System, method and apparatus for sensor virtualization in mobile devices

A system comprising:

• at least one data processor connected to at least one memory that stores software instructions, where execution of the software instructions by the at least one data processor causes the system to virtualize mobile device sensors by:
• automatically recognizing by a first mobile device an available specific type of sensor on a second mobile device;
• configuring an operating system of the first mobile device to allow an application program to accept data by proxy from the available specific type of sensor of the second mobile device;
• establishing a trusted communication connection between the first and second mobile devices;
• sending a control signal from the first mobile device to the second mobile device for controlling the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device to generate sensor data;
• receiving at the first mobile device the sensor data from the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device generated in response to the control signal for operating of the available specific type of sensor;
• and
• providing the sensor data received from the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device by proxy to the application program requiring the operation of the available specific type of sensor.

A computer program product for virtualizing mobile device sensors, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions being executable by a processor of a computer that causes the computer to virtualize mobile device sensors by:
• automatically recognizing by a first mobile device an available specific type of sensor on a second mobile device;
• configuring an operating system of the first mobile device to allow an application program to accept data by proxy from the available specific type of sensor of the second mobile device;
• establishing a trusted communication connection between the first and second mobile devices;
• sending a control signal from the first mobile device to the second mobile device for controlling the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device to generate sensor data;
• receiving at the first mobile device the sensor data from the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device generated in response to the control signal for operating of the available specific type of sensor;
• and
• providing the sensor data received from the available specific type of sensor on the second mobile device by proxy to the application program requiring the operation of the available specific type of sensor.