Providing greater access to one or more items in response to determining device transfer

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, wherein said determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter; and providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware in one or more machines or article of manufacture configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

A computationally implemented system includes, but is not limited to: means for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and means for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

A computationally implemented system includes, but is not limited to: circuitry for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and circuitry for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

A computer program product comprising an article of manufacture bearing one or more instructions for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and one or more instructions for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition, to the foregoing, other computer program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

A method for providing greater access to one or more items through a computing device, the method includes determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, wherein said determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter; and providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advances in computing technologies and related technologies (e.g., visual display technology, battery technology, etc.) in recent years have resulted in the development of computing devices that have increasingly smaller and smaller form factors while still maintaining exceptional processing capabilities. Examples of such computing devices include, for example, laptops, Netbooks, tablet computers (i.e., “slate” computers), e-readers, Smartphones, and so forth. Because of their compactness, such devices are becoming much easier to share among a plurality of users. That is, because of their small form factors, such devices allow users of such devices to easily pass or handoff their devices for others to use in order to access various items (e.g., documents, files, applications, and so forth). For example, suppose a primary user (e.g., an owner) of a tablet computer wants to show an electronic document that is being displayed through his/her tablet computer to a friend sitting across a table from the primary user. Typically, in order to show the electronic document that is being displayed through the tablet computer to the friend, the primary user may simply pass or handover the tablet computer to the friend thereby allowing the friend to view the electronic document.

Unfortunately by doing so, the primary user's friend, in addition to having access to the electronic document, may have access to many other things that the primary user may not want the friend to have access to. For example, upon handed the tablet computer, the friend may be able to view any confidential documents, images, applications, websites, passwords, and so forth, that may be open or running at the time that the tablet computer was handed over to the friend. Even worse, the primary user's friend may be able to not just access open applications and content, but may be able to retrieve/use/modify any content (e.g., documents, image files, audio files, etc.) or applications that may be stored in the tablet computer.

In accordance with various embodiments, computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are provided that can provide greater or lesser accessibility via a computing device (e.g., a tablet computer, a Smartphone, a laptop computer, or other types of portable computer device) to one or more items (e.g., documents, files, image or audio files, applications, passwords, and so forth) depending upon whether the computing device, which may be associated with a first user (e.g., a user who can be identified by the computing device, such as by facial recognition system or password, and who is recognized by the computing device as having superior access right to the computing device and/or to items stored in the computing device such as the primary user or owner of the computing device), has been transferred from the first user to a second user (e.g., a third party who has inferior rights to access the one or more items than the first user) or whether the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In particular, the computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture may be designed to automatically determine whether a computing device that is associated with a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user; and in response to determining that the computing device has indeed been transferred from the first user to the second user, automatically configure the computing device to restrict access to one or more items (e.g., documents, files, image or audio files, applications, passwords, and so forth) that may have been accessible to the first user when the first user was in possession of the computing device.

Additionally or alternatively, the computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture may be designed to, upon the computing device being transferred from the second user to the first user, determine that the computing device has indeed been transferred from the second user to the first user, and in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred back to the first user, automatically configure the computing device to provide at least greater access to the one or more items that may not have been accessible when the computing device was in the possession of the second user. In various embodiments, such computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture may be implemented at the computing device.

Referring now toFIG. 1illustrating a computing device10* in an exemplary environment100being transferred back-and-forth between two users. In particular,FIG. 1shows a computing device10* being transferred from a first user20to a second user30, and from the second user30back to the first user20. For purposes of the following description, the first user20will be a user, such as the primary user or owner of the computing device10*, who the computing device10* can identify and who the computing device10* recognizes as having superior access rights than others (e.g., the second user30) to the computing device10* and/or to one or more items (e.g., documents, image or audio files, applications, passwords, etc.) that may be stored/available through the computing device10*. In contrast, the second user30may be any third party who has inferior access rights than the first user20to the computing device10* and/or to the one or more items.

As will be further described herein, the illustrated computing device10* may employ the computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, the computing device10* may be endowed with logic that is designed to determine that the computing device10* is being or has been transferred (e.g., handed or passed-off) from a first user20to a second user30, and in response to such a determination, automatically restrict access to one or more items (e.g., electronic documents, image or audio files, passwords, applications, and so forth) that may have been accessible to the first user20when the first user20had possession of the computing device10*.

The endowed logic may alternatively or additionally be designed to, upon the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30(e.g., a user recognized by the computing device10* as having inferior access rights) to the first user20(e.g., a user recognized by the computing device10* as having superior access rights), determine that the computing device10* is being or has been transferred from the second user30back to the first user20, and in response to such a determination, automatically provide at least greater access to the one or more items than the access that was allowed for the one or more items when the computing device10* was in possession of the second user30. Note that in some embodiments a computing device10* may be in the possession of a user (e.g., the first user20or the second user30) when the user has some sort of control over the computing device10* such as by holding the computing device10*, by being in physical contact with the computing device10*, by being physically closer to the computing device10* than anyone else, or by being within reach, such within three or four feet, of the computing device10*.

In various embodiments, the determination that the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20(or vice versa) may be automatic without any interference (or input) by the first user20or the second user30. In some embodiments, and for purposes of the following description, the first user20may be any user who has superior access rights than other users (e.g., second user30) to the computing device10* and/or to items (e.g., documents, images, applications, etc.) stored in the computing device10*. Examples of a first user20include, for example, a primary user, such as the owner, of the computing device10*. In contrast, a second user30for purposes of the following description may be any third party who has inferior access rights than the first user20to the computing device10* and/or to the items that may be accessed via the computing device10*. As will be further described herein, note thatFIGS. 3aand3billustrate two different implementations of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1illustrated inFIG. 3aas computing device10′ and inFIG. 3bas computing device10″.

In particular, and as will be further described herein,FIG. 3aillustrates a computing device10′ that is the “hardwired” or “hard” implementation of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2din which certain logic modules including a transfer determining module102′, an access providing module104′, and an access restricting module106′ are implemented using purely hardware or circuitry components (e.g., application specific integrated circuit or ASIC). In contrast,FIG. 3billustrates a computing device10″ that is the “soft” implementation of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2din which certain logic modules including a transfer determining module102″, an access providing module104″, and an access restricting module106″ are implemented using one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors, controllers, etc.) executing one or more programming instructions (e.g., software).

Note that for purposes of the following, “*” represents a wildcard. Thus, references in the following to “computing device10*” may be in reference to the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor to the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3bunless indicated otherwise. Note that two different implementations of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1illustrated inFIGS. 3aand3b(e.g., illustrated as computing device10′ inFIG. 3aand as computing device10″ inFIG. 3b) are two extreme or opposite versions of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2din which certain logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102*, the access providing module104*, and the access restricting module106*) are implemented using purely “hardware solutions” (e.g., implemented using circuitry such as ASIC) as illustrated inFIG. 3aor using purely “software solutions” (e.g., implemented using software executed by hardware such as one or more processors) as illustrated inFIG. 3b. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the computing device10* or at least the logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102*, the access providing module104*, and the access restricting module106*) may be implemented using essentially any combination of hardware and software solutions. Further details related to the two implementations of computing device10* illustrated inFIGS. 3aand3bwill be provided in greater detail below.

Although the computing device10* illustrated inFIG. 1is depicted as being a tablet computer, in alternative embodiments, the novel computationally implemented methods, systems, and articles of manufacture may be embodied in other types of computer systems having other form factors including other types of portable computer devices such as, for example, laptops, Netbooks, Smartphones, e-readers, and so forth. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the computing device10* includes a display12, such as a touchscreen, on the front side17aof the computing device10*. As also depicted inFIG. 1, the display12displaying an exemplary document14and a tool bar15. As further depicted, the computing device10* may include a camera16(e.g., a webcam) disposed on the front side17aof the computing device10*. In some embodiments, additional cameras may be included on the front side17aand/or backside17b(see, for example,FIGS. 2a-2d) of the computing device10*.

There are a number of ways to determine whether a computing device10* is or has been transferred from one user to another (e.g., from a first user20to a second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). In some cases, for instance, various sensor-provided data may be collected in order to make such a determination. Such data may indicate certain aspects of the computing device10* (e.g., movements exhibited by the computing device10* as a result of, for example, a user holding and deliberately moving the computing device10* during the transfer of the computing device10*) and/or various environmental aspects surrounding the computing device10* (e.g., presence or absence certain visual and/or audio cues such as faces or voice patterns). For instance, when the computing device10* ofFIG. 1is passed from, for example, the second user30(e.g., a third party having limited or restricted access rights to the computing device10* and/or to items that may be available through the computing device10*) to the first user20(e.g., a primary user or owner of the computing device10* having at least greater access rights to the computing device10* and/or its stored content than the second user30), the second user30in passing off the computing device10* may exhibit certain gestures, the occurrence of which may at least infer that the computing device10* is being transferred from the second user30to another user (e.g., the first user20). Such gestures may include, for example, the second user30extending his/her arms out with the computing device10* in one or both hands (e.g., as if to offer the computing device10* to, for example, the first user20); the second user30passing the computing device10* from one hand to another hand, and extending the second hand with the computing device10* out and away from the second user30; the second user30rotating the computing device10* around using his/her hands so that the front side17aof the computing device10* faces away from the second user30and faces the first user20, who is standing or sitting across from the second user30, and so forth. These movements or gestures made by the second user30, when detected, may infer that the transfer (e.g., change in possession) of the computing device10* from the second user30to another user (e.g., the first user20) has occurred.

One way to track the movements or gestures of the second user30when the second user30is holding the computing device10* and is transferring (e.g., passing off) the computing device10* to another user (e.g., first user20) is to track the movements of the computing device10* itself. That is, these gestures that may be exhibited by the second user30during the transfer of the computing device10* from the second user30to, for example, the first user20may cause the computing device10* to be spatially moved in particular and identifiable ways. In many cases, such identifiable movements may be repeated whenever, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users regardless of who the two users are. Thus, in order to detect whether a computing device10* is being transferred from the second user30to, for example, the first user20, one may monitor the spatial movements of the computing device10* in order to detect movements that matches with certain “signature movements” that have been identified as movements that occur when, for example, a computing device10* is being transferred between two users (e.g., being transferred from the second user30to the first user20).

In order to determine whether particular spatial movements exhibited by the computing device10* is as a result of the transfer of the computing device10* between two users (e.g., transfer from the second user30to the first user20or from the first user20to the second user30), the computing device10* may maintain in its memory114(see the computing device10′ and the computing device10″ ofFIGS. 3aand3b) a movement library170(seeFIGS. 3aand3b), which is a catalog or library of signature movements that have been, identified as movements that may occur when a computing device10* is being transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). Such a catalog or library may be used in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20. That is, when movements of the computing device10* that match with a signature movement stored in the movement library170have been detected, then the detection of such movements may at least infer (e.g., imply) that a transfer of the computing device10* has occurred between two users (e.g., from the first user20to the second user30, or from the second user30to the first user20). Various types of signature movements may be stored in the movement library170including, for example, signature tilt movements, signature spin rotation movements, signature vibration movements, signature 3-dimensional movements, and so forth that infer or indicate the transfer of the computing device10*.

One way to monitor the movements of the computing device10* is to directly detect such movements using one or more integrated “movement” sensors that are designed to directly detect/measure movements of, for example, a computing device10*. Examples of such movement sensors include, for example, inertia sensors, accelerometers (e.g. three-axis or 3D accelerometers), gyroscopes, and so forth. These sensors (herein “movement” sensors202—seeFIG. 3f, which illustrates the one or more types of sensors120that may be included in the computing device10ofFIG. 1) when integrated with a computing device10* may be used to directly detect the actual movements/motions of the computing device10* as the computing device10* is being transferred from, for example, a first user20to a second user30or from the second user30to the first user20.

Since not all movements of the computing device10* that may be detected will be as a result of the computing device10* being transferred between two users, in various embodiments and as will be further described herein, the computing device10* may be endowed with particular logic for determining (e.g., identifying) which movements associated with the computing device10* that have been detected indicates or at least infers that the computing device10* is or has been transferred from, for example, a second user30to a first user20(or vice versa) and which detected movements may merely be “noise movements” (e.g., random or accidental movements caused by the user holding the computing device10* randomly or accidentally moving the computing device10*)

Various types of movements of the computing device10* may be tracked in order to determine or at least infer that the computing device10* is being transferred between, for example, a first user20and a second user30. Examples of the type of movements that may be tracked include, for example, tilt type movements, spin type rotation movements, spatial relocation type movements, vibration movements, overall three-dimensional movements (which may be a composite of various types of movements), and so forth of the computing device10*. In order to determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20, the various movements exhibited by the computing device10* may be, individually or in combination, tracked using one or more sensors120that may be included with the computing device10* as illustrated inFIG. 3f. For example, in various embodiments, one or more movement sensors202(e.g., inertia devices, accelerometers, etc.) that can directly detect movements, and/or other types of sensors120(e.g., image capturing devices204, audio capturing devices206, etc.) that may be able to indirectly detect movements may be employed in order to track the movements of the computing device10* as will be further described herein.

Referring now toFIG. 2aillustrating various types of tilts and tilt movements of the computing device10* that may be detected and monitored using one or more sensors120(e.g., one or more movement sensors202) in order to, for example, determine or infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from a first user20to a second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). That is,FIG. 2ashows the backside17bof the computing device10* and some of the tilt-type movements that may be monitored by the computing device10* in order to, for example, determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred between a first user20and a second user30. As previously described, and in accordance with various embodiments, the first user20may be a primary user or owner of the computing device10* and the second user30may be any third party (e.g., a friend or co-worker) who has lower or inferior access rights than the first user20to the computing device10* and/or to one or more items that may be stored or available through the computing device10*. One type of tilt that may be detected/monitored is tilt42aof the computing device10* that may occur when the computing device10* is at least partially rotated around a central horizontal axis43a. A second type of tilt that may be detected is tilt42b, which may occur when the computing device10* is at least partially rotated around a bottom horizontal axis43b. Although not depicted, another type of tilt that may occur and that may be monitored is when the computing device10* is at least partially rotated around an angular axis43cthat is angular with respect to a horizontal axis (e.g., axis43aor43b) and is parallel to the plane of the backside17bsimilar to axis43aand axis43b. Yet another type of tilt that may occur and that may also be monitored is when the computing device10* is at least partially rotated around a vertical axis43d. Note that although the vertical axis43dis depicted as being centered along the backside17bof the computing device10*, just like the horizontal axis43b, the vertical axis43ddoes not have to be centered on the backside17band instead, may be offset from the center of the backside17bof the computing device10* (e.g., may be closer to one end of the device rather than an opposite end of the device.

By detecting that the computing device10* has been tilted in a particular manner from a first tilt orientation to a second tilt orientation, a determination or an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20. In particular, when the first user20is handing off or transferring the computing device10* to the second user30, the first user20may tilt the computing device10* in a particular way that may be identifiable. Similarly, when the second user30is handing off or transferring the computing device10* to the first user20, the second user30may tilt the computing device10* in a particular way that may be similarly identifiable. Thus, when the computing device10* is being transferred from a first user20to a second user30or vice versa, the computing device10* (or rather the logic endowed with the computing device10*) may track the movements (i.e., tilt movements) of the computing device10* as it moves from a first tilt orientation (e.g., the tilt of the computing device10* at the beginning of the transfer or when the first user20or the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*) to a second tilt orientation (e.g., the tilt of the computing device10* at the end of the transfer or when the second user30or the first user20, for example, has acquired possession of the computing device10*).

In order to make a determination or inference that a transfer was made from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed in the computing device10* may examine the particular movements of the computing device10* (e.g., how the computing device10* was reoriented from a first tilt orientation to a second tilt orientation including speed and cadence of the reorientation) as the computing device10* moves from the first tilt orientation to a second tilt orientation. The computing device10* may additionally or alternatively analyze the second tilt orientation (e.g., the tilt of the computing device10* after it has finished being reoriented) at least with respect to the first tilt orientation in order to determine or infer that the computing device10* has been transferred. To further determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20, the examination/analysis of the detected tilt movements of the computing device10* may involve comparing the detected tilt movements of the computing device10* with catalogued or library signature tilt movements (which may be stored in the memory114of the computing device10) that are identified as being movements associated with transfer of the computing device10* between two users.

That is, the computing device10* may maintain in its memory114(seeFIGS. 3aand3b) a movement library170that may include a catalogue or library of signature movements including signature tilt movements that have been previously identified as tilt movements that may occur when, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users (e.g., first user20and second user30). Thus, when tilt movements that match with catalogued or library signature tilt movements have been detected, then a determination or inference may be made that a transfer of the computing device10* between two users has occurred. Note that the above discussed tilt movements relates to the movement of the computing device10* as it moves from a first tilt orientation to a second tilt orientation.

Thus, another aspect of tilt orientation changes that may be considered in order to determine or infer that a transfer has taken place is to simply look at the end points of the tilt reorientation and their differences. In other words, to analyze the first tilt orientation (e.g., the tilt orientation of the computing device10* before the computing device10* being reoriented) and the second tilt orientation (e.g., the end tilt orientation of the computing device10* after it has been reoriented) with respect to each other, and the differences between the first tilt orientation and the second tilt orientation. Thus, in some embodiments, the computing device10* may also or additionally maintain a catalogue or library of changes of tilt orientation (e.g., tilt orientation changes) that have been previously identified as signature tilt changes that occur when, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users. Such catalogue or library of tilt orientation changes may be stored as part of a movement library170stored in memory114(seeFIGS. 3aand3b) of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b). Therefore, when tilt orientation changes that match with catalogued or library signature tilt orientation changes (e.g., as stored in the movement library170of the memory114) have been detected, then at least an inference may be made that a transfer of the computing device10* between two users (e.g., transfer from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20) has occurred.

Referring now toFIG. 2billustrating another type of movement of the computing device10* that may be detected/monitored in order to determine or infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users. In particular,FIG. 2bshows a few types of spin rotation and spin rotation movements of the computing device10* that may be detected/monitored using one or more sensors120(e.g., one or more movement sensors202) in order to determine or infer that a transfer of the computing device10* between two users has occurred. Note that this type of rotation (e.g., spin rotation) is different from the type of rotation associated with the previously described tilt movement where the “tilt” rotation involves the entire backside17b(or the front side17a) of the computing device10* rotating around some axis in a sweeping motion. In a spin rotation, the backside17b(or the front side17a) of the computing device10* substantially spins around an axis without the sweeping motion. Referring back toFIG. 2b, which shows some of the various types of spin rotations that may be monitored by the computing device10* in order to, for example, determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). Examples of the type of spin rotations that may be monitored include a spin rotation44aof the computing device10* that occurs when the computing device10* is rotated around a center axis45athat is centered and vertical to the backside17bof the computing device10*. Another type of spin rotation that may be monitored is a spin rotation44bof the computing device10* that occurs when the computing device10* is rotated around a center axis45bthat may be centered but not vertical to the backside17B of the computing device10*. Instead, the center axis45bis angular to the backside17bof the computing device10* such that when the computing device10* is rotating around the center axis45b, the computing device10* will have a constant tilt with respect to the center axis45b. Another type of rotation that may be monitored is spin rotation44cof the computing device10* that may occur when the computing device10* is rotated around an axis45cthat may not be centered on the backside17B of the computing device and that may not be vertical to the backside17B of the computing device10*.

By detecting that the computing device10* has been spin rotated in a particular manner, a determination or an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). In particular, when the first user20is handing off or transferring the computing device10* to the second user30, the first user20may spin rotate the computing device10* in a particular way. Thus, when the computing device10* is being transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* (or rather the logic endowed with the computing device10*) may track the movements of the computing device10* as it moves from a first spin orientation (e.g., the orientation of the computing device10* at the beginning of the transfer or when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*) to a second spin orientation (e.g., the orientation of the computing device10* at the end of the transfer or when the first user20has acquired possession of the computing device10*).

Similar to the tilt or tilt movement detection/analysis described earlier, in order to make a determination or inference that a transfer was made between two users (e.g., either transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20), the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed in the computing device10* may scrutinize the particular movements of the computing device10* as the computing device10* spin rotates from a first orientation (e.g., the initial orientation of the computing device10* at the beginning of the transfer of the computing device10* between two users) to a second orientation (e.g., the end orientation of the computing device10* at the end of the transfer). The computing device10* may additionally or alternatively analyze the second orientation (e.g., the orientation of the computing device10* after it has finished being spin rotated) at least with respect to the first orientation (e.g., the orientation of the computing device10* before it was spin rotated) in order to determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred. To further determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20), the examination/analysis of the detected spin rotation movements of the computing device10* from the first orientation to the second orientation may involve comparing the detected spin rotation movements of the computing device10* with catalogued or library signature spin rotation movements that are identified as being associated with transfer of the computing device10*. That is, the computing device10* may maintain in its memory114(seeFIGS. 3aand3b) a movement library170that may include a catalogue or library of signature movements including signature spin rotation movements that may have been previously identified as spin rotation movements that may occur when, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users. When the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10* detects the computing device10* exhibiting movements that match with the signature spin rotation movements stored in the movement library170then at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20).

Turning now toFIG. 2cillustrating yet another type of movement of the computing device10* that may be detected/monitored in order to determine or infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users. In particular,FIG. 2cshows the computing device10* being relocated by moving from a first spatial location46to a second spatial location48when the computing device10* is transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the second user30to the first user20). In various embodiments, such movements from the first spatial location46to the second spatial location48, which will be referred to herein as “spatial relocation movements,” may be detected using one or more sensors120(e.g., one or more movement sensors202). In order to make a determination or inference that a transfer was made from the first user20to the second user30, the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed in the computing device10* may examine/analyze the particular spatial relocation movements47of the computing device10as it moves from the first spatial location46to the second spatial location48, and to compare the pattern of spatial relocation movements47(e.g., path, speed, acceleration, and so forth).

In some cases, the computing device10* (or rather the logic endowed with the computing device10*) may additionally or alternatively analyze the second spatial location48with respect to the first spatial location46in order to determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20. To further determine or infer that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20(or vice versa), the examination/analysis of the detected spatial relocation movements of the computing device10* may be compared with catalogued or library signature spatial relocation movements (or simply “signature spatial movements”) that have been identified as being associated with the transfer of the computing device10between two users. That is, the computing device10* may maintain in its memory114(seeFIGS. 2aand2b) a movement library170that may include a catalogue or library of signature movements including signature spatial relocation movements that may have been previously identified as spatial relocation movements that may occur when, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users. When the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10* detects the computing device10* exhibiting movements that match with signature spatial relocation movements stored in the movement library170at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20).

In some embodiments, in order to determine or at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users, the computing device10* may be endowed with logic that detects/monitors vibrations that may have been exhibited by the computing device10*. In some cases, such vibration may have been transferred to the computing device10* from a user (e.g., the first user20or the second user30) who is holding the computing device10* after the computing device10* has been transferred to the user from another user. That is, each user who may come in contact with the computing device10* may pass on to the computing device10* unique vibration patterns (e.g., as a result of user's heartbeat). Thus, when the second user30, for example is holding the computing device10*, the computing device10* may vibrate in a particular signature vibration pattern that is associated with the second user30. In contrast, when the computing device10* has been transferred to the first user20from the second user30, and the first user20is holding the computing device10*, the computing device10* may vibrate in a vibration pattern (e.g., signature vibration pattern) that is associated with the first user20. Thus, one way to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred from the first user20to the second user30, or from the second user30to the first user20is to detect/monitor at least changes in vibrations of the computing device10*. In some cases, this may involve the computing device10* (or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10*) initially detecting the particular vibration pattern of the computing device10* when the computing device10* is being possessed by, for example, the second user30, and to detect when the computing device10* no longer vibrates in such a particular vibration pattern. In order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* may be further designed to determine that the computing device10* is vibrating in a way that matches with a signature vibration pattern of the first user20when previously it had detected that the computing device10* was vibrating in a manner that did not match with the signature vibration pattern of the first user20(e.g., in a manner that matched with the signature vibration pattern of the second user30). By making such a determination, an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In some embodiments, the computing device10* may include logic that is designed to determine whether the computing device10* has moved away from one user, such as the second user30, and has moved closer to another user, such as the first user20, in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20. That is, by making such a determination, an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20. In some embodiments, in order to make such a determination, data from a combination of sensors120may be processed and analyzed. That is, in order to determine whether the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30and closer to the first user20, a combination of one or more movement sensors202(seeFIG. 3f) for directly detecting movements of the computing device10*, one or more image capturing devices204(e.g., webcam or digital camera), and/or one or more audio capturing devices206(e.g., microphones) may be employed in order to determine whether the computing device10* is moving away from the second user30and moving closer to the first user20(and thus, an inference that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20). For example, the computing device10* in some cases may employ one or more movement sensors202to detect the actual movements of the computing device10* and one or more image capturing devices204(along with facial recognition system/application) to determine that a face associated with the second user30is moving away from the computing device10* and a face associated with the first user20is moving closer to the computing device10*. Based on the data provided by both the movement sensors202and the image capturing devices204, at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In some embodiments, and as illustrated inFIG. 2d, rather than only monitoring for a particular type of movement (e.g., tilt-type movements, spin rotation movements, spatial relocation movements, vibration movements, and so forth) the computing device10* may be endowed with logic that is designed to detect/monitor the overall three-dimensional movements of the computing device10* and to determine whether the computing device10* has moved in a particular three-dimensional way that infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). In order to accomplish this, the computing device10* may maintain in its memory114(seeFIGS. 2aand2b) a movement library170that may include a catalogue or library of signature movements including signature three-dimensional movements that may have been previously identified as three-dimensional movements that may occur when, for example, a computing device10* is transferred between two users. When the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10* detects the computing device10* exhibiting movements that match with the signature three-dimensional movements stored in the movement library170then at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20).

In some cases, it may be insufficient to rely only on the directly detected movements of the computing device10* in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred between two users. For example, and as will be described in greater detail herein, in some instances, higher standards for determining whether a transfer has occurred (which may not be satisfied based purely only on the detected movements of the computing device10*) may be needed in order to ensure that confidential information is not inadvertently accessed. Thus, and as described briefly above, in addition to directly detecting the movements of the computing device10* using movement sensors202(e.g., inertia sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and so forth), environmental aspects surrounding the computing device10* may also or alternatively be detected/monitored in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from a first user20to a second user30or from the second user30to the first user20). For instance, in some embodiments, the computing device10* or the logic endowed with the computing device10* may be designed to detect, using one or more image capturing devices204, certain visual cues that when detected at least infers the transfer of the computing device10* between two users (e.g., transfer from the second user30to the first user20.

For example, in some embodiments, the computing device10* may be endowed with a facial recognition system (e.g., facial recognition software) that may be employed with one or more image capturing devices204in order to determine the presence or absence of a face associated with the first user20or the second user30within the proximate vicinity (e.g., within the immediate vicinity such as within three or four feet) of the computing device10*. For example, if the face of the second user30, which may have been initially detected in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10*, is no longer detected in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10*, and if the face associated with the first user20is instead detected in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10*, then a determination or at least an inference may be made that a transfer of the computing device10* from the second user30to the first user20may have occurred. The phrase “proximate vicinity” as used here is in reference to the immediate area surrounding the computing device10* such as within a distance from the computing device10* from which an object or a person is at least visually (or audibly) discernable or identifiable by the computing device10* using, for example, a facial recognition system (or a voice verification system).

Another type of visual cues that the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10* may seek/consider in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from a first user20to a second user30or from the second user30to the first user20) is the presence or absence of one or more eyes (e.g., irises or retinas) in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* that are determined to be associated with the first user20or the second user30. In particular, if the eyes of the first user20is initially detected in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* but is subsequently determined not to be at least in the field of view of an image capturing device204of the computing device10* and/or if one or more eyes of another person (e.g., second user30) other than the first user20suddenly appears in the field of view of the image capturing device204, then at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred from the first user20to the second user30. Similarly, if one or more eyes of a person (e.g., second user30) other than the first user20is initially detected in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* but is subsequently no longer detected at least in the field of view of the image capturing device204of the computing device10* and/or if one or more eyes of the first user20suddenly appears in the field of view of the image capturing device204of the computing device10* then at least an inference may be made that computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In various embodiments, the computing device10* or at least the logic that may be endowed with the computing device10* may be designed to detect absence or presence of audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* in order to determine or at least infer as to whether the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., either transferred from a first user20to a second user30or transferred from the second user30to the first user20). For example, in some embodiments, the computing device10* may be endowed with voice verification system that may be designed to detect, via one or more audio capturing devices206(e.g., one or more microphones), the sudden presence or increase in volume of a voice in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* having a voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user20. By making such a determination and/or by detecting the absence or diminishment of a voice associated with the second user30in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10*, an inference may be made that the computing device10has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20.

In various embodiments, the computing device10* or at least the logic endowed with the computing device10* may be designed to determine the transfer of the computing device10* between two users (e.g., either transferred from the first user20to the second user30or transferred from the second user30to the first user20) based on one or more detected movements of the computing device10*, one or more detected visual cues, and/or one or more detected audio cues. That is, since in many situations, a single type of indicator or measurement (e.g., detected movements of the computing device10* or detected visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10*) may not reliably or conclusively indicate that the transfer of the computing device10* between two users has occurred, in various embodiments, the computing device10* may make the determination as to whether the computing device10* has been transferred based on a combination of different types of indicators/measurements (e.g., movements of the computing device10*, visual cues, and/or audio cues).

For example, in the case where the computing device10* is being transferred from the second user30(e.g., a party with inferior access rights to the computing device10* and/or to one or more items stored in the computing device10*) back to the first user20(e.g., a primary user of the computing device10* having superior access rights to the computing device10* and/or to the one or more items stored in the computing device10*), and the goal is to automatically allow greater access to one or more items stored in the computing device10* upon determining that the computing device10* has been transferred back to the first user20, it may be desirable to have a higher requirement/standards for determining that the computing device10* has indeed been transferred to the first user20in order to ensure that confidential items such as confidential documents and files are not inadvertently released to someone other than the first user20(e.g., primary user). In such a scenario, it may not be sufficient to merely rely only on, for example, the detected movements of computing device10* in order to determine that the computing device10* has been transferred back to the first user20. Instead, such a transfer determination may rely on a combination of detected movements of the computing device10* and one or more of visual and/or audio cues (alternatively, it may be possible to rely only on visual cues or only on audio cues since these types of indicators, at least in some cases, may be more reliable indicators of transfer than detected movements of the computing device10*).

In various embodiments, and as described earlier, in response to determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* or at least the logic that may be endowed with the computing device10* may be designed to provide at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items (e.g., electronic documents, image or audio files, applications, passwords, and so forth) that were at least not partially accessible when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30. In various embodiments, the one or more items that greater access may be provided to may be one or more electronic items that the second user30may have had limited or restricted access to or had completely no access to prior to the transfer of the computing device10* when the second user30had possession of the computing device10*.

The type of access to be provided in response to determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from, for example, the second user30to the first user20will depend on a number of factors including what type of items is greater access being provided to. For example, if the one or more items are one or more software applications (herein “applications”), then the greater access to be provided may be access to one or more functionalities of the one or more applications160. Alternatively, the greater access to be provided to the one or more applications160in some cases may mean access to the one or more applications160being completely unblocked and/or unhidden. In contrast, if the one or more items are one or more electronic documents (e.g., productivity documents, image or audio files, etc.), then providing at least greater access to such items may relate to providing greater editorial access (e.g., allowing modifications, deletions, additions, and so forth to the items) to the one or more items.

In some cases, providing at least greater access to the one or more items may mean providing viewing access to the one or more items, while in other cases, it may mean providing audio access to the one or more items. In still other cases it may mean providing both viewing and audio access to the one or more items. In some cases, providing at least greater access to the one or more items may mean providing completely unrestricted access to the one or more items. In any event, a more detailed discussion related to the various types of access that may be provided to the one or more items will be provided below with respect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

Referring now toFIGS. 3aand3billustrating, as indicated earlier, two embodiments (illustrated inFIG. 3aas computing device10′ and inFIG. 3bas computing device10″) of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d. Referring particularly now toFIG. 3a, which illustrates a computing device10′ that includes a transfer determining module102′, an access providing module104′, an access restricting module106′, a memory114(which may store one or more applications160and/or a movement library170), one or more processors116(e.g., microprocessors, controllers, etc.), one or more sensors120, a user interface110(e.g., a display monitor such as a touchscreen, a keypad, a mouse, a microphone, a speaker, etc.), and a network interface112(e.g., network interface card or NIC).

In brief, the transfer determining module102′ ofFIG. 3ais a logic module that is designed to at least determine whether the computing device10′ has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred either from the first user20to the second user30or from the second user30to the first user20ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d). The access providing module104′ is a logic module that is designed to provide at least greater access via the computing device10′ to one or more items (e.g., electronic documents, audio or image files, software applications, passwords, and so forth) in response to a determination made by the transfer determining module102′ that the computing device10′ has been transferred from the second user30(e.g., a third party having inferior access rights to the computing device10′ and/or to one or more items accessible through the computing device10′) to the first user20(a user having superior access rights than the second user30to the computing device10′ and/or to the one or more items). In contrast, the access restricting module106′ is a logic module that is designed to restrict access via the computing device10′ to the one or more items in response to a determination that the computing device10′ has been transferred from the first user10′ (e.g., a primary user or owner of the computing device10′) to the second user30. For this particular embodiment of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d, the three logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102′, the access providing module104′, and the access restricting module106′) are depicted inFIG. 3aas being implemented using purely circuitry components (e.g., hardware components) such as application specific integrated circuit or ASIC. Thus, the computing device10′ illustrated inFIG. 2amay be referred to as the “hardwired” or “hard” embodiment of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,3a,3b,3c, and3d.

Turning now toFIG. 3b, which illustrate a “soft” embodiment (e.g., computing device10″) of the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d. In particular,FIG. 3bshows a computing device10″ that has components similar or the same as the components of the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3a. For example, the computing device10″, similar to computing device10′ ofFIG. 3a, may comprise of a memory114(storing one or more applications160and/or a movement library170), one or more processors116, one or more sensors120, a user interface110, and/or a network interface112. And similar to the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3a, the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3bmay include logic modules including a transfer determining module102″, an access providing module104″, and an access restricting module106″ that functionally correspond to and mirror the transfer determining module102′, the access providing module104′, and the access restricting module106′ of the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3a. However, unlike the logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102′, the access providing module104′, and the access restricting module106′) of the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3a, the logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102″, the access providing module104″, and the access restricting module106″) of the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3bare implemented by the one or more processors116executing computer readable instructions152(e.g., software and/or firmware) that may be stored in the memory114.

Note that althoughFIG. 3aillustrates all of the logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102′, the access providing module104′, and the access restricting module106′) being implemented using purely hardware components such as ASIC, and althoughFIG. 3billustrates all of the logic modules (e.g., the transfer determining module102″, the access providing module104″, and the access restricting module106″) being implemented using one or more processors116executing computer readable instructions152, in other embodiments, such logic modules may be implemented using a combination of hardware components, such as ASIC, and software components in the form of computer readable instructions152that may be executed using one or more processors116(or other types of circuitry such as field programmable gate arrays or FPGAs). For example, in some embodiments, at least one of the logic modules (e.g., transfer determining module102′) may be implemented using specially designed circuitry (e.g., ASIC) while a second logic module (e.g., access providing module104″) may be implemented using a processor116(or other types of programmable circuitry such as FPGA) executing computer readable instructions152(e.g., software and/or firmware).

In various embodiments, the memory114of the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aand the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3bmay comprise of one or more of mass storage device, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), cache memory such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, synchronous random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or other types of memory devices. In various embodiments, the one or more applications160stored in memory114ofFIGS. 3aand3bmay include, for example, an operating system162, one or more productivity applications164such as a word processing application or a spreadsheet application, one or more communication applications166such as an email or IM application, and one or more personal information manager applications168(e.g., Microsoft Outlook).

Turning now toFIG. 3cillustrating a particular implementation of the transfer determining module102* (e.g., the transfer determining module102′ or the transfer determining module102″) ofFIGS. 2aand2b. As illustrated, the transfer determining module102* may include one or more sub-logic modules in various alternative implementations. For example, in various implementations, the transfer determining module102* may include a visual cue detecting module210(which may further comprise of a face detecting module212, an eye detecting module213, a visual moving closer detecting module214, and/or a visual moving away detecting module215), an audio cue detecting module226(which may further comprise of a voice pattern detecting module227, an audio moving closer detecting module228, and/or an audio moving away detecting module229), and/or a direct movement detecting module230(which may further comprise of a tilt detecting module231, a spatial location detecting module232that may also include a movement path detecting module233, a spin rotation detecting module234, a vibration detecting module235, and/or a 3-dimensional movement detecting module236). Specific details related to the transfer determining module102* as well as the above-described sub-modules of the transfer determining module102* will be provided below with respect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

Referring now toFIG. 3dillustrating a particular implementation of the access providing module104* (e.g., the access providing module104′ or the access providing module104″) ofFIGS. 3aand3b. As illustrated, the access providing module104* may include one or more sub-logic modules in various alternative implementations. For example, in various implementations, the access providing module104* may include a viewing access providing module240(which may include, in some cases, a visual representation providing module241that may further include a visual replacing module242), an audio access providing module244(which may include, in some cases, an audio representation providing module245that may further include an audio replacing module246), an editable format presenting module248(which may further include a deletable format presenting module249, a modifiable format presenting module250, a substitutable format presenting module251, and/or an addable format presenting module252), a functional format presenting module254, an identifier affiliation ascertaining module256(which may further include a name affiliation ascertaining module257, an image affiliation ascertaining module258, and/or a voice pattern affiliation ascertaining module259), an address ascertaining module260, a source ascertaining module262and/or a word/phrase/number inclusion ascertaining module264. Specific details related to the access providing module104* as well as the above-described sub-modules of the access providing module104* will be provided below with respect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

Referring toFIG. 3eillustrating a particular implementation of the access restricting module106* (e.g., the access restricting module106′ or the access restricting module106″) ofFIGS. 3aand3b. As further illustrated inFIG. 3e, the access restricting module106*, in various embodiments, may include a direct movement detecting module266, a visual cue detecting module268, and/or an audio cue detecting module270). Specific details related to the access restricting module106* as well as the above-described sub-modules of the access restricting module106* will be provided below with respect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

FIG. 3fillustrates a particular implementation of the one or more sensors120that may be included with the computing device10* (e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d. As illustrated, the one or more sensors120that may be included with the computing device10* may include one or more movement sensors202(e.g., one or more accelerometers, inertia sensors, and/or gyro sensors), one or more image capturing devices204(e.g., a web cam, a digital camera, etc.), and/or one or more audio capturing devices206(e.g., microphones).

A more detailed discussion related to the computing device10* ofFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c, and2d(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) will now be provided with respect to the processes and operations to be described herein.FIG. 4illustrates an operational flow400representing example operations for, among other things, providing at least greater access via a computing device10* to one or more items (e.g., software applications, electronic documents including productivity documents, audio or image files, electronic messages including emails, passwords, so forth) in response to determining that the computing device10* that is associated with a first user20has been transferred from a second user30(e.g., another user who may have inferior access rights than the first user20to the computing device10* and/or to the one or more items) to the first user20. InFIG. 4and in the following figures that include various examples of operational flows, discussions and explanations will be provided with respect to the exemplary environment100described above and as illustrated inFIG. 1and/or with respect to other examples (e.g., as provided inFIGS. 2a,2b,2c,2d,3a,3b,3c,3d,3e, and3f) and contexts. However, it should be understood that the operational flows may be executed in a number of other environments and contexts, and/or in modified versions ofFIGS. 2a,2b,2c,2d,3a,3b,3c,3d,3e, and3f. Also, although the various operational flows are presented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders other than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently.

Further, inFIG. 4and in the figures to follow thereafter, various operations may be depicted in a box-within-a-box manner. Such depictions may indicate that an operation in an internal box may comprise an optional example embodiment of the operational step illustrated in one or more external boxes. However, it should be understood that internal box operations may be viewed as independent operations separate from any associated external boxes and may be performed in any sequence with respect to all other illustrated operations, or may be performed concurrently. Still further, these operations illustrated inFIG. 4as well as the other operations to be described herein are performed by at least one of a machine, an article of manufacture, or a composition of matter unless indicated otherwise.

In any event, after a start operation, the operational flow400ofFIG. 4may move to a transfer determining operation402for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user. For instance, and as an illustration, the transfer determining module102* (e.g., the transfer determining module102′ ofFIG. 3aor the transfer determining module102″ ofFIG. 3b) of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) determining that the computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20. Note that in various implementations, the computing device10* may be “associated” with the first user20because the first user20is the primary user or may be the owner of the computing device10*. Alternatively, the computing device10* may be “associated” with the first user20because the computing device10* can identify the first user20(e.g., via facial recognition system, via retinal or iris scanning, via password, or by some other means) and recognizes that the first user20has at least superior access rights to the one or more items than other parties (e.g., the second user30). In some implementations, the computing device10* may be in the control of the second user30when the computing device10* is in the possession of the second user30such as by being held by the second user30or by being in the immediate vicinity of the second user30(e.g., the computing device10* being within arm's reach from the second user30or being within three or four feet from the second user30).

In addition to the transfer determining operation402, operational flow400may also include an access providing operation404for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user as further illustrated inFIG. 4. For instance, the access providing module104* (e.g., access restricting module104′ ofFIG. 3aor access providing module104″ ofFIG. 3b) of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items (e.g., documents, image or audio files, passwords, applications, and so forth) in response to determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20. In various implementations, the access via the computing device10* to be provided to the one or more items being greater than the access provided to the one or more items prior to the transfer of the computing device10* from the second user30to the first user20. As will be further described herein, there are a number of ways to provide greater access to the one or more items depending upon a number of factors including, for example, what types of items are to be accessed.

For example, if the one or more items are one or more productivity documents, such as word processing documents, then providing greater access to such items may be by including the true representations of the documents into a directory (e.g., including the “true” document names or subject headings of the documents in the directory or replacing pseudo-names or subject headings in the form of obfuscating locum tenentes, which may have been included in the directory when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30, with the true document names or subject headings of the documents) that may be presented through the computing device10*. Alternatively, in other cases, greater access to the one or more documents may be provided by providing editable forms of the documents, which may have been previously not been editable when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30.

On the other hand, if the one or more items are one or more software applications, then providing access to such items may involve allowing use of one or more functionalities associated with the items (e.g., applications), which may not have been available for use when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30. For example, if the one or more items include a word processing application, then providing greater access to such an application160may involve enabling one or more editing functions of the application160, which may not have been available when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30. Other ways of providing greater access to the one or more items will be further described herein.

As will be described below, the transfer determining operation402and the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may be executed in a variety of different ways in various alternative implementations.FIGS. 5a,5b,5c,5d,5e,5f,5g,5h,5i,5j,5k, and5l, for example, illustrate at least some of the alternative ways that the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may be executed in various alternative implementations. For example, in various implementations, the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4, may include an operation502for determining automatically that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user as depicted inFIG. 5a. For instance, the transfer determining module102* (e.g., the transfer determining module102′ ofFIG. 3aor the transfer determining module102″ ofFIG. 3b) of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) determining automatically that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5a, in some implementations, operation502include an operation503for determining automatically that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user without being prompted to do so by the first user or by the second user. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) determining automatically that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20by determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30without being prompted to do so by the first user20or by the second user30. In various implementations, the automatic determination of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20without the first user20providing an input such as a password. Note that for purposes of the following, and unless indicated otherwise, references to “computing device10*” may be in reference to the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b.

As will be further described in the following, various approaches may be employed in various alternative implementations in order to determine whether the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20. For example, and as further illustrated inFIG. 5a, in various implementations, the transfer determining operation402may include an operation504for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device. For instance, the transfer determining module102* including the visual cue detecting module210(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* ofFIG. 1(e.g., the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the visual cue detecting module210at least detects presence or absence of one or more visual cues (e.g., absence or presence of a face or an eye) in proximate vicinity (e.g., within arm's reach or within a few feet such as within three to four feet) of the computing device10*. In various implementations, such detection of the one or more visual cues may be based on data provided by one or more sensors120such as one or more image capturing devices204that may be disposed on one or more sides of the computing device10*.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5a, operation504may be implemented in a number of different ways in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, operation504may include an operation505for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that is recognized as being associated with the first user as further depicted inFIG. 5a. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the face detecting module212(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the face detecting module212at least detects presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within four or five feet from a side of the computing device10* that a display such as a touchscreen is disposed on) of the computing device10* that is recognized as being associated with the first user20.

In some cases, operation505may include an operation506for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting absence of a face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the face detecting module212(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the face detecting module212detects absence of a face (e.g., absence of any face) in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within six or seven feet from the computing device10*) of the computing device10* not associated with the first user20.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation504may include an operation507for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of a first face associated with the first user and a second face associated with the second user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, the first face being detected as being closer to the computing device than the second face. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the face detecting module212of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the face detecting module212at least detects presence of a first face associated with the first user20and a second face associated with the second user30in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within five or six feet from a side of the computing device10* that a display such as a touchscreen is disposed on) of the computing device10*, the first face being detected as being closer to the computing device10* than the second face.

In some implementations, operation504for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may additionally or alternatively include an operation508for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of at least one eye in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that is recognized as being associated with the first user as depicted inFIG. 5a. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the eye detecting module213(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the eye detecting module213at least detects presence of at least one eye (e.g., retinal or iris characteristics) in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within three or four feet from a side of the computing device10* that a display such as a touchscreen is disposed on) of the computing device10* that is recognized as being associated with the first user20.

In some cases, operation508may involve an operation509for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting absence of an eye in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user as further illustrated inFIG. 5a. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the eye detecting module213of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the eye detecting module213detects absence of an eye (e.g., any eye) in the proximate vicinity e.g., within six or seven feet from the computing device10*) of the computing device10* not associated with the first user20.

In the same or different implementations, operation504may include an operation510for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of a first one or more eyes associated with the first user and a second one or more eyes associated with the second user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, the second one or more eyes being detected as being further away from the computing device than the first one or more eyes as further depicted inFIG. 5a. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the eye detecting module213of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device when the eye detecting module213at least detects presence of a first one or more eyes associated with the first user20and a second one or more eyes associated with the second user30in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within ten feet) of the computing device10*, the second one or more eyes being detected as being further away from the computing device10* than the first one or more eyes.

Turning toFIG. 5b, in the same or different implementations, operation504for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may include an operation511for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting visually that the computing device has moved closer to the first user as further depicted inFIG. 5b. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the visual moving closer detecting module214(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within 40 feet) of the computing device10* by having the visual moving closer detecting module214at least detecting visually (e.g., face of the first user20appearing to move closer to the computing device10* or background landscape appearing to be visually moving in a particular manner that at least infers the transfer of the computing device10* from the second user30to the first user20) using, for example, one or more image capturing devices204that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5b, in some implementations, operation511may include an operation512for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting visually that the computing device has moved closer to one or more physical features associated with the first user. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the visual moving closer detecting module214of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the visual moving closer detecting module214using, for example, the one or more image capturing devices204at least detecting visually that the computing device10* has moved closer to one or more physical features (e.g., face or eye) associated with the first user20.

In some cases, operation512may include an operation513for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting visually that the computing device has moved closer to a face or one or more eyes recognized as being associated with the first user. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the visual moving closer detecting module214of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the visual cue detecting module210at least detects visually using, for example, the one or more image capturing devices204that the computing device10* has moved closer to a face or one or more eyes recognized by the visual cue detecting module210as being associated with the first user20.

In the same or different implementations, operation511may include an operation514for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting visually that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user. For instance, the visual cue detecting module210including the visual moving closer detecting module214and the visual moving away detecting module215(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the visual moving closer detecting module214detects visually that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and when the visual moving away detecting module215has detected visually that the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5b, in some cases, operation514may further include an operation515for detecting visually that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user by at least detecting visually that the computing device has moved away from one or more physical features associated with the second user. For instance, the visual moving closer detecting module214and the visual moving away detecting module215of the computing device10* detecting visually that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and has moved away from the second user30when the visual moving away detecting module215at least detects visually (e.g., using one or more image capturing devices204) that the computing device10* has moved away from one or more physical features (e.g., an eye or face) associated with the second user30.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5b, operation515may involve an operation516for detecting visually that the computing device has moved away from one or more physical features associated with the second user by detecting visually that the computing device has moved away from a face or one or more eyes associated with the second user. For instance, the visual moving away detecting module215of the computing device10* detecting visually that the computing device10* has moved away from one or more physical features associated with the second user30by detecting visually that the computing device10* has moved away from a face or one or more eyes associated with the second user30.

In some instances, the operation504for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may involve making such a determination based on both visual cues and audio cues. For example, and as illustrated inFIG. 5c, operation504in some implementations may include an operation517for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device. For instance, the transfer determining module102* (e.g., the transfer determining module102′ of the computing device10′ ofFIG. 3aor the transfer determining module102″ of the computing device10″ ofFIG. 3b) including the visual cue detecting module210and the audio cue detecting module226(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the visual cue detecting module210detects the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within 10 feet) of the computing device10* and when the audio cue detecting module226detects the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity (e.g., within 10 feet) of the computing device10*.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5c, operation517may be implemented in a variety of different ways in various alternative implementations. For example in some implementations, operation517may include an operation518for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device presence of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the voice pattern detecting module227(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the voice pattern detecting module227detects in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within five feet) of the computing device10* presence of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

As also illustrated inFIG. 5c, in some implementations, operation518may further include an operation519for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device presence of the voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user and by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device absence of any voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of first user. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the voice pattern detecting module227of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the voice pattern detecting module227detects in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within 7 or 8 feet) of the computing device10* presence of the voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user20and when the voice pattern detecting module227detects in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* absence of any voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of first user20.

In the same or different implementations, operation517for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may include an operation520for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user as further depicted inFIG. 5c. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the audio moving closer detecting module228(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the audio moving closer detecting module228detects audibly (e.g., audibly detecting using, for example, one or more audio capturing devices206) that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20. For example, in some cases, such an operation may involve initially detecting the presence of a voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user20* in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* and determining whether the source of the voice is getting closer (e.g., whether the voice is getting louder).

In some cases, operation520may include an operation521for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance, the audio moving closer detecting module228(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20by detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to a source of a voice pattern (e.g., as sensed by one or more audio capturing devices206) that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

In the same or different implementations, operation520may include an operation522for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user as illustrated inFIG. 5c. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the audio moving closer detecting module228and the audio moving away detecting module229(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the audio moving closer detecting module228detects audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and the audio moving away detecting module229has detected that the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5c, operation522in some implementations may include an operation523for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user by at least detecting audibly that the computing device has moved away from a source of a voice pattern recognized as not matching with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance, the audio moving closer detecting module228of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and the audio moving away detecting module229of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30by at least detects audibly that the computing device10* has moved away from a source of a voice pattern (e.g., as sensed by one or more audio capturing devices206) recognized as not matching with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

In some cases, operation523, in turn, may further include an operation524for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user by at least detecting that the computing device has moved away from a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the second user. For instance, the audio moving closer detecting module228detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and the audio moving away detecting module229of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30when the audio moving away detecting module229at least detects that the computing device10* has moved away from a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the second user30.

As illustrated inFIG. 5d, in some cases, operation517for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may include an operation525for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, by detecting the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device, and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the transfer determining module102* including the visual cue detecting module210, the audio cue detecting module226, and the direct movement detecting module230(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the visual cue detecting module210detects the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the audio cue detecting module226detects the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device10*, and when the direct movement detecting module230detects directly using, for example, one or more movement sensors202one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20).

As further depicted inFIG. 5d, operation525may include one or more operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some cases, operation525may include an operation526for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device no longer has a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the tilt detecting module231(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly (e.g., via one or more movement sensors202) the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20) when the tilt detecting module231detects directly using, for example, one or more movement sensors202that the computing device10* no longer has a particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30(e.g., was held by second user30or was in close proximity to the second user30such as within proximately four or five feet of the computing device10*).

As further illustrated inFIG. 5d, operation526, in some implementations, may include an operation527for detecting directly that the computing device no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation that when detected as occurring infers that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to another user. For instance, the tilt detecting module231of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation that when detected as occurring infers that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to another user.

In some cases, operation526may alternatively or additionally include an operation528for detecting directly that the computing device no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation having an angular tilt that is at least a predefined percentage different from an angular tilt associated with the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the tilt detecting module231of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation having an angular tilt that is at least a predefined percentage different from an angular tilt associated with the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

Turning now toFIG. 5e, in some cases, operation525for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, by detecting the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device, and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users may include an operation529for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the spatial location detecting module232(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20) when the spatial location detecting module232detects directly using, for example, one or more movement sensors202that the computing device10* is at least no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

In various implementations, operation529may further include one or more additional operations as further illustrated inFIG. 5e. For example, in some implementations, operation529may include an operation530for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20).

In the same or different implementations, operation529may include an operation531for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location via a particular movement path that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users as further depicted inFIG. 5e. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232including the movement path detecting module233(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30when the movement path detecting module233detects directly (e.g., via one or more movement sensors202) that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location via a particular movement path that when detected as occurring at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20).

In the same or different implementations, operation529may additionally or alternatively include an operation532for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that is at least a predefined distance away from the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user as further illustrated inFIG. 5e. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that is at least a predefined distance away from the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30. In some implementations, such an operation may be executed in order to disregard “noise” movements that may as a result of random or accidental movements of the computing device10* (e.g., those random or accidental movements of the computing device10* caused by, for example, the second user30who may be holding the computing device10*).

Turning now toFIG. 5f, in various implementations, operation525for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, by detecting the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device, and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users may include an operation533for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device has been spin rotated from a first orientation associated with the computing device when the computing device was possessed by the second user to a second orientation that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the spin rotation detecting module234(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the spin rotation detecting module234detects directly that the computing device10* has been spin rotated from a first orientation associated with the computing device10* when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30to a second orientation that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

In the same or different implementations, operation525may include an operation534for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is vibrating in a manner that matches with a signature vibration pattern associated with the first user as further depicted inFIG. 5f. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the vibration detecting module235(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the vibration detecting module235using, for example, one or more movement sensors202detects directly that the computing device10* is vibrating in a manner that matches with a signature vibration pattern associated with the first user20.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5f, in some implementations, operation534may further include an operation535for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern of the computing device when the computing device was in the possession of the second user. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the vibration detecting module235of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the vibration detecting module235detects directly that the computing device10* is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern of the computing device10* when the computing device10* was in the possession of (e.g., being held by) the second user30.

In various implementations, operation525for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, by detecting the presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device, and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users may include an operation536for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements that infer that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the three-dimensional movement detecting module236(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device10* has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements (e.g., overall three-dimensional movements of the computing device10* that may comprise of various types of specific movements including tilt movements, spin rotation movements, spatial locational movements, and so forth) that infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users. For example, suppose the computing device10* exhibits certain three-dimensional movements, which may be caused by the second user30, who is holding the computing device10*. Upon detection, a determination may be made as to whether the detected three-dimensional movements matches with signature three-dimensional movements of the computing device10* that are known to be associated with transfer of the computing device10* between two users. If indeed, the detected three-dimensional movement matches with the signature three-dimensional movements then at least an inference may be made that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred from the second user30to the first user20).

Referring now toFIG. 5g, in some cases, operation504for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may be performed by directly detecting one or more movements of the computing device in addition to detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues. For example, in some implementations, operation504may include an operation537for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the transfer determining module102* including the visual cue detecting module210and the direct movement detecting module230of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the visual cue detecting module210detects the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* and when the direct movement detecting module230detects directly one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5g, operation537may include one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, operation537may include an operation538for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device no longer has a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the tilt detecting module231of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the tilt detecting module231detects directly that the computing device10* no longer has a particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

In some cases, operation538may further include an operation539for detecting directly that the computing device no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation that when detected as occurring infers that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to another user. For instance, the tilt detecting module231of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation that when detected as occurring infers that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to another user (e.g., first user20).

In the same or different implementations, operation538may include an operation540for detecting directly that the computing device no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation having an angular tilt that is at least a predefined percentage different from an angular tilt associated with the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as having when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the tilt detecting module231of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* no longer has the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation having an angular tilt that is at least a predefined percentage different from an angular tilt associated with the particular tilt orientation that the computing device10* was detected as having when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

In some cases operation537for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users may include an operation541for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user as illustrated inFIG. 5h. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the spatial location detecting module232of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the spatial location detecting module232detects directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5h, in various implementations operation541may further include one or more additional operations including, for example, an operation542for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation541may additionally or alternatively include an operation543for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location via a particular movement path that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users as further depicted inFIG. 5h. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232including the movement path detecting module233of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30when the movement path detecting module233detects directly that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location via a particular movement path that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation541may additionally or alternatively include an operation544for detecting directly that the computing device is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user by detecting directly that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that is at least a predefined distance away from the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the spatial location detecting module232of the computing device10* detecting directly that the computing device10* is at least no longer at the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30by detecting directly that the computing device10* has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that is at least a predefined distance away from the particular spatial location that the computing device10* was detected as being located at when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

Turning now toFIG. 5i, in some implementations, operation537for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and by detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users may include an operation545for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device has been spin rotated from a first orientation associated with the computing device when the computing device was possessed by the second user to a second orientation that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the spin rotation detecting module234of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the spin rotation detecting module234detects directly that the computing device10* has been spin rotated from a first orientation associated with the computing device10* when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30to a second orientation that when detected at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

In the same or different implementations, operation537may additionally or alternatively include an operation546for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is vibrating in a manner that matches with a signature vibration pattern associated with the first user as further illustrated inFIG. 5i. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the vibration detecting module235of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the vibration detecting module235using, for example, one or more movement sensors202detects directly that the computing device10* is vibrating in a manner that matches with a signature vibration pattern associated with the first user20.

In some cases, operation546may further include an operation547for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern of the computing device when the computing device was in the possession of the second user as further depicted inFIG. 5i. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the vibration detecting module235of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the vibration detecting module235detects directly that the computing device10* is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern of the computing device10* when the computing device10* was in the possession of (e.g., being held by) the second user30.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation537may include an operation548for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements that infer that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the three-dimensional movement detecting module236(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the three-dimensional movement detecting module236detects directly that the computing device10* has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements that when detected infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

Turning now toFIG. 5j, in various implementations, the transfer determining module402ofFIG. 4may include an operation549for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device. For instance, the transfer determining module102* including the audio cue detecting module226of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the audio cue detecting module226of the computing device10* at least detects presence or absence of one or more audio cues (e.g., detected or not detected voice patterns) in proximate vicinity of the computing device10*.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5j, operation549may include one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, operation549may include an operation550for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device presence of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the voice pattern detecting module227of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the voice pattern detecting module227detects in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within five feet) of the computing device10* presence of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

In some cases, operation550may further include an operation551for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device presence of the voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user and by detecting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device absence of any voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of first user. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the voice pattern detecting module227of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the voice pattern detecting module227detects in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* presence of the voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user20and by detecting in the proximate vicinity (e.g., 5 feet) of the computing device10* absence of any voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of first user20.

In some implementations, operation549may include an operation552for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the audio moving closer detecting module228(seeFIG. 3c) of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the audio moving closer detecting module228detects audibly (e.g., audibly detecting using, for example, one or more audio capturing devices206) that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20. For example, in some cases, such an operation may involve initially detecting the presence of a voice pattern that matches with the signature voice pattern of the first user20* in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* and determining whether the source of the voice is getting closer (e.g., whether the voice is getting louder).

In some implementations, operation552may include an operation553for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance, the audio moving closer detecting module228of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20by detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to a source of a voice pattern (e.g., as sensed by one or more audio capturing devices206) that matches with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

In the same or different implementations, operation552may additionally or alternatively include an operation554for detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user as further depicted inFIG. 5j. For instance, the audio cue detecting module226including the audio moving closer detecting module228and the audio moving away detecting module229of the computing device10* detecting the presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device10* when the audio moving closer detecting module228detects audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and the audio moving away detecting module229has detected that the computing device10* has moved away from the second user30.

In some implementations, operation554may further include an operation555for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user by at least detecting audibly that the computing device has moved away from a source of a voice pattern recognized as not matching with a signature voice pattern of the first user. For instance the audio moving closer detecting module228and the audio moving away detecting module229of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20and has moved away from the second user30when the audio moving away detecting module229at least detects audibly that the computing device10* has moved away from a source of a voice pattern (e.g., as sensed by one or more audio capturing devices206) recognized as not matching with a signature voice pattern of the first user20.

In some cases, operation555may, in turn, further include an operation556for detecting audibly that the computing device has moved closer to the first user and has moved away from the second user by at least detecting that the computing device has moved away from a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the second user. For instance, the audio moving closer detecting module228and the audio moving away detecting module229of the computing device10* detecting audibly that the computing device10* has moved closer to the first user20* and has moved away from the second user30when the audio moving away detecting module229at least detects that the computing device10* has moved away from a source of a voice pattern that matches with a signature voice pattern of the second user30.

In some cases, operation549for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device may include an operation557for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user by detecting presence or absence of the one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device and detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users as illustrated inFIG. 5k. For instance, the transfer determining module102* including the audio cue detecting module226and the direct movement detecting module230of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20when the audio cue detecting module226detects presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device10* and the direct movement detecting module230detecting directly one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users (e.g., transferred between the second user30and the first user20).

As further illustrated inFIG. 5k, in some implementations, operation557may include an operation558for detecting directly the one or more movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred between two users by detecting directly that the computing device has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements that infer that the computing device has been transferred between two users. For instance, the direct movement detecting module230including the three-dimensional movement detecting module236of the computing device10* detecting directly (via one or more movement sensors202) the one or more movements of the computing device10* that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users when the three-dimensional movement detecting module236detects directly that the computing device10* has exhibited one or more three-dimensional movements that when detected at least infer that the computing device10* has been transferred between two users.

In various implementations, the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may be performed using data provided by one or more sensors120. For example, and as illustrated inFIG. 5k, the transfer determining operation402in various implementations may include an operation559for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more sensors. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more sensors120.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5k, in various implementations operation559may include one or more additional operations including, for example, an operation560for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more image capturing devices. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more image capturing devices204(e.g., one or more webcams, digital cameras, and so forth, integrated with the computing device10*).

In the same or different implementations, operation559may additionally or alternatively include an operation561for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more audio capturing devices. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more audio capturing devices206(e.g., microphones).

In the same or different implementations, operation559may additionally or alternatively include an operation562for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more movement sensors designed to sense movements as further depicted inFIG. 5k. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20based, at least in part, on data provided by one or more movement sensors202designed to sense movements (e.g., tilt movements, spin rotation movements, spatial relocation movements, overall three-dimensional movements, etc.).

In some implementations, operation562may further include an operation563for determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user based, at least in part, on data provided by at least one of an accelerometer, an inertia sensor, or a gyro sensor as further depicted inFIG. 5k. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20based, at least in part, on data provided by at least one of an accelerometer, an inertia sensor, or a gyro sensor.

In various embodiments, the computing device10* referred to in the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may be “associated” with the first user20in a variety of different ways in various alternative implementations. For example, and as illustrated inFIG. 5l, the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may include an operation564for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, the first user being the primary user of the computing device. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that a computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the first user20being the primary user of the computing device10*.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5l, in some cases, operation564may actually involve an operation565for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, the first user being the owner of the computing device. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that a computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the first user20being the owner of the computing device10*.

In some implementations, the transfer determining operation402may actually involve an operation566for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, the second user having inferior rights to access the one or more items via the computing device compared to rights of the first user to access the one or more items. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that a computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the second user30having inferior rights to access the one or more items via the computing device10* compared to rights of the first user20to access the one or more items.

In various embodiments, the computing device10* involved in the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may be in the “possession” of the second user30in a variety of different ways. For example, and as further illustrated inFIG. 5l, the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may include an operation567for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, the computing device having been in the proximate vicinity of the second user when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that a computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* having been in the proximate vicinity (e.g., within reach or arm's length) of the second user30when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

In some implementations, operation567may actually involve an operation568for determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user, the computing device having been in physical contact with the second user when the computing device was possessed by the second user. For instance, the transfer determining module102* of the computing device10* determining that a computing device10* associated with a first user20and that was in possession of a second user30has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the computing device10* having been in physical contact with the second user30(e.g., being held by the second user30) when the computing device10* was possessed by the second user30.

Referring back to the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4, the access providing operation404similar to the transfer determining operation402ofFIG. 4may be executed in a number of different ways in various alternative embodiments as illustrated inFIGS. 6a,6b,6c, and6d. In some implementations, for example, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may include an operation669for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by providing at least greater access to the one or more items that were at least not partially accessible by the second user when the second user had possession of the computing device. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items in response to said determining (e.g., determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20) by providing at least greater access to one or more items (e.g., one or more applications160, documents, audio or image files, passwords, and so forth) that were at least not partially accessible by the second user30when the second user30had possession of the computing device10*.

In some implementations, operation669may include an operation670for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by providing at least greater access to the one or more items that were totally inaccessible by the second user when the second user had possession of the computing device. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items in response to said determining (e.g., determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20) by providing at least greater access to one or more items (e.g., one or more documents and/or one or more applications160) that were totally or entirely inaccessible (e.g., not visually or audibly visible, not editorially accessible, and/or not functionally accessible) by the second user30when the second user30had possession of the computing device10*.

In the same or different implementations, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may include an operation671for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by providing total or unrestricted access to the one or more items as further illustrated inFIG. 6a. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items in response to said determining (e.g., determining that the computing device10* has been transferred from the second user30to the first user20) by providing total or unrestricted access (e.g., absolute editorial access and/or functional access) to the one or more items (e.g., one or more applications160and/or one or more documents or files).

In same or different implementations, the access providing operation404may include an operation672for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by providing greater access to the one or more items from a second level of access to the one or more items enjoyed by the second user when the second user had possession of the computing device to a first level of access to the one or more items, the second level of access being a diminished level of access to the one or more items compared with the first level of access. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items in response to said determining by providing greater access to the one or more items (e.g., word processing document) from a second level of access (e.g., read-only access) to the one or more items enjoyed by the second user30when the second user30had possession (e.g., had control) of the computing device10* to a first level of access (e.g., full read/write access including editorial access) to the one or more items, the second level of access being a diminished level of access to the one or more items compared with the first level of access.

In the same or different implementations, the access providing operation404may additionally or alternatively include an operation673for providing greater viewing access via the computing device to the one or more items in response to said determining as further illustrated inFIG. 6a. For instance, the viewing access providing module240(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing greater viewing access via the computing device10* to the one or more items in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20. For example, if the one or more items are one or more textual messages (e.g., emails), than displaying the entire content of the messages rather than, for example, not displaying any indications of the existence of the one or more messages or displaying only the subject headings of the one or more messages as may have been the case when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30.

As further illustrated inFIG. 6a, in various implementations, operation673may include one or more additional operations. For example, in some implementations, operation673may include an operation674for providing visually one or more visual representations of the one or more items in response to said determining, the one or more visual representations not being previously presented when the second user had possession of the computing device. For instance, the visual representation providing module241(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing visually one or more visual representations of the one or more items (e.g., one or more document titles of one or more documents) in response to said determining, the one or more visual representations not being previously presented when the second user30had possession of the computing device10*.

In some cases, operation674may, in turn, include an operation675for replacing visually one or more obfuscating locum tenentes of one or more true visual representations of the one or more items that were presented when the second user had possession of the computing device with the one or more true visual representations of the one or more items in response to said determining. For instance, the visual replacing module242(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* replacing visually one or more obfuscating locum tenentes (e.g., fake document titles) of one or more true visual representations of the one or more items (e.g., word processing documents) that were presented when the second user30had possession of the computing device10* with the one or more true visual representations (e.g., correct document titles) of the one or more items in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In the same or different implementations, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may include an operation676for providing greater audio access via the computing device to the one or more items in response to said determining as illustrated inFIG. 6a. For instance, the audio access providing module244(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing greater audio access via the computing device10* to the one or more items (e.g., voice messages) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20. For example, if the one or more items are one or more voice messages then allowing greater access to such items may mean allowing, for example, the first user20to audibly play the one or more voice messages.

As further depicted inFIG. 6a, operation676may include one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, operation676may include an operation677for providing audibly one or more audio representations of the one or more items in response to said determining, the one or more audio representations not being previously presented when the second user had possession of the computing device. For instance, the audio representation providing module245(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing audibly one or more audio representations of the one or more items (e.g., one or more voice messages) in response to said determining, the one or more audio representations (e.g., audio indications of received messages) not being previously presented when the second user30had possession of the computing device10*.

In some cases, operation677may, in turn, include an operation678for replacing audibly one or more obfuscating locum tenentes for one or more true audio representations of the one or more items that were presented when the second user had possession of the computing device with the one or more true audio representations of the one or more items in response to said determining. For instance, the audio replacing module246(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* replacing audibly one or more obfuscating locum tenentes (e.g., fake voice messages) for one or more true audio representations of the one or more items (e.g., voice messages) that were presented when the second user30had possession of the computing device10* with the one or more true audio representations (e.g., actual voice messages) of the one or more items in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

Turning now toFIG. 6b, in various implementations, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may include an operation679for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more editorial actions to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more editorial actions not previously available to be executed on the one or more parts of the one or more items when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the editable format presenting module248(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., word processing or spreadsheet documents) in one or more formats that allow one or more editorial actions to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more editorial actions not previously available to be executed on the one or more parts of the one or more items when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

As further illustrated inFIG. 6b, operation679may include one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, operation679may include an operation680for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow all editorial actions to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the editorial actions not being previously available to be executed on the one or more parts of the one or more items when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the editable format presenting module248of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., one or more presentation documents) in one or more formats (e.g., read/write formats) that allow all editorial actions (e.g., deletions, modifications, additions, and so forth) to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the editorial actions not being previously available to be executed on the one or more parts of the one or more items when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

In the same or different implementations, operation679may additionally or alternatively include an operation681for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more deletions to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more deletions of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the deletable format presenting module249(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more deletions to be executed on one or more parts (e.g., a sentence or a word) of the one or more items (e.g., word processing documents), the one or more deletions of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

In the same or different implementations, operation679may additionally or alternatively include an operation682for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more modifications to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more modifications of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the modifiable format presenting module250(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., word processing documents or image files) in one or more formats that allow one or more modifications (e.g., revisions or alterations) to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more modifications of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

In the same or different implementations, operation679may additionally or alternatively include an operation683for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more substitutions to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more substitutions of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the substitutable format presenting module251(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., spreadsheet documents) in one or more formats that allow one or more substitutions (e.g., substitute numbers) to be executed on one or more parts of the one or more items, the one or more substitutions of the one or more parts of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

In the same or different implementations, operation679may additionally or alternatively include an operation684for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more additions to be executed on the one or more items, the one or more additions to the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user was in possession of the computing device. For instance, the addable format presenting module252(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., graphics or diagramming documents) in one or more formats that allow one or more additions to be executed on the one or more items, the one or more additions to the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

In various implementations, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may include an operation685for presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that allow one or more functionalities of the one or more items to be executed, the one or more functionalities of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user was in possession of the computing device as further illustrated inFIG. 6b. For instance, the functional format presenting module254(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* presenting, via the computing device10* and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., one or more applications160such as a word processing application) in one or more formats that allow one or more functionalities (e.g., saving or copying features) of the one or more items to be executed, the one or more functionalities of the one or more items not previously available for execution when the second user30was in possession of the computing device10*.

Turning now toFIG. 6c, in various implementations, the access providing operation404may include an operation686for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more electronic documents in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more electronic documents (e.g., productivity documents, image files, and/or audio files) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

As further illustrated inFIG. 6c, operation686may including one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some cases, operation686may include an operation687for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more productivity documents in response to said determining, the one or more productivity documents being one or more documents generated using one or more productivity applications. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more productivity documents in response to said determining, the one or more productivity documents being one or more documents generated using one or more productivity applications (e.g., a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a presentation application, a diagramming application, and so forth).

In some implementations, operation686may additionally or alternatively include an operation688for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more messages in response to said determining as further depicted inFIG. 6c. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more messages in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In some implementations, operation686may additionally or alternatively include an operation689for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more image documents in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more image documents (e.g., video clips and/or digital image files) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In some implementations, operation686may additionally or alternatively include an operation690for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more audio documents in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more audio documents (e.g., audio recordings and/or voice messages) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

Referring back toFIG. 6c, in various implementations, the access providing operation404ofFIG. 4may additionally or alternatively include an operation691for providing access via the computing device to one or more credentials in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing access via the computing device10* to one or more credentials (e.g., passwords) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the one or more credentials not being available when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30.

In some implementations, the access providing operation404may additionally or alternatively include an operation692for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more applications in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access (e.g., greater access to one or more functionalities) via the computing device10* to one or more applications160in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

As further illustrated inFIG. 6c, operation692in various implementations may include one or more additional operations including an operation693for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more productivity applications in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more productivity applications in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

Alternatively or additionally, in some implementations, operation692may include an operation694for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more communication applications in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more communication applications (e.g., email application, Instant messaging application, and so forth) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

In some implementations, operation692may additionally or alternatively include an operation695for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more personal information manager applications in response to said determining. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more personal information manager applications (e.g., Microsoft Outlook) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20.

Turning now toFIG. 6d, in various implementations, the access providing operation404may include an operation696for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items that are affiliated with one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items selectively being at least partly not accessible as a result of their affiliation with the one or more particular entities when the computing device was in the possession of the second user. For instance, the access providing module104* of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to one or more items (e.g., messages) that are affiliated with one or more particular entities (e.g., sent by the one or more particular entities) in response to said determining of the computing device10* being transferred from the second user30to the first user20, the one or more items selectively being at least partly not accessible as a result of their affiliation with the one or more particular entities when the computing device10* was in the possession of the second user30.

In some cases, the implementation of operation696may actually involve an operation697for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be affiliated with one or more identifiers associated with the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the identifier affiliation ascertaining module256(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained by the identifier affiliation ascertaining module256to be affiliated with one or more identifiers (e.g., telephone numbers, avatar name, etc.) associated with the one or more particular entities.

As further illustrated inFIG. 6d, in various implementations, operation697may include one or more additional operations including, for example, an operation698for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be affiliated with one or more names associated with the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the name affiliation ascertaining module257(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained by name affiliation ascertaining module257to be affiliated with one or more names (e.g., legal names or usernames) associated with the one or more particular entities.

In the same or different implementations, operation697may additionally or alternatively include an operation699for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be affiliated with one or more images associated with the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the image affiliation ascertaining module258(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained by the image affiliation ascertaining module258to be affiliated with one or more images (e.g., facial images) associated with the one or more particular entities.

In the same or different implementations, operation697may additionally or alternatively include an operation600for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be affiliated with one or more signature voice patterns associated with the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the voice pattern affiliation ascertaining module259(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained by the voice pattern affiliation ascertaining module259to be affiliated with one or more signature voice patterns associated with the one or more particular entities (e.g., persons).

In some implementations, operation696for providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items that are affiliated with one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items selectively being at least partly not accessible as a result of their affiliation with the one or more particular entities when the computing device was in the possession of the second user may include an operation601for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be addressed to the one or more particular entities as depicted inFIG. 6d. For instance, the access providing module104* including the address ascertaining module260(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items (e.g., draft messages from the first user20) being ascertained by the address ascertaining module260to be addressed to the one or more particular entities.

In some implementations, operation696may additionally or alternatively include an operation602for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained to be sourced from the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the source ascertaining module262(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items being ascertained by the source ascertaining module262to be sourced from (e.g., generated from or received from) the one or more particular entities.

In some implementations, operation696may additionally or alternatively include an operation603for providing at least greater access via the computing device to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items ascertained to include one or more particular words, phrases, and/or numbers affiliated with the one or more particular entities. For instance, the access providing module104* including the word/phrase/number inclusion ascertaining module264(seeFIG. 3d) of the computing device10* providing at least greater access via the computing device10* to the one or more items that are affiliated with the one or more particular entities in response to said determining, the one or more items ascertained by the word/phrase/number inclusion ascertaining module264to include one or more particular words, phrases, and/or numbers (e.g., nicknames, motto, subject headings, telephone numbers, and so forth) affiliated with the one or more particular entities.

Turning now toFIG. 7illustrating another operational flow700. Operational flow700includes certain operations that essentially mirror the operations included in operational flow400ofFIG. 4. These operations include a transfer determining operation702and an access providing operation704that corresponds to and essentially mirror the transfer determining operation402and the access providing operation404, respectively, ofFIG. 4.

In addition, operational flow700includes an access restricting operation701for restricting access via the computing device to the one or more items in response to determining that the computing device had been transferred from the first user to the second user. For instance, the access restricting module106* of the computing device10* restricting access (e.g., restricting editorial access, functional access, viewing or listening access, and/or other types of access) via the computing device10* to the one or more items in response to determining that the computing device10* had been transferred from the first user20to the second user30.

As further depicted inFIG. 7, the access restricting operation701may include one or more additional operations in various alternative implementations. For example, in some implementations, the access restricting operation701may include an operation705for restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more directly detected movements of the computing device that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred to the second user. For instance, the access restricting module106* including the direct movement detecting module266(seeFIG. 3e) of the computing device10* restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more directly detected movements of the computing device10* as detected by the direct movement detecting module266that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred to the second user30from the first user20. Note that in some implementations, the direct movement detecting module266ofFIG. 3emay be the same as the direct movement detecting module230ofFIG. 3c.

In some implementations, the access restricting operation701ofFIG. 7may additionally or alternatively include an operation706for restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more detected visual cues that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred to the second user as further illustrated inFIG. 7. For instance, the access restricting module106* including the visual cue detecting module268(seeFIG. 3e), which may be the same as the visual cue detecting module210ofFIG. 3c, of the computing device10* restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more detected visual cues as detected by the visual cue detecting module268that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred to the second user30from the first user20.

In some implementations, the access restricting operation701ofFIG. 7may additionally or alternatively include an operation707for restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more detected audio cues that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred to the second user. For instance, the access restricting module106* including the audio cue detecting module270(seeFIG. 3e), which may be the same as the audio cue detecting module226ofFIG. 3c, of the computing device10* restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on one or more detected audio cues as detected by the audio cue detecting module270that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred to the second user30from the first user20.

In some implementations, the access restricting operation701ofFIG. 7may additionally or alternatively include an operation708for restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on a combination of two or more of one or more directly detected movements of the computing device, one or more detected visual cues, and/or one or more detected audio cues that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred to the second user. For instance, the access restricting module106* including the direct movement detecting module266, the visual cue detecting module268, and/or the audio cue detecting module270of the computing device10* restricting access to the one or more items based, at least in part, on a combination of two or more of one or more directly detected movements of the computing device10* as detected by the direct movement detecting module266, one or more detected visual cues as detected by the visual cue detecting module268, and/or one or more detected audio cues as detected by the audio cue detecting module270that at least infers that the computing device10* has been transferred to the second user30from the first user20.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).