AUTOMATIC SLEEP MODE PREVENTION OF MOBILE DEVICE IN CAR HOLDER

• US 20130339720A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anagog Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anagog Ltd.
• Inventors: Levy, Gil, Aizenbud, Yaron
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/448 Execution paradigms, e.g. implementations of programming paradigms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communications device includes at least one application programmer interface (API) to provide status information from components of the device, where the status information is indicative of the device being operated in an automobile, and a decision unit to modify at least one of screen backlighting and device locking in accordance with a driving state determined in accordance with at least the status information. A method for preventing sleep mode in a mobile communications device includes detecting active charging of the device, establishing that the device is in an automotive vehicle, based on the detecting and establishing, determining that a charging/vehicle state exists; and when the charging/vehicle state exists, instructing a screen backlight of the device to remain on, and disabling key locking for the mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a charger detector to detect when said device is charging;

at least one orientation sensor to at least indicate a positional attitude for said device, wherein a persistent general upright attitude indicates that said device is in a phone cradle in a vehicle; and

a decision unit to modify at least one of screen backlighting and device locking in accordance with a charge/cradle state determined in accordance with input from said charge detector and said at least one orientation sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one orientation sensor is at least one of:

a gyro, an accelerometer and a magnetic orientometer.

3. The device according to claim 1 and also comprising a GPS unit to provide GPS data regarding a location of said device.

4. The device according to claim 3 and wherein said decision unit is configurable to use said GPS data to determine if movement/location of said device is consistent with being inside said vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 4 and wherein said decision unit is configurable to determine if said vehicle is one of moving and parking.

6. The device according to claim 1 and also comprising an application to be brought to the foreground when said charge/cradle state is determined

7. The device according to claim 1 and also comprising at least one application programmer interface (API) to facilitate interaction between said decision unit and other software/hardware/firmware components installed on said device.

8. The device according to claim 7 and wherein said components include at least one of a bluetooth car set device, a driving profile and hands free setting.

9. A mobile communications device comprising:

a charger detector to detect when said device is charging;

a GPS unit to provide GPS data indicative of whether said device is located in a vehicle; and

a decision unit to modify at least one of screen backlighting and device locking in accordance with a charge/driving state determined in accordance with input from said charge detector and said GPS unit.

10. The device according to claim 9 and wherein said decision unit is configurable to use said GPS data to determine if movement/location of said device is consistent with being inside said vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 10 and wherein said decision unit is configurable to determine is said vehicle is one of moving and parking.

12. The device according to claim 9 and also comprising an application to be brought to the foreground when said charge/cradle state is determined

13. A method for preventing sleep mode in a mobile communications device, comprising:

detecting active charging of said device;

establishing that said device is in an automotive vehicle;

based on said detecting and establishing, determining that a charging/vehicle state exists; and

when said charging/vehicle state exists, instructing a screen backlight of said device to remain on, and disabling key locking for said mobile communications device.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said determining comprises:

using input from an orientation sensor to determine that said device is in a generally upright position.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said determining comprises:

using GPS data from a GPS unit to determine that the location/movement of said device is consistent with a moving/parked vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 13 and also comprising:

opening a default application in the foreground of said device when said charging/vehicle state exists.

17. The method according to claim 13 and also comprising:

returning said screen backlight and key locking to a default state when said charging/vehicle state no longer exists.

18. A mobile communications device comprising:

at least one application programmer interface (API) to provide status information from components of said device, wherein said status information is indicative of said device being operated in an automobile; and

a decision unit to modify at least one of screen backlighting and device locking in accordance with a driving state determined in accordance with at least said status information.

19. The device according to claim 18 and wherein said components include at least one of a bluetooth car set device, a driving profile and hands free setting.

20. The device according to claim 18 and also comprising:

at least one orientation sensor to at least indicate a positional attitude for said device, wherein a persistent general upright attitude indicates that said device is in a phone cradle in a vehicle.

21. The device according to claim 18 and also comprising:

a charger detector to detect when said device is charging.

22. The device according to claim 18 and also comprising:

a GPS unit to provide GPS data indicative of whether said device is located in a vehicle.