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EP-4220402-B1 - AUGMENTING CAPABILITIES OF A HOST DEVICE

EP4220402B1EP 4220402 B1EP4220402 B1EP 4220402B1EP-4220402-B1

Inventors

  • DUREAU, VINCENT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20130829

Claims (7)

  1. A computer-implemented method for augmenting capabilities of a host device (104), performed on the host device having at least one processor (402) and memory (410) storing at least one program for execution by the at least one processor to perform the method, the method comprising: pairing (706, 802) the host device and a second computing device (106) via a network (120, 121), wherein the second computing device has at least one processor (602) and memory (610) storing at least one second program for execution by the at least one processor; storing information regarding a first capability of the second computing device in a device database (210, 304), wherein the first capability includes a sensor capability that is not provided by the host device, and the device database includes, for a plurality of devices that are paired with the host device, information regarding at least one respective sensor capability of each of the plurality of devices, wherein the sensor capability comprises a capability of at least one of: a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a temperature sensor, and a proximity sensor; receiving (906), from a user of the host device, a selection of the second device from the plurality of devices; executing on the host device, a first application (206) that is configured to use the first capability not provided by the host device; receiving a request from the first application to use the first capability; determining by reference to the device database that the second computing device of the plurality of devices provides the first capability; establishing (706) a connection to the second device through at least one network; and facilitating (708) communications between the first application and the second computing device through the at least one network to allow the first application to access the first capability of the second computing device of the plurality of devices, and wherein the first application does not have knowledge of the capabilities of the second device and that the second computing device is connected to the host device and is being used to provide the first capability that the first application has requested from the host device.
  2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: pairing (802) the second device with the host device; and identifying (804) capabilities of the second device.
  3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising, prior to receiving (906) a selection of the second device from the plurality of devices: identifying (902) a plurality of devices that are paired with the host device and that are accessible to the host device, the plurality of devices including the second device; presenting (904), in a user interface of the host device, the plurality of devices.
  4. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the host device and the second device are connected to a local area network, and wherein establishing the connection to the second device through at least one network includes establishing a connection to the second device through the local area network.
  5. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the host device is connected to a first network and the second device is connected to a second network, and wherein establishing the connection to the second device through at least one network includes establishing a connection to the second device through the first network and the second network.
  6. A system to augment capabilities of a host device, comprising: at least one processor; memory; and at least one program stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor, the at least one program comprising instructions to perform the method of any of claims 1-5.
  7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing at least one program configured for execution by at least one processor of a computer system, the at least one program comprising instructions to perform the method of any of claims 1-5.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosed embodiments relate generally to augmenting capabilities of a host device. BACKGROUND Electronic devices typically include a fixed set of native capabilities. For example, a digital television set top box includes the capability to receive and decode digital television signals, but does not include the capability to place a phone call using a cellular phone network. A smart phone includes the capability to place a phone call using a cellular network, but does not include the capability to receive and decode digital television signals. It is desirable to augment the capabilities of a first device with the capabilities of a second device. WO 00/23907 A1 describes a system for providing software based extended functionality of a target device in a HAVi compliant home audio video network. A computer system is included within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus. The computer system configured to enable proxy control of a target device coupled to the home audio video network by executing software stored in the memory. The software causes the computer system to implement a DCM (device control module) which includes at least a first and second FCM (functional control module). The first and second FCMs are operable for interfacing and controlling a respective first and second functional component of the target device. The first FCM is a physical FCM operable for controlling the operation of a first functional component of a target device, and the second FCM is a virtual FCM operable for controlling the operation of a second functional component of the target device, wherein the second functional component is a virtual functional component. US 2010/273422 A1 describes a Bluetooth enabled mobile device that discovers the Bluetooth profile capability of a plurality of mobile phones and stores the profile information in a database. Thereafter, when access to a remote network such as an Internet Protocol (IP) network is necessitated by an event, the Bluetooth enabled mobile device can establish a Bluetooth connection with an available mobile phone according to a comparison of the event to the stored profile information for that mobile phone. The Bluetooth enabled mobile device can then establish a transport layer connection that extends over the established Bluetooth connection and a wireless telecommunications network associated with the available phone and exchange data with a remote network using the established transport layer connection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network system, according to some embodiments.Figure 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example process of pairing a device with a host device, according to some embodiments.Figure 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example process of facilitating communication between an application executing on a host device and a capability that is available on a device, according to some embodiments.Figure 3 A is a block diagram illustrating an example process of pairing a device with a host device via a server, according to some embodiments.Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating a host device, according to some embodiments.Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a server, according to some embodiments.Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a device, according to some embodiments.Figure 7 is a flowchart of a method for augmenting capabilities of a host device, according to some embodiments.Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for pairing a device with a host device, according to some embodiments.Figure 9 is a flowchart of a method for receiving a selection of a device including a capability not included in a host device, according to some embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments described herein provide techniques for augmenting capabilities of a host device. In some embodiments, a first application on the host device is executed, where the first application is configured to execute on a second device and is configured to use a capability that is available on the second device, and where the capability is not included in the host device. A request is then received from the first application to use the capability that is available the second device, where the first application does not have knowledge of the capabilities of the second device. A connection is established to the second device through at least one network and communications are facilitated between the first application and the second device though the at least one network to provide the capability that is available on the second device