Functional, socially-enabled jewelry and systems for multi-device interaction

Abstract

An item of wearable jewelry, such as a bracelet, includes a support having an energizable indicator. A sensor detects a triggering event, and a control unit energizes the indicator to generate a default indicating condition by default, and to change the default indicating condition in response to detection of the triggering event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item of jewelry, comprising:
 a support adapted to be worn on a user;   an energizable indicator on the support;   a sensor on the support for detecting a triggering event; and   a control unit on the support for energizing the indicator to generate a default indicating condition by default, and to change the default indicating condition in response to detection of the triggering event.   
     
     
         2 . The item of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the support includes a display, and wherein the indicator includes a set of lights that are controlled by the control unit to generate a default light pattern on the display, and to change the default light pattern to a different light pattern in response to detection of the triggering event. 
     
     
         3 . The item of jewelry of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor detects different levels of the triggering event, and wherein the control unit successively and dynamically changes the default light pattern to successively different light patterns in response to detection of the different levels of the triggering event. 
     
     
         4 . The item of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the support has detachable segments, and an avatar displayed on at least one of the segments. 
     
     
         5 . The item of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes a vibration motor that is controlled by the control unit to emit vibrations as a default vibration pattern, and to change the default vibration pattern to a different vibration pattern in response to detection of the triggering event. 
     
     
         6 . The item of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a microphone for detecting sounds, an accelerometer for detecting motion, a gyroscope for detecting position and orientation, a transceiver for detecting signal availability, a color sensor for detecting color, and a timer for—counting time. 
     
     
         7 . A communication system, comprising:
 at least one item of jewelry, the jewelry item including a support adapted to be worn on a user, an energizable indicator, a sensor for detecting a triggering event, and a control unit for energizing the indicator to generate a default indicating condition by default; and   a master device in wireless communication with the jewelry item, at least one of the master device and the control unit being operative to change the default indicating condition in response to detection of the triggering event.   
     
     
         8 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the master device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a server, a tablet, and a computer. 
     
     
         9 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the support includes a display, and wherein the indicator includes a set of lights that are controlled by the control unit to generate a default light pattern on the display, and to change the default light pattern to a different light pattern in response to detection of the triggering event. 
     
     
         10 . The communication system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor detects different levels of the triggering event, and wherein the control unit successively and dynamically changes the default light pattern to successively different light patterns in response to detection of the different levels of the triggering event. 
     
     
         11 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the indicator includes a vibration motor that is controlled by the control unit to emit vibrations as a default vibration pattern, and to change the default vibration pattern to a different vibration pattern in response to detection of the triggering event. 
     
     
         12 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a microphone for detecting sounds, an accelerometer for detecting motion, a gyroscope for detecting position and orientation, a transceiver for detecting shared signal availability, a color sensor for detecting color, and a timer for counting time. 
     
     
         13 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein there are multiple items of jewelry arranged in groups, and wherein the master device bidirectionally communicates with all the items in each group. 
     
     
         14 . The communication system of  claim 7 , wherein there are multiple items of jewelry arranged in a wireless mesh network in which the items communicate with one another.