System and method for monitoring a mobile device

• US 20070298751A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wulff, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• 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

Abstract

Described is a system and method for monitoring a mobile device. The device comprises a plurality of sensors and a processor. The sensors detect first data including spatial orientation data and motion data of the device, and the processor compares the first data to second data to determine an occurrence of an event related to at least one of a communications functionality and a power setting of the device. The second data includes predetermined threshold ranges of changes in the spatial orientation data and the motion data. If the event is detected, the processor selects a predetermined procedure for execution as a function of the first data and executes the predetermined procedure.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a plurality of sensors detecting first data including spatial orientation data and motion data of the device; and

a processor comparing the first data to second data to determine an occurrence of an event related to at least one of a communications functionality and a power setting of the device, the second data including predetermined threshold ranges of changes in the spatial orientation data and the motion data,

wherein if the event occurrence is detected, the processor selects a predetermined procedure as a function of the first data and executes the predetermined procedure.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined procedure is at least one of (i) activating the communications functionality in a predetermined communication mode, (ii) de-activating the communications functionality, (iii) powering up the device, (iv) switching between operating modes of the device and (v) powering-off the device.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined communication mode is one of a near-field mode and a far-field mode.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein, when in the near-field mode, the communications functionality operates in a full-duplex mode, and, when in the far-field mode, the communications functionality operates in a half-duplex mode.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the communications functionality is activated in the near-field mode when the first data indicates that an orientation of the device corresponds to a pre-identified telephone handset orientation.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the communications functionality is activated in the far-field mode when the first data indicates that an orientation of the device corresponds to a pre-identified walkie-talkie orientation.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the operating modes include a power-save mode and a wake mode.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motion data includes at least one of a velocity value, an acceleration value, an angular velocity value, and an angular acceleration value.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spatial orientation data includes at least one angular movement value of the arrangement with respect to at least one axis of the device.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of a G-shock sensor, a switch sensor, an accelerometer, a strain gage, a piezo and a micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS).

11. A method, comprising the steps of:

detecting, using a plurality of sensors of a device, first data including spatial orientation data and motion data of the device;

comparing the first data to second data to detect an occurrence of an event corresponding to at least one of a communications functionality and a power setting of the device, the second data including predetermined threshold ranges of changes in the spatial orientation data and the motion data;

if the event occurrence is detected, selecting a predetermined procedure as a function of the first data; and

executing the predetermined procedure.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting third data from the plurality of sensors for a plurality of predefined spatial orientations and motions of the device, the predefined spatial orientations and motions indicative of a plurality of events; and

storing the third data in a memory of the device as the second data.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined procedure is at least one of (i) activating a wireless communication arrangement of the device in a predetermined communication mode, (ii) de-activating the wireless communication arrangement, (iii) powering up the device, (iv) switching between operating modes of the device and (v) powering-off the device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined communication mode is one of a near-field mode and a far-field mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, when in the near-field mode, the wireless communication arrangement operates in a full-duplex mode, and, when in the far-field mode, the wireless communication arrangement operates in a half-duplex mode.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the wireless communications arrangement is activated in the near-field mode when the first data indicates that an orientation of the device corresponds to a pre-identified telephone handset orientation.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the wireless communications arrangement is activated in the far-field mode when the first data indicates that an orientation of the device corresponds to a pre-identified walkie-talkie orientation.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the operating modes include a power-save mode and a wake mode.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of a G-shock sensor, a switch sensor, an accelerometer, a strain gage, a piezo and a micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS).

20. A device, comprising:

a sensing means for detecting first data of an event including spatial orientation data and motion data of the device; and

a processing means for comparing the first data to second data to detect an occurrence of an event corresponding to at least one of a communications functionality and a power setting of the device is to be executed, the second data including predetermined threshold ranges of changes in the spatial orientation data and the motion data,

wherein if the event is detected, the processing means selects a predetermined procedure as a function of the first data and executes the predetermined procedure.