Local device awareness

Abstract

Certain embodiments may take the form of a method of operating an electronic device to find and determine an identity of other local devices. The method includes transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first electronic device to find devices within a prescribed distance of the first device and receiving electromagnetic response signals from a second electronic device within the prescribed distance from the first electronic device. The method also includes identifying the second electronic device using information received in the electromagnetic response signals. Additionally, the method includes determining if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices and, if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices, obtaining identifying information of the other devices from the second electronic device.

1 . A method of operating an electronic device to find and determine an identity of other local devices comprising:
 transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first electronic device to find devices within a prescribed distance of the first device;   receiving electromagnetic response signals from a second electronic device located less than the prescribed distance from the first electronic device;   identifying the second electronic device from the electromagnetic response signals;   determining if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices within the prescribed distance from the second electronic device; and   if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices, obtaining identifying information from the second electronic device of the other devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 generating an icon representative of the second electronic device; and 
 displaying the icon on a display of the first electronic device. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  comprising:
 using an electromagnetic imaging device to determine the location of the second device relative to the first device; and 
 displaying the icon representing the second electronic device on the display in a location representative of the location of the second electronic device relative to the first electronic device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first and second electronic devices are network enabled and the first device is configured with a touch screen, wherein the first device is configured to transmit data to the second device upon receiving gestural input directing the data to the icon of the second electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting electromagnetic signals comprise one of radio frequency signals or infrared signals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second device is identified via the electromagnetic response signals. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first and second electronic devices are network enabled and obtaining identifying information of the other device is transacted over a network. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a stationary electronic device to facilitate communications between devices within the vicinity of the stationary device, the method comprising:
 scanning an area using a first electronic device to determine if other devices are present in the scanned area;   determining that more than one other device is present in the scanned area;   determining an identity of each of the more than one other device present in the scanned area; and   providing each of the more than one other device with the identifying information of the more than one other devices.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein scanning an area comprises:
 transmitting electromagnetic signals into the area to determine the presence of objects in the area; and 
 comparing a shape of objects in the scanned area with template shapes to determine if the object is an electronic device. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein determining an identity of the more than one other devices comprises receiving a radio signal from each of the more than one other devices, the radio signal from each device including the identity of that device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising transmitting a radio signal from the first electronic device to each of the more than one other devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 determining that one of the more than one electronic devices is no longer within the area; 
 identifying the one of the more than one electronic devices; and 
 indicating to the more than one electronic devices remaining in the area that the one is no longer in the area. 
 
     
     
         13 . An electronic security device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing operating instructions for the electronic security device; and   one or more vicinity sensors, the vicinity sensor being configured to determine when other electronic devices are in a vicinity of the electronic security device;   wherein when other electronic devices are determined to be within the vicinity of the electronic security device, the electronic security device:
 determines an identity of the other devices; and 
 grants access to a document to the other devices while the other devices are determined to be within the vicinity of the electronic security device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  further configured to:
 determine if the other electronic devices are capable of managing documents; and 
 if the other electronic devices are not capable of managing documents, denying access to the document. 
 
     
     
         15 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  further configured to:
 determine if a user of the other electronic devices is authorized to access the document; and 
 if the user is authorized to access a document, grant access to the document. 
 
     
     
         16 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  wherein the document is stored remotely from the electronic security device. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  further comprising a storage device and wherein the document is stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  wherein the one or more vicinity sensors includes an electromagnetic transmitter and receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  wherein the electronic security device is configured to determine when one of the other devices leaves the vicinity and restrict access to the document to the one of the other devices when the one of the other devices leaves the vicinity. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic security device of  claim 13  wherein the electronic security device comprises a tablet computing device.