Environment Independent User Preference Communication

• US 20120266080A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., O'Neil, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment.

Claims

1. A method for communicating user preferences to an environment, comprising:

interpreting a user action in a first specific environment and based on an interpretation of the user action, assigning a first particular environment preference theme to a user, the first environment preference theme being environment independent and indicating a general overall preference for environmental settings as specified by the user;

receiving, by a network server, a user identifier from a communication device of the user within a second specific environment that is different from the first specific environment;

associating the first environment preference theme with the second specific environment based on the user identifier;

selecting, by the network server, an environment setting for an electronic device within the second specific environment to be adapted to correspond with the first environment preference theme; and

communicating the environment setting to the electronic device within the second specific environment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for the first environment preference theme of the user, the request being received from the electronic device associated with the second specific environment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for the first environment preference theme of the user and a second environment preference theme of a second user; and

determining, from the user and the second user, a primary user whose preferences take priority.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the primary user is determined based on a predefined rule configured by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating descriptions of user actions performed by the user in the second specific environment to a remote component for logging.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing the user to modify environment settings of the second specific environment.

7. The method of claim 1, the second specific environment including at least one of the following:

an automobile, a room, a house, a boat, an airplane, a helicopter, a retail establishment, a gym, or an office.

8. A system for communicating user preferences to an environment, comprising:

a memory component that stores;

first logic to interpret a user action in a first specific environment and based on an interpretation of the user action, assign a first particular environment preference theme to a user, the first environment preference theme being environment independent and indicating a general overall preference for environmental settings as specified by the user;

second logic to receive a user identifier from a communication device of the user within a second specific environment;

third logic to associate the first environment preference theme with the second specific environment based on the user identifier;

fourth logic to select an environment setting for an electronic device within the second specific environment to be adapted to correspond with the first environment preference theme; and

fifth logic to communicate the environment setting to the electronic device within the second specific environment.

9. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing logic to receive a request for the first environment preference theme of the user, the request being received from the electronic device associated with the second specific environment.

10. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing:

sixth logic to receive a request for the first environment preference theme of the user and a second environment preference theme of a second user; and

seventh logic to determine, from the user and the second user, a primary user whose preferences take priority.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the primary user is determined based on a predefined rule configured by the user.

12. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing logic to communicate descriptions of user actions performed by the user in the second specific environment to a remote component for logging.

13. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing logic to authorize the user to modify environment settings of the second specific environment.

14. The system of claim 8, the second specific environment including at least one of the following:

an automobile, a room, a house, a boat, an airplane, a helicopter, a retail establishment, a gym, or an office.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program executable by a computer processor, the computer program comprising instructions for communicating user preferences to an environment, the instructions comprising:

code to interpret a user action in a first specific environment and based on an interpretation of the user action, assign a first particular environment preference theme to a user, the first environment preference theme being environment independent and indicating a general overall preference for environmental settings as specified by the user;

code to receive a user identifier from a communication device of the user within a second specific environment;

code to associate the first environment preference theme with the second specific environment based on the user identifier;

code to select an environment setting for an electronic device within the second specific environment to be adapted to correspond with the first environment preference theme; and

code to communicate the environment setting to the electronic device within the second specific environment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further comprising code to cause the computer to receive a request for the first environment preference theme of the user, the request being received from the electronic device associated with the second specific environment.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further comprising code to cause the computer to perform at least the following:

receive a request for the first environment preference theme of the user and a second environment preference theme of a second user; and

determine, from the user and the second user, a primary user whose preferences take priority.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the primary user is determined based on a predefined rule configured by the user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further comprising code to communicate descriptions of user actions performed by the user in the second specific environment to a remote component for logging.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further comprising code to authorize the user to modify environment settings of the second specific environment.