Contextual information management in wireless communications devices and methods therefor

• US 20040203886A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wodka, Joseph F., Vasudevan, Venugopal, Rohles, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A wireless communications networks (100) and mobile wireless communications devices (120) that receive contextual information, which is unavailable in certain regions (160), which may not be populated with contextual information sources or due to temporary interruptions. In some modes of operation, the contextual information is provided to the wireless communications device via a contextual information discriminator, which may be located either in the network or on the wireless communications device, for example when contextual information requested is unavailable.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

requesting contextual information from a source outside the wireless communications device,

the contextual information requested by a context aware application on the wireless communications device;

providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application with a contextual information discriminator of the wireless communications device when contextual information from the source from which contextual information is requested is not available.

2. The method of claim 1, monitoring contextual information requests and monitoring contextual information received with the contextual information discriminator.

3. The method of claim 1, detecting an interruption of primary contextual information, and providing alternate contextual information in response to the interruption.

4. The method of claim 1, providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application by providing contextual information from a source different than the source from which contextual information is requested.

5. The method of claim 1, providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application by providing contextual information from a last known source other than the source from which contextual information is requested.

6. The method of claim 1, providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application by providing contextual information from a source adjacent to the source from which contextual information is requested.

7. The method of claim 1, providing alternate contextual information to the context aware application by providing composite contextual information from at least two sources of contextual information other than the source from which contextual information is requested.

8. A method in a wireless communications device, comprising:

requesting contextual information from a contextual information source,

the contextual information source located off the wireless communications device,

providing contextual information to the wireless communications device in response to the request via a contextual information discriminator.

9. The method of claim 8,

providing contextual information from a source other than the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

10. The method of claim 8,

providing older contextual information from the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request when newer information from the source from which contextual information is requested is not available.

11. The method of claim 8,

providing contextual information from a source adjacent to the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

12. The method of claim 8,

providing composite contextual information from at least two sources other than the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

13. The method of claim 8, requesting contextual information by a context aware application on the wireless communications device.

14. The method of claim 8, providing contextual information to the wireless communications device via a contextual information discriminator located on the wireless communications device.

15. A method in a wireless communications network, comprising:

receiving a request for contextual information from a contextual information source located in the wireless communications network,

the request received from a wireless communications device in the wireless communications network;

providing contextual information via a contextual information discriminator located within the wireless communications network in response to the request.

16. The method of claim 15,

providing contextual information from a source other than the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

17. The method of claim 15,

providing older contextual information from the source from which contextual information is requested when newer contextual information from the source from which contextual information is requested is not available.

18. The method of claim 15,

providing contextual information from a source adjacent to the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

19. The method of claim 15,

providing composite contextual information from at least two sources other than the source from which contextual information is requested in response to the request.

20. The method of claim 15, monitoring contextual information available from sources in the wireless communications network with the contextual information discriminator.

21. The method of claim 15,

monitoring contextual information requests from wireless communications devices,

providing contextual information in response to requests for contextual information based upon contextual information available from sources in the wireless communications network.