Abstract:
This application relates to an improved manner of establishing or identifying a subgroup of users, which users belong to a larger group, and each user having a computing device, by providing a network comprising a first and a second computing device. The first computing device being configured to send out a detectable signal and the second computing device being configured to register said signal whereby a computing device subgroup is established comprising said first computing device and said second computing device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates to an improved manner of establishing or identifying a subgroup of users, which users belong to a larger group. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In many workplaces or social networks, it is common that all members (or employees) are members of the same group. To implement different groups of interest (such as different levels of clearance for example) subgroups may be formed. 
         [0003]    These groups are usually defined by a system manager and stored in the system. Examples of such systems are email clients. This enables information to be shared to all members of a group or a subgroup. 
         [0004]    Sometimes there is a need for an ad hoc group to be formed. This requires that a user (preferably the system manager) to pen the communication client and define the group. Such defining of a group takes a long time and is cumbersome to make, especially if the subgroup is only a temporary one, such as when sharing a file in a meeting to the participants of the meeting. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is an object of the teachings of this application to overcome the problems listed above by providing a network comprising a first and a second computing device, wherein said first computing device being configured to send out a signal, for example by playing an audio tune, the audio tune being the signal, and 
         [0006]    said second computing device being configured to detect said signal whereby a computing device subgroup is established comprising said first computing device and said second computing device. 
         [0007]    Such a network is enabled to identify a subgroup of users in a larger group quickly and easily without the users having to manually input data to define a group or perform extensive pairing operations. 
         [0008]    A method and a computer-readable medium carrying instructions for executing the method are also part of the teachings herein. 
         [0009]    The teachings herein find use in devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, computers (portable and stationary), gaming consoles and media and other infotainment devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be described in further detail under reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic views of each a computing device according to the teachings herein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a schematic view of the components of a computing device according to the teachings herein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a network according to the teachings herein; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a time graph for a network according to the teachings herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  generally shows a computing device  100  according to an embodiment herein. In one embodiment the computing device  100  is configured for network communication, either wireless or wired. Examples of a computing device  100  are: a personal computer, desktop or laptop, an internet tablet, a mobile communications terminal such as a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant and a game console. Two embodiments will be exemplified and described as being a smartphone in  FIG. 1A  and a laptop computer  100  in  FIG. 1B . The computing device  100  comprises a controller for controlling the action of the computing device and a memory for storing instructions and data such as files and audio tunes. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1A  a mobile communications terminal in the form of a smartphone  100  comprises a housing  110  in which a display is arranged. Furthermore, the smartphone  100  comprises a number of keys  130   a,    130   b  and a virtual key  135 . 
         [0017]    The smartphone  100  is also equipped with a loud speaker  120  and a microphone  125 . The smartphone  100  may further be equipped with a camera or other light sensing device. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1B  a laptop computer  100  comprises a display and a housing  110 . The laptop computer  100  further comprises at least one input unit such as a keyboard  130 . Other examples of input units are computer mouse, touch pads, touch screens or joysticks to name a few. 
         [0019]    The laptop computer  100  is further equipped with a loud speaker  120  and a microphone  125 . The laptop computer  100  may further be equipped with a camera or other light sensing device. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1C  shows a schematic view of a computing device  100 , such as the smartphone of  FIG. 1A  or the laptop computer of  FIG. 1B . The computing device  100  comprises a controller  150 , which may be formed of one or more logical processing units (such as central processing units), connected to a memory  155  for storing instructions that control the operation of the computing device  100 , when executed by the controller  150 . The memory may also store data such as files to be shared or files received. The memory may comprise of one or more than one memory units. 
         [0021]    The computing device  100  also comprises a user interface  160 , and a radio frequency  165  interface such as a WiFi interface, a Bluetooth interface and/or a cellular communications interface such as a LTE (Long Term Evolution) interface. 
         [0022]    The computing device  100  also comprises a signal receiver  120 , such as a microphone, a camera or other light sensor, or a vibration sensor. 
         [0023]    The computing device  100  also comprises a signal generator  125 , such as a loudspeaker, a light, or a vibrator. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of a network according to herein. A number (in this example three) of computing devices  100 A,  100 B,  100 C are connected to each other through a network. The network may be a WiFi network, a mesh network or a server controlled network such as an intranet, an internet based network or a cloud service. 
         [0025]    The network may be controlled by a central server or access point (not shown). 
         [0026]    As a computing device  100 A wants to establish a subgroup the computing device  100 A sends out a detectable signal  200 . In a first embodiment the signal is an audio tune sent out or played through the loud speaker of the computing device  100 A. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments the signal may comprise background noise from the current location, an ultrasonic signal, a visible light or flash signal, an infrared light signal or a vibration sequence. The signal may in other embodiments be any type of signal possible for the first computing device  100 A to emit, and for the second computing device  100 B to register. 
         [0028]    The signal may also comprise a combination of two or more of the above mentioned signals. In one embodiment the signal comprises an individual tone or other type of signal. In another embodiment the signal comprises a series of tones or other types of signals, i.e. a melody or a vibration pattern (compare with Morse code). 
         [0029]    The signal is picked up only by the computing devices that are close to the first computing device  100 A. In this example, the signal  200  is picked up by the second computing device  100 B, but not the third computing device  100 C. 
         [0030]    When the signal comprises an audio tune, another computing device  100 B,  100 C may pick it up if it is located with in hearing range of the first computing device  100 A. 
         [0031]    If the signal comprises a light signal (visible or non-visible) the other computing devices  100 B,  100 C need to be within eyeshot of the first computing device  100 A in order to register the signal, and preferably angled in a favourable direction. 
         [0032]    If the signal is a vibration sequence the detection may be accelerometer based in that the other computing devices  100 B,  100 C may detect a certain combination of position changes. This requires that the computing devices  100 A,  100 B,  100 C all need to be positioned e.g. on the same surface in order for the vibration signal to travel from the first computing device  100 A to the other devices  100 B,  100 C intended to be part of the subgroup. The other computing devices  100 B,  100 C may also or alternatively detect the vibration by detecting the sound created by the vibration (for example when the first computing device is lying on a table). The other computing devices  100 B,  100 C may also or alternatively detect the vibration by detecting the vibration as propagated through a surface which both the first and the other computing device is lying or positioned on. 
         [0033]    The described manner can be used to establish a subgroup of computing devices being in the same meeting room or generally close to one another. 
         [0034]    Also, by sending out a signal that can be perceived by a user, the user is made aware of that a group is being established. In addition to serving as a feedback to the user(s), it also provides a malfunction detection. If the user can hear the signal, but this computing device does not indicate a group being established or receives any shared content, the user can quickly ascertain that a problem exists. 
         [0035]    The group may be established temporarily for transferring a file or other content. In such an example, a file is to be shared by the first computing device  100 A to the second computing device  100 B, but not to the third computing device  100 C. The file transfer is performed to the whole network, but with the condition that only those computing devices that can pick up the signal  200  actually fetches or stores the file to be shared. 
         [0036]    The intended recipients of the file can thus be identified in a simple manner out of the whole group comprising all the computing devices of the group (for example all the computing devices in a company). 
         [0037]    The computing device may be configured to always have the microphone active, trying to pick up the signal when it comprises an audio tune, or it may be prompted (possibly through the central controller/server) to activate the microphone. 
         [0038]    The computing device may be configured to always have some kind of receiving sensor active, not necessarily the microphone, if the signal is based on a different property than sound. The receiving sensor may in one embodiment be a camera capable of registering signals based on light. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment the receiving sensor may be a position sensor, for instance an accelerometer or any other position sensor which is known to the skilled person. 
         [0040]    The receiving sensor may in another embodiment be a piezo element with the ability to register ultrasonic signals, or another sensor with the same abilities. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment a combination of receiving sensors may be used, if the signal comprises several signal portions, for example both an audio part and an ultrasonic part. 
         [0042]    In an embodiment where the detectable signal comprises an audio tune it may be a standard sound—or one of a group of standard audio tunes. 
         [0043]    The audio tune may be generated specifically for the establishing of the group. 
         [0044]    The audio tune may also be recorded through the microphone 
         [0045]    The audio tune may reflect the background noise of the area. Should the background noise not be specific an audio tune as above can be chosen. 
         [0046]    The audio tune may comprise an audible part and an ultrasonic part. The audible part indicates to the computing devices that are close by that an audio tune is being played and they should start interpreting the audio tune and the ultrasonic part comprise coded information about what group action is to be performed, such as a file to be transferred and/or a duration of the group). 
         [0047]    The identity or the detectable signal may be provided to the whole network so that the computing devices know what to try to pick up. 
         [0048]    The signal may be associated with the file. In such a case, the signal may be composed to reflect the file identity or the file may be associated with a specific signal by the first computing device which association is communicated to the central controller (or to the whole network). 
         [0049]    A file may be transferred peer to peer or through the central controller. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, the receiving computing device is provided with an identifier for the file and requests the file from a server. 
         [0051]    In one embodiment, the receiving computing device is provided with an identifier for the file and an identifier for the sending computing device and requests the file from the sending computing device. 
         [0052]    An identifier may be provided with the signal or it may be received from the first computing device through other short range communication, such as Bluetooth.One proposed flow is shown in  FIG. 3 . A first computing device  100 A initiates a file transfer by uploading the file to a central controller (such as a server or WiFi access point). The central controller or the computing device assigns a signal, such as an audio tune to the file and communicates this to the computing device (in case the central controller assigns the signal) or to the central controller (in case the computing device assigns the signal). 
         [0053]    The signal (or its identifier) is downloaded to the other members of the group. 
         [0054]    The first computing device  100 A sends out the signal which is picked up by a second computing device  100 B. The second computing device  100 B downloads the file. The file can also be downloaded directly from the first computing device  100 A. 
         [0055]    Alternatively the file is not associated with the signal and the second computing device  100 B simply downloads the last uploaded file. 
         [0056]    The signal may be associated with the file for a duration during which it is possible to download the file. 
         [0057]    The duration of the established subgroup may also or alternatively be limited. During such a duration files that have been shared may be downloaded (unless the file is associated with a different duration). 
         [0058]    In one embodiment the duration is a preset time, such as 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20, minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 1 hour or longer. 
         [0059]    In one embodiment the duration equals a duration of a current meeting stored in a calendar application of the first computing device  100 A. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, the duration is tied to a location and as a computing device is removed from that location, the computing device is removed from the group. If the first device is removed, then the group is cancelled. 
         [0061]    In one embodiment, the duration is for the sharing of one specific file (or content) and as the file has been shared, the subgroup is cancelled or deactivated. 
         [0062]    The signal may be selected to represent a current meeting room (fetched from a calendar) and thus does not need to be communicated to the members of the group. In such an embodiment, all computing devices having received the calendar event has also received information about which signal to detect. 
         [0063]    The manner taught herein may also be used for connecting one device with another, and not necessarily to connect users. In one example the signal is used to select a printer for transferring a file to be printed. 
         [0064]    This is one example of how to identify a sender for a recipient, when there are many different senders possible, such as when choosing which file to print as a printer receives a print command. 
         [0065]    This has the benefit that a pairing or other complicated group definition is not necessary to be made with each computing device of the subgroup for establishing the subgroup. 
         [0066]    Another example is to connect a device to a display or projector. 
         [0067]    The computing device  100 A may also be equipped with a camera for detecting and tracking an object, such as a hand, and to detect and identify gestures made by the tracked object. One such gesture may be to share a file. As the computing device discovers such a gesture it initiates file sharing or distribution according to above. 
         [0068]    The computing device  100 A may send out the signal  200  at certain intervals in order to maintain the subgroup. This enables for ensuring that computing devices that has left the area will no longer be able to receive shared content. 
         [0069]    If another computing device  100 B leaves the covered area it also leaves the subgroup. If, on the other hand, yet another computing device  100 C enters the current area it will be included into the group a soon as it detects the signal. 
         [0070]    This also serves to remind users that they are actively part of a sharing network.