AUTOMATIC DEVICE MODE SWITCHING

• US 20090191854A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Beason, Lawrence W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,992,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Techniques are described for automatic device mode switching. In an implementation an electronic device provides a variety of functionality through multiple modes of the electronic device. The electronic device may be configured to toggle between modes when inserted into or removed from a corresponding mounting device. In an implementation, one operational mode may be automatically activated upon insertion of the electronic device into the mounting device. Another operational mode may be automatically activated when the electronic device is removed from the mounting device. In another implementation, multiple modes of an electronic device may be associated with multiple orientations of the device. An orientation detector may provide signals indicative of orientation, which when detected causes automatic activation of an associated operational mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating an electronic device having multiple operational modes with a first said operational mode set as active to provide associated first functionality when the electronic device is external to a corresponding mounting device;

detecting insertion of the electronic device into the corresponding mounting device; and

toggling from the first said operational mode to set a second said operational mode as active to provide associated second functionality responsive to the detecting.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting removal of the electronic device from the corresponding mounting device; and

toggling from the second said operational mode to the first said operational mode responsive to the detecting removal.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein

the first said operational mode is a phone mode configured to provide phone service via a cellular network;

the second said operational mode is a navigation mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites;

when toggling from the phone mode to the navigation mode, phone service initiated in the phone mode automatically transitions to a hand-free operation in the navigation mode;

when toggling from the navigation mode to the phone mode, position-determining functionality initiated in the navigation mode continues to operate from a background state in the phone mode.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a position-determining device configured to determine position based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites via a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first said operational mode is a phone mode configured to provide phone service via a cellular network.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second said operational mode is a global positioning system (GPS) mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein either the first said operational mode or the second said operational mode is a navigation mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first operational mode and the second operational mode are each selected from a group consisting of:

a navigation mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites;

a phone mode configured to provide phone service via a cellular network;

a game mode to provide interaction with one or more games;

a media mode to manage and playback video and audio media;

or

an Internet mode configured to execute a browser to navigate Internet content.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein

when the first said operational mode is active, a first application is executed to output a first user interface on a display device to provide the first functionality;

when the second said operational mode is active, a second application is executed to output a second user interface on the display device to provide the second functionality.

10. A position-determining device comprising:

a processor;

memory;

a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver to enable receiving of signal data from a plurality of satellites; and

one or modules stored in the memory and executable on the processor to;

monitor connection of the position-determining device to a corresponding mounting device;

when the position-determining device is disconnected from the corresponding mounting device, select a phone mode to provide mobile phone functionality as active for the position-determining device; and

when the position-determining device is connected to the corresponding mounting device, select a navigation mode that utilizes the signal data received via the GPS receiver to output navigation instructions as active for the position-determining device.

11. A position-determining device as recited in claim 10, wherein connection of the position-determining device to the corresponding mounting device is monitored based upon detecting by the one or more modules of an electrical contact between the position-determining device and an interface of the corresponding mounting device.

12. A position-determining device as recited in claim 11, wherein said selecting of phone mode and navigation mode occurs based upon the detecting of the electrical contact, automatically and without user intervention.

13. A position-determining device as recited in claim 10, wherein when phone mode is selected as active, an application corresponding to phone mode is executed on the processor and a corresponding user interface is output to provide the mobile phone functionality.

14. A position-determining device as recited in claim 10, wherein when navigation mode is selected as active, an application corresponding to navigation mode is executed on the processor and a corresponding user interface is output to provide the navigation instructions.

15. A position-determining device as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the one or more modules include a phone module corresponding to the phone mode to provide the mobile phone functionality and a position-determining module corresponding to the navigation mode to provide position-determining functionality including the navigation instructions;

selecting the phone mode as active includes executing the phone module in a active state and executing the position-determining module in a background state; and

selecting the navigation mode as active includes switching states of the phone module and the position-determining module, such that the phone module is executed in the background state and the position-determining module in executed the active state.

16. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

monitor connection of the electronic device to a corresponding mounting device to automatically switch an active mode of the electronic device between multiple operational modes of the electronic device;

when the electronic device is connected to the corresponding mounting device, select a first said operational mode to provide position-determining functionality as active for the electronic device; and

when the electronic device is disconnected from the corresponding mounting device, select a second said operational mode associated with different functionality as active for the electronic device.

17. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the second operational mode is selected from a group consisting of:

a phone mode configured to provide phone service via a cellular network;

a game mode to provide interaction with one or more games;

a media mode to manage and playback video and audio media;

or

an Internet mode configured to execute a browser to navigate Internet content.

18. A method comprising:

associating a first orientation and a second orientation of an electronic device with a first operational mode and a second operational mode of the electronic device respectively;

detecting manipulation of the electronic device into the first orientation;

activating the first operational mode responsive to the detecting;

detecting manipulation of the electronic device into the second orientation; and

activating the second operational mode responsive to the detecting of the manipulation of the electronic device into the second orientation.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first orientation is a portrait orientation of the device and the second orientation is a landscape orientation of the electronic device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein one of the first operational mode or the second operational mode corresponds to a navigation mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said detectings include receiving signals from an orientation detector provided with the electronic device to indicate orientation.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

associating a third orientation of the electronic device with a third operational mode of the electronic device;

detecting manipulation of the electronic device into the third orientation;

activating the third operational mode responsive to the detecting of the manipulation of the device into the third orientation.

23. A position-determining device comprising:

a processor;

memory;

an orientation detector to provide signals indicative of orientation of the position-determining device; and

one or modules stored in the memory and executable on the processor to;

associate a plurality of orientations of the position-determining device with a plurality of operational modes, wherein each of said plurality of operational modes is configured to provide different associated functionality when selected as active for the position-determining device;

detect an orientation of the position-determining device based upon signals received from the orientation detector; and

automatically select as active an operational mode of said plurality of operational modes that is associated with the detected orientation.

24. A position-determining device as recited in claim 23, wherein said plurality of operational modes are selected from a group consisting of:

a navigation mode configured to provide position-determining functionality based upon signal data received from a plurality of satellites;

a phone mode configured to provide phone service via a cellular network;

a game mode to provide interaction with one or more games;

a media mode to manage and playback video and audio media;

or

an Internet mode configured to execute a browser to navigate Internet content.

25. A position-determining device as recited in claim 23, wherein automatically selecting an operational mode comprises:

executing an application module associated with the operational mode on the processor in an active state;

outputting a user interface to provide said functionality associated with the selected operational mode; and

executing at least one application associated with a said operational mode that is not selected in a background state.