WO2014147564A1

WO2014147564A1 - System for intuitive transfer of data

Info

Publication number: WO2014147564A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/059955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Richard Simons; Lucas Jacobus Franciscus Geurts; Pei-Yin CHAO
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
Priority date: 2013-03-20
Filing date: 2014-03-19
Publication date: 2014-09-25

Abstract

Mobile device (110) for use in a system (300) arranged for transferring data (101) from a source device (130) to a destination device (140) according to a data transfer command using the mobile device. The devices (130,140) each comprise an NFC unit (111, 131,141). The mobile device comprises a GUI comprising a display (113) and a user input means (114). The mobile device is arranged for: connecting to the source device in response to being within its NFC range (132), and providing an indication on the GUI representing data in the source device, and connecting to the destination device in response being within its NFC range (141), and deriving the data transfer command in response to maintaining an interaction (123) via the GUI, the interaction being maintained during a change (150) of the mobile device's position from within the NFC range of the source device into the NFC range of the destination device.

Description

System for intuitive transfer of data

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an intuitive interaction paradigm for transferring a file via near-field wireless communication between a source device and a destination device using a mobile device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

GB2469929A describes a method for transferring content from a source device to a destination device, such as from a media player to an external storage device, using a mobile device. The mobile device connects in a wireless manner to the source device or the destination device. The method comprises creating a first user interface on the mobile device in order to select content in the source device and creating a second user interface on the mobile device in order to transfer the selected content to the destination device.

GB2469929A describes an interaction paradigm wherein a user wants to transfer a content of interest to the destination device. Content that is available for being transferred from the source device is represented in the first user interface on the mobile device. Via the first user interface the user selects content of interest in the source device, by holding his thumb on a representation of the content of interest shown on the first user interface. While continuing to hold his thumb on the representation, the user approaches the destination device, and, in response, the mobile device creates the second user interface, enabling the user to interact with the destination device. A representation of the destination device appears in the second user interface. Using his thumb on the display, the user then drags the representation of the content of interest with his thumb onto the representation of the destination device, thereby initiating transfer of the content of interest from the source device to the destination device.

A drawback of the prior art is that a user is required to perform a dragging interaction with his thumb on the display of the mobile device in order to the transfer of the content of interest from the source device to the destination device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method with improved intuitiveness for transferring data from a source device to a destination device using a mobile device.

The invention discloses a mobile device for use in a system arranged for transferring data from a source device to a destination device according to a data transfer command using the mobile device, the source device and the destination device and the mobile device each comprising a unit for near-field wireless communication, the source device arranged for containing the data and for transferring the data to the destination device, the destination device arranged for containing the data and for receiving the data transferred from the source device, the mobile device comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a display and an input means for receiving manual input from the user, the mobile device arranged for: connecting the mobile device to the source device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range of the source device, and providing an indication on the graphical user interface representing a presence of data in the source device, and connecting the mobile device to the destination device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range of the destination device, and deriving the data transfer command having the source device as a source and the destination device as a destination, the deriving being in response to maintaining an interaction via the graphical user interface, the interaction being maintained during a change of the mobile device's position from within the near field communication range of the source device into the near field communication range of the destination device.

The invention further discloses a method for transferring data from a source device to a destination device according to a data transfer command using the mobile device, the source device and the destination device and the mobile device each comprising a unit for near-field wireless communication, the mobile device comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a display and an input means for receiving input from a user, the method comprising: connecting the mobile device to the source device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range of the source device; and providing an indication on the graphical user interface representing a presence of data in the source device; and connecting the mobile device to the destination device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range of the destination device; and deriving the data transfer command having the source device as a source and the destination device as a destination, the deriving being in response to maintaining an interaction via the graphical user interface, the interaction being maintained during a change of the mobile device's position from within the near field communication range of the source device into the near field communication range of the destination device.

In response to the mobile device being within the near field of the source device, the mobile device and the source device connect using near field wireless

communication (NFC). By moving the mobile device to the source device and positioning the mobile device within the near field of the source device, the user implicitly selects the source device to connect to the mobile device.

By providing on the graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device an indication representing a presence of data in the source device, an announcement is made via the mobile device to the user regarding the presence of data. For example, the presence of data is represented by a visual indication on the display of the GUI.

A data transfer command for transferring the data from the source device to the destination device is derived when the user performs an interaction via the GUI and maintains that interaction while moving the mobile device from (a) within the NFC communication range of the source device into (b) the NFC communication range of the destination device. For example, the user touches the visual indication on a touch screen, the touch screen being part of the GUI, and maintains touching the visual indication while moving from within the near field of the source device into the near field of the destination device.

The mobile device connects to the destination device in a similar way as it connects to the source device. In response to the mobile device being within the near field of the destination device, the mobile device and the destination device connect using near field wireless communication (NFC). By moving the mobile device to the destination device and positioning the mobile device within the near field of the destination device, the user implicitly selects the destination device to connect with the mobile device. The user is thus not required to explicitly select the destination device on the GUI of the mobile device.

The data is then transferred from the source device to the destination device, according to the derived data transfer command. The data transfer is initiated, for example, in response to no longer maintaining touching the visual indication.

An advantage of the invention is that connecting the mobile device to the source/destination device requires no explicit selection of the source/destination device on GUI of the mobile device, but is rather implied in moving the mobile device into the near field communication range of the source/destination device (typically within < 20 cm). The effect of the invention is that data is transferred from the source device to the destination device using an improved intuitive interaction paradigm.

The invention is also based on the following recognition. The combined actions of (1) physically moving the mobile device from the source device to the destination device and (2) maintaining the interaction with the indication representing the data together form an intuitive interaction for a user to express his intention that the data is to be transferred from the source device to the destination device. In a sense, the user virtually 'carries' the data from the source device to the destination device in an intuitive manner: by maintaining the interaction the user is virtually 'holding' the data, and by means of physically moving the mobile device, the user is virtually 'moving' the data from its source to its destination. The mobile device interprets said combined actions as a command to transfer the data from the source device to the destination device. In contrast, dragging a representation of the data on the mobile device's display to a representation of the destination device on the same display is a less intuitive, less natural user interaction and also represents an additional action not required in the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG.1 illustrates a mobile device moving towards a source device containing data,

FIG.2a illustrates a data icon being indicated on the mobile device while the mobile device is within the near field of the source device,

FIG.2b illustrates the user's thumb touching the data icon on the mobile device while the mobile device is within the near field of the source device,

FIG.3 illustrates the mobile device moving from the source device to the destination device while the user maintains touching the data icon on the mobile device,

FIG.4a illustrates the user's thumb maintaining touching the data icon on the mobile device while the mobile device is within the near field of the destination device,

FIG.4b illustrates the user's thumb having released the data icon on the mobile device while the mobile device is within the near field of the destination device, and

FIG.5 illustrates a device comprising multiple NFC units.

It should be noted that items denoted by the same reference numerals in different Figures have the same structural features and the same functions, or are the same signals. Where the function and/or structure of such an item have been explained, there is no necessity for repeated explanation thereof in the detailed description.

The Figures are purely diagrammatic and not drawn to scale. Particularly for clarity, some dimensions are exaggerated strongly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The invention discloses an intuitive method for transferring data between a source device and a destination device using a mobile device and near-field communication (NFC).

FIG.1 illustrates a mobile device MOB 110 moving towards a source device

SRC 130 containing data DAT 101. In order to access the data DAT the mobile device MOB must first connect to the source device SRC. Connecting via NFC implies that the mobile device MOB and the source device must be near each other, thus within their mutual near- field communication range. In the situation as shown in FIG.1, the two devices MOB and SRC cannot connect: NFC unit 111 is outside of the communication range 132 of NFC unit 131 and NFC unit 131 is outside of the communication range 112 of NFC unit 111. In order to connect, the mobile device MOB must be in the near field of the source device SRC.

The mobile device MOB comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) that has a display 113 and also a button 1 14. The display 113 serves to present information to the user, whereas the button 114 is for receiving input from the user. Optionally, the display 114 comprises a touch screen so that the mobile display can receive input from the user via the display 1 14. The mobile device MOB is being held by the user's hand 120 comprising fingers 122 and a thumb 121. The user moves the mobile device MOB towards the source device SRC, according to movement 105.

FIG.2a illustrates a data icon 102 being indicated on the mobile device MOB while the mobile device MOB is within the near field of the source device SRC. The NFC units 111 and 131 are now within each other's communication range, thereby enabling a connection between the mobile device MOB and the source device SRC. The two devices MOB and SRC connect and identify themselves to each other. For example, the source device communicates an identity "SRC" to the mobile device MOB, and in response the mobile device MOB may show an indication 136 on the display 113 showing the identity "SRC". Optionally, the mobile device MOB indicates that it is connected to the source device SRC, for example by a showing a message on the display 113 or by generating a sound though a speaker that is part of the mobile device MOB. The source device SRC communicates to the mobile device MOB that the data DAT is present in the source device SRC and that the data DAT is available to the mobile device MOB. In response, the mobile device MOB may show on its display 113 a data icon 102 representing the data DAT within a boxed area 135 representing the source device SRC. The mobile device MOB thus announces via its display to the user that the data DAT is present in the source device SRC and is available to the mobile device MOB.

Selection of the source device SRC to connect to the mobile device MOB is implicit, as explicit selection of the source device SRC on the display 113 of the mobile device MOB is not required. By moving the mobile device MOB into the near field of the source device SRC, the source device SRC is 'automatically' selected. The near field communication range of a NFC unit is very near the unit itself, typically within 20 centimeters. As a consequence of the short communication range, near fields of adjacent devices are not likely to interfere or overlap with each other. The near field of the source device SRC is thus effectively the source device's Own local space' . By physically moving the mobile device into this Own local space' the source device SRC is thereby automatically selected. The short communication range of the near field of its device therefore plays an important role in the intuitive selection of that device.

FIG.2b illustrates the user's thumb 123 touching the data icon 103 on the mobile device MOB while the mobile device MOB is within the near field 132 of the source device SRC. FIG.2b is a follow-up of FIG.2a. The user now selects the data DAT by performing a touching interaction 123, using his thumb. In this example, the user touches the display 113 being a touch screen, and, in response, the mobile device MOB replaces the data icon 102 by the highlighted data icon 103 during touching. By means of a highlighted data icon 103 the mobile device gives feedback to the user that the data in the source device has been selected. In the example shown in FIG.2b, the highlighted data icon 103 is illustrated by the data icon 103 having a bold appearance.

Fig.2b presents just an example of an interaction for selecting the data DAT. Alternatively, the user does not touch the data icon 103 itself, but another area for of the touch screen (i.e. the display). That area may be specifically indicated to serve for selecting the data DAT or touching anywhere on the display may serve to select the data DAT. The user may touch an area near the data icon 103 rather than the data icon 103 itself, so that the user may still see the data icon 103 while selecting it. For example, the user may touch the area directly below the data icon 103. Optionally, the source device SRC comprises multiple data files that are available to the mobile device MOB. The mobile device MOB may then generate multiple data icons representing the respective multiple data files. A user may want to select several of the multiple data files in order to be transferred together as a group. Selecting the several data files may work as follows. An selection icon is presented at the screen, for example with the text "select multiple files". The user touches the selection icon, putting the mobile device MOB in a multiple-file selection mode, and then touches one-by-one each of the several data files the user wants to select.

FIG.3 illustrates the mobile device MOB moving from the source device SRC to the destination device DST while the user maintains touching the highlighted data icon 103 on the mobile device MOB. FIG.3 effectively comprises a system 300 for transferring the data DAT from the source device SRC to the destination device DST using the mobile device MOB. The mobile device MOB is moved from (a) a position 151 within the communication range 132 of the source device SRC to (b) a position 152 within the communication range 142 of the destination device DST, as illustrated by the movement 150 (thick arrow in

FIG.3). During the movement 150 the user maintains the touching interaction 123 with the highlighted data icon 103. By moving the mobile device MOB into the near field

communication range 142 of the destination device DST, the destination device DST is implicitly selected to connect to the mobile device MOB. Again, similar as selecting the source device SRC, the destination device DST is selected to connect to the mobile device MOB by moving the mobile device MOB into the communication range 142 of the destination device DST.

The combined actions of (1) the movement 150 and (2) maintaining the touching interaction 123 together form an intuitive interaction for a user to express his intention that the data DAT is to be transferred from the source device SRC to the destination device DST. In a sense, the user virtually 'carries' the data DAT from the source device to the destination device in an intuitive manner: by maintaining the touching interaction 123 the user is virtually 'holding' the data, and by means of the movement 150 the user virtually 'moves' the data DAT from its source to its destination. The mobile device MOB interprets said combined actions as a command to transfer the data from the source device SRC to the destination device DST.

Note that 'the mobile device being in the near field (communication range) of the source/destination device' in the context of this document at least implies that the NFC unit of the mobile device is within the near field communication range of the NFC unit of the source/destination device and vice versa, so that communication between the mobile device and the source/destination device is enabled.

FIG.4a illustrates the user's thumb maintaining touching the data icon on the mobile device while the mobile device is within the near field of the destination device. The NFC units 111 and 141 are within each other's communication range, thereby enabling a connection between the mobile device MOB and the destination device DST. The two devices MOB and DST connect and identify themselves to each other. The source device communicates an identity "DST" to the mobile device MOB, and in response the mobile device MOB shows an indication 146 on the display 113 showing the identity "DST".

The mobile device MOB communicates to the destination device DST that the data DAT is available to the destination device DST. In return, the destination device DST communicates to the mobile device MOB that the destination device DST is ready to receive the data DAT, and in response, the mobile device MOB indicates a boxed area 145 on its display 113 representing the destination device DST. The boxed area 145 may be drawn around the highlighted data icon 103 (still being touched by the user's thumb 123) indicating to the user that the destination device DST is now ready to receive the data DAT.

FIG.4b illustrates the user's thumb 121 having released the touch screen on the mobile device MOB, while the mobile device MOB is within the near field 142 of the destination device DST. FIG.4b is a direct follow-up of FIG.4a. The user's thumb 121 has now released the touch screen, indicating his intention that the data DAT be released in the destination device DST. By releasing the touch screen, deriving the data transfer command (to transfer the data DAT from the source device SRC to the destination device DST) is completed and the data transfer is to be executed.

Once the data transfer has been completed, the data is stored in the destination device as illustrated in FIG.4b showing data DAT 101 being inside destination device DST 140. In addition, the highlighted data icon 103 is replaced by the (non-highlighted) data icon 104, indicating to the user that the data DAT has been stored in the destination device DST.

Optionally, completing the data transfer command does not require the user releasing the data icon 103, but instead requires only that the destination device DST has been connected to the mobile device MOB and has communicated its readiness to the mobile device MOB to receive the data DAT. Execution of the data transfer command is then initiated immediately upon the mobile device MOB receiving said readiness from the destination device DST. Note that data transfer command is derived without the user being required to drag the data icon 130 with his thumb on the display 113 to a visual indication representing the destination device. Instead, as described in the embodiments above, the data transfer command is derived without even releasing the data icon 130 or by merely releasing the data icon 130. An additional dragging interaction on the display 113 is thus not required in the present invention, thus reducing the amount of interactions required to derive the data transfer command and therefore improving the intuitiveness of the interaction paradigm.

A first manner to execute the data transfer command is via a direct connection between the source device SRC to the destination device DST. The direct connection is, for example, a peer-to-peer connection or a connection to a network that has both devices as clients. The data transfer command is inferred by the mobile device MOB from the combined action of the movement 150 and the maintained holding interaction 123 (as described above), and is passed to the destination device DST via the NFC connection between the mobile device MOB and the destination device DST. According to the data transfer command, the destination device DST initiates communication with the source device SRC via their direct connection, and requests the data DAT from the source device SRC. In response, the source device SRC transfers the data DAT directly to the destination device DST.

Note that said direct connection between the two devices SRC and DST may be wireless or wired. The direct connection is enabled, for example, by technologies such as BlueTooth, WiFi, infrared, LAN or a peer-to-peer connection.

A second manner to execute the data transfer command is transfer the data from the source device SRC to the destination device DST via the mobile device MOB using the near-field communication. The mobile device MOB then serves as a buffer (i.e. a temporary holding place) for the data DAT. As illustrated in FIG.2b, upon selecting the data icon 103 on the touch screen within the near field 132 of the source device SRC, the data DAT transfers from the source device SRC to the mobile device MOB via the connection between the NFC units 131 and 111. As illustrated in FIG.4b, upon releasing the data icon 103 on the touch screen while the mobile device MOB is within the near field of the destination device DST, the data DAT transfers from the mobile device MOB to the destination device DST via the NFC units 111 and 141. By said releasing the data icon 103 the destination device DST is selected as the destination for the data DAT for the resulting data transfer command. As the data DAT is already stored on the mobile device MOB, execution of the data transfer command implies transferring the data from the mobile device MOB to the destination device DST. Transferring the data DAT according to said first manner, thus via said direct connection, is advantageous when the data DAT is large such that transfer of the data DAT via an NFC connection would consume much time. For example, if a user would have to wait, say, more than a several seconds for the data DAT to transfer from the source device SRC to the mobile device MOB, the user would perceive the interaction as slow, impractical and therefore less intuitive. In such a case, NFC serves to derive and transfer the data transfer command whereas the direct (broadband) connection serves to transfer the data itself from the source device SRC to the destination device DST. For example, a high-definition (HD) movie commonly comprises a few gigabytes of data, so that transferring the movie via the direct connection is more intuitive for the user as compared to the user having wait during a data transfer via NFC. Transferring a data transfer command via NFC is done very rapidly, as the data transfer command merely comprises merely a few instructions which requires only a very small amount of data. The user therefore does not need to wait for the completion of the transfer and consequently perceives the interaction as fast; transferring the data from source device SRC to destination device DST via the direct connection takes place 'in the background' after the user completed his interaction with the destination device DST. In contrast, a transfer of said HD movie according to said second manner, thus via NFC, implies the user having to (1) hold the mobile device MOB in the near field of the source device SRC for many seconds/minutes while downloading the movie from the source device SRC to the mobile device MOB, and (2) having to hold the mobile device MOB in the near field of the destination device DST for (again) many seconds/minutes while uploading the movie from the mobile device MOB to the destination device DST.

Optionally, a specific indication is shown to indicate the status of the data transfer. For example, upon initiating the data transfer from the mobile device MOB to the destination device DST, the highlighted data icon 103 is replaced by a blinking data icon (not shown in FIG.2b) which remains being shown on the display while the data transfer is ongoing. Upon completing the data transfer, the blinking data icon is replaced by a non- blinking, non-highlighted data icon 104. In a similar fashion, a blinking data icon may be indicated during the transfer to the data DAT between the source device SRC and the mobile device MOB. Alternatively, other indications can be used to indicate an ongoing data transfer, such as, for example, a half-transparent data icon or a grayed data icon.

Alternatively, the status of the data transfer may be indicated by the background color. For example, the background color is red when the data transfer is ongoing and is green when the data transfer is completed. Optionally, the mobile device MOB comprises a sound speaker to provide audible indications. For example, the status of the data transfer may be indicated using sound, wherein each type of status has its own specific sound. For example, when the mobile device MOB connects to the source device SRC or to the destination device DST, the mobile device may play a pinging sound via the sound speaker. Or, while data is being transferred from/to the mobile device MOB, a continuous ticking sound may be provided, indicating the status of an ongoing data transfer. The audible indications may also comprise speech for verbalizing the identity and type of data of the data DAT in the source device SRC, or for verbalizing that the source device SRC or destination device DST is ready to respectively transmit or receive the data DAT.

The data transfer command comprises an instruction implying that the data is either 'copied' or 'moved' from the source device SRC to the destination DST. 'Copying the data' implies that the data is stored in both the source device SRC and the destination device DST after the data is transferred to the destination device DST. 'Moving the data' implies that the data is stored in the destination device DST but is removed from the source device SRC is removed after the data is transferred to the destination device DST.

Optionally, whether to 'copy' or 'move' the data depends on a selection made by the user. For example, the mobile device shows two icons related to the data on its display: the data-move icon for moving the data and the data-copy icon for copying the data. If the maintained touching interaction for deriving the data transfer command comprises touching the data-move icon then the data transfer command implies that the data be

'moved' . If the maintained touching interaction for deriving the data transfer command comprises touching the data-copy icon then the data transfer command implies that the data be 'copied' . Or the mobile device may show a data icon for indicating the presence of the data, and a data-copy icon and a data-move icon for determining 'copying' or 'moving' the data, respectively.

Alternatively, the user makes his selection for 'copying' the data or 'moving' the data by single tapping or double tapping at the start of maintaining a touching interaction. For example, in terms of using a touch screen and the data icon 102/103 as described above, single tapping and double tapping works as follows. Single tapping is done by simply touching the data icon and maintaining the touching contact. Double tapping is done by touching the data icon, releasing the data icon, then quickly (say, within a second) touching the data icon again and maintaining the touching contact. For example, the mobile device MOB then associates the single tapping to 'copying data' and associates the double tapping to 'moving data' . Alternatively, the user uses a drop-down menu that appears when touching the data icon 102: the drop-down menu comprises the options 'copy' and 'move', and the user touches the option 'copy' if he wants the data DAT to be 'copied' or touches the option 'move' if he wants the data DAT to be 'moved' .

Alternatively, the button 114 is used for maintaining the interaction for deriving the data transfer command, and 'copying' and 'moving' is associated to single clicking and double clicking respectively, whereas maintaining the interaction implies maintaining pressing the button 114.

Whether the data DAT is to be 'copied' or 'moved' may be determined by default settings in the mobile device. For example, the data transfer command implies that the data DAT is always 'copied' . Or, as another example, the data transfer command implies that the data DAT is always 'moved', unless the source device SRC does not permit removal of the data DAT from the source device SRC.

Optionally, the data DAT is transferred from the source device SRC to the destination device DST in a 'streaming' manner. For example, the data DAT comprises a media file, the source device SRC may be an external hard-disk containing the media file, and the destination device DST comprises a media player for playing the media file. The user first holds the mobile device MOB in the near field of the source device SRC to connect the mobile device MOB to the source device SRC. Next, the source device SRC communicates to the mobile device MOB that several music media files are available. The user may double tap a media file to trigger the mobile device MOB to reveal a preview of the media file on the mobile device MOB. Once the user chooses a media file that he wants to be played on the media player, the user performs an interaction (e.g. holding his thumb on the icon of the media file) to select the media file, maintains the interaction while moving the mobile device MOB into the near field of the destination device DST, and connecting the mobile device

MOB to the destination device DST (for example, according to the embodiment illustrated by FIG.3). The data transfer command comprising a streaming instruction is thus derived. The data transfer command is communicated to the destination device DST which in response requests the source device SRC to 'stream' the media file to the destination device DST. The media player then plays the media file when the streaming is in process.

The media file may be a movie file and the destination device DST may be a television, so that the movie file is intuitively 'streamed' to the television from (the source device being) the external hard-disk . Or the media file may be a music file and the destination device DST may be a hi-fi audio device, so that the music file is intuitively 'streamed' from the external hard-disk to the hi-fi audio device.

'Streaming' the media file implies that the destination device 'contains' at least a part of the media file. The destination device DST has a part of the media file that is to be played soon on the media player stored in its local memory, whereas another part of the media file that has already been played is no longer in the local memory. A part of the media file that is to be played later is not in the local memory and is yet to be 'streamed' from the source device SRC. It is noted here that 'streaming' also refers to the data DAT (in this case the media file) being 'contained' by both the source device SRC and the destination device DST.

As an alternative for using a touch screen for interacting with the mobile device, the GUI comprises a display without a touch screen and uses the button 114 for selecting data DAT via the display. The button 114 may serve as a cursor by clicking the button 114 at the left, right, top or bottom. Using button 114 as a cursor, the user may move a cursor on the display from one icon to its neighboring icon. The button 114 may serve as selecting button by clicking the button in its center. Alternatively, the GUI comprises more than one button. For example, the GUI comprises one or more of the following type of buttons: a selecting button, a de-selecting button, a moving button, a copying button, and cursor buttons for moving up, down, left and right. Note that this paragraph presents an alternative to the touch screen for user interaction via the mobile device.

Alternatively, other technologies than NFC are used for communicating between the mobile device MOB and the source device SRC or destination device DST (in short: 'source/destination device'). For example, the mobile device MOB uses RFID to determined when it is near the source/destination device and communicates to the

source/destination device using another connection, for example via a network WiFi or via BlueTooth.

The mobile device MOB comprises a processing unit for deriving the data transfer command and for controlling other units in the mobile device MOB (e.g. the NFC unit 111 and the GUI), a memory (e.g. for containing the data DAT or for containing a data transfer command, a GUI comprising an input means (for example a button 114 and/or a touch screen) and a display 113. The source device SRC and the destination device DST each comprise a memory for containing the data DAT and a processing unit for processing the data transfer command and for controlling its NFC unit. In the case wherein the source device SRC transfers the data DAT directly to the destination device DST, the source device SRC and destination device DST each also comprise a network unit for connecting with directly with one another.

Examples of the source device SRC are be a external hard-disk, a notebook, a tablet, a gaming computer and mobile phone. Examples of the destination device DST are a television, a media center, a hi-fi audio device, a tablet, a mobile phone, a gaming computer, or a laptop. Examples of the mobile device MOB are mobile phone, a tablet, an iPod touch, or a smart wrist watch.

In any case, the source device SRC, the destination device DST and the mobile device MOB comprise an NFC unit. In the case that the source device SRC transfers the data DAT directly to the destination device DST, the source device SRC and destination device DST are connected via a direct connection. Note, in this context, that being connected via a WiFi network, wherein both the source device SRC and the destination device DST are clients, also means being 'connected directly' . The case wherein the source device SRC transfers the data DAT to the destination device DST via the mobile device MOB, thus using the NFC connections for the transferring the data DAT using the mobile device MOB as data buffer, does not qualify as being 'connected directly' in this context.

FIG.5 illustrates a device 510 comprising multiple NFC units 511, 521 and 531. The multiple NFC units 511-531 comprise respective communication ranges 512, 522 and 532. Device 510 may represent the source device SRC or the destination device DST comprising a combined near field composed of the multiple near fields 512, 522 and 532. The combined near field serves as a single near field, enabling the (source/destination) device to communicate to the mobile device MOB via any of the units 511-531. For the mobile device MOB the device 510 interacts as having a single near field.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Mobile device (110) for use in a system (300) arranged for

transferring data (101) from a source device (130) to a destination device (140) according to a data transfer command using the mobile device, the source device and the destination device and the mobile device each comprising a unit for near-field wireless communication (131, 141, 111), the source device arranged for containing the data and for transferring the data to the destination device, the destination device arranged for containing the data and for receiving the data transferred from the source device, the mobile device comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a display (113) and an input means (1 14) for receiving manual input from the user (120),

the mobile device arranged for:

- connecting the mobile device to the source device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range (132) of the source device, and

- providing an indication on the graphical user interface representing a presence of data in the source device, and

- connecting the mobile device to the destination device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range (142) of the destination device, and

- deriving the data transfer command

having the source device as a source and the destination device as a destination,

the deriving being in response to maintaining an interaction (123) via the graphical user interface, the interaction being maintained during a change (150) of the mobile device's position from within the near field communication range of the source device into the near field communication range of the destination device.

2. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, arranged for

completing deriving the data transfer command upon a releasing interaction by the user (120),

the releasing interaction marking the end of the maintaining an interaction

(123).

3. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, arranged

for receiving the data (101) from the source device (130) when the mobile device is connected to the source device and

for transmitting the data from the mobile device to the destination device (140) when the mobile device is connected to the destination device.

4. Mobile device (110) as claim 3, arranged for

showing a first color on the display (113) while the receiving or the transmitting is ongoing and showing a second color on the display after completing the receiving or the transmitting.

5. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a touch screen for receiving touch input from the user (120).

6. Mobile device (110) as claim 5, arranged for deriving the data transfer command in response to maintaining the interaction (123) being a touching contact with the touch screen.

7. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is arranged for

providing the indication as a graphical element (102) on the display (113).

8. Mobile device (110) as claim 1 comprising a sound speaker, the mobile device (110) arranged for providing the indication as an audible indication via the sound speaker.

9. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, wherein said maintaining an interaction (123) comprises

a selection interaction for selecting a type of transfer command comprising at least one of a copy instruction, a move instruction and a streaming instruction.

10. Mobile device (110) as claim 1, arranged for deriving the data transfer command comprising a streaming instruction for said transferring data (101) in a streaming manner from the source device (130) to the destination device (140), the destination device comprising a media player for playing the data being a media file while said transferring is ongoing.

11. System (300) comprising the mobile device (110) claimed in claim 1, the system arranged for transferring data (101) from the source device (130) to the destination device (140) according to the data transfer command using the mobile device, the source device and

the destination device and the mobile device each comprising a unit for near- field wireless communication (111, 131,141), the source device arranged for containing the data and for transferring the data to the destination device, and the destination device arranged for containing the data and for receiving the data transferred from the source device.

12. System (300) as claim 11, wherein

the transferring the data (101) according to the data command comprises transferring the data via a direct connection from the source device (130) to the destination device (140).

13. System (300) as claim 11, wherein

the source device (130,510) and/or the destination device (140,510) comprises multiple units (511,521,531) for near-field wireless communication and is arranged for combining the respective multiple near fields (512,522,532) into a single near field for connecting to the mobile device (110).

14. Method for transferring data (101) from a source device (130) to a destination device (140) according to a data transfer command using the mobile device (110),

the source device and the destination device and the mobile device each comprising a unit for near-field wireless communication (111, 131, 141),

the mobile device comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising a display (113) and an input means (114) for receiving input from a user (120),

the method comprising:

- connecting the mobile device to the source device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range (132) of the source device; and

- providing an indication on the graphical user interface representing a presence of data in the source device; and

- connecting the mobile device to the destination device in response to the mobile device being within the near field communication range (142) of the destination device; and

- deriving the data transfer command having the source device as a source and the destination device as a destination, the deriving being in response to maintaining an interaction (123) via the graphical user interface, the interaction being maintained during a change (150) of the mobile device's position from within the near field communication range of the source device into the near field communication range of the destination device.

15. Computer program product, for use in the mobile device (110), comprising instructions for causing a processor to perform the method according to claim 14.