Managing features available on a portable communication device based on a travel speed detected by the portable communication device

• US 20070026850A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keohane, Susann, Mullen, Shawn, McBrearty, Gerald, Shieh, Johnny
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• 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: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A portable communication device detects a current speed of travel of the portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting the portable communication device. A speed based setting controller of the portable communication device compares the current speed to at least one threshold value set at the portable communication device. Responsive to the current speed exceeding the threshold value, the speed based setting controller automatically assigns a separate speed based setting to a current setting for each feature assigned to the threshold value, wherein each current setting for each feature designates the operability of that feature within the portable communication device, such that the current setting for each feature adjusts with a speed of travel as detected by the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting settings of at least one feature from among a plurality of features of a portable communication device comprising:

detecting, by said portable communication device, a current speed of travel of said portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting said portable communication device;

comparing said current speed to at least one threshold value set at said portable communication device; and

responsive to said current speed exceeding said threshold value, automatically assigning a separate speed based setting to a separate current setting for each said feature assigned to said threshold value, wherein said separate current setting for each said feature designates operability of each said feature within said portable communication device, such that said current setting for said feature adjusts with a speed of travel as detected by said portable communication device.

2. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, wherein detecting, by said portable communication device, a current speed of travel of said portable communication device, further comprises:

detecting, at said portable communication device at a first point in time, a first location of said portable communication device from a first set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device;

detecting, at said portable communication device at a second point in time, a second location of said portable communication device from a second set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device; and

calculating said current speed based on a distance traveled between said first location and said second location over a time from said first point in time to said second point in time.

3. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user to select said current speed of travel as a speed for said threshold value.

4. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user to select said current speed of travel as a speed for a walking pace, wherein said threshold value is set to said walking pace.

5. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to said current speed decelerating below said threshold value, automatically returning said separate current setting for each said feature to a previous non-speed based setting.

6. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to said current speed decelerating below said threshold value, automatically assigning to each said separate current setting for each said feature, of said plurality of features assigned to said threshold value to adjust on deceleration, a separate speed based setting.

7. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, wherein said current speed of travel comprises a horizontal speed of travel element and a vertical speed of travel element.

8. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, wherein comparing said current speed to at least one threshold value set at said portable communication device further comprises:

comparing said current speed with at least one audio based threshold for controlling audio features of said portable communication device, with at least one notification thresholds for controlling call notification features of at least one of an incoming phone call, a new message waiting, and an incoming electronic mail, and with a plurality of emergency thresholds for controlling said plurality of features if said current speed and at least one previous speed detected indicate an emergency when compared with said plurality of emergency thresholds.

9. A portable communication device comprising:

a speed detection controller for detecting a current speed of travel of said portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting said portable communication device;

a speed based setting controller for comparing said current speed to at least one threshold value set at said portable communication device;

said speed based controller for automatically assigning a separate speed based setting to a separate current setting for each said feature assigned to said threshold value, responsive to said current speed exceeding said threshold value; and

a device feature controller for controlling an operability of each of said plurality of features according to each said separate current setting for each of said plurality of features.

10. The portable communication device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a GPS receiver for detecting at a first point in time, a first location of said portable communication device from a first set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device;

said GPS receiver for detecting at a second point in time, a second location of said portable communication device from a second set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device; and

said speed detection controller for calculating said current speed based on a distance traveled between said first location and said second location over a time from said first point in time to said second point in time.

11. The portable communication device according to claim 9, said speed based setting controller further comprising:

means for enabling a user to select said current speed of travel as a speed for said threshold value.

12. The portable communication device according to claim 9, said speed based setting controller further comprising:

means for enabling a user to select said current speed of travel as a speed for a walking pace, wherein said threshold value is set to said walking pace.

13. The portable communication device according to claim 9, said speed based setting controller further comprising:

means, responsive to said current speed decelerating below said threshold value, for automatically returning each said separate current setting for each said feature to a previous non-speed based setting.

14. The portable communication device according to claim 9, said speed based setting controller further comprising:

means, responsive to said current speed decelerating below said threshold value, for automatically assigning to each said separate current setting for each said feature, of said plurality of features assigned to said threshold value to adjust on deceleration, a separate speed based setting.

15. The portable communication device according to claim 9, wherein said current speed of travel comprises a horizontal speed of travel element and a vertical speed of travel element.

16. The portable communication device according to claim 9, wherein said speed based setting controller compares said current speed with at least one audio based threshold for controlling audio features of said portable communication device, with at least one notification thresholds for controlling call notification features of at least one of an incoming phone call, a new message waiting, and an incoming electronic mail, and with a plurality of emergency thresholds for controlling said plurality of features if said current speed and at least one previous speed detected indicate an emergency when compared with said plurality of emergency thresholds.

17. A program for adjusting settings of at least one feature from among a plurality of features of a portable communication device, said program embodied in a computer-readable medium, said program comprising computer-executable instructions which cause said computer to perform the steps of:

detecting, by said portable communication device, a current speed of travel of said portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting said portable communication device;

comparing said current speed to at least one threshold value set at said portable communication device; and

responsive to said current speed exceeding said threshold value, automatically assigning a separate speed based setting to a separate current setting for each said feature assigned to said threshold value, wherein said separate current setting for each said feature designates operability of each said feature within said portable communication device.

18. The program according to claim 17, wherein said step of detecting, by said portable communication device, a current speed of travel of said portable communication device, further comprises the steps of:

detecting, at said portable communication device at a first point in time, a first location of said portable communication device from a first set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device;

detecting, at said portable communication device at a second point in time, a second location of said portable communication device from a second set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device; and

calculating said current speed based on a distance traveled between said first location and said second location over a time from said first point in time to said second point in time.

19. The program for adjusting settings according to claim 17, said program further comprising computer-executable instructions which cause said computer to perform the step of:

enabling a user to select said current speed of travel as a speed for a walking pace, wherein said threshold value is set to said walking pace.

20. The program for adjusting settings according to claim 17, said program further comprising computer-executable instructions which cause said computer to perform the step of:

responsive to said current speed decelerating below said threshold value, automatically returning said separate current setting for each feature to a previous non-speed based setting.