SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GROUP COMMUNICATION USING A MOBILE DEVICE WITH MODE DEPENDING ON USER PROXIMITY OR DEVICE POSITION

• US 20150230066A1
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Subbaramoo, Shobha, Lindner, Mark Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,187,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling group communications using a mobile device includes detecting a motion of the mobile device corresponding to a user placing the device on a surface, maintain a communication session with another mobile device while the user is detected in proximity to the first mobile device, and entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the device. The communication session may be maintained for a time-out period before entering the non-active mode. Further methods and systems include transitioning to a non-active communication mode in response to detecting a motion of the mobile device corresponding to a user placing the device on a surface.

Claims

1. A method of group communication using a first mobile device, comprising:

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the first mobile device corresponding to a user placing the first mobile device facedown on a surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode in response to the detected motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein entering a non-active communication mode comprises suppressing at least one communication received at the first mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the first mobile device has entered a non-active communication mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the first mobile device in a non-active communication mode for a pre-determined timeout period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a movement of the first mobile device during the timeout period; and

resuming the communication session in an active mode in response to the detected movement.

7. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the mobile communication device facedown on a surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode in response to the detected motion.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that entering a non-active communication mode comprises suppressing at least one communication received at the mobile communication device.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

maintaining the mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode for a pre-determined timeout period.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting a movement of the mobile communication device during the timeout period; and

resuming the communication session in an active mode in response to the detected movement.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

means for establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

means for detecting a motion of the mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the mobile communication device facedown on a surface; and

means for entering a non-active communication mode in response to the detected motion.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein means for entering a non-active communication mode comprises means for suppressing at least one communication received at the mobile communication device.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for maintaining the mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode for a pre-determined timeout period.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, further comprising:

means for ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 16, further comprising:

means for detecting a movement of the mobile communication device during the timeout period; and

means for resuming the communication session in an active mode in response to the detected movement.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a first mobile communication device to perform operations comprising:

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the first mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the first mobile communication device facedown on a surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode in response to the detected motion.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that entering a non-active communication mode comprises suppressing at least one communication received at the first mobile communication device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the first mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

maintaining the first mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode for a pre-determined timeout period.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

detecting a movement of the first mobile communication device during the timeout period; and

resuming the communication session in an active mode in response to the detected movement.