Described is a technology by which a mobile computing device such as a mobile telephone operates differently based on detected proximity to another mobile device with which the first mobile device has a defined relationship. For example, the first mobile device may transfer content to the second mobile computing device when proximity corresponds to a non-cellular communications coupling, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi coupling. In this manner, content transfer is deferred until a non-cellular coupling exists. The mobile device (or both devices) may output a notification to indicate that the other mobile computing device has been detected within a threshold proximity, such as via GPS data or by being within the same cellular tower. The type and/or settings of an output notification may vary based on different thresholds.

A communication system includes a plurality of communication apparatuses. The communication apparatuses each include a display portion, an operation detection portion, a determination processing portion, and a transmission processing portion. The operation detection portion detects an operation on the display portion. When a specific operation of moving an operation position on the display portion is detected by the operation detection portion, the determination processing portion determines whether or not another one of the communication apparatuses exists at an azimuth corresponding to a movement direction of the operation position in the specific operation. When the determination processing portion determines that another one of the communication apparatuses exists at the azimuth corresponding to the movement direction, the transmission processing portion transmits circulation data and a transmission destination list of the circulation data to the other communication apparatus that exists at the azimuth corresponding to the movement direction.

A method and an apparatus for performing gesture-based communication service are provided, in which a first device detects a first motion, and when the first motion corresponds to a first gesture that belongs to a gesture group, receives information about a second motion from a second device. The first device may perform an event that corresponds to a combination of the first and second gestures, when the received information corresponds to the second gesture that belongs to the gesture group.

An electronic device and a method for data communication with such an electronic device. The electronic device combines, on the one hand, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, including an antenna and a circuit for generating a modulated electromagnetic wave, and on the other hand a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object relating to a communication action executable by means of the NFC interface. A control unit connected to the NFC interface and the user interface, is configured to trigger the NFC interface to execute the communication action responsive to simultaneous detection of the presented object being touched and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device.

A method of processing information of a portable device includes displaying a preview image output from a camera when a camera application is executed; displaying communication applications corresponding to recognition information of a selected image in the displayed preview image; executing a selected communication application among the displayed communication applications; and transmitting a content/file through the communication application.

According to one embodiment, a file transmission/reception device includes a communication direction managing unit and an application unit. The communication direction managing unit, in near field communication, cuts off a connection with an opposing device in a case where a conflict occurs with the opposing device, and, after being reconnected to the opposing device, switches the file transmission/reception device to any one mode of a master mode and a slave mode. The application unit performs transmission, reception, or transmission/reception of a file between the opposing device and the file transmission/reception device in the master mode or the slave mode in accordance with a mode specified by the communication direction managing unit.

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a wearable device; a touch screen; a sensor unit configured to sense at least one of a mobile terminal acceleration signal and a mobile terminal vibration signal; and a controller configured to display a screen corresponding to an application executing on the mobile terminal, receive first state information from the wearable device indicating at least one of a wearable device acceleration signal and a wearable device vibration signal of the wearable device, receive second state information from the sensor unit indicating said at least one of the mobile terminal acceleration signal and the mobile terminal vibration signal of the mobile terminal, and transfer operations of the application executing on the mobile terminal to the wearable device, based on the first and second state information.

A system for remotely controlling an electronic device is provided. The system includes a first electronic device for reading a frame buffer to compress a screen and transmitting the compressed screen; a second electronic device connected to the first electronic device to repeatedly receive the compressed screen, receive a communication service related event generated in the first electronic device and output the communication service related event, and receive an event of copying a file between the first electronic device and the second electronic device and pasting the file; and a network for forming a communication channel between the first electronic device and the second electronic device according to an authentication result of authentication information input into at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

An aspect includes detecting a user gesture at a sender device, the user gesture indicating a direction relative to the sender device. One or more candidate receiver devices in the indicated direction and in a line-of-sight of the sender device are located. The data to be transferred by the sender device and an action to be performed on the data are identified. It is determined whether any of the one or more candidate receiver devices are configured to accept the data and to perform the action. The data is transferred to a selected one of the one or more candidate receiver devices based on determining that the selected candidate receiver device is configured to accept the data and to perform the action.

The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). Some aspects of the technology allow users to easily transfer displayed content from cell phone screens onto a television screens for easier viewing, or vice versa for content portability. Others enable users to participate interactively in entertainment content, such as by submitting plot directions, audio input, character names, etc., yielding more engaging, immersive, user experiences. Still other aspects of the technology involve a program directory database, compiled automatically from information reported by network nodes that watch and identify content traffic passing into (and/or out of) networked computers. By identifying content resident at a number of different repositories (e.g., web sites, TV networks, P2P systems, etc.), such a directory allows cell phone users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtainedsome available on a scheduled basis, others available on demand. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the userserving to identify sources for desired content, from which application software can pick for content downloading, based, e.g., on context and stored profile data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.