Proximity-Based Device Selection for Communication Delivery

• US 20140280541A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Valalik, Jason W., Walter, Jennifer Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 10,499,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

Techniques and devices for selection of an online communication device based on user proximity and for transmission of a communication to the selected online communication device are described herein. The techniques include either receiving device data from one or more online communication devices and determining proximity of the devices to a user based on the device data or receiving proximity information indicative of the proximity of the user to the one or more online communication devices. Based on the determined proximity or proximity information, one of the one or more online communication devices is selected, and a communication is transmitted to the selected online communication device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a proximity service to be operated by the one or more processors to;

receive device data from one or more online communication devices, the device data including one or more of i) data indicating activity of accelerometers or electronic compasses of the one or more online communication devices, ii) readings of heat sensors of the one or more online communication devices, iii) data indicating detection of the user'"'"'s voice in ambient sound, iv) device speeds of the one or more online communication devices, v) data indicating connections to a WiFi network by the one or more online communication devices, or vi) an image or images captured by camera of the one or more online communication devices;

determine proximity of a user to the one or more online communication devices based on the device data, the user being associated with a plurality of online communication devices that includes the one or more online communication devices;

select one of the one or more online communicated devices based at least in part on the determined proximity; and

a communication service to be operated by the one or more processors to transmit a communication to the selected online communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is associated with one of an instant messaging application, a video call client, a voice call application, a social networking application, an email application a game, a text messaging application, a media player, or a mobile wallet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of online communication devices are online with respect to the one of the instant messaging application, the video call client, the voice call application, the social networking application, the game, the text messaging application, a media player, or a mobile wallet.

4. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving proximity information indicating proximity of a user from one or more online communication devices, the user being associated with a plurality of online communication devices that includes the one or more online communication devices;

selecting one of the one or more online communicated devices based at least in part on the received proximity information; and

transmitting a communication to the selected online communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more online communication devices are a subset of the plurality of online communication devices.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication is associated with one of an instant messaging application, a video call client, a voice call application, a social networking application, a game, a text messaging application, a media player, or a mobile wallet.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of online communication devices are online with respect to the one of the instant messaging application, the video call client, the voice call application, the social networking application, the game, the text messaging application, a media player, or a mobile wallet.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity information is determined by the one or more online communication devices based on at least one of activity of accelerometers or electronic compasses of the one or more online communication devices, readings of heat sensors of the one or more online communication devices, detection of the user'"'"'s voice in ambient sound, device speeds of the one or more online communication devices, connections to a WiFi network by the one or more online communication devices, or an image or images captured by cameras of the one or more online communication devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device speeds are determined using cell site handover information or global positioning system (GPS) information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more online communication devices uses a model of accelerometer data, electronic compass data, heat sensor readings, voice or sound data, or device speed data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more online communication devices use a combination of at least two of activity of accelerometers or electronic compasses of the one or more online communication devices, readings of heat sensors one or more online communication devices, detection of the user'"'"'s voice in ambient sound, device speeds of the one or more online communication devices, connections to a WiFi network by the one or more online communication devices or an image or images captured by cameras of the one or more online communication devices.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more online communication devices utilize rules or criteria to select factors to use in determining the proximity of the user.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting is further based on a user preference for selecting among multiple proximate, online communication devices.

14. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

based on a user preference, transmitting the communication to an additional one of the plurality of online communication devices regardless of whether the additional one of the plurality of online communication devices is proximate to the user.

15. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting the communication to others of the plurality of online communication devices when user is proximate to those others of the plurality of online communication devices or after completion of a time period beginning when the communication is transmitted to the selected online communication device.

16. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the user proximate at a different online communication device than the selected online communication device;

determining that the transmitted communication is unread on the selected online communication device; and

transmitting the communication to the different online communication device.

17. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

following a time period beginning when the communication is transmitted to the selected online communication device, determining that the communication is unread; and

transmitting the communication to one or more others of the plurality of online communication devices.

18. One or more computer storage devices storing computer-executable instructions configured to program a computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving device data from one or more online communication devices;

determining proximity of a user to the one or more online communication devices based on the device data, the user being associated with a plurality of online communication devices that includes the one or more online communication devices;

selecting one of the one or more online communicated devices based at least in part on the determined proximity; and

transmitting a communication to the selected online communication device.

19. The one or more computer storage devices of claim 18, wherein the device data includes one or more of i) data indicating activity of accelerometers or electronic compasses of the one or more online communication devices, ii) readings of heat sensors of the one or more online communication devices, iii) data indicating detection of the user'"'"'s voice in ambient sound, iv) device speeds of the one or more online communication devices, v) data indicating connections to a WiFi network by the one or more online communication devices, or vi) an image or images captured by cameras of the one or more online communication devices.

20. The one or more computer storage devices of claim 18, wherein the communication is associated with one of an instant messaging application, a video call client, a voice call application, a social networking application, a game, a text messaging application, a media player, or a mobile wallet.