being associated with a user application, the user application using application data shared between the electric device and the other electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the electric device and the other electric device by using a wireless interface; and

executing the at least one command on the basis of the instructions, wherein the at least one command is used to replace a series of actions of the user.

67. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for executing a computer process in a first electric device, the computer process including steps, the steps comprising:

receiving, at the first electric device, a wireless connection request from a second electric device;

establishing a wireless connection between the first electric device and the second electric device based on a positive acknowledgement of the wireless connection request, the positive acknowledgement provided by the first electric device;

triggering a communication of a set of information from the first electric device to the second electric device on the basis of the positive acknowledgement;

receiving instructions to execute at least one command from the second electric device over a first wireless interface, the at least one command being associated with a user application of the first electric device, the user application using application data shared between the first electric device and the second electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface; and

68. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first electric device, a wireless connection request from a second electric device;

receiving instructions, at the first electric device, to execute at least one command from the second electric device over a first wireless interface, the at least one command being associated with a user application of the first electric device, the user application using application data shared between the first electric device and the second electric device, at least a portion of the application data being communicated between the first electric device and the second electric device by using a second wireless interface; and