Method and system for controlling a portable communication device based on its orientation

• US 20060240866A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Eilts, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US11/114,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method includes determining an orientation of a portable communication device and controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an orientation of a portable communication device; and

controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation of the portable communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device comprises configuring an antenna pattern of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation of the portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device comprises configuring an antenna pattern of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation of the portable communication device to be generally away from an ear of a user of the portable communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device comprises configuring an antenna pattern of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation of the portable communication device to be generally upward with respect to the earth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an orientation of the portable communication device comprises determining an orientation of the portable communication device using a sensor selected from the group consisting of a gravity sensor, a G-force sensor, an electronic gyroscope, an accelerometer, an internal navigation unit, a thermal sensor, and a control switch.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an orientation of the portable communication device comprises determining an orientation of the portable communication device with respect to an ear of the user of the portable communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone and a device operable to transmit data wirelessly.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data comprises an e-mail.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining an orientation of the portable communication device comprises determining an orientation of the portable communication device with respect to an ear of a user of the portable communication device by a temperature sensor.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining an orientation of the portable communication device comprises determining an orientation of the portable communication device with respect to an ear of a user of the portable communication device using a contact sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device comprises configuring an orientation of a display of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an aspect of the operation of the portable communication device comprises controlling power to a display of the portable communication device.

13. A method comprising:

determining, using at least one sensor associated with a wireless telephone, the orientation of the wireless telephone with respect to the earth; and

controlling an antenna pattern of the wireless telephone based on the determined orientation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining, using at least one sensor, comprises determining the orientation of the phone with respect to the earth using a sensor selected from the group consisting of a gravity sensor, a G-force sensor, an electronic gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an inertial navigation unit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is one of on the wireless telephone and within the wireless telephone.

16. A system comprising:

a portable communication device comprising;

at least one sensor operable to sense an indication of the orientation of the portable communication device; and

logic operable to;

determine an orientation of the portable communication device in response to the sensed indication; and

control an aspect of operation of the portable communication device based on the determined orientation of the portable communication device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the portable communication device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone and a device operable to transmit data wirelessly.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of gravity sensor, a G-force sensor, an electronic gyroscope, an accelerometer, an inertial navigation unit, a thermal sensor, and a contact switch.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the logic is further operable to control an antenna pattern of the portable communication device.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the logic is further operable to control a display of the portable communication device.