# US 2014/0194066 A1 · Apparatus and method for sharing screens from multiple mobile devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194066 A1 - Document ID: US20140194066A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,163 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - Inventors: Zhiyun LI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194066A1 ## CPC - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - G06F 3/1446: {display composed of modules, e.g. video walls} - G06F 3/1423: {controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display} - G06F 3/1438: {using more than one graphics controller} - G09G 2340/145: related to small screens - G09G 2356/00: Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - H04M 2250/16: including more than one display unit - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An apparatus and method for sharing screens among multiple mobile devices are provided. The mobile device includes a sensor, a communication unit for determining whether at least one other mobile device is substantially in contact with the mobile device, based on information received from the sensor, and for communicating with the at least one other mobile device, a display unit including a physical screen for displaying a graphical component, and a controller for combining the physical screen of the display unit with physical screens of the at least one other mobile device into a single logical screen such that graphical components displayed on one physical screen may be moved to another physical screen as if both physical screens were part of a single screen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile device comprising: a sensor; a communication unit for determining whether at least one other mobile device is substantially in contact with the mobile device, based on information received from the sensor, and for communicating with the at least one other mobile device; a display unit including a physical screen for displaying a graphical component; and a controller for combining the physical screen of the display unit with physical screens of the at least one other mobile device into a single logical screen such that graphical components displayed on one physical screen may be moved to another physical screen as if both physical screens were part of a single screen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display unit to render each graphical component displayed on the physical screen of the display unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mobile device of claim 2, wherein, when a graphical component is moved from the physical screen of the display unit to a physical screen of one of the at least one other mobile devices, the controller controls the communication unit to transmit information for rendering the graphical component to the corresponding at least one other mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The mobile device of claim 2, wherein, when a graphical component is moved from the physical screen of the display unit to physical screen of one of the at least one other mobile devices, the controller controls the communication unit to transmit information related to the graphical component to the corresponding at least one other mobile device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a touch screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged on at least two sides of the mobile device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display unit to transmit information to the at least one other mobile device, the information relating to user interaction with the graphical component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives information about a second graphical component to be displayed by the display unit, and the controller controls the display unit to display the second graphical component according to the received information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sensor determines whether the mobile device is substantially in contact with at least one other mobile device, and determines at least one of an orientation and alignment of the at least one other mobile device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a group of pins connectable to a corresponding group of pins in the at least one other mobile device such that a communication channel is created between the mobile device and the at least one other mobile device when the group of pins contacts the corresponding group of pins. ### Claim 11 A method for sharing screens of multiple mobile devices, the method comprising: rendering, by a first mobile device, a graphical component on a first physical screen of the first mobile device; determining whether a second mobile device contacts the first mobile device; and when the second mobile device contacts the first mobile device, tiling and combining the first physical screen with a second physical screen of the second mobile device to create a logical screen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving a user input to move the graphical component from the first physical screen to the second physical screen; and rendering, by the second mobile device, the graphical component on the second physical screen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting information to the second mobile device so as to allow the second mobile device to render the graphical component on the second physical screen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting information related to the graphical component to the second mobile device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, at the first mobile device from the second mobile device, information on a second graphical component; and rendering, by the first mobile device, the second graphical component on the first physical screen based on the received information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, by the first mobile device, information about user interaction with a graphical component displayed on the first physical screen; and transmitting, from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, the information about the user interaction.