AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF A WIRELESS DEVICE BASED ON PHYSICAL SPEED

• US 20080099563A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Owen, Russell N., Wormald, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data

Abstract

A wireless device operates in an operating state determined as a function of the wireless device'"'"'s physical physical speed. In some implementations, the wireless device determines the physical speed using a GPS (global positioning system). If the wireless device determines based on the physical position and/or physical speed that the user is driving an automobile in a region in which using a wireless device is not permitted while driving, then the wireless device automatically disables device features. However, if the user is actually a passenger, then the user may over-ride the automatic disabling of device features. In some implementations, the wireless device also informs other wireless users that communication is inappropriate or impossible. In some implementations, the wireless device also informs a communications node to process communications directed to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a physical speed of a wireless device; and

allowing the wireless device to operate according to an operating state, the operating state being one of a plurality of possible operating states and being determined as a function of at least the physical speed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the physical speed and allowing the wireless device to operate according to the operating state are each executed by the wireless device, the method further comprising:

the wireless device determining the operating state of the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the physical speed and allowing the wireless device to operate according to the operating state are each executed by a communications node coupled to the wireless device, the method further comprising:

the communications node determining the operating state of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information from a position measurement system, the information being used to determine the physical speed.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the position measurement system is a GPS (global positioning system).

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

for each operating state, disabling a respective set of device features.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, communicating status information to a communications

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a physical position of the wireless device;

wherein the operating state is determined as a function of at least the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input for enabling a certain feature that would otherwise be disabled based on the physical speed; and

enabling the certain feature in response to the user input.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining information useful for determining the operating state of the wireless device; and

determining the operating state based on at least the physical speed and the maintained information.

11. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor so as to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless access radio adapted to communicate with a wireless network;

a parameter measurement function adapted to determine a physical speed of the wireless device;

an operating state function adapted to allow the wireless device to operate according to an operating state, the operating state being one of a plurality of possible operating states and being determined as a function of at least the physical speed.

13. The wireless device of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of device features;

wherein the operating state function is further adapted to disable for each operating state a respective set of device features of the plurality of device features.

14. A communications node comprising an operating state function adapted to:

determine a physical speed of a wireless device; and

allow the wireless device to operate according to an operating state, the operating state being one of a plurality of possible operating states and being determined as a function of at least the physical speed.

15. The communications node of claim 14 wherein the operating state function is further adapted to perform at least one of:

communicate the operating state to the wireless device, the wireless device controlling operation of the wireless device in accordance with the operating state;

process communications directed to the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device, and

disable communications from the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device.

16. A method in a communications node comprising:

receiving status information of a wireless device;

receiving a request to communicate with the wireless device; and

automatically processing the request based on the status information;

wherein the status information comprises at least one of an indication of whether the wireless device is travelling, an operating state, physical location, and physical speed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the request to communicate with the wireless device is an electronic message; and

automatically processing the request based on the status information comprises generating and sending an auto reply message if the status information indicates that the wireless device is unable to process communications.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the request to communicate with the wireless device is a voice call; and

automatically processing the request based on the status information comprises routing the voice call to a voice mail if the status information indicates that the wireless device is unable to process communications.

19. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor so as to implement the method of claim 16.

20. A communications node comprising a status information function adapted to;

receive status information of a wireless device;

receive a request to communicate with the wireless device; and

automatically process the request based on the status information;

wherein the status information comprises at least one of an indication of whether the wireless device is travelling, an operating state, physical location, and physical speed.