PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11435888-B1
Application Number: US-201715669734-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: System with position-sensitive electronic device interface

Abstract:
Systems are provided that include electronic equipment and electronic devices. A system may include electronic equipment such as a thermostat or other equipment in a vehicle or home, vehicle navigation equipment, networking equipment, computer equipment, equipment with speakers for playing audio, and other electronic equipment. An electronic device such as a portable electronic device may be placed in the vicinity of electronic equipment by a user. In response to detecting that the electronic device is adjacent to the electronic equipment, control circuitry in the electronic device can automatically display content of the electric device such as a user control interface for the electronic device or information related to operation of the electronic equipment. The system may monitor the position of the electronic device relative to the electronic equipment and can dynamically update the displayed content based on the current device position.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device that is operable to control electronic equipment, comprising:
 a component; 
 control circuitry that uses the component to determine whether the electronic device is within a given distance of the electronic equipment and to determine whether the electronic device is at a first position relative to the electronic equipment or at a second position relative to the electronic equipment; and 
 a touch-sensitive display, wherein the control circuitry is configured to automatically display a user control interface on the touch-sensitive display in response to determining that the electronic device is within the given distance, wherein the control circuitry displays a first option to control a first operational setting of the electronic equipment in the user control interface in response to determining that the electronic device is at the first position within the given distance, and wherein the control circuitry displays a second option that is different from the first option to control a second operational setting of the electronic equipment in the user control interface in response to determining that the electronic device is at the second position within the given distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the component is selected from a group consisting of: a radio-frequency receiver, a light sensor, and a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the component is selected from a group consisting of: a camera, wireless circuitry, and a microphone. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic equipment comprises networking equipment and wherein the first option is to adjust a setting for the networking equipment. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic equipment comprises a thermostat and wherein the first option is to adjust a setting for the thermostat. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic equipment has a surface and wherein the first position and the second position are adjacent to the surface. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 6  wherein the control circuitry is configured to display first ancillary information when the electronic device is at the first position and is configured to display second ancillary information when the electronic device is at the second position. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 7  wherein the electronic equipment comprises vehicle equipment having a display adjacent to the first position and wherein the control circuitry is configured to display information associated with content on the display when the electronic device is at the first position. 
     
     
       9. A system, comprising:
 electronic equipment having first wireless communications circuitry and having first control circuitry; 
 a portable electronic device having second wireless communications circuitry and having second control circuitry, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic equipment using the first wireless communications circuitry and the second wireless communications circuitry, wherein the first control circuitry and the second control circuitry are configured to automatically present a user control interface on the portable electronic device in response to determining that the portable electronic device is adjacent to the electronic equipment and are configured to dynamically change the user control interface to an updated user control interface based on where the portable electronic device is positioned relative to the electronic equipment while the portable electronic device is adjacent to the electronic equipment, wherein the user control interface and the updated user control interface contain different options for controlling the electronic equipment depending on where the portable electronic device is positioned relative to the electronic equipment. 
 
     
     
       10. The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the electronic equipment includes a first component that provides a signal, wherein the electronic device includes a second component that measures the signal, and wherein the first control circuitry and the second control circuitry are configured to automatically present the user control interface in response to determining that the portable electronic device is adjacent to the electronic equipment based on a measurement of the signal with the second component. 
     
     
       11. The system defined in claim  10  wherein the first component comprises a component selected from a group consisting of: a magnet, a radio-frequency transmitter, a speaker, and a light emitter. 
     
     
       12. The system defined in  claim 10  wherein the second component comprises a component selected from a group consisting of: a magnetic sensor, a radio-frequency receiver, a microphone, a light detector, and a camera. 
     
     
       13. The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the electronic equipment comprises vehicle electronic equipment and wherein the first control circuitry is configured to display a first user control interface for controlling the vehicle electronic equipment in response to determining that the portable electronic device is positioned next to a display in the vehicle electronic equipment and is configured to display a second user control interface for controlling the vehicle electronic equipment in response to determining that the portable electronic device is not positioned next to the display. 
     
     
       14. A method, comprising:
 with circuitry in an electronic device and electronic equipment, determining a distance between the electronic device and the electronic equipment and determining whether the electronic device is at a first or second position relative to the electronic equipment; and 
 with control circuitry in the electronic device, automatically displaying a user control interface for the electronic equipment on a display of the electronic device in response to determining the distance, wherein the user control interface has first user interface elements for controlling the electronic equipment when the electronic device is at the first position relative to the electronic equipment and wherein the user control interface has second user interface elements for controlling the electronic equipment when the electronic device is at the second position relative to the electronic equipment. 
 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein the electronic equipment comprises a thermostat that controls a heater and wherein automatically displaying the user control interface comprises automatically displaying an option to adjust a temperature setting for the thermostat. 
     
     
       16. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein the electronic equipment comprises vehicle equipment and wherein automatically displaying the user control interface comprises automatically displaying an option to adjust a vehicle equipment setting for the vehicle equipment. 
     
     
       17. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein the electronic equipment comprises a computer and wherein automatically displaying the user control interface comprises automatically displaying an option to adjust a computer setting for the computer. 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein the electronic equipment comprises wireless network equipment and wherein automatically displaying the user control interface comprises automatically displaying an option to adjust a setting for the wireless network equipment. 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein the electronic equipment comprises a speaker that is configured to play audio at a volume and wherein automatically displaying the user control interface comprises automatically displaying an option to adjust the volume.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional of 62/397,465, filed on Sep. 21, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic systems, and, more particularly, to systems in which electronic devices can serve as system interfaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic equipment is often provided with buttons and other input devices. A user may use the input devices to adjust settings for the equipment. For example, a user may rotate a knob on an audio system in a home or vehicle to adjust a volume setting. Electronic equipment may use speakers and displays to provide a user with output. 
     It can be challenging to interact with electronic equipment using only the input devices that are included in the equipment. Button-based interfaces are often limiting, but electronic equipment may not include more elaborate interfaces in order to minimize cost and complexity. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system may include electronic equipment such as a thermostat or other equipment in a vehicle or home, vehicle navigation equipment or other vehicle equipment, wireless network equipment or other networking devices, computer equipment such as a desktop computer with a display or other computing device, equipment with speakers for playing audio or other media playback equipment, or other electronic equipment. The system may also include an electronic device. The electronic device may be a cellular telephone, tablet computer, wristwatch device, or other portable device having a touch-sensitive display. 
     During use of the system, a user may place an electronic device such as a portable electronic device in the vicinity of the electronic equipment. When not adjacent to the electronic equipment, the portable device may operate normally and may present information to a user that is associated with the normal operation of the portable device. In response to detecting that the electronic device is adjacent to the electronic equipment, control circuitry in the electronic device can automatically display content on the electric device that is associated with the electronic equipment. For example, the control circuitry can automatically display a user control interface for the electronic device or can automatically display other information related to operation of the electronic equipment. 
     A user may tap on on-screen options and other interface elements in the user control interface to adjust settings in the electronic equipment. The system may monitor the position of the electronic device relative to the electronic equipment and can dynamically update the displayed content based on the current device position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative system in which an electronic device is being used to serve as a user control interface for electronic equipment in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system of the type shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3, 4, and 5  are diagrams of illustrative electronic equipment and electronic devices showing how components in the equipment and devices may be used to determine when the devices are adjacent to the equipment in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in operating a system such as the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of a vehicle interior showing how an electronic device can serve as a position-dependent and context-dependent user interface for electronic equipment in a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing how interactive content on an electronic device may vary as a function of position of the device on a dashboard or as a function of position relative to other equipment in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device serving as a user interface for adjacent electrical equipment such as a wireless router in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device serving as a user interface for adjacent electrical equipment containing a speaker in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device serving as a user interface for adjacent electrical equipment such as a wall-mounted thermostat in a building in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of illustrative electronic devices serving as user interfaces for adjacent electrical equipment such as a display with an embedded computer in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative system of the type that may be used to allow an electronic device to serve as a user interface for adjacent electronic equipment. System  10  of  FIG. 1  may be a vehicle system, a building system (e.g., a home or office system), or other system. Configurations in which electronic devices such as cellular telephones or tablet computers are used as user interfaces for electronic equipment in vehicles, offices, and other environments may sometimes be described herein as examples. In general, any suitable electronic devices may be used by a user as a user interface and any suitable electrical equipment may receive input and may supply output using the user interface. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  may include electronic equipment with displays such as electronic equipment  12 . Equipment  12  may form part of a vehicle dashboard or other equipment in a vehicle, may be mounted on a wall or other structure in a building, may be a stand-alone computer such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer, may be embedded equipment in a kiosk, may be other equipment including control circuitry, may be portable equipment such as a cellular telephone, wristwatch, or other portable electronic device, may be a display or a display with an embedded computer, may be a television, may be a media playback device such as a speaker (e.g., a speaker with buttons, an internet connection, and a voice recognition interface, a speaker that forms part of an audio-visual system in a home or office, a countertop wireless speaker, etc.), may be networking equipment such as a router, access point, or switch, or may be other electronic equipment. 
     System  10  may also include one or more electronic devices that can serve as user interfaces for the electronic equipment such as electronic device  14  of  FIG. 1 . Electronic device  14  may be a portable electronic device such as a computer (e.g., a tablet computer), a cellular telephone, a wristwatch device, or other portable electronic equipment. 
     System  10  may include circuitry that allows the relative position between device  14  and equipment  12  to be determined. Device  14  may include a display such as display  16  (e.g., a touch-sensitive display). During operation, interactive content may be presented on display  16 . The interactive content may include, for example, selectable on-screen options. A user can tap on a desired option or can provide other input to device  14  to control the operation of device  14  and equipment  12 . In this way, device  14  may serve as a user control interface for equipment  12 . 
     The interactive information that is presented on display  16  may be dynamically updated based on the position of device  14  and display  16  relative to equipment  12 . This information can also be updated based on the current operational states of equipment  12  and/or device  14  (sometimes referred to as context or operational context). As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, equipment  12  may have a surface such as surface  18 . Surface  18  may be, for example, a vehicle dashboard surface and/or other interior vehicle surfaces, a surface of a wall in a building, a surface of a housing in a stand-alone electronic device, or other surface associated with electronic equipment  12 . Using sensors in device  14  and/or sensors in equipment  12  under surface  18  or sensors elsewhere in a vehicle or building associated with equipment  12 , the position of device  14  on surface  18  (e.g., the position of device  14  in lateral dimensions X and Y in the example of  FIG. 1 ) may be detected and used in updating the user interface of device  14 . 
     Consider, as an example, a scenario in which device  14  is placed in position A on surface  18 . In this position, system  10  may detect that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  and can determine that equipment  12  is performing a first function. As a result, system  10  may direct display  16  to display a user interface that is based on the current position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., position A) and/or that is based on the current operational state of system  10  (e.g., a state in which equipment  12  is performing the first function). In this mode of operation, a user can use the displayed user interface on device  14  to control equipment  12  and/or to receive output from equipment  12 . 
     When a user desires to control another aspect of equipment  12  (e.g., a feature that is associated with position B on surface  18 ), the user may move device  14  into position B on surface  18 . System  10  may detect that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  in position B and can determine that equipment  12  is performing a second function. As a result, system  10  may direct display  16  to display an updated user interface that is based on the current position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., position B) and/or that is based on the current operational state of system  10  (e.g., a state in which equipment  12  is performing the second function). This allows the user to receive output from equipment  12  that is appropriate when device  14  is in position B and allows the user to supply input to equipment  12  using the current user interface. For example, the user can supply input using the user interface that has been selected based on device  14  being located in position B and/or can use display  16  of device  14  to display output from equipment  12 . 
     If a user moves device  14  away from equipment  12  to a position such as position C of  FIG. 1 , device  14  may revert to its normal operating state. For example, a user interface that was displayed on display  16  when device  14  was adjacent to equipment  12  may be removed and replaced with on-screen options that relate to the operation of device  14  separately from equipment  12 . 
     System  10  may use any suitable circuitry to measure the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., wireless circuits, sensors, etc.). Device  14  may be considered to be adjacent to equipment  12  when device  14  is separated from equipment  12  (e.g., surface  18  or other portion of equipment  12 ) by less than a given distance. As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  14  and equipment  12  may be separated by a distance L. When L is less than a predetermined threshold, device  14  may be considered to be adjacent to equipment  12 . When L is more than the threshold, device  14  may be considered to be not adjacent to equipment  12 . The threshold distance that separates adjacent devices from non-adjacent devices may have any suitable value (e.g., a value of 1-100 mm, a value of 1-100 cm, a value of 1-10 cm, a value of 1-5 cm, a value of 25 cm, a value that is less than 25 cm, a value of 10 cm, a value that is less than 10 cm, a value of 5 cm, a value that is less than 5 cm, a value of 2 cm, a value that is less than 2 cm, a value that is more than 1 mm, etc.). 
     Distance L may be determined using wireless positioning circuitry in equipment  12  and device  14  (e.g., ultrawideband radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver circuitry), may be determined using light-based or radio-frequency-based proximity sensor circuitry, may be determined using near-field communications circuitry, and/or may be determined using magnetic sensors, acoustic sensors, light sensors, cameras, and other sensors and circuits in system  10 . If desired, wireless positioning circuitry and other circuitry for determining the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  may include wireless equipment that emits beacons and other wireless signals and/or other wireless equipment. Wireless equipment in system  10  may be included in equipment  12 , device  14 , and/or other devices. 
     A schematic diagram of system  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , equipment  12  may include control circuitry  20  and device  14  may include control circuitry  30 . Control circuitry  20  and control circuitry  30  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of system  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Control circuitry  20  and  30  may also include processing circuitry based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     The processing circuitry in control circuitry  20  and  30  may be used to control the operation of equipment  12  and devices such as device  14  in system  10 . For example, in scenarios in which equipment  12  is a vehicle, control circuitry  20  may be used to control vehicle controls (steering, brakes, propulsion, etc.) and other components in the vehicle. In scenarios in which equipment  12  is installed in a building, control circuitry  20  may be used to control environmental systems (heating, air conditioning, lighting, etc.) in the building. Control circuitry  30  may be used to control the operation of electronic device  14 . 
     The processing circuitry in control circuitry  20  and  30  may also be used to gather input from input-output devices (see, e.g., input-output circuitry  22  of equipment  12  and input-output circuitry  32  of device  14 ). Equipment  12  may include wireless communication circuitry  24 . Device  14  may include wireless communications circuitry  34 . Control circuitry  20  and  30  may use circuitry  24  and  34  to communicate over wireless links such as wireless link  38 . Wireless communications circuitry  24  and  34  may support Bluetooth® communications, other short-range wireless communications (e.g., IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network communications), cellular telephone communications, near-field communications, etc. 
     Input-output circuitry  22  may include input-output devices  26  and input-output circuitry  32  may include input-output devices  36 . Input-output devices  26  may include sensors, buttons, keyboards, cameras, and other input-output devices. Sensors in devices  26  may include force sensors, accelerometers, magnetic sensors, touch sensors such as optical touch sensors and capacitive touch sensors (e.g., capacitive touch sensor that form part of a touch-sensitive display), strain gauges, gas sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., radio-frequency proximity sensors and/or light-based proximity sensors based on infrared light-emitting diodes and corresponding infrared light detectors), and other sensing circuitry. 
     Electronic equipment  12  and device  14  may include additional components. For example, electronic equipment  12  may include components  28  such as heaters, air conditioners, other environmental control systems, may include vehicle controls (steering systems, braking systems, propulsion systems, etc.), may include lighting, sound systems, navigation systems, media display systems (e.g., displays, audio equipment, etc.), and/or may include other components. 
       FIGS. 3, 4, and 5  show illustrative techniques for determining the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., relative to surface  18  or other portions of equipment  12 ). These techniques and other suitable techniques may be used to determine whether device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  (e.g., to determine whether device  14  is farther away from equipment  12  than a given distance or is closer to equipment  12  than the given distance) and/or to determine whether device  14  is in a first position adjacent to equipment  12  such as position A of  FIG. 1  or a second position adjacent to equipment  12  such as position B of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , equipment  12  is using component  40  to provide signals  44  to component  42  of device  14 . Component  42  may monitor the received signals and information on the transmitted and received signals may be used in determining the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12 . Component  40  may be, for example, a magnet, signals  44  may be static magnetic fields produced by the magnet, and component  42  may be a magnetic sensor. If desired, component  40  may be a light-emitting component (e.g., a light-emitting diode, etc.), signals  44  may be light, and component  42  may be a light detector (e.g., a single light sensor, a two-dimensional image sensor, etc.). One or more cameras in system  10  may also be used to determine device and equipment positions in the absence of emitted light. For example, component  42  may be a camera that captures images of some or all of equipment  12  to help determine the position of component  42  relative to equipment  12 . As another example, component  40  may be a radio-frequency transmitter, signals  44  may be radio-frequency signals, and component  42  may be a radio-frequency receiver. In near-field communications scenarios, component  40  may include a near-field communications transmitter (e.g., a transmitter in a transceiver) and a near-field communications antenna (e.g., a coil), whereas component  42  may include a near-field communications antenna (e.g., a coil) and a near-field communications receiver (e.g., a receiver in a transceiver circuit). Component  40  may be a speaker or other acoustic transmitter that generates sound (e.g., signals  44  may be acoustic signals such as ultrasonic signals) and component  42  may be a microphone. In general, component  40  may be configured to produce any suitable output (e.g., signals  44  may be acoustic signals, static electric fields, static magnetic fields, alternating-current electric and/or magnetic fields, light, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , device  14  is configured to use component  42  to emit signals  44  that are detected by component  40  in equipment  12 . Component  42  may be a magnet, a light-emitting component, a radio-frequency signal transmitter, a near-field communications transmitter, an acoustic signal transmitter (e.g., a speaker that produces an ultrasonic tone or other audio output), or other suitable signal emitting component, signals  44  may be magnetic signals, light, far-field or near-field radio-frequency signals, or acoustic signals, and component  40  may be a magnetic sensor, a light sensor, a radio-frequency receiver, a near-field communications receiver, or a microphone (as examples). 
     If desired, configuration of the type shown in  FIG. 3  may be combined with configurations of the type shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, device  14  may include a component that emits signal  44  and a component that detects reflected signals that are indicative of the presence and position of equipment  12  relative to device  14 . Equipment  12  may also use this type of approach in determining the position of device  14 . 
     In some situations, the presence of device  14  in the vicinity of equipment  12  can be detected by sensing vibrations due to physical contact between equipment  12  and device  14 . As an example, consider the scenario of  FIG. 5 . In this arrangement, equipment  12  includes a component such as component  40  and device  14  includes a component such as component  42 . Components  40  and  42  may be accelerometers that can measure vibrations in equipment  12  and device  14  and/or that can measure changes in acceleration resulting from changes in motion of equipment  12  and/or device  14 . When a user bumps device  14  against equipment  12 , vibrations and changes in acceleration can be detected by device  14  and/or equipment  12  and this information can be used to confirm that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12 . 
     In some scenarios of the type shown in  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , equipment  12  and device  14  may exchange signals (e.g., equipment  12  and device  14  may support bidirectional wireless communications). As an example, a first device may monitor for signals from a second device. When the signals are detected, the first device may send information to the second device to inform the second device of the signal detection event and/or to request that the second device send additional signals to confirm that the first and second devices are adjacent. The second device may, as an example, be requested to send more signals or different signals than are normally sent. These signals may then be used to help determine the current position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., with enhanced accuracy, with an enhanced range of positional coverage, etc.). Exchanges of information such as these may be supported by wireless communications circuitry  24  and  34 . 
     Illustrative operations involve in using system  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are shown in the flow chart of  FIG. 6 . 
     During the operations of block  50 , system  10  may sense the presence of device  14  in the vicinity of equipment  12 . Device  14  and/or equipment  12  may, for example, use signal emitting and/or signal sensing operations of the type described in connection with  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5  to determine whether device  14  is within a threshold distance of equipment  12  and/or to determine the position of device  14  on surface  18  or other portion of equipment  12 . After determining that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  and determining the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  (e.g., the position of device  14  in dimensions X and Y on surface  18  of  FIG. 1 ), system  10  may launch a corresponding user interface on device  14  (block  52 ). 
     The operations of block  52  may include, for example, automatically launching on-screen options or presenting other content on display  16  of device  14  based on the current position of device  14  adjacent to equipment  12  and/or based on contextual information (e.g., the current operating states of equipment  12  and/or device  14 , the current information being displayed by a display in equipment  12 , etc.). 
     The content that is displayed during the operations of block  52  may include output that is based on the position of device  14  and the current operating state (context) of equipment  12  and/or device  14 . If desired, the content that is displayed may include selectable on-screen options that serve as a user control interface for equipment  12 . As an example, equipment  12  may have first and second adjustable functions. In response to determining that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  in position A, a user interface that provides a user with a selectable option (e.g., a touch selectable option) for adjusting the first function may be automatically displayed on display  16 . In response to determining that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  in position B, a user interface that provides the user with an option for adjusting the second function may be automatically displayed on display  16 . By automatically displaying these position-dependent options in response to detecting that device  14  is within range of equipment  12 , the user need not invoke the user interfaces by entering information into a touch screen display or other input device in device  14 . If desired, arrangements in which some or all of the user interface is manually launched may also be used for system  10 . 
     If a user taps on an on-screen option in a displayed user interface on display  16  of device  14  or otherwise uses the displayed user input interface to supply user input, system  10  may, during the operations of block  54 , take appropriate action in response to the user input. In general, system  10  (e.g., equipment  12  and/or device  14 ) may take any suitable action in response to the user input. As an example, if equipment  12  contains media playback equipment, a playback setting such as a playback volume may be adjusted, a track selection may be made, a fast forward or rewind operation may be performed, playback may be paused, stopped, or initiated, etc. As another example, if equipment  12  includes environmental control components such as heaters or air conditioners, equipment  12  may adjust a temperature setting, fan setting, or other environmental control setting in response to receiving the user input. User input may also be used to adjust vehicle controls in a vehicle, to adjust lighting settings in a vehicle or building, to adjust output volume from a speaker in equipment  12 , and/or to make other adjustments to system  10 . If desired, device  14  may be used to display information (e.g., ancillary information that is not normally displayed by a display in equipment  12  or other information) on display  16 . The displayed ancillary information may be selected based on the position of device  14  relative to equipment  12  and may be associated with displayed content in equipment  12  or other contextual information (e.g., the ancillary information may supplement the displayed content in equipment  12 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of an illustrative vehicle-based system. As shown in  FIG. 7 , vehicle  12  may have surface regions (surface  18 ) associated with information display  60 , console  62 , and dashboard area  64 . Display  60  may be located on a dashboard or windshield (e.g., display  60  may be a heads-up display). Console  62  may include rotary knobs and other buttons  66  for controlling environmental systems (air conditioning, heating, fans, etc.) and media devices (e.g., a radio). Area  64  may be associated with a cosmetic interior body panel in a dashboard or other region of vehicle  12 . Area  64  may, for example, be covered with leather, wood, or other materials on a dashboard. A user of device  14  may move device  14  into various positions relative to vehicle  12 . As device  14  is placed in different positions on surface(s)  18 , different position-dependent (and, if desired, context-dependent) user interfaces and/or ancillary information may be automatically displayed on display  16   
     For example, if device  14  is placed in position  14 A of  FIG. 7 , device  14  will be adjacent to display  60  and may be used for displaying ancillary information related to the content of display  60 . If, as an example, display  60  is displaying navigation system information such as driving directions, ancillary information such as images of points of interest along the user&#39;s current route may be automatically displayed on device  14  or may display vehicle speed information (e.g., “43 mph”) or other information related to speedometer information or other information being displayed on display  60 . 
     As another example, if device  14  is placed in position  14 B of  FIG. 7  adjacent to input devices  66  of console  62 , a user control interface that includes console-related options may be displayed. The console-related options may include, for example, favorite radio stations for a radio in vehicle  12 , favorite volume and equalization settings for the radio of vehicle  12 , selectable temperature and fan settings, etc. 
     If device  14  is place in another position such as position  14 C of  FIG. 7 , device  14  may automatically display information associated with position  14 C (e.g., the current temperature of the right side of vehicle  12  in a scenario in which position  14 C is located in front of a right-hand seat, information on media that is viewable from the right side of vehicle  12  and that is not viewable in other areas of vehicle  12 , etc.). The displayed content in position  14 C may be a user-adjustable temperature setting (e.g., a user control interface that is different than the user control interface displayed when the device is in position  14 B). 
     As these examples demonstrate, the content on device  14  may change dynamically as a function of the current position of device  14  on surface  18 . If desired, different types of content and user interface controls may be presented as a user moves device  14  across surface  18 . A shown in  FIG. 8 , a variety of user interface controls and other content  70  and  70 ′ may be associated with different positions on surface  18 . When content associated with a particular location is not overlapped by device  14  (see, e.g., content  70 ′), that content is not presented on device  14 . When content associated with a particular location is overlapped by device  14  (see, e.g., content  70 ), that content is presented on device  14 . Content  70  may include user interface controls and ancillary information) and may be updated as a user moves device  14  to different positions on surface  18 . 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 9 , device  14  has been placed adjacent to equipment  12  on support structure  80  (e.g., a table or floor). Equipment  12  may be, for example, wireless networking equipment such as a router, access point, or network switch. When system  10  detects that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12 , a user control interface may be automatically displayed on display  16  (e.g., an interface that provides the user with touch-selectable options to adjust encryption settings, passwords, SSIDs and other identifiers, and other networking settings). A user may own numerous pieces of wireless networking equipment. By detecting that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12  and automatically displaying an appropriate user control interface, the ability of the user to easily adjust settings for equipment  12  is enhanced. 
     In the example of  FIG. 10 , device  14  has been placed adjacent to equipment  12  that has one or more speakers. Equipment  12  may, as an example, receive music and other information from the internet over a wireless connection and may play the music and other information for a user. A user may place device  14  adjacent to equipment  12  when it is desired to adjust wireless communications settings (e.g., a password that device  14  uses to connect to a wireless local area network), when it is desired to adjust media playback settings (e.g., a playback volume associated with playing content through a speaker in equipment  12 , bass and treble settings, etc.), or when it is desired to adjust other settings for equipment  12 . 
     Another illustrative arrangement for system  10  is shown in  FIG. 11 . In the example of  FIG. 11 , equipment  12  is a thermostat mounted on a wall of a building (see, e.g., support structure  80 ). Equipment  12  may be used to adjust heating and cooling settings or other environmental control settings for air conditioning and heating units. A user may place device  14  adjacent to equipment  12  when it is desired to adjust a temperature setting, fan setting, temperature schedule, or other setting associated with equipment  12 . In response to detecting that device  14  is adjacent to equipment  12 , system  10  may automatically display an on-screen user control interface (user input interface) on the display of device  14  to allow the user to make these setting adjustments, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     If desired, equipment  12  may be a computer or other electronic device. In the example of  FIG. 12 , equipment  12  is a desktop computer with a display such as display  90 . When the user places device  14  in location  14 - 1 , device  14  may automatically display instructions asking the user to enter a user access credential (e.g., a fingerprint that may be entered using fingerprint reader  90 , a username and password or other identifier, etc.). This allows device  14  to be used to securely provide the user&#39;s identity to equipment  12  (e.g., to log into equipment  12 ). When the user places device  14  in location  14 - 2 , device  14  may automatically display a different user interface (e.g., a sliding on-screen option such as slider  92 ). The user may adjust slider  92  to adjust a speaker volume, display contrast or brightness for display  94 , or other adjustable setting for display  94  or other component in equipment  12 . 
     In general, any suitable equipment  12  may be controlled using one or more adjacent devices  14 . The foregoing examples are merely illustrative. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170804
Publication Date: 20220906
Grant Date: 20220906
Priority Date: 20160921
Inventors: GLEESON, BRIAN T.
MEYER, ADAM S.
BLOOM, DAVID H.
ARNOLD, PETER M.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W4/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/165", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/24", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C23/04", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0488", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/165", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/92", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C23/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04842", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/34", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R16/0231", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/0879", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C23/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04842", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C17/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/165", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/91", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L41/0879", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R16/0231", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/92", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08C2201/34", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0488", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72415", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1694", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 83149738