Activity Transfer Between Source and Companion Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in seamlessly transitioning and continuing activities across different electronic devices, such as switching from a smartphone to a tablet or desktop, due to limitations in device suitability for tasks and the cumbersome process of retrieving another device.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device broadcasts an activity advertisement message over a wireless network, allowing a companion device to detect and transfer the activity, including activity identifiers and extended data, to configure the second application and continue the task seamlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user switches between different electronic devices to perform tasks, then task continuity is improved, but the complexity of device retrieval and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by broadcasting activity advertisement messages from source devices and having companion devices pre-detect and store these messages. When a user wants to continue an activity, the companion device already has the necessary activity information ready, eliminating the need for complex real-time configuration and device retrieval processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The activity transfer system operates autonomously without requiring complex user intervention. The companion device automatically detects activity advertisement messages, determines compatible activities, and configures the second application based on activity information from the source device, making the整个过程 self-service and reducing operational complexity for users.
2Ease of operation
If activity information is transferred between devices, then seamless task continuation is achieved, but the amount of data communication and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential activity information needed for task continuation from the source device and transmits it to the companion device. By broadcasting activity advertisement messages containing key activity identifiers and essential data, the system avoids transferring unnecessary data, thus achieving seamless task continuation with minimized data communication volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The companion device receives and stores copies of activity advertisement messages from source devices. These copied messages contain the necessary activity information for future task continuation, allowing the system to reuse this data without repeatedly transmitting the full activity dataset, thereby reducing overall data communication requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used for different tasks, then device suitability for specific tasks is improved, but the time required to switch between devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and storage of activity advertisement messages by companion devices. This preliminary action ensures that when a user needs to switch devices, the necessary activity information is already available, significantly reducing the time required to switch between devices while maintaining the ability to use multiple devices for different tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where companion devices continuously monitor for activity advertisement messages from source devices. This real-time feedback allows the system to immediately detect and prepare for activity transfers, minimizing device switching time while preserving the adaptability of using multiple devices for different tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
The described embodiments transfer an activity from a source electronic device to a companion electronic device. The source electronic device receives activity information describing an activity performed in a first application at the source electronic device and broadcasts an activity advertisement comprising an activity identifier for the activity. Upon receiving the activity advertisement, the companion electronic device determines whether a second application that is associated with the first application is available at the companion electronic device. If the second application is available, the companion electronic device acquires extended activity data from the source electronic device and uses the extended activity data to configure the second application and commence performing the activity with the second application at the companion electronic device. The source electronic device may also forward activity-related information (e.g., information from a copy and paste clipboard in the source electronic device) to the companion electronic device.