Positional state identification of mobile devices

• US 10,067,220 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Schillings, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Isam A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ndure, Amie M
• Application Number:
  US14/587,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 367 99, 367107, 367 89, 367100, 367103, 367 87, 367101, 367105, 367118, 367131, 367159, 367173, 367178, 367 4, 367 7, 367 93, 367 96, 342118, 342124, 342146, 342147, 342 22, 342 70, 381190, 340 101, 340 51, 3406861, 341176, 702150, 702155, 702 55, 707609, 707722, 707769
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions

Abstract

One or more systems and/or methods for identifying a positional state of a mobile device are provided. An output audio pulse may be generated from a speaker of a mobile device. An input audio pulse, corresponding to the output audio pulse, may be detected utilizing a microphone of the mobile device. The output audio pulse and the input audio pulse may be evaluated to determine a positional feature associated with the mobile device. The positional feature may be evaluated using a classifier to identify a positional state of the mobile device (e.g., the mobile device may be laying on a table, inside a user'"'"'s jacket pocket, within a vehicle, etc.). In an example, an operating characteristic of the mobile device may be adjusted based on the positional state of the mobile device (e.g., a ringer volume may be increased, a content recommendation may be displayed, etc.).

Claims

1. A method for identifying a positional state of a mobile device, comprising:

generating an output audio pulse from a speaker of a mobile device;

detecting an input audio pulse, corresponding to the output audio pulse, utilizing a microphone of the mobile device;

evaluating the output audio pulse and the input audio pulse to determine a positional feature associated with the mobile device; and

evaluating the positional feature utilizing a classifier to determine a positional state of the mobile device indicative of the mobile device lying on a surface.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

adjusting an operating characteristic of the mobile device based upon the positional state of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, the adjusting an operating characteristic comprising:

modifying an operation of at least one of a display, an audio component, a vibrator, a processor, a camera, or a communication module of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, the positional state indicating at least one of:

the mobile device being contained within a bag;

the mobile device being located within a vehicle;

the mobile device is being interact with by a user;

the mobile device is stationary;

the mobile device is not stationary;

or

the mobile device being located in an outdoor area.

5. The method of claim 2, the operating characteristic comprising at least one of:

a power characteristic, a notification characteristic, a data usage characteristic, a processing characteristic, or an application management characteristic.

6. The method of claim 2, the adjusting an operating characteristic comprising:

adjusting at least one of a notification type of an notification, a volume level of an audio notification, or a vibration level of a vibration notification.

7. The method of claim 2, the adjusting an operating characteristic comprising:

adjusting a performance mode of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 2, the adjusting an operating characteristic comprising:

adjusting a data usage function of an application operating on the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

responsive to the positional state indicating that the mobile device is contained within at least one of a container, or a bag, transitioning the mobile device from a first power state to a second power state, the second power state having lower power consumption than the first power state.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a recommendation for content based upon the positional state;

selecting a recommendation notification type based upon the positional state; and

providing the recommendation to the mobile device according to the recommendation notification type.

11. The method of claim 10, the recommendation notification type comprising at least one of an audio notification, a vibration notification, a text message, a visual notification, an email, a video notification, a push notification, or display of an application user interface.

12. The method of claim 2, comprising:

obtaining user feedback, from the user, corresponding to adjustment of the operating characteristic; and

training the classifier based upon the user feedback.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying user interest information based upon the positional state, the user interest information corresponding at least one of an interest of the user or an activity of the user;

obtaining content corresponding to the user interest information; and

providing the content to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1, the evaluating the output audio pulse and the input audio pulse comprising at least one of:

comparing an output amplitude of the output audio pulse with an input amplitude of the input audio pulse to determine the positional feature;

or

identifying the positional feature based upon a time period between generation of the output audio pulse and detection of the input audio pulse.

15. The method of claim 1, the output audio pulse comprising a modulated signal.

16. The method of claim 1, the generating the output audio pulse comprising:

emitting the output audio pulse at least one of an ultrasonic frequency or an infrasonic frequency.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising:

responsive to the positional state indicating a user awareness of the mobile device exceeding an awareness threshold, providing content to the user through the mobile device; and

responsive to the user awareness of the mobile device not exceeding the awareness threshold, providing content to the user through a second device.

18. A system for identifying a positional state of a mobile device, comprising:

a positional state identification component configured to;

generate an output audio pulse from a speaker of a mobile device;

detect an input audio pulse, corresponding to the output audio pulse, utilizing a microphone of the mobile device;

evaluate, by a time of flight analysis, the output audio pulse and the input audio pulse to determine a positional feature associated with the mobile device, the evaluating comprising;

responsive to the time of flight analysis indicating a first amount of time for a pulse to travel a distance, determining that the pulse is travelling through a first medium; and

responsive to the time of flight analysis indicating a second amount of time for the pulse to travel the distance, determining that the pulse is travelling through a second medium; and

evaluate the positional feature utilizing a classifier to identify a positional state of the mobile device; and

a content provider component configured to;

provide content to the mobile device based upon the positional state.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which when executed perform a method for identifying a positional state of a mobile device, comprising:

generating an output audio pulse from a speaker of a mobile device;

detecting an input audio pulse, corresponding to the output audio pulse, utilizing a microphone of the mobile device;

evaluating the output audio pulse and the input audio pulse to determine a positional feature associated with the mobile device;

evaluating the positional feature utilizing a classifier to identifying a positional state of the mobile device;

responsive to the positional state identified by the classifier corresponding to the mobile device being held in a hand of a user, providing content to the user according to a first content notification type; and

responsive to the positional state identified by the classifier corresponding to the mobile device not being held in the hand of the user, providing the content to the user according to a second content notification type.