Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing proximity-based sound emission controls

• US 20060099967A1
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Slemmer, John, Colvin, Emily
• Application Number:
  US10/986,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099967A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing proximity-based sound emission controls. The method includes detecting the presence of a device at a controlled access location. The detecting is performed upon entrance to the controlled access location by the device. The method also includes adjusting sound control settings established for the device.

Claims

1. A method for implementing proximity-based sound emission controls, comprising:

detecting the presence of a device at a controlled access location, the detecting performed upon entrance to the controlled access location by the device; and

adjusting sound control settings established for the device responsive to the detection of the presence of the device at the controlled access location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting the sound control settings upon exiting the controlled access location by the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of a device includes receiving a signal emitted from the device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting authorization to adjust the sound control settings.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing authorization to adjust the sound control settings based on at least one of:

an enacted law;

a permission granted by a user of the device; and

a service provider.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining an identifier of the device and contacting a service provider associated with the device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the service provider.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining an identifier of the device and contacting the device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant; and

wherein further the sound control settings include at least one of;

a vibrate mode;

a silent mode including a light emitting diode; and

a volume-lowering adjustment mode.

9. A device for implementing proximity-based sound emission controls, comprising:

a receiver component for detecting the presence of the communications device at a controlled access location, the detecting performed upon entrance to the controlled access location by the communications device; and

an application executing on a processor for adjusting the sound control settings established by the communications device responsive to the detection of the presence of the communications device at the controlled access location.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the application further performs:

resetting the sound control settings upon exiting the controlled access location by the communications device.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the detecting the presence of the communications device includes receiving a signal emitted from the communications device.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the application further performs:

requesting authorization to adjust the sound control settings.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein authorizations are established in response to at least one of:

an enacted law;

a permission granted by a user of the communications device; and

a service provider.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the application further performs:

determining an identifier of the communications device and contacting a service provider associated with the communications device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the service provider.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the application further performs:

determining an identifier of the communications device and contacting the communications device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the communications device.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the communications device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant; and

wherein further the sound control settings include at least one of;

a vibrate mode;

a silent mode including a light emitting diode; and

a volume-lowering adjustment mode.

17. A computer program product for implementing proximity-based sound emission controls, the computer program product including instructions for performing:

detecting the presence of a device at a controlled access location, the detecting performed upon entrance to the controlled access location by the device; and

adjusting sound control settings established for the device responsive to the detection of the device at the controlled access location.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising instructions for performing:

requesting authorization to adjust the sound control settings;

determining an identifier of the device; and

performing at least one of;

contacting a service provider associated with the device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the service provider; and

contacting the device via the identifier, wherein the requesting authorization is directed to the user of the device.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the device comprises at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a pager; and

a personal digital assistant; and

wherein further the sound control settings include at least one of;

a vibrate mode;

a silent mode including a light emitting diode; and

a volume-lowering adjustment mode.

18. The computer program product further comprising instructions for performing:

resetting the sound control settings upon exiting the controlled access location by the device.