Personal media device input and output control based on associated conditions

• US 20090167542A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Harrington, David, Minoo, Jahan, Saul, Kevin, Du Bois, Ryan Jeffrey, Guetta, Anthony Joseph, Keen, Daniel Shawn, Laefer, Jay Steven, Chick, Stephen John, Culbert, Michael, Tupman, David John, Forstall, Scott, Tiscareno, Victor M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a media device that controls input and output characteristics based on one or more associated conditions.

Claims

1. A media device comprising:

a sensor for generating a sensor signal based on at least one environmental condition associated with the media device,

a temporal source for generating a temporal signal associated with the media device, and

a processor for controlling one or more input or output characteristics of the media device based at least in part on the sensor signal and the temporal signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein controlling includes comparing the sensor signal and the temporal signal with one or more known condition vectors to determine the one or more input or output characteristics of the media device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein comparing includes employing a pattern recognition algorithm.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein comparing includes employing a vector matching algorithm.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more output characteristics includes an alert characteristic.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the alert characteristic includes at least one of a vibration pattern, an audio pattern, a video display image, a light pattern, and a text output.

7. The device of claim 2, comprising a data store for storing the one or more known condition vectors.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one condition vector includes at least one of an environmental condition and a temporal condition.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one condition vector includes an event condition.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the event condition results from a user affecting at least one of the position, orientation, and movement of the media device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, proximity sensor, capacitive proximity sensor, acoustic sensor, acoustic frequency sensor, sonic or sonar sensor, radar sensor, image sensor, video sensor, global positional system (GPS) detector, RF detector, RF or acoustic doppler detector, RF triangulation detector, video sensor, battery charging sensor, and a peripheral device detector.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the temporal source includes at least one of a clock, differential clock, counter, differential counter, and calendar.

13. A method for interfacing with a media device comprising:

generating a sensor signal from a sensor based on at least one environmental condition associated with the media device,

generating a temporal signal associated with the media device, and

controlling one or more input or output characteristics of the media device based at least in part on the sensor signal and the temporal signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling includes comparing the sensor signal and temporal signal with the one or more known condition vectors to determine the one or more input or output characteristics of the media device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein comparing includes employing a pattern recognition algorithm.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing includes employing a vector matching algorithm.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more output characteristics includes an alert characteristic.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the alert characteristic includes at least one of a vibration pattern, an audio pattern, a video display image, a light pattern, and a text output.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one condition vector includes an event condition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the event condition results from a user affecting at least one of the position, orientation, and movement of the media device.

21. A media device comprising:

a plurality of sensors for generating a plurality of sensor signals, each sensor signal being based on an associated condition of the media device, and

a processor for receiving the plurality of sensor signals and applying a decision model to the plurality of sensor signals to control one or more input or output characteristics of the media device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the decision model includes at least one of a linear regression model, a non-linear regression model, a logistic regression model, a Bayesian network model, a Markov model, a fuzzy model, and a propensity score to select an input or output characteristic.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the decision model assigns a weight to each of the plurality of sensor signals.

24. A media device comprising:

an environmental sensor for sensing a change in an environmental condition associated with the media device and generating a sensor signal associated with the change, and

an alert controller for initiating a first alert pattern and, in response to the sensor signal, changing the first alert pattern to a second alert pattern.

25. A method for providing a media device alert comprising:

initiating a first alert pattern,

subsequent to initiating the first alert pattern, sensing a change in an environmental condition associated with the media device, and

generating a second alert pattern in response to sensing the change in the environmental condition.