CELLPHONE DISPLAY TIME-OUT BASED ON SKIN CONTACT

• US 20100039214A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James, Sullivan, Marc, Everett, Sarah
• Application Number:
  US12/192,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and methodology that can optimize screen time-outs on a portable electronic device based on user activity is provided. The system employs a sensing component that receives data from one or more sensors located on the portable electronic device, for example, skin conductivity sensors. The sensing component determines whether the user is using the portable device, either actively or passively. A configuring component is employed to change one or more features or functions of the portable electronic device based on the information determined by the sensing component. In particular, the configuring component initiates a screen time-out when the user is not using the portable device (neither actively nor passively).

Claims

1. A system that changes one or more setting on a portable electronic device, comprising:

a sensing component that determines information regarding usage of the portable electronic device, the usage information is associated with active and passive usage of the portable electronic device; and

a configuration component that changes the one or more settings of the portable electronic device based in part on the determined information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising, one or more sensors located on the portable electronic device that collect data associated with a user'"'"'s touch.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, the one or more sensors include a skin conductivity sensor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein, the one or more sensors are located below a key on the portable electronic device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a time-out determining component that initiates a display screen time-out when a user is neither actively nor passively using the portable electronic device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein, the time-out determining component activates a display screen when a user is using the portable electronic device either actively or passively.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a current mode determining component that changes a current mode of operation of the portable electronic device based on the determined information.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a machine learning component that employs an artificial intelligence technique to determine at least one of a current mode or a current setting of the portable electronic device.

9. A method that optimizes activation of device features of a mobile device, comprising:

sensing active and passive device usage of the mobile device; and

modifying at least one setting of a feature of the mobile device based in part on the determination.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, sensing when a user touches the mobile device based in part on a skin conduction mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, optimizing a display screen time-out based on the user'"'"'s touch, to conserve battery power.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, initiating a display screen time-out when a user is not actively and passively using the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, activating a display screen when a user is using the mobile device either actively or passively.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising, modifying a current mode of operation of the mobile device based on the sensed device usage.

15. A system that facilitates modification of one or more setting on a portable electronic device, comprising:

means for determining when a user is actively using the portable electronic device;

means for determining when the user is passively using the portable electronic device; and

means for modifying the one or more settings of the portable electronic device based in part on the determination.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising, means for sensing when the user'"'"'s skin is in contact with the portable electronic device to determine usage of the portable electronic device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising, means for initiating a display screen time-out when sensed that the user'"'"'s skin is not in contact with the portable electronic device.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising, means for restoring a display screen from a time-out when sensed that the user'"'"'s skin is in contact with the portable electronic device.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising, means for changing a current mode of operation of the portable electronic device based in part on the sensed user'"'"' skin contact.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising, means for optimizing power management features of the portable electronic device based in part on the sensed user'"'"'s skin contact.