Methods and Apparatuses for Configuration Automation

• US 20100178906A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Joseph Kennedy
• Original Assignee: Peter Joseph Kennedy
• Inventors: Kennedy, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automated configuring of user preferences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to operate a data processing system, includes: detecting whether or not a portable device is connected to the data processing system; and automatically configuring one or more user preferences of the data processing system according to an identity of the portable device in response to a change in whether or not the portable device is connected to the data processing system. In one aspect of the present invention, call forwarding of at least one of a land line phone and a mobile phone is automatically configured when the mobile phone is brought close to the land line phone or when the mobile phone is taken away from the land line phone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting a user device to an automotive data processing system coupled to an automobile;

transmitting, by the user device, configuration parameters from a memory of the user device to the automotive data processing system, wherein the automotive data processing system causes at least one of a car seat position and a minor position to be configured according to the configuration parameters and wherein the configuring is performed automatically in response to receiving the configuration parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

detecting the automotive data processing system by the user device using a wireless interface;

connecting to the automotive data processing system using the wireless interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

placing the user device in a cradle coupled to the automotive data processing system, wherein the placing occurs before the automobile coupled to the automotive data processing system is started.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the configuration parameters are transmitted to the automotive data processing system in response to starting the automobile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device belongs to a plurality of user devices and wherein each of the plurality of user devices corresponds to a user of the automobile and wherein configuration parameters of each user device in the plurality are different.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the automotive data processing system includes a graphical user interface and wherein the configuration parameters configure at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons on the graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disconnecting the user device from the automotive data processing system, wherein the automotive data processing system reconfigures at least one of the car seat position and the minor position to a default configuration in response to the disconnecting.

9. A user device comprising:

a communication interface coupled to a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus;

a memory coupled to the bus;

executable instructions stored in the memory which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

connect to an automotive data processing system of an automobile through the communication interface,

transmit configuration parameters stored in the memory to the automotive data processing system through the communication interface, wherein the automotive data processing system causes at least one of a car seat position and a minor position to be configured according to the configuration parameters and wherein the configuring is performed automatically in response to receiving the configuration parameters.

10. The user device of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface and wherein the instructions to connect to the automotive data processing system cause the processor to:

detect the automotive data processing system using the wireless communication interface, and

connect to the automotive data processing system using the wireless communication interface.

11. The user device of claim 9, wherein the connection interface comprises a cradle coupled to the automotive data processing system.

12. The user device of claim 11, wherein the configuration parameters are transmitted to the automotive data processing system in response to starting the automobile.

13. The user device of claim 9, wherein the user device is a cellular telephone.

14. The user device of claim 9, wherein the user device belongs to a plurality of user devices and wherein each of the plurality of user devices corresponds to a user of the automobile and wherein configuration parameters of each user device in the plurality are different.

15. The user device of claim 9, wherein the automotive data processing system includes a graphical user interface and wherein the configuration parameters configure at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons on the graphical user interface.

16. The user device of claim 9, further comprising:

disconnecting the user device from the automotive data processing system, wherein the automotive data processing system reconfigures at least one of the car seat position and the minor position to a default configuration in response to the disconnecting.

17. A method comprising:

connecting a user device to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system includes a graphical user interface;

transmitting user preference data from the user device to the data processing system, wherein the data processing system configures the graphical user interface in response to receiving the user preference data and wherein the configuring is performed automatically in response to receiving the user preference data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein connecting the user device comprises coupling the user device to the data processing system with a wire.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

detecting the data processing system with a wireless interface; and

connecting to the data processing system using the wireless interface.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein configuring the graphical user interface comprises adjusting at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the user device uses a first wireless protocol to communicate with the data processing system and a second wireless protocol to place and receive telephone calls over a cellular network.

22. A machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

connecting a user device to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system includes graphical user interface;

transmitting user preference data from the user device to the data processing system, wherein the data processing system configures the graphical user interface in response to receiving the user preference data and wherein the configuring is performed automatically in response to receiving the user preference data.

23. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein connecting the user device comprises coupling the user device to the data processing system with a wire.

24. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

detecting the data processing system with a wireless interface; and

connecting to the data processing system using the wireless interface.

25. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein configuring the graphical user interface comprises adjusting at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons.

26. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the user device uses a first wireless protocol to communicate with the data processing system and a second wireless protocol to place and receive telephone calls over a cellular network.

27. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, further comprising:

disconnecting the user device from the data processing system, wherein the data processing system automatically configures the graphical user interface in a default configuration in response to the disconnecting.

28. An apparatus comprising:

means for coupling a user device to an automotive data processing system;

means for transmitting configuration parameters from the user device to the automotive data processing system through the coupling means, wherein the automotive data processing system automatically modifies at least one of a car seat position or a mirror position in response to receiving the configuration parameters.

29. An apparatus comprising:

means for coupling a user device to a data processing system;

means for transmitting configuration parameters from the user device to the data processing system through the coupling means, wherein the data processing system automatically modifies at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons in response to receiving the configuration parameters.