Context-Aware and Location-Aware Cellular Phones and Methods

• US 20060234758A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reus, Edward F., Parupudi, Gopal, Evans, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/104 Location integrity, e.g. secure geotagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Context-aware and location-aware cellular phones and methods are described. In one embodiment, cellular phones are configured to wirelessly receive information that pertains to their current context or location. The phones then automatically use the information to modify one or more cellular phone behaviors, e.g. by turning the phone off, changing the ringer'"'"'s pitch, or placing the phone in a vibrate mode. In one particular embodiment, various location types are defined and have associated attributes that define a desired cellular phone behavior. One or more transmitters at a location for which a behavior is desired transmit information that pertains to the location'"'"'s class type. The cell phones can carry an association of class types and their behaviors so that when the phones receive the class type information, they can automatically adjust their behavior.

Claims

1. A cellular phone, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive information that pertains to a current context of the cellular phone;

determine the current context based on the information and a hierarchy data structure of attributes, wherein each node of the data structure is capable of corresponding to a physical or logical context; and

modify at least one behavior of the cellular phone responsive to the current context.

2. A cellular phone as recited in claim 1, further comprising a context service module that is configured to receive the information from multiple different context providers.

3. A cellular phone as recited in claim 1, wherein the information pertains to a user of the cellular phone.

4. A cellular phone as recited in claim 1, wherein the processors are further configured to automatically determine the current context by traversing at least one node of the data structure.

5. A method of managing cellular phone behavior, comprising:

defining one or more cellular phone behaviors for each of a plurality of location types, where at least one behavior is defined by a third party and where each location type is associated with one or more different physical or logical locations; and

wirelessly transmitting information to cellular phones within an instance of a location that permits cellular phones to automatically modify their behavior while in that location, where said transmitting information is associated with a particular location type.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein wirelessly transmitting the information includes wirelessly transmitting information pertaining to cellular phone settings.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

defining one or more class types that each define a high level abstraction of the one or more different physical or logical locations for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired; and

associating attributes with the one or more class types, the attributes defining cellular phone behavior.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular cellular phone behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone is to be on or off.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular cellular phone behavior pertains to whether a ringer of the cellular phone is to be on or off.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular cellular phone behavior pertains to a pitch of a ringer of the cellular phone.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular cellular phone behavior pertains to automatically forwarding telephone calls.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising associating a class type with an instance of a location for which the particular cellular phone behavior is desired.

13. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

initiating a particular cellular phone behavior at a location with one or more transmitters that transmit information at the location where the particular cellular phone behavior is desired;

transmitting the information such that cellular phones proximate the location automatically modify at least one behavior defined by a third party, at least a portion of the information pertaining to one or more assigned class types, where individual ones of the class types are associated with various attributes that define the behavior of the cellular phones, and where individual ones of the class types define high level abstractions of either physical or logical locations.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the behavior comprises whether the cellular phone is on or off.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the behavior pertains to the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the behavior pertains to the pitch of the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the behavior pertains to call forwarding.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

defining the one or more assigned class types that are each an abstraction of one or more of the different physical or logical locations; and

associating a class type with an instance of a location for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the information pertaining to a given class type for reception by cellular phones in the location, the information being configured to be used by cellular phones to automatically adjust one or more behaviors.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more behaviors are defined by cellular phone settings.