MONITORING ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140191873A1
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett M., Schaub, Ryan, Spell, Randall S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,952,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media are provided to monitor a mobile device. An example method includes determining whether environmental condition data collected by a plurality of sensors of a mobile device complies with an environmental condition rule comprising thresholds associated with the environmental condition data. The environmental condition data is representative of external elements detected by the sensors. The example method includes informing a user of the mobile device of an environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data when the environmental condition data does not comply with the environmental condition rule. The example method includes performing a self-protecting procedure via the mobile device. The self-protecting procedure defined in the environmental condition rule is to protect the mobile device from the environmental condition when the environmental condition data does not comply with the environmental condition rule.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether environmental condition data collected by a plurality of sensors of a mobile device complies with an environmental condition rule comprising thresholds associated with the environmental condition data, the environmental condition data representative of external elements detected by the sensors;

when the environmental condition data does not comply with the environmental condition rule;

informing a user of the mobile device of an environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data; and

performing a self-protecting procedure via the mobile device, the self-protecting procedure defined in the environmental condition rule to protect the mobile device from the environmental condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the environmental condition data complies with the environmental condition rule comprises comparing the environmental condition data to a threshold defined in the environmental condition rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein informing the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data comprises outputting a warning associated with the environmental condition via at least one of an audio message or a display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein informing the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data comprises sending a notification associated with the environmental condition to a service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the self-protecting procedure comprises at least one of adjusting processing capabilities of the mobile device or shutting down the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the self-protecting procedure comprises activating a physical seal of the mobile device to prevent damage to the mobile device from a liquid.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

determining whether environmental condition data collected by a plurality of sensors of a mobile device complies with an environmental condition rule comprising thresholds associated with the environmental condition data, the environmental condition data representative of external elements detected by the sensors; and

when the environmental condition data does not comply with the environmental condition rule, informing a user of the mobile device of an environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data and performing a self-protecting procedure defined in the environmental condition rule, the self-protecting procedure to protect the mobile device from the environmental condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein to determine whether the environmental condition data complies with the environmental condition rule, the processor is to compare the environmental condition data to a threshold defined in the environmental condition rule.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein to inform the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data, the processor is to output a warning associated with the environmental condition via at least one of an audio message or a display.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein to inform the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data, the processor is to send a notification associated with the environmental condition to a service provider.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein to perform the self-protecting procedure, the processor is to activate a physical seal of the mobile device to prevent damage to the mobile device from a liquid.

12. A tangible machine readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

determining whether environmental condition data collected by a plurality of sensors of a mobile device complies with an environmental condition rule comprising thresholds associated with the environmental condition data, the environmental condition data representative of external elements detected by the sensors;

when the environmental condition data does not comply with the environmental condition rule;

informing a user of the mobile device of an environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data; and

performing a self-protecting procedure defined in the environmental condition rule, the self-protecting procedure to protect the mobile device from the environmental condition.

13. The tangible machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining whether the environmental condition data complies with the environmental condition rule comprises comparing the environmental condition data to a threshold defined in the environmental condition rule.

14. The tangible machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein informing the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data comprises outputting a warning associated with the environmental condition via at least one of an audio message or a display.

15. The tangible machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein informing the user of the mobile device of the environmental condition associated with the environmental condition data comprises sending a notification associated with the environmental condition to a service provider.

16. The tangible machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein performing the self-protecting procedure comprises at least one of adjusting processing capabilities of the mobile device or shutting down the mobile device.

17. The tangible machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein performing the self-protecting procedure comprises activating a physical seal of the mobile device to prevent damage to the mobile device from a liquid.