Method and apparatus for determining the behavior of a communications device based upon environmental conditions

• US 6,408,187 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Merriam, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/312,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 455/38.5, 455/575, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/227, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.7, 455/421, 455/458, 455/567, 340/870.09, 340/573.4, 340/582, 340/571, 340/506, 340/519, 340/540, 340/545.4
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically determining the behavior of a communications device based upon the likelihood that a user is within relatively close proximity to the communications device. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors, one or more behavioral mechanisms, and a behavior determining mechanism. The sensors (which may, for example, be mechanical, audio, heat, or motion sensors) provide indications as to the likelihood that a user is within relatively close proximity to the communications device. These indications are received by the behavior determining mechanism, and in response, the behavior determining mechanism determines, based upon the indications, one or more appropriate behaviors for the apparatus. The behavior determining mechanism then causes one or more of the behavioral mechanisms to carry out the appropriate behaviors. By taking into account the likelihood that a user is within relatively close proximity to the communications device, the apparatus of the present invention enables the communications device to adapt its behavior to conform to its immediate environment. Thus, for example, if a communications device is situated in a room in which a meeting is being conducted, it will not issue an audio alert in response to an incoming communication. Instead, it will issue an alternate alert, such as a visual alert or a vibrating alert, to avoid disrupting the meeting. This and many other applications are possible with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a communications device for alerting a user of the communications device to an incoming communication, comprising:

receiving an incoming communication intended for the user of the communications device;

determining one or more environmental conditions of a current environment surrounding the communications device;

selecting, based upon said environmental conditions, one or more appropriate mechanisms, from a plurality of alert mechanisms, to invoke to alert the user of said incoming communication; and

alerting the user by invoking said one or more appropriate mechanisms.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said incoming communication comprises one of the members of a group consisting of:

a telephone call, a page, an audio transmission, a video transmission, a data transmission, and a text message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said environmental conditions comprise one or more of the members of a group consisting of:

amount of noise around the communications device, amount of body heat near the communications device, motion around the communications device, whether there are objects within close proximity to the communications device, and whether the user is in physical contact with the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises:

receiving information from at least one environmental sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining comprises:

receiving information from a plurality of environmental sensors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting comprises:

invoking a plurality of said appropriate mechanisms.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining whether the communications device is in physical contact with the user;

selecting comprises;

selecting a mechanical alert mechanism if the communications device is in physical contact with the user; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said mechanical alert mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said mechanical alert mechanism comprises a vibration mechanism.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining a noise level for said current environment;

selecting comprises;

selecting a mechanical alert mechanism if said noise level exceeds a certain threshold; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said mechanical alert mechanism.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining a noise level for said current environment;

selecting comprises;

selecting a visual alert mechanism if said noise level exceeds a certain threshold; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said visual alert mechanism.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining an amount of body heat in said current environment;

selecting comprises;

selecting a mechanical alert mechanism if said amount of body heat exceeds a certain threshold; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said mechanical alert mechanism.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining there is motion in said current environment;

selecting comprises;

selecting a mechanical alert mechanism if there is motion in said current environment; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said mechanical alert mechanism.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining there is motion in said current environment;

selecting comprises;

selecting a visual alert mechanism if there is motion in said current environment; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said visual alert mechanism.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining comprises;

determining whether said current environment is a confined space;

selecting comprises;

selecting an audio alert mechanism if said current environment is a confined space; and

alerting comprises;

invoking said audio alert mechanism at a higher than average volume.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the user has received said incoming communication; and

forwarding said incoming communication to another communications device if the user has not received said incoming communication.

16. A communications device, comprising:

a communications mechanism for receiving an incoming communication intended for a user of said communications device;

one or more sensors, each sensor providing an indication of one or more environmental conditions of a current environment surrounding said communications device;

a plurality of alert mechanisms for alerting the user to said incoming communication; and

a behavioral determining mechanism coupled to said one or more sensors and said plurality of alert mechanisms, said behavior determining mechanism selecting, based upon said one or more environmental conditions, one or more of said plurality of alert mechanisms as being appropriate mechanisms for alerting the user to said incoming communication, and invoking said appropriate mechanisms.

17. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said incoming communication comprises one of the members of a group consisting of:

a telephone call, a page, an audio transmission, a video transmission, a data transmission, and a text message.

18. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said environmental conditions comprise one or more of the members of a group consisting of:

amount of noise around the communications device, amount of body heat near the communications device, motion around the communications device, whether there are objects within close proximity to the communications device, and whether the user is in physical contact with the communications device.

19. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said communications device comprises a plurality of sensors, with each sensor providing an indication of a different environmental condition.

20. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a mechanical sensor for sensing whether said communications device is in physical contact with the user, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a mechanical alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said mechanical alert mechanism if said mechanical sensor indicates that said communications device is in physical contact with the user.

21. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises an audio sensor for sensing a noise level for said current environment, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a mechanical alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said mechanical alert mechanism if said audio sensor indicates that said noise level exceeds a certain threshold.

22. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises an audio sensor for sensing a noise level for said current environment, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a visual alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said visual alert mechanism if said audio sensor indicates that said noise level exceeds a certain threshold.

23. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a heat sensor for sensing body heat in said current environment, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a mechanical alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said mechanical alert mechanism if said heat sensor indicates that said body heat exceeds a certain threshold.

24. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a motion sensor for sensing motion in said current environment, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a mechanical alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said mechanical alert mechanism if said motion sensor indicates that there is motion in said current environment.

25. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a motion sensor for sensing motion in said current environment, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises a visual alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said visual alert mechanism if said motion sensor indicates that there is motion in said current environment.

26. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a proximity sensor for sensing whether said current environment is a confined space, wherein said plurality of alert mechanisms comprises an audio alert mechanism, and wherein said behavior determining mechanism selects and invokes said audio alert mechanism at a higher than average volume if said proximity sensor indicates that said current environment is a confined space.

27. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said behavior determining mechanism determines whether the user has received said incoming communication, and if not, said behavior determining mechanism causing said communications mechanism to forward said incoming communication to another communications device.