SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING MODE CHANGES TO WIRELESS DEVICES

• US 20100056124A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: KEATING, Virginia Walker, BARBONI, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method of providing mode changes to wireless devices is provided. The method may include receiving a request from a wireless device to connect with a network device and sending a signal to the wireless device to enter a location defined mode.

Claims

1. A method of providing mode changes to a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a wireless device to connect with a network device; and

sending a signal to the wireless device to enter a location defined mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device accepts the location defined mode; and

granting access to a network via the network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device does not accept the location defined mode;

blocking access to a network via the network device; and

providing an alert to the wireless device that access to the network is blocked and no further action is required by the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location defined mode defines at least one behavior of the wireless device while the wireless device is in proximity to a location associated with the network device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one behavior comprises at least one of a theme, a ringtone, a ringtone volume, a vibrate setting, an alert volume, an instant messaging presence, a message received setting, a call routing setting, a chat handling setting, a connectivity setting, a buddy list, a button press volume, an alarm volume, a text alert volume, a screen saver, a display background, a wallpaper, a game setting, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location defined mode is defined by an owner of the location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location defined mode is defined by a user of the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location defined mode is defined by a community.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending an override signal to the wireless device, wherein the override signal overrides a current device mode and causes the wireless device to enter the location defined mode.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

granting access to the network.

11. A device for providing access to a network, the device comprising:

means for receiving a request from a wireless device to connect with a network device; and

means for sending a signal to the wireless device to enter a location defined mode.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device accepts the location defined mode; and

means for granting access to a network via the network device.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device does not accept the location defined mode; and

means for blocking access to a network via the network device.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the location defined mode defines at least one behavior of the wireless device while the wireless device is in proximity to a location associated with the network device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one behavior comprises at least one of a theme, a ringtone, a ringtone volume, a vibrate setting, an alert volume, an instant messaging presence, a message received setting, a call routing setting, a chat handling setting, a connectivity setting, a buddy list, a button press volume, an alarm volume, a text alert volume, a screen saver, a display background, a wallpaper, or any combination thereof.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for sending an override signal to the wireless device, wherein the override signal overrides a current device mode and causes the wireless device to enter the location defined mode; and

means for granting access to the network.

17. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive a request from a wireless device to connect with a network device; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to send a signal to the wireless device to enter a location defined mode.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device accepts the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to grant access to a network via the network device.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device does not accept the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to block access to a network via the network device.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the location defined mode defines at least one behavior of the wireless device while the wireless device is in proximity to a location associated with the network device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the at least one behavior comprises at least one of a theme, a ringtone, a ringtone volume, a vibrate setting, an alert volume, an instant messaging presence, a message received setting, a call routing setting, a chat handling setting, a connectivity setting, a buddy list, a button press volume, an alarm volume, a text alert volume, a screen saver, a display background, a wallpaper, or any combination thereof.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to send an override signal to the wireless device, wherein the override signal overrides a current device mode and causes the wireless device to enter the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to grant access to the network.

23. A device for providing access to a network, the device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory comprises;

at least one instruction for receiving a request from a wireless device to connect with a network device; and

at least one instruction for sending a signal to the wireless device to enter a location defined mode.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device accepts the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for granting access to a network via the network device.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless device that the wireless device does not accept the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for blocking access to a network via the network device.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the location defined mode defines at least one behavior of the wireless device while the wireless device is in proximity to a location associated with the network device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the at least one behavior comprises at least one of a theme, a ringtone, a ringtone volume, a vibrate setting, an alert volume, an instant messaging presence, a message received setting, a call routing setting, a chat handling setting, a connectivity setting, a buddy list, a button press volume, an alarm volume, a text alert volume, a screen saver, a display background, a wallpaper, or any combination thereof.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for sending an override signal to the wireless device, wherein the override signal overrides a current device mode and causes the wireless device to enter the location defined mode; and

at least one instruction for granting access to the network.

29. A method of receiving mode changes at a wireless device, the method comprising:

attempting to connect with a network device;

receiving a signal to enter a location defined mode via the network device; and

prompting a user to accept the location defined mode.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting an acknowledgement to accept the location defined mode, when the user accepts the location defined mode.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

entering the location defined mode;

receiving access to a network via the network device; and

returning to a previous device mode, when the wireless device disconnects from the network device.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting an acknowledgement to deny the location defined mode, when the user does not accept the location defined mode.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

remaining in a device defined mode;

receiving a signal that access to a network via the network device is blocked;

receiving an override signal to override the device defined mode; and

entering the location defined mode.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving access to the network via the network device.

35. A wireless device, comprising:

means for attempting to connect with a network device;

means for receiving a signal to enter a location defined mode via the network device; and

means for prompting a user to accept the location defined mode.

36. The device of claim 35, further comprising:

means for transmitting an acknowledgement to accept the location defined mode, when the user accepts the location defined mode.

37. The device of claim 36, further comprising:

means for entering the location defined mode;

means for receiving access to a network via the network device; and

means for returning to a previous device mode, when the wireless device disconnects from the network device.

38. The device of claim 35, further comprising:

means for transmitting an acknowledgement to deny the location defined mode, when the user does not accept the location defined mode.

39. The device of claim 38, further comprising:

means for remaining in a device defined mode;

means for receiving a signal that access to a network via the network device is blocked;

means for receiving an override signal to override the device defined mode; and

means for entering the location defined mode.

40. The device of claim 39, further comprising:

means for receiving access to the network via the network device.

41. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to attempt to connect with a network device;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive a signal to enter a location defined mode via the network device; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to prompt a user to accept the location defined mode.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit an acknowledgement to accept the location defined mode, when the user accepts the location defined mode.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to enter the location defined mode;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive access to a network via the network device; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to return to a previous device mode, when the wireless device disconnects from the network device.

44. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit an acknowledgement to deny the location defined mode, when the user does not accept the location defined mode.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to remain in a device defined mode;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive a signal that access to a network via the network device is blocked;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive an override signal to override the device defined mode; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to enter the location defined mode.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive access to the network via the network device.

47. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory comprises;

at least one instruction for attempting to connect with a network device;

at least one instruction for receiving a signal to enter a location defined mode via the network device; and

at least one instruction for prompting a user to accept the location defined mode.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for transmitting an acknowledgement to accept the location defined mode, when the user accepts the location defined mode.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for entering the location defined mode;

at least one instruction for receiving access to a network via the network device; and

at least one instruction for returning to a previous device mode, when the wireless device disconnects from the network device.

50. The device of claim 47, wherein the memory further comprises:

at least one instruction for transmitting an acknowledgement to deny the location defined mode, when the user does not accept the location defined mode.

51. A server, comprising:

a messaging unit, wherein the messaging unit is configured to communicate location information to a position definition service, and wherein the messaging unit is configured to receive at least one location defined mode from the position definition service at least partially based on the location information.

52. The server of claim 51, further comprising:

a proximity unit, wherein the proximity unit is configured to communicate with a location code tag, an RFID tag, or a combination thereof, and wherein the proximity unit is configured to identify a location based at least partially on the location code tag, the RFID tag, or a combination thereof and wherein the proximity unit is configured to cause the wireless device to selectively switch to a location defined mode based on the location.