MOBILE DEVICE SESSION SWITCHING

• US 20130130669A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Hong, Eichen, Elliot G., Liao, Robert H., Perry, Paul O., Mishra, Punita, Goodman, Lee N., Chang, Sujin C., Mandloi, Alok
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line

Abstract

A method includes identifying, by a mobile device, a time, a day, a date or a location, and accessing a database storing first information correlating the time, day, date and location to a personal mode or a business mode for the mobile device. The method also includes identifying, exception information associated with the time, day, date, or location, and identifying user preference information associated with the personal mode and the business mode. The user preference information identifies a background associated with a home screen, icons provided on the home screen, or links to information accessible via the home screen. The method further includes configuring the mobile device in the personal or business mode based on the first information and the exception information, wherein the configuring includes providing, on the home screen, information corresponding to the user preference information associated with either the personal or business mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a mobile device, at least one of a time of day, a day of the week, a date or a location of the mobile device;

accessing, by the mobile device, a database storing first information correlating the time of day, the day of the week, the date and the location to a personal mode for the mobile device or a business mode for the mobile device;

identifying, in the database, exception information associated with at least one of the time of day, the day of the week, the date, or the location of the mobile device;

identifying, by the mobile device, user preference information associated with the personal mode of the mobile device and the business mode of the mobile device, wherein the user preference information identifies, for both the personal mode and the business mode, at least one of a background associated with a home screen of the mobile device, icons provided on the home screen of the mobile device, or links to information accessible via the home screen of the mobile device; and

configuring the mobile device in the personal mode or the business mode based on the first information and the exception information, wherein the configuring includes;

providing, on the home screen of the mobile device, information corresponding to the user preference information associated with either the personal mode or the business mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming telephone call at the mobile device;

determining whether the incoming telephone call is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device; and

configuring the mobile device in the personal mode or the business mode based on the determining.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether the incoming telephone call is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device comprises:

determining whether the telephone call was directed to a business line or a business telephone number, and

identifying the telephone call as being associated with the business use in response to determining that the telephone call was directed to the business line or the business telephone number.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifying the telephone call as being associated with the business use comprises:

determining that the telephone call was received via a docking station to which the mobile device is coupled.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether the incoming telephone call is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device comprises:

accessing at least one contacts list stored in the mobile device,

determining whether a telephone number of the incoming telephone call is associated with a contact identified in the at least one contacts list as a business contact or a personal contact, and

identifying the incoming telephone call as being associated with the business use in response to determining that the telephone number is associated with a contact identified as only a business contact.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring the mobile device in the personal mode further comprises:

blocking access to business related information or programs stored in the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information associated with an event stored in a calendar application of the mobile device;

configuring the mobile device in the personal mode in response to identifying that the event corresponds to a personal event; and

configuring the mobile device in the business mode in response to identifying that the event corresponds to a business event.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, a voicemail message or a text-based message;

accessing, by the mobile device, the voicemail message or the text-based message;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the voicemail message or the text-based message was received from a party identified as a business contact or a personal contact;

configuring the mobile device in the personal mode in response to determining that the party is identified as a personal contact; and

configuring the mobile device in the business mode in response to determining that the party is identified as a business contact.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a telephone call from the mobile device;

identifying whether the telephone call is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device; and

configuring the mobile device in the personal mode or the business mode based on the identifying.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying whether the telephone call is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device comprises:

accessing at least one contacts list stored in the mobile device;

determining whether a telephone number associated with the telephone call is associated with a party identified in the at least one contacts list as a business contact or a personal contact; and

determining that the telephone call is associated with the business use in response to determining that the telephone number is associated with a contact identified as a business contact only.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory configured to store user preference information corresponding to a personal mode of the mobile device and a business mode of the mobile device, wherein the use preference information includes at least one of a background associated with a home screen of the mobile device, icons provided on the home screen, or links to information accessible via the home screen;

a communication interface configured to place and receive communications; and

logic configured to;

identify first information including at least one of a time of day, a day of the week, a date or a location of the mobile device,

identify exception information associated with the at least one of the time of day, the day of the week, the date or the location of the mobile device, and

configure the mobile device in the personal mode or the business mode based on the first information and the exception information, wherein when configuring the mobile device, the logic is configured to;

access the memory to identify user preference information,

identify programs associated with the personal mode or the business mode,

provide, on the home screen of the mobile device, information associated with at least some of the identified user preference information, and

provide access to the identified programs.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein when configuring the mobile device in the personal mode, the logic is configured to:

block access to business related information or programs stored in the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured to:

receive an incoming communication via the communication interface,

determine whether the incoming communication is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device,

configure the mobile device in the personal mode in response to determining that the incoming communication is associated with the personal use, and

configure the mobile device in the business mode in response to determining that the incoming communication is associated with the business use.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein when determining whether the incoming communication is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device, the logic is further configured to:

determine whether the communication was directed to a business line or a business telephone number, and

identify the incoming communication as being associated with the business use in response to determining that the communication was directed to the business line or business telephone number.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein when determining whether the incoming communication is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device, the logic is configured to:

access at least one contacts list stored in the mobile device,

determine whether the communication is associated with a contact identified in the at least one contacts list as a business contact or a personal contact, and

identify the incoming communication as being associated with the business use in response to determining that the telephone number is associated with a contact identified as only a business contact.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured to:

receive event information associated with a calendar application stored in the mobile device,

identify whether the event information corresponds to a personal event or a business event,

configure the mobile device in the personal mode in response to identifying that the event information corresponds to the personal event, and

configure the mobile device in the business mode in response to identifying that the event information corresponds to the business event.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured to:

initiate the transmission of a communication via the communication interface,

identify whether the communication is associated with a personal use of the mobile device or a business use of the mobile device,

configure the mobile device in the personal mode in response to identifying that the communication corresponds to the personal use, and

configure the mobile device in the business mode in response to identifying that the communication corresponds to the business use.

18. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor in a device, cause the at least one processor to:

identify at least one of a time of day, a day of the week, a date or a location of the device;

access a database storing first information correlating the time of day, the day of the week, the date and the location to a personal mode for the mobile device or a business mode for the mobile device;

identify, in the database, exception information associated with at least one of the time of day, the day of the week, the date, or the location of the mobile device;

identify user preference information associated with the personal mode of the device and the business mode of the device, wherein the user preference information identifies, for both the personal mode and the business mode, at least one of a background associated with a home screen of the device, icons provided on the home screen of the device, or links to information accessible via the home screen of the device; and

configure the device in the personal mode or the business mode based on the first information and the exception information, wherein when configuring the device, the instructions further cause the at least one processor to;

provide, on the home screen of the device, information corresponding to the user preference information associated with either the personal mode or the business mode.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including instructions for causing the at least one processor to:

provide a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to;

receive, from a user, information correlating the time of day, the day of the week, the date and the location to either the business mode or the personal mode, and

receive, from the user, the user preference information.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further including instructions for causing the at least one processor to:

receive first communications via a communication interface;

forward second communications for transmission via the communication interface; and

dynamically configure the mobile device in the personal mode or the business mode based on a type associated with each of the first and second communications.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further including instructions for causing the at least one processor to:

automatically configure the device in the personal mode or the business mode based on context-related information associated with operation of the device.