Multi-segment wearable accessory

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to facilitate the use of a multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for controlling and, in some instances, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory. In particular, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided that determine an angle between at least two segments of the wearable accessory and cause one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments. In some cases, a determination may be made as to whether the wearable accessory is in a worn state or in an unworn state. For example, in the worn state, the segments may have separate functionality, whereas in the unworn state the segments may act as a single display or present an idle screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 determine an angle between at least two segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory; and   cause one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the multi-segment wearable accessory is in a worn state or in an unworn state based on the angle determined between the at least two segments. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a functionality of a segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in a worn state is different than a functionality of the same segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in an unworn state. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to act as a single display for a particular application based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause at least one segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory to present an idle screen based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause each of two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to have separate functionality from other segments based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in a worn state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine that the multi-segment wearable accessory is in a worn state in an instance in which the angle determined between the at least two segments is within a predetermined range of angles based upon a baseline angle of 360° divided by the number of segments determined to be members of the multi-segment wearable accessory. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining an angle between at least two segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory; and   causing, via a processor, one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising determining whether the multi-segment wearable accessory is in a worn state or in an unworn state based on the angle determined between the at least two segments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a functionality of a segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in a worn state is different than a functionality of the same segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in an unworn state. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to act as a single display for a particular application based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing at least one segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory to present an idle screen based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing the apparatus to cause each of two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to have separate functionality from other segments based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in a worn state. 
     
     
         14 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions for:
 determining an angle between at least two segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory; and   causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the program code instructions are further configured for determining whether the multi-segment wearable accessory is in a worn state or in an unworn state based on the angle determined between the at least two segments. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a functionality of a segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in a worn state is different than a functionality of the same segment in an instance in which the wearable accessory is determined to be in an unworn state. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to act as a single display for a particular application based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing at least one segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory to present an idle screen based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in an unworn state. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein causing one or more of the segments to operate in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments comprises causing the apparatus to cause each of two or more segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory to have separate functionality from other segments based on a determination that the wearable accessory is in a worn state. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the program code instructions are further configured for determining that the multi-segment wearable accessory is in a worn state in an instance in which the angle determined between the at least two segments is within a predetermined range of angles based upon a baseline angle of 360° divided by the number of segments determined to be members of the multi-segment wearable accessory.