Apparatus, system and method of providing auto-dimming and state transition signal functionality to telephone systems

• US 20070167186A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Polozoff, Alexandre, Hamilton, Rick, Boss, Gregory, Waters, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,825,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method of providing auto-dimming and state transition signal functionality to a telephone system are provided. Generally, when the telephone system is in use, it will have an illuminated screen that may distract others. Because of this, when the telephone system is entering a state that does not require monitoring by the user, the illuminated screen may dim down to decrease the likelihood of distraction by others. However, since the user may want to know when the telephone system is no longer in that state, the telephone system may alert the user when it has transitioned out of that state.

Claims

1. A method of providing auto-dimming and state transition signal functionality to a telephone system, the telephone system having an illuminated screen, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the telephone system is entering a predefined state;

automatically dimming, if the telephone is entering a predefined state, the illuminated screen of the telephone system;

determining when the telephone system has transitioned out of the predefined state; and

sending a signal to a user, when the telephone system has transitioned out of the predefined state, to alert the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined is a state defined by a user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal is audible.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal is visual.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal is tactile.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal is a combination of visual and tactile signals.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically dimming step includes the steps of sampling current ambient light and of dimming the illuminated screen of the telephone system based on the sampled ambient light.

8. A telephone system having an illuminated screen, the telephone system being able to auto-dim the illuminated screen and to alert a user of a transition from one predefined state to another state, the telephone system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing code data; and

at least one processor for processing the code data to determine whether a predefined state is being entered into, to automatically dim, if a predefined state is being entered into, the illuminated screen, to determine when the predefined state is exited, and to send a signal alerting the user that the predefined state is exited.

9. The telephone system of claim 8 wherein the predefined state defined by the user.

10. The telephone system of claim 9 wherein the signal is audible.

11. The telephone system of claim 9 wherein the signal is visual.

12. The telephone system of claim 9 wherein the signal is tactile.

13. The telephone system of claim 9 wherein the signal is a combination of visual and tactile signals.

14. The telephone system of claim 8 wherein the code data is processed to sample current ambient light and to dim the illuminated screen based on the sampled ambient light.

15. A device having an illuminated screen and being capable of alerting a user when it exits a predefined state comprising:

means for determining whether a predefined state is being entered into;

means for automatically dimming, if a predefined state is being entered into, the illuminated screen;

means for determining when the predefined state is exited; and

means for sending a signal alerting the user that the predefined state is exited.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the predefined state is defined by the user.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the signal is audible.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the signal is visual.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the signal is tactile.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the automatically dimming means includes means for sampling current ambient light and for dimming the illuminated screen of the telephone system based on the sampled ambient light.