MULTI-MODE HANDHELD WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20130019321A1
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bran Ferren
• Original Assignee: Bran Ferren
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran
• Granted Patent: US 8,904,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/29
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/00 Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 : Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 : Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 : using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 : Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 : Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 : Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 : with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 : for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 : Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-function handheld user device that may have multiple selectable modes of operation. Various mechanisms may be provided for switching between modes. Within each mode, context awareness and situational awareness may be used to obtain additional information or perform additional functions not directly requested by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a handheld electronic device having a touchscreen and a radio for wireless communications, the device to:

receive a request by a user to perform a first operation;

access information not requested by the user and not necessary to perform the first operation; and

provide at least part of the accessed information to the user in response to the request.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information not requested by the user comprises environmental information sensed by the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a selection of the provided information is based at least partly on a past history of requests by the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the provided information excludes information not accessible to the user in a current operational mode.

2. The apparatus of 1, wherein said access is based at least partly on a context of the first operation and a mode in which the device is operating at a time of the request.

6. A method, comprising:

performing a first operation in a handheld electronic device, based on a request by a user to perform the first operation;

accessing, based on the request, information not requested by the user and not necessary to perform the first operation; and

providing at least part of the accessed information to the user in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising operating in each of multiple modes at different times, wherein each mode has a separate set of operational restrictions, each of said sets comprising:

a restriction on accessible internet sites;

a restriction on available email contacts;

a restriction on data available for viewing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said accessing is based at least partly on a context of the first operation and a mode in which the device is operating at a time of the request.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said information not requested by the user comprises environmental information sensed by the device.

10. An article comprising

a computer-readable storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

performing a first operation in a handheld electronic device, based on a request by a user to perform the first operation;

accessing, based on the request, information not requested by the user and not necessary to perform the first operation; and

providing at least part of the accessed information to the user in response to the request.

11. The article of claim 10, further comprising operating, at different times, in each of multiple modes, wherein each mode has a separate set of operational restrictions, each of said sets consisting of:

a restriction on accessible internet sites;

a restriction on available email contacts;

a restriction on data available for viewing.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein said accessing is based at least partly on a context of the first operation and a mode in which the device is operating at a time of the request.

13. The article of claim 10, wherein said information not requested by the user comprises environmental information sensed by the device.