Method and apparatus for communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the process of managing communications sessions between computing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged using a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Over the past decade, handheld computing devices have evolved from small calculator-like devices that can store a few contacts and other basic information to full-blown computer systems that mirror the functionality of desktop computer systems. During this same time period, handheld computing devices moved from obscurity to become commonly used business tools. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ultra-portable laptops presently number in the millions and have become a staple of modern business.

[0005] These mobile computing devices have brought many benefits to the workplace, such as increased productivity due to faster access to information. Many tasks that were historically performed at desktop computer systems in the office are now being performed everywhere using mobile computing devices.

[0006] Along with these benefits, however, the use of mobile computing devices has generated new problems. Users typically maintain the same information on both their desktop computer system and their mobile computing device. This can cause synchronization problems. If the same information is modified in both places before synchronization occurs, information can be lost if one copy is used to overwrite the other. Furthermore, users often do not synchronize their data regularly because they forget, or they do not want to take the time to initiate the synchronization process.

[0007] Maintaining network connectivity can also be a challenge for mobile computing devices. Numerous mechanisms exist to connect mobile computing devices to networks and other computing devices. As a mobile computing device is moved from one place to another, users often you have to reconfigure some parameters within the mobile computing device to allow the device to maintain network connectivity in the new environment. Furthermore, depending on characteristics of the network itself, it can be difficult to locate and connect to the desired resources.

[0008] What is needed is a method and an apparatus for facilitating communications with a mobile computing device without the limitations listed above.

SUMMARY

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged with a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag. During operation, an RFID tag reader detects the presence of the RFID tag, which is coupled to the computing device. In response to detecting the presence of the RFID tag, the system broadcasts the RFID over a network so that devices on the network know that the computing device is in proximity to the RFID tag reader. The system then receives a request from a server to initiate a communication session with the computing device, wherein the server is preconfigured to initiate a communication session with the computing device upon receiving a broadcast of the RFID on the network. In response to the request from the server, the system facilitates a communication session between the computing device and the server.

[0010] In a variation on this embodiment, the system transfers an existing communication session between the server and a client to the computing device by first initiating the communication session between the server and the computing device. Next, the system transfers the state of the existing communication session to the computing device, so that the computing device can take over the existing communication session with the server in place of the client. Finally the system terminates the existing communication session with the client.

[0011] In a further variation on this embodiment, the system detects the absence of the RFID tag, which indicates that the computing device has moved out of the range of the RFID tag reader. In this case, the system then initiates a new communication session between the client and the server. The system also transfers the state of the communication session between the computing device and the server to the new communication session, and terminates the communication session between the server and the computing device.

[0012] In a variation on this embodiment, the system facilitates a communication session between the computing device and the server by transferring data between the computing device and the server, wherein the server is a computing device that is in close proximity to the RFID tag reader.

[0013] In a further variation on this embodiment, the system synchronizes files between the computing device and the server.

[0014] In yet a further variation on this embodiment, the system synchronizes Personal Information Manager (PIM) information between the computing device and the server.

[0015] In a further variation on this embodiment, the presence of the RFID tag is detected on a channel that is separate from a channel carrying the communication session between the computing device and the server.

[0016] One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates initiating a communication session with a computing device. The system operates by first detecting the presence of the computing device through a first communication channel, and then initiating a communication session between the computing device and a server through the second communication channel. Next, the system transfers the state of an existing communication session between the server and a client to the computing device through the second communication channel, so that the computing device can take over the existing communication session with the server in place of the client.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a computer network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of facilitating a communication session with a computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 3 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of transferring a session to the computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 4 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of transferring a session from the computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0022] The data structures and code described in this detailed description are typically stored on a computer readable storage medium, which may be any device or medium that can store code and/or data for use by a computer system. This includes, but is not limited to, magnetic and optical storage devices such as disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs (compact discs) and DVDs (digital versatile discs or digital video discs), and computer instruction signals embodied in a transmission medium (with or without a carrier wave upon which the signals are modulated). For example, the transmission medium may include a communications network, such as the Internet.

[0023] Computer Network

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates computer network <b>102</b> in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Network <b>102</b> can generally include any type of wire or wireless communication channel capable of coupling together computing nodes. This includes, but is not limited to, a local area network, a wide area network, or a combination of networks. In one embodiment of the present invention, network <b>102</b> includes the Internet.

[0025] Computing device <b>104</b> is coupled to network <b>102</b> via a wired or a wireless connection. Computing device <b>104</b> can generally include any type of computer system, including, but not limited to, a computer system based on a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a portable computing device, a personal organizer, a device controller, and a computational engine within an appliance. User <b>100</b> interacts with network <b>102</b> and other devices attached to network <b>102</b> via computing device <b>104</b>.

[0026] Client <b>106</b> and server <b>108</b> are also coupled to network <b>102</b>. Client <b>106</b> can generally include any node on a network including computational capability and including a mechanism for communicating across network <b>102</b>. Server <b>108</b> can generally include any computational node including a mechanism for servicing requests from a client for computational and/or data storage resources. Note that in one embodiment of the present invention, client <b>106</b> can also act as a server.

[0027] Located in close proximity to client <b>106</b> is Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag reader <b>110</b>. RFID tag reader <b>110</b> is coupled to network <b>102</b>, and can detect the presence of RFID tags, such as RFID tag <b>112</b>, which is attached to computing device <b>104</b>.

[0028] Facilitating a Communications Session

[0029]FIG. 2 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of facilitating a communication session with computing device <b>104</b> in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process starts when RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b>, which is attached to computing device <b>104</b> (step <b>202</b>).

[0030] When RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b>, RFID tag reader broadcasts the RFID over network <b>102</b> (step <b>204</b>). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the broadcast is a multicast transmission to all devices coupled to network <b>102</b>. Note that RFID tag reader <b>110</b> can also be pre-configured to broadcast some other information or unique identifier representing the RFID (instead of broadcasting the RFID itself) upon detecting the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b>.

[0031] Upon receiving the broadcast of the RFID from RFID tag reader <b>110</b>, client <b>106</b> sends a request to computing device <b>104</b> to initiate a communication session between client <b>106</b> and computing device <b>104</b>. Computing device <b>104</b> subsequently receives the request (step <b>206</b>), and in response to the request, initiates a communication session between computing device <b>104</b> and client <b>106</b> (step <b>208</b>).

[0032] The communication session between computing device <b>104</b> and client <b>106</b> can convey information used to perform many different tasks, such as transferring a control session with server <b>108</b> from client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b>, synchronizing data between computing device <b>104</b> and client <b>106</b>, or redirecting the output of a video stream from client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b>.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, devices that have no computational ability can be tagged with RFID tags and can represent actions. For example, a paperweight with an RFID tag can be moved into a conference room that contains an RFID tag reader. Upon detecting the presence of the RFID tag attached to the paperweight, the system can adjust the lighting, music, and HVAC settings in the conference room to pre-determined settings that are represented by the paperweight. Additionally, the presence of the RFID tag can initiate the loading and display of pre-specified presentation material.

[0034] Transferring a Session to the Computing Device

[0035]FIG. 3 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of transferring a session to computing device <b>104</b> in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As user <b>100</b> moves from location to location with computing device <b>104</b>, it may be desirable for an active session between server <b>108</b> and client <b>106</b> to be transferred from client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b>. The process starts when RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b> that is attached to computing device <b>104</b> (step <b>302</b>). When RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b>, RFID tag reader broadcasts the RFID over network <b>102</b> (step <b>304</b>).

[0036] Upon receiving the broadcast of the RFID, server <b>108</b> initiates a transfer of a session with client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b> (step <b>306</b>). In transferring the session from client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b>, the control and output of every process running on server <b>108</b> that is associated with the session is transferred to computing device <b>104</b>. Optionally, other information can be transferred from client <b>106</b> to computing device <b>104</b>, such as the cut and paste buffer on client <b>106</b>. Finally, once the transfer is complete, the session between server <b>108</b> and client <b>106</b> is terminated (step <b>308</b>).

[0037] Transferring a Session from the Computing Device

[0038]FIG. 4 presents a flowchart illustrating the process of transferring a session from computing device <b>104</b> to client <b>106</b> in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When user <b>100</b> moves computing device <b>104</b> out of range of RFID tag reader <b>110</b>, it may be desirable to perform pre-determined actions, such as transferring a session with server <b>108</b> to client <b>106</b> from computing device <b>104</b>.

[0039] The process starts when RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the absence of RFID tag <b>112</b> that is attached to computing device <b>104</b> (step <b>402</b>). This occurs when computing device <b>104</b> moves outside of RFID tag reader <b>110</b>'s range of sensitivity. When RFID tag reader <b>110</b> no longer detects the presence of RFID tag <b>112</b>, RFID tag reader <b>112</b> broadcasts the RFID over network <b>102</b> (step <b>404</b>). Alternatively, RFID tag reader <b>110</b> can be configured to continually broadcast the RFID over network <b>102</b> and pre-determined intervals while RFID tag <b>112</b> is present, and to cease broadcasting the RFID over network <b>102</b> when RFID tag reader <b>110</b> detects the absence of RFID tag <b>112</b>.

[0040] Upon receiving the broadcast of the RFID, server <b>108</b> initiates a transfer of the session with computing device <b>104</b> back to client <b>106</b> (step <b>406</b>). In transferring the session from computing device <b>104</b> to client <b>106</b>, the control and output of every process running on server <b>108</b> that is associated with the session is transferred to client <b>106</b>. Optionally, other information can be transferred from computing device <b>104</b> to client <b>106</b>, such as the cut and paste buffer on computing device <b>104</b>. Finally, once the transfer is complete, the session between server <b>108</b> and computing device <b>104</b> is terminated (step <b>408</b>).

[0041] The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.