Abstract: In a method for exchanging navigation data between a portable device and a head unit of a vehicle, implemented in a portable device that includes one or more processors executing a navigation service application and a companion application, the navigation service application sends a destination to a navigation server, and receives first navigation data from the navigation server. The first navigation data describes at least one of a plurality of steps for navigating between a source and the destination. A companion application invokes a navigation application programming interface (API) of the navigation service application, at by using a syntax and a list of parameters specific to the navigation API to obtain, from the navigation service application, the first navigation data, and sends the first navigation data to the head unit to cause the head unit to display navigation information indicating at least the one of the plurality of navigation steps.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes initiating, at a first computing device including one or more processors, communication with a second computing device via a short-range wireless communication protocol. The technique includes receiving, at the first computing device, a set of information from the second computing device via the short-range wireless communication protocol, the set of information including a port address for communication with a first application currently executing in a foreground at the second computing device via another wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: In a method for exchanging navigation data between a portable device and a head unit of a vehicle, implemented in a portable device that includes one or more processors executing a navigation service application and a companion application, the navigation service application sends a destination to a navigation server, and receives first navigation data from the navigation server. The first navigation data describes at least one of a plurality of steps for navigating between a source and the destination. A companion application invokes a navigation application programming interface (API) of the navigation service application, at by using a syntax and a list of parameters specific to the navigation API to obtain, from the navigation service application, the first navigation data, and sends the first navigation data to the head unit to cause the head unit to display navigation information indicating at least the one of the plurality of navigation steps.

Abstract: A method can include receiving, at a first computing device having one or more processors, a command to transfer a data payload to a second computing device and information from the second computing device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The information can be indicative of a plurality of communication protocols capable of being received at the second computing device, including the NFC communication protocol. Additionally, the method can include estimating a transfer time corresponding to each of the plurality of communication protocols. Each of the transfer times can be indicative of an amount of time to transfer the data payload between the first and second computing devices using its corresponding communication protocol. The method can also include selecting a specific communication protocol based on the estimated transfer times and transmitting the data payload using the specific communication protocol.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for context-based application invocation for short-range wireless communication interactions can include exchanging sets of information between first and second computing devices via a short-range wireless communication medium. The set of information for a specific computing device can include at least one of (i) device type information for the specific computing device and (ii) user information for the specific computing device. The techniques can include performing, at one of the computing devices, at least one of a plurality of actions based on the set of information received from the other computing device. The plurality of actions can generally include (a) automatically configuring another wireless communication medium and (b) outputting a menu configured to receive a user selection from a set of operations associated with at least one of the short-range wireless communication medium and the other wireless communication medium.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes initiating, at a first computing device including one or more processors, communication with a second computing device via a short-range wireless communication protocol. The technique includes receiving, at the first computing device, a set of information from the second computing device via the short-range wireless communication protocol, the set of information including a port address for communication with a first application currently executing in a foreground at the second computing device via another wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes initiating, at a first computing device including one or more processors, communication with a second computing device via a short-range wireless communication protocol. The technique includes receiving, at the first computing device, a set of information from the second computing device via the short-range wireless communication protocol, the set of information including a port address for communication with a first application currently executing in a foreground at the second computing device via another wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes initiating, at a first computing device including one or more processors, communication with a second computing device via a short-range wireless communication protocol. The technique includes receiving, at the first computing device, a set of information from the second computing device via the short-range wireless communication protocol, the set of information including a port address for communication with a first application currently executing in a foreground at the second computing device via another wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A touchscreen device may display various graphical user interfaces (GUIs) based on a physical orientation of the touchscreen device and a context of an application executed by an external device, to control the external device.

Abstract: A method can include receiving, at a first computing device having one or more processors, a command to transfer a data payload to a second computing device and information from the second computing device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The information can be indicative of a plurality of communication protocols capable of being received at the second computing device, including the NFC communication protocol. Additionally, the method can include estimating a transfer time corresponding to each of the plurality of communication protocols. Each of the transfer times can be indicative of an amount of time to transfer the data payload between the first and second computing devices using its corresponding communication protocol. The method can also include selecting a specific communication protocol based on the estimated transfer times and transmitting the data payload using the specific communication protocol.

Abstract: A touchscreen device may display various graphical user interfaces (GUIs) based on a physical orientation of the touchscreen device and a context of an application executed by an external device, to control the external device.