Patent Document

FIELD 
     The present application relates generally to receiving input at a first device and providing output at a second device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Computing devices such as e.g. notebook computers and smart phones typically receive input such as a request from a user and provide output complying with the request on the same device. However, present principles recognize that the computing device receiving the input is not necessarily the most suitable device for providing the output, and e.g. may not even have the requisite functionality to fully comply with the request. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, in a first aspect an apparatus includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive user input into the apparatus implicating an output in response, and present the response on a device separate and apart from the apparatus instead of presenting the response on the apparatus. The device is understood to not be an output device of the apparatus. 
     Thus, the apparatus may not be a smart phone but the device may be a smart phone. The instructions may accordingly be further executable by the processor to automatically initiate a telephone call using the device without further command or input from the user responsive to a determination that the input to the apparatus is a command to make the telephone call. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments the instructions may be further executable by the processor to determine a use context of the user input and, based at least in part on the use context, determine a device to which to deliver the response. Also if desired, the instructions may be further executable by the processor to determine a location of the apparatus, determine that the device is at or near the location, and at least in part based on a determination that the device is at or near the location, determine to output the response on the device. The instructions may also be executable by the processor to present the response on the device based on input from a position sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and/or a proximity sensor. 
     In addition to the foregoing, if desired the instructions may be further executable by the processor to determine to present the response on the device at least in part based on a determination that the device is a nearest device to the apparatus physically and/or on a list of devices. Also if desired, the instructions may be further executable by the processor to determine to present the response on the device at least in part based on a determination that the user is looking at the device. 
     In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at an apparatus, user input demanding an output, and determining a device at which to present the output at least in part based on device capability and/or contextual inference and/or ephemeral information and/or content-based data. 
     In still another aspect, a first device includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive user input and generate a signal representing an output in response, and at least in part based on a location of the first device and/or a context of the input, determine an identity of a second device different from the first device on which to present the output. 
     The details of present principles, both as to their structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary device in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a network of devices in accordance with present principles; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are example flowcharts of logic to be executed by a device in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 5  is an example flowchart of logic to be executed by a server in accordance with present principles; 
         FIGS. 6-8  are example user interfaces (UIs) presentable on a device in accordance with present principles; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary system including components that may provide ephemeral information in accordance with present principles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to (e.g. consumer electronics (CE)) device based user information. With respect to any computer systems discussed herein, a system may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including televisions (e.g. smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), computers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones. These client devices may employ, as non-limiting examples, operating systems from Apple, Google, or Microsoft. A Unix operating system may be used. These operating systems can execute one or more browsers such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can access web applications hosted by the Internet servers over a network such as the Internet, a local intranet, or a virtual private network. 
     As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware; hence, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in terms of their functionality. 
     A processor may be any conventional general purpose single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers. Moreover, any logical blocks, modules, and circuits described herein can be implemented or performed, in addition to a general purpose processor, in or by a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices. 
     Any software and/or applications described by way of flow charts and/or user interfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. It is to be understood that logic divulged as being executed by e.g. a module can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined together in a single module and/or made available in a shareable library. 
     Logic when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited to C# or C++, and can be stored on or transmitted through a computer-readable storage medium (e.g. that may not be a carrier wave) such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices including removable thumb drives, etc. A connection may establish a computer-readable medium. Such connections can include, as examples, hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires and twisted pair wires. Such connections may include wireless communication connections including infrared and radio. 
     In an example, a processor can access information over its input lines from data storage, such as the computer readable storage medium, and/or the processor can access information wirelessly from an Internet server by activating a wireless transceiver to send and receive data. Data typically is converted from analog signals to digital by circuitry between the antenna and the registers of the processor when being received and from digital to analog when being transmitted. The processor then processes the data through its shift registers to output calculated data on output lines, for presentation of the calculated data on the device. 
     Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. 
     “A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes 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. 
     The term “circuit” or “circuitry” is used in the summary, description, and/or claims. As is well known in the art, the term “circuitry” includes all levels of available integration, e.g., from discrete logic circuits to the highest level of circuit integration such as VLSI, and includes programmable logic components programmed to perform the functions of an embodiment as well as general-purpose or special-purpose processors programmed with instructions to perform those functions. 
     Now in reference to  FIG. 1 , it shows an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary computer system  100  such as e.g. an Internet enabled, computerized telephone (e.g. a smart phone), a tablet computer, a notebook or desktop computer, an Internet enabled computerized wearable device such as a smart watch, a computerized television (TV) such as a smart TV, so-called “convertible” devices such as e.g. a tablet that may be converted to a laptop by virtue of being connected to a soft keyboard, and/or other smart devices, etc. Thus, in some embodiments the system  100  may be a desktop computer system, such as one of the ThinkCentre® or ThinkPad® series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C., or a workstation computer, such as the ThinkStation®, which are sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C.; however, as apparent from the description herein, a client device, a server or other machine in accordance with present principles may include other features or only some of the features of the system  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes a so-called chipset  110 . A chipset refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. Chipsets are usually marketed as a single product (e.g., consider chipsets marketed under the brands INTEL®, AMD®, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the chipset  110  has a particular architecture, which may vary to some extent depending on brand or manufacturer. The architecture of the chipset  110  includes a core and memory control group  120  and an I/O controller hub  150  that exchange information (e.g., data, signals, commands, etc.) via, for example, a direct management interface or direct media interface (DMI)  142  or a link controller  144 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , the DMI  142  is a chip-to-chip interface (sometimes referred to as being a link between a “northbridge” and a “southbridge”). 
     The core and memory control group  120  include one or more processors  122  (e.g., single core or multi-core, etc.) and a memory controller hub  126  that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB)  124 . As described herein, various components of the core and memory control group  120  may be integrated onto a single processor die, for example, to make a chip that supplants the conventional “northbridge” style architecture. 
     The memory controller hub  126  interfaces with memory  140 . For example, the memory controller hub  126  may provide support for DDR SDRAM memory (e.g., DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.). In general, the memory  140  is a type of random-access memory (RAM). It is often referred to as “system memory.” 
     The memory controller hub  126  further includes a low-voltage differential signaling interface (LVDS)  132 . The LVDS  132  may be a so-called LVDS Display Interface (LDI) for support of a display device  192  (e.g., a CRT, a flat panel, a projector, a touch-enabled display, etc.). A block  138  includes some examples of technologies that may be supported via the LVDS interface  132  (e.g., serial digital video, HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub  126  also includes one or more PCI-express interfaces (PCI-E)  134 , for example, for support of discrete graphics  136 . Discrete graphics using a PCI-E interface has become an alternative approach to an accelerated graphics port (AGP). For example, the memory controller hub  126  may include a 16-lane (×16) PCI-E port for an external PCI-E-based graphics card (including e.g. one of more GPUs). An exemplary system may include AGP or PCI-E for support of graphics. 
     The I/O hub controller  150  includes a variety of interfaces. The example of  FIG. 1  includes a SATA interface  151 , one or more PCI-E interfaces  152  (optionally one or more legacy PCI interfaces), one or more USB interfaces  153 , a LAN interface  154  (more generally a network interface for communication over at least one network such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, etc. under direction of the processor(s)  122 ), a general purpose I/O interface (GPIO)  155 , a low-pin count (LPC) interface  170 , a power management interface  161 , a clock generator interface  162 , an audio interface  163  (e.g., for speakers  194  to output audio), a total cost of operation (TCO) interface  164 , a system management bus interface (e.g., a multi-master serial computer bus interface)  165 , and a serial peripheral flash memory/controller interface (SPI Flash)  166 , which, in the example of  FIG. 1 , includes BIOS  168  and boot code  190 . With respect to network connections, the I/O hub controller  150  may include integrated gigabit Ethernet controller lines multiplexed with a PCI-E interface port. Other network features may operate independent of a PCI-E interface. 
     The interfaces of the I/O hub controller  150  provide for communication with various devices, networks, etc. For example, the SATA interface  151  provides for reading, writing or reading and writing information on one or more drives  180  such as HDDs, SDDs or a combination thereof, but in any case the drives  180  are understood to be e.g. tangible computer readable storage mediums that may not be carrier waves. The I/O hub controller  150  may also include an advanced host controller interface (AHCI) to support one or more drives  180 . The PCI-E interface  152  allows for wireless connections  182  to devices, networks, etc. The USB interface  153  provides for input devices  184  such as keyboards (KB), mice and various other devices (e.g., cameras, phones, storage, media players, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the LPC interface  170  provides for use of one or more ASICs  171 , a trusted platform module (TPM)  172 , a super I/O  173 , a firmware hub  174 , BIOS support  175  as well as various types of memory  176  such as ROM  177 , Flash  178 , and non-volatile RAM (NVRAM)  179 . With respect to the TPM  172 , this module may be in the form of a chip that can be used to authenticate software and hardware devices. For example, a TPM may be capable of performing platform authentication and may be used to verify that a system seeking access is the expected system. 
     The system  100 , upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code  190  for the BIOS  168 , as stored within the SPI Flash  166 , and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more operating systems and application software (e.g., stored in system memory  140 ). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS  168 . 
     In addition to the foregoing, the system  100  also may include sensors and/or a sensor array including e.g. a proximity, infrared, sonar, and/or heat sensor  193  providing input to the processor  122  and configured in accordance with present principles for sensing e.g. body heat of a person and/or the proximity of at least a portion of the person to at least a portion of the system  100  such as the sensor  193  itself. Also in some embodiments, the system  100  may include one or more cameras  195  providing input to the processor  122 . The camera  195  may be, e.g., a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or a camera integrated into the system  100  and controllable by the processor  122  to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles (e.g. to gather one or more images of eyes to apply eye tracking software to the image(s) as set forth below). Moreover, the system  100  may include an audio receiver/microphone (e.g. a microphone or microphone array)  196  for e.g. entering input such as a command to the system  100  in accordance with present principles. 
     In addition to the foregoing, the system  100  may include one or more climate sensors  197  (such as e.g., an (e.g. ambient) light sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and/or an environmental sensor) providing input to the processor  122  in accordance with present principles. The system  100  may also include one or more motion sensors  198  (such as e.g., an accelerometer and/or a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gestures in free space associated by the device with commands in accordance with present principles), etc.) providing input to the processor  122  in accordance with present principles. Though not shown, still other sensors may be included and their output used in accordance with present principles, such as e.g. biometric sensors, sound sensors, orientation sensors, location sensors, scan sensors, and/or time sensors. Also note that a GPS transceiver  199  is shown that is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information from at least one satellite and provide the information to the processor  122 . However, it is to be understood that another suitable position receiver other than a GPS receiver may be used in accordance with present principles to e.g. determine the location of the system  100 . 
     Before moving on to  FIG. 2  and as described herein, it is to be understood that an exemplary device or other machine/computer may include fewer or more features than shown on the system  100  of  FIG. 1 . In any case, it is to be understood at least based on the foregoing that the system  100  is configured to undertake present principles (e.g. receive input from a user, provide output based on the input, store and execute and/or undertake the logic described below, and/or perform any other functions and/or operations described herein). 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , it shows exemplary devices communicating over a network  200  such as e.g. the Internet in accordance with present principles is shown. It is to be understood that e.g. each of the devices described in reference to  FIG. 2  may include at least some of the features, components, and/or elements of the system  100  described above, hi any case,  FIG. 2  shows a notebook computer  202 , a desktop computer  204 , a wearable device  206  such as e.g. a smart watch, a smart television (TV)  208 , a smart phone  2120 , a tablet computer  212 , and a server  214  in accordance with present principles such as e.g. an Internet server that may e.g. provide cloud storage accessible to the devices  202 - 212 . It is to be understood that the devices  202 - 214  are configured to communicate with each other over the network  200  to undertake present principles. 
     Now in reference to  FIG. 3 , an example flowchart is shown of logic to be executed by a device such as the system  100  described above (e.g. such a device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 3  referred to when describing  FIG. 3  as “the device”) in accordance with present principles. Beginning at block  300 , the logic receives user input implicating an output in response to the input. For instance, the input may be an audible command for the device to output a function in response, selection of an icon to launch an associated application, providing a command for the device to initiate a telephone call and/or an email to be written, a command to present audio video (AV) content, etc. In any case, after block  300  the logic proceeds to block  302 , where the logic determines one or more of the following: a use context of the user input, the one or more capabilities of the first device, ephemeral information, and/or content-based data. 
     First describing the use context of the user input, use context is understood to include e.g. contextual information associated with an output complying with the input. E.g., use context may implicate a particular function (e.g. for the device to output in response to the input) and/or function type. Use context and/or function type may be determined by comparing e.g. a received keyword provided in input (e.g. a command) to a data table of key words and respectively associated functions and/or function types associated with the key word to determine the use context based on matching the received keyword to a keyword in the table and hence accessing the function and/or function type in the table associated with the keyword in the table that has been matched. 
     Still other way ways of determining use context and/or function type in accordance with present principles may be used, such as using e.g. speech recognition and/or command recognition software, executing comparisons on data tables correlating types of input with function types/use context, etc. Moreover, use context may be determined in some example embodiments simply based on an application which is to be launched or otherwise employed responsive to input received at block  300  (e.g. input selecting an icon associated with an application) such that e.g. launching a media player application may cause the device to determine that the use context and/or function type is presenting media based on parsing programming code and/or settings for the media player application itself which pertains to presenting media and/or implicates presenting media. 
     As another example, should input be provided to the device as an audible command from a user to “please call Bill,” the device may determine that the context is the function of placing a telephone call, and hence determine that an output function is to initiate a telephone call. Note that one way use context may be determined in this non-limiting example is by e.g. comparing the received input to a lookup table of inputs and respective associated outputs for each input in the table such that the received input may be compared against the table to locate a match within the table of the received input with an input indicated in the data table, and hence locate the output function associated with the indicated input that matches the received input. Thus, the received keyword “call” may be compared against a lookup table of keywords to match the received keyword “call” with an input entry in the table “call,” and hence the device may determine the function associated with the input entry for “call,” which may be a function type of placing and/or initiating a telephone call. 
     In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, use context may be determined based on the file selected. For instance, the device may have been programmed prior to receiving input at block  300  to, responsive to selection of a file of a particular file type, cause the device to automatically launch a function and/or application associated with the file type. Hence, when providing input in accordance with present principles e.g. at block  300 , that input e.g. one way or another (e.g. directly requesting a particular file, executing a function on the file, etc.) may implicate a file type (e.g. providing input selecting a music file of the MP3 type) for a file associated with the input (e.g. being requested in the input), and accordingly implicate a function for files of the type, where such a function may be the use context or be associated with the use context. 
     Also in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, determining another device on which to present an output based on context information may involve past device usage history and/or patterns, and/or past output viewing history and/or patterns. For instance, each time a particular type of output is presented on a particular device per e.g. user preference and/or user request, the instance may be noted in a log of output types and devices that have been used for the output type. Then, upon a subsequent determination of a device on which to present different output, the log may be accessed to determine, based on a current input having a particular context, which device(s) should present the output based on past device usage history/patterns and/or past output viewing history and/or patterns from the log for the same particular context. For instance, the device may access the log to determine which device has the most times had output of a particular type presented thereon, and the device may thus determine that output should be presented on that device should it be proximate to the input device, and if not proximate the device may determine yet another device on which output of the particular type has been presented the second-most times and, assuming it is proximate to the input device, cause the output to be presented thereon. 
     As another example, present principles may be applied to determining patterns for how a person prefers to work and/or is most productive to subsequently provide output to a device at which the user most frequently works (e.g. based on determining the actual number of minutes the user has “worked” at each device and selecting the device associated with the highest number of minutes worked and/or user engagement with a device when e.g. manipulating a word processing application). 
     Still in reference to block  302  of  FIG. 3  but now describing device capability, the logic may determine the capability of the device to provide output (e.g. execute a function) complying with the received input. As an example, when the device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 3  is a smart TV not equipped with telephone call-making functionality, but where input to place a telephone call was received at the TV, the logic may determine whether it has e.g. an application, software, or other functionality enabling it to comply with the request, and in the present exemplary instanced the logic when executed by a TV may determine it does not have the capability to place a telephone call based on e.g. not being connected to a telephone network and/or not having a telephone application or other means for placing a telephone call. 
     Determining ephemeral information as may be done at block  302  may include e.g. determining the time of day (e.g. by accessing a clock application), a location of the first device (e.g. using a GPS transceiver on the device), current climate conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, and ambient light based on input form a climate sensor to determine a best device on which to present the output and/or that can present the output based on current climate conditions), currently available bandwidth for transferring data over a network to which the device is currently connected, currently available power from a power supply, current workload of a device (e.g. if the “better” HD TV were already in use, but a “lesser” nearby HD TV was idle, then the determination could be to present output on the “lesser” HD TV based on it having a lesser workload), etc. Examples of other components that may provide ephemeral information in accordance with present principles are shown as being included in a system  900  (e.g. that may be substantially similar in function and configuration to the system  100 ) as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Still in reference to block  302  of  FIG. 3  but now describing determining content-based data, content-based data may include metadata associated with a piece of content that indicates e.g. a content type, content length or duration, content quality and/or resolution, etc. Content-based data may be determined by accessing such metadata, and/or may also be determined based on e.g. comparing a received input keyword to a data table of key words and respectively associated contents and/or content types to match the received input to a keyword associated with a content and/or content type from the table. In any case, content-based data may be used e.g. in conjunction with device capability as set forth above to determine e.g. whether the first device is capable of and/or the best available and/or proximate (e.g. within a threshold distance) device on which to present the output, as is done by the logic at decision diamond  304 . 
     Thus, in accordance with present principles, the logic may determine that while e.g. the first device is capable of presenting high definition AV content, a device with a larger display screen (and/or a higher screen resolution and/or other device metrics) determined to be within a threshold distance of the first device based on e.g. a comparison of GPS coordinates from the larger display screen device to GPS coordinates of the first device (e.g. as received over a network to which both devices are connected may) is more suitable in at least one capacity, capability, functionality, etc. for presenting the HD content. This may be based on a weighting of factors such as e.g. display screen size of the device being assigned one weight and the display screen size of another device such as a high definition (HD) TV being assigned another weight different from the first weight. Assuming e.g. weights are assigned from low to high based on small to large screen sizes, and assuming e.g. a user has configured a setting for the device to e.g. always present content on a larger screen when it is available and/or proximate, the weights may be compared against each other by the logic and the higher weight selected, and hence the HD TV may be determined to be not only capable of presenting the output (e.g. based on the device pinging or otherwise accessing device capabilities for the HD TV such as e.g. by accessing a network list of devices on the network and capabilities associated with each device) but also to be the optimal to present the output based on screen resolution. In such a case, a negative determination is made at diamond  304  and the logic may proceed to block  308 . But before describing block  308 , it is to be understood that should an affirmative determination be made at diamond  304 , the logic instead moves to block  306  where the logic presents the output on the device undertaking the present logic. 
     Now in reference to block  308  as may be arrived at based on negative determination being made at diamond  304 , at block  308  the logic determines at least one other device (e.g., indicated in a network map for a network on which the device is communicating, and/or e.g. communicating over a network with the first device to exchange information such as e.g. presence information and/or position information) capable of presenting the output based on the context of the user input and/or any inference derived therefrom in accordance with present principles, ephemeral information in accordance with present principles, and/or content-based data in accordance with present principles. Such determinations of device capability based on context (e.g. contextual inference), ephemeral information, and/or content based information may be made similar to respective determinations described above with respect to block  302  save e.g. being made for a device other than the device undertaking the present logic. 
     In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, at block  308  it may be determined using eye tracking software (e.g. applied to one or more (e.g. real time or substantially real time) images of a user gathered by a camera e.g. on the first device) another device on which to present the content responsive to a determination that the user is looking at the other device (e.g. and/or at least not at the device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 3 ). As an example, assume a user enters an audible command to a smart phone to “present last night&#39;s episode of Program ABC” while looking not at the smart phone but at a smart television in the room in which the user is disposed. A camera on the smart phone may gather at least one image of the user&#39;s eyes (e.g. and even more particularly the user&#39;s pupils) and then apply eye tracking software to the image to determine that the user is looking at the smart TV, and hence determine that a command from the smart phone to output Program ABC should be transmitted to the TV to present program ABC thereon rather than causing Program ABC to be presented on the smart phone itself. Thus, it is to be generally understood that a user&#39;s eye position, gaze, and/or focus while entering an audible command may be input to the device to indicate another device for which the user is commanding the device to present the content. 
     In any case, from block  308  the logic moves to block  310  where the logic determines the location of the second device e.g. relative to the first device and/or whether it is within a threshold (e.g. visible and/or visual) distance of the device undertaking the present logic and/or the user (e.g. based on signals from a camera). Determining the location of the second device and e.g. whether it is within a distance threshold may be done by e.g. applying GPS coordinates for the other device to a map for which the current device&#39;s GPS coordinates have also been applied to determine a distance between the two based on a map scaling factor. Still other ways of determining location may be used such as e.g. ascertaining the location of the other device based on a lookup table correlating other networked devices with coordinates for those other devices, based on merely receiving the GPS coordinates from the second device over the network, etc. 
     In any case, after block  310  the logic proceeds to decision diamond  312  where the logic determines whether the other device determined to be capable of presenting the output at block  308  is the nearest device physically to the device undertaking the present logic (e.g. based on locating the nearest device on a network map, and/or accessing and/or analyzing GPS coordinates for plural other (e.g. proximate) devices to determine which is closest to the device at which input is received based on GPS coordinates for the input-receiving device), and/or is on a list of (e.g. approved and/or capable) devices for presenting output as e.g. configured by a user. An affirmative determination at diamond  312  causes the logic to proceed to block  314  where the logic presents the output on the other (e.g. most proximate) device. 
     However, a negative determination at diamond  312  instead causes the logic to proceed to block  316 . At block  316 , the logic may determine another (e.g. third) device on which to present the output in accordance with present principles such as when e.g. the third device is closer/nearer to the device executing the logic of  FIG. 3 . Also at block  316  and where e.g. there is not a third device that is closer, the logic may nonetheless present the output on the second device at block  316 , and/or may present a prompt on the device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 3 . The prompt may indicate that e.g. the user should provide input indicating a device on which to present the output, and/or may indicate that the output cannot be (e.g. currently) presented. 
     Accordingly, generally in reference to  FIG. 3  and providing an example, assume that Lenovo has been collecting information about temperature, humidity, ambient light as well as other information, like file events, application events, etc. and entering such information into a data table and/or database accessible to the device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 3 . Also assume, e.g. the device of  FIG. 3  determines a pattern that when ambient light conditions are relatively mild and/or low (e.g. beneath an ambient light level threshold), a particular person associated with the device of  FIG. 3  generally likes to and/or does perform certain tasks on their tablet rather than their laptop or smart TV. In such an instance, the logic may determine to present output on the tablet responsive to receiving input at the user&#39;s laptop or smart TV. 
     Further discussing ambient light but doing so more generally, it is to be understood that ambient light may be taken into account by the device such that when determining where to stream output, the device may do so based on determining that the best conditions for viewing the output (e.g. the device being programmed for determining lower ambient light is more optimal than relatively higher ambient light for viewing content on a displays screen) is at a device in a location currently with the lowest ambient light rather than a device with a larger screen but that is current in a relatively bright location. 
     Continuing the detailed description in reference to  FIG. 4 , it shows exemplary logic to be executed by a device such as a system  100  for e.g. a particular use context and/or function, which in the present exemplary instance is a telephone call. The logic begins at block  400  where the logic receives input with a use context associated with a telephone call. The input may be an audible commands such as e.g. “Contact Steve,” or “Dial Steve&#39;s cell phone.” In any case, after block  400  the logic proceeds to decision diamond  402  where the logic determines in accordance with present principles whether the input pertains to a telephone call function. If a negative determination is made at diamond  402 , the logic proceeds to block  404  where the logic determines another close and/or proximate device (e.g. and even the nearest of a plurality of devices) that is capable of presenting the output which does not involve initiating a telephone call. However, an affirmative determination at diamond  402  instead causes the logic to move to block  406  where the logic locates at least one device with telephone functionality e.g. within a threshold distance of the device undertaking the logic of  FIG. 4  in accordance with present principles. The logic then moves to block  408 , having located a telephone at block  406 , where the logic commands the telephone to automatically without further user input initiate a call e.g. according to information providing in and/or with the input at block  400 . 
     Before moving on to  FIG. 5 , it is to be understood that logic similar to  FIG. 4  may be undertaken by a device for other use contexts and/or functions such as any of those described herein in accordance with present principles, such as e.g. a use context for AV content causing presentation AV content. 
     Now in reference to  FIG. 5 , it shows an example flowchart of logic to be executed by a server in accordance with present principles when e.g. a server facilitates communication between a device receiving input and a different device which is to present output associated with the input in accordance with present principles. The logic of  FIG. 5  begins at block  500  where the logic receives a ping (e.g. a request signal) for location information for another device capable of presenting output associated with input received at the device pinging the server undertaking the present logic. The logic then proceeds to block  502  where the logic provides location information for another device back to the pinging device. Then at block  504  the logic receives from the pinging device a command to be transmitted to the output device to execute a function in accordance with present principles. The logic then concludes at block  506  where the logic provides and/or transmits the command to the other device for presentation of the output thereon. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6-8 , which show various exemplary UIs presentable on a device such as the system  100  in accordance with present principles. Beginning first with  FIG. 6 , it shows an UI  600  presentable on a device receiving input in accordance with present principles. The UI  600  includes an indication  602  that information is currently being sent to another device for output thereon. The indication  602  may indicate the specific device to which the information is being sent, and may do so based on e.g. a device name assigned by the user prior to providing the input, and/or a device name indicated on a network map of devices communicating with the device presenting the UI  600 . 
     A stop selector element  604  is also presented on the UI  600 , which may be selectable to automatically without further user input responsive thereto to cease sending the information/command to the device which is to present the output. A this device instead selector element  606  is also shown which may be selectable to automatically without further user input responsive thereto to present the output on the device presenting the UI  600  instead of the other device to which the command was being sent (e.g. in instances where the current device is capable of presenting the output). Additionally, an also selector element  608  is shown which may be selectable to automatically without further user input responsive thereto to configure the device presenting the UI  600  to present the output in addition to sending the information to the other device (e.g., in the present instance a TV) for presentation of the output thereon. 
     Concluding the description of  FIG. 6 , an alternative device indication  610  is also shown corresponding to yet another device besides the device presenting the UI  600  and the TV on which the output has been determined to be capable of being presented. Accordingly, an also selector element  612  is shown which may be selectable to automatically without further user input responsive thereto configure the device presenting the UI  600  to present the output on the tablet in addition to sending the information to TV for presentation of the output thereon. An instead selector element  614  is also shown which may be selectable to automatically without further user input responsive thereto present the output on the tablet instead of the TV. 
     Now in reference to  FIG. 7 , it shows an exemplary UI  700  presentable on a device receiving a command to present output (e.g. present AV content) corresponding to input received at another device in accordance with present principles. The UI  700  thus includes an indication  702  that an output request and/or command is being received and/or sent to the device presenting the UI  700 . A prompt  704  is also shown for whether to authorize presentation of the output (e.g. in instances where the receiving device may authorize presentation prior to actually presenting received output). Accordingly, a yes selector element  706  and a no selector element  708  for respectively responding in the affirmative or negative to the prompt  704  are included on the UI  700  to respectively authorize or deny presentation of the output on the device of  FIG. 7 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , it shows an exemplary UI  800  presentable on a device to which input is provided in accordance with present principles. The UI  800  includes an indication  802  that output corresponding to the input cannot be presented on a TV (e.g. and may further indicate a reason such as the TV being capable but outside a threshold distance). The indication  802  may also indicate that the request to the TV has been denied (e.g. at the TV, by selection of a selector element such as the element  708  described above). 
     The UI  800  may also include another indication  804  that other devices are available for presenting the content, and/or that other devices are available for presenting the content but are not within the distance threshold. The indication  804  may thus indicate that a device may be selected for presenting the output anyway (e.g. and may even provide the location of the other device so that a person may locate it and/or go to it for observing the output). Accordingly, a first selector element  806  for a tablet is shown that may be selectable to cause the device to command a tablet on the device&#39;s network to present the output automatically without further user input responsive thereto, as well as a second selector element  806  for a laptop that may be selectable to cause the device to command the laptop on the device&#39;s network to present the output automatically without further user input responsive thereto. 
     Without reference to any particular figure, it is to be understood that in addition to output requests and/or commands being communicated between devices over e.g. a WiFi network, such information (e.g. including device location and/or proximity information) may be (e.g. detected and) provided through still other means such as e.g. using near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth communication, etc. 
     Also without reference to any particular figure, it is to be understood that input other than audible input may be used to cause output to be presented on a different device in accordance with present principles. For instance, gestures in free space may be detected by a gesture sensor such as the sensor  198  described above for a user to enter commands and/or input to a device in accordance with present principles. As another example, input may be provided using a keyboard and/or mouse, eye recognition, and/or facial expression. 
     Still without reference to any particular figure, it may now be appreciated that present principles may use context and/or function type to determine where and how to deliver the output for a request. Criteria used may be e.g. device capability, contextual inference, correlated ephemeral data, and/or content-based data. 
     Providing a few additional examples, in a first example a user may provide audible input to a laptop or tablet computer to “call Bill,” but a cell phone next to the laptop or tablet (e.g. within a threshold distance from the laptop of tablet such as one foot) initiates the call. 
     As another example, a person may provide audible input to a first device to “Play ‘At Home’ playlist,” and the assistant determines that the person entering the request is at their personal residence, and more particularly on the back porch of the residence, and hence the first device causes songs from the “At Home” playlist to be presented on outdoor speakers juxtaposed around the porch. In such an instance, the first device may make the determination to present the songs from the playlist on the back porch speakers based on e.g. proximity information, temperature information (e.g. that temperature is within a predefined range at which a user may find the outside temperature to be comfortable), humidity information (e.g. that humidity is within a predefined range at which a user may find the outside humidity to be comfortable), location information, ambient light characteristics and/or information, etc. to determine the best device (in this case, the back porch speakers) on which to present the songs. 
     As still another example, a user may provide input on their PC to “remind me to call Jennifer on the way home.” On the user&#39;s way home (e.g. as determined by the user&#39;s cell phone calculating possible destinations while moving based on a history of previous destinations that are currently being approached), however, the user&#39;s PC is suspended/not in use, and thus the cell phone notifies the user of the reminder for which the user provided input (e.g. based on the input being uploaded from the PC to cloud storage accessible to the cell phone for such purposes). Likewise, if the user is at home, the TV may provide the reminder (e.g., based on facial recognition software being applied to at least one image of the user gathered by a camera on the TV to determine that the user is present to view the reminder). 
     As yet another example (e.g. for ephemeral data), a user may provide input to a digital assistant on a smart phone asking, “Who is that actor?” Then, the smart phone and/or a TV on which an AV program including the actor is being presented may make a determination using eye tracking software in accordance with present principles where on the TV&#39;s display the user is looking to thereby determine the actor being looked at and hence to which the user&#39;s input is directed. The smart phone may then determine whom the actor is and cause actor information for the actor to be presented automatically on the TV without further user input. Determining whom the actor on screen is may be done a number of ways, including e.g. parsing metadata associated with the AV program, and/or facial recognition software being applied to an image of the actor from the AV content (e.g., using at least one frame from the AV content) to identify the actor, and/or by determining the location and/or current scene of the AV content, and also e.g. providing input to a search engine including information regarding the actor from the scene at which the user&#39;s attention is directed. Moreover, the ephemeral data from the TV may be used to decipher the meaning of the question based on an initial recognition that the TV is powered on. 
     Before concluding the detailed description, it is to be understood that although e.g. an audible input application, a gesture recognition application, eye tracking software, etc. and still other features described above in accordance with present principles may be vended with a device, present principles apply in instances where one or more of the foregoing may be e.g. downloaded from a server to a device over a network such as the Internet. 
     While the particular DEVICES AND METHODS TO RECEIVE INPUT AT A FIRST DEVICE AND PRESENT OUTPUT IN RESPONSE ON A SECOND DEVICE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST DEVICE is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present application is limited only by the claims.

Technology Category: 3