Patent Application
20150186152
The present techniques relate generally to sensing attempted connections to computing devices and, to helping to complete the attempted connections.
Computing devices like sub-notebooks, 2-in-1's, portable all in one systems, docking stations, smart displays, TVs, and so on, include various types of connector sockets, ports, and various controls. Attempting to plug the corresponding connectors into these sockets, access these controls, and so on, can be cumbersome, cause false interactions, and conflict with other system capabilities. For example, these various devices may visibly conceal their sockets, ports, and so on, for aesthetic reasons. However, this makes it challenging to actually access a socket, for example, to insert a connector. Further, connecting to a port is challenging in many cases due to obstacles near the computing device. For example, some systems are mounted on walls, or kept close to heavy furniture. With the possibility that attempting to force a connection into the wrong socket may dismount the device, tip the device or nearby furniture over, etc., accessing concealed sockets, ports, and controls may be cumbersome and hazardous.
The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and the figures to reference like components and features. Numbers in the 100 series refer to features originally found in
Some embodiments may be implemented in one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. Some embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by a computing platform to perform the operations described herein. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine, e.g., a computer. For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; or electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals, e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, or the interfaces that transmit and/or receive signals, among others.
An embodiment is an implementation or example. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “various embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the present techniques. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. Elements or aspects from an embodiment can be combined with elements or aspects of another embodiment.
Not all components, features, structures, characteristics, etc. described and illustrated herein need be included in a particular embodiment or embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, for example, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
It is to be noted that, although some embodiments have been described in reference to particular implementations, other implementations are possible according to some embodiments. Additionally, the arrangement and/or order of circuit elements or other features illustrated in the drawings and/or described herein need not be arranged in the particular way illustrated and described. Many other arrangements are possible according to some embodiments.
In each system shown in a figure, the elements in some cases may each have a same reference number or a different reference number to suggest that the elements represented could be different and/or similar. However, an element may be flexible enough to have different implementations and work with some or all of the systems shown or described herein. The various elements shown in the figures may be the same or different. Which one is referred to as a first element and which is called a second element is arbitrary.
While typical computing devices may label the sockets, ports, and controls, the labels may detract from the aesthetics of the device. However, examples of the techniques described herein aid the connection of various devices to the various connections, ports and controls located on a display device. In this way, users may be aided in accessing the sockets, I/O ports, and controls without compromising the aesthetics of the device, thereby improving the user experience.
Examples of the techniques described herein may aid users in locating otherwise concealed sockets, I/O ports, and controls without blindly reaching for them. In some examples, the sockets, I/O ports, and controls reside in one or more sides of a display device, the base of a computing device, such as an all-in-one device, or the back of a computing device, among other locations. Further, examples of the techniques described herein may be included in docking stations, portable all in one personal computers (PCs), 2 in 1 systems, smart televisions, and smart phones, among others.
The processor 102 may be a main processor that is adapted to execute the stored instructions. The processor 102 may be a single core processor, a multi-core processor, a computing cluster, or any number of other configurations. The processor 102 may be implemented as Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) or Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors, x86 Instruction set compatible processors, multi-core, or any other microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU). The memory 104 can include random access memory (RAM) (e.g., static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), zero capacitor RAM, Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon SONOS, embedded DRAM, extended data out RAM, double data rate (DDR) RAM, resistive random access memory (RRAM), parameter random access memory (PRAM), etc.), read only memory (ROM) (e.g., Mask ROM, programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), etc.), flash memory, or any other suitable memory systems. The main processor 102 may be connected through a system bus 108 (e.g., Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), PCI-Express, HyperTransport®, NuBus, etc.) to components including the memory 104, the storage device 106, ports 110, NIC 112, and sensors 114. The block diagram of
In another embodiment, the connection manager 116 displays a current status of a port 110 based on information other than intent to access the ports 110. For example, information can be displayed based on the devices in proximity to a port 110. If a smartphone or digital camera is brought close to the computing device 100, possible locations for connecting the phone and camera to the computing device 100 are displayed. Additionally, connection types may be displayed, e.g., universal serial bus (USB). The information can also be based on uses of the computing device 100. For example, if the computing device 100 is accessing a cloud storage website, the connection manager 116 displays possible ways to upload data from devices that can be connected to the computing device 100. Additionally, the connection manager may display ways to upload data from digital media management applications.
At block 204, the connection manager 116 determines connection parameters. The connection parameters may be stored in the connection data 118. Additionally, the connection manager 116 may check the availability of unused ports 110, and provide guidance related to the location of the connector in relation to the port 110.
At block 206, the connection manager 116 presents a representation of the port 110 to aid connection. Additionally, the representation may indicate the location of the connector in relation to the port 110. In one embodiment, the connection manager 116 identifies the intent to use the ports 110 of a computing device, and displays intelligent real time information based on sensing the intent to use the ports 110. For example, the real time information may include the location of a socket (a physical indicator to guide the user), a state of the socket (e.g., in use/closed, not in use/open, offline, etc.), and a result of the connection (e.g., idle, busy, connected etc.). The connection manager 116 may display the real-time information before, during, and after the connection is completed. In another embodiment, a screen overlay appears on an all-in-one's display device. The overlay shows the locations of the ports 110 of the device 100. In one embodiment, the connection manager 116 queries a port status of each physical interface from an operating system, and displays a list of the ports 110 that are available.
In other embodiments, socket information associated with an RF tag may be displayed. Similarly a voice activated command could request a display of available sockets in a device. For example, a user may provide a voice command such as, “Where do I connect a USB device?” and the display may indicate the location of available USB ports.
For example, a connection manager 116 may sense an attempt to make a connection. In one embodiment, the connection manager 116 senses a human hand reaching for a volume control, and displays an onscreen overlay pointing the hand to the correct location for the volume controls. In another embodiment, the connection manager 116 senses a USB connector based on an image of the connector captured during an attempted connection, and displays on an onscreen overlay showing the USB connector in its current location, and pointing the direction to move the USB connector to an available USB socket. Additionally, one of the sensors 114 may provide the current location of a connector with respect to the computing device 100. Accordingly, the connection manager 116 may present real time feedback to guide the connector to the port 110. The feedback can be a combination of visual, audio and LED feedback, among others.
It is to be understood that specifics in the aforementioned examples may be used anywhere in one or more embodiments. For instance, all optional features of the computing device described above may also be implemented with respect to either of the methods or the computer-readable medium described herein. Furthermore, although flow diagrams and/or state diagrams may have been used herein to describe embodiments, the techniques are not limited to those diagrams or to corresponding descriptions herein. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described herein.
The present techniques are not restricted to the particular details listed herein. Indeed, those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that many other variations from the foregoing description and drawings may be made within the scope of the present techniques. Accordingly, it is the following claims including any amendments thereto that define the scope of the present techniques.
