Method and apparatus for adapting settings of wireless communication devices in accordance with user proximity
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method for altering settings of a mobile device in accordance with motion information, said method comprising:
- (a) obtaining motion information for a mobile device;
(b) determining whether one or more settings of the mobile device should be altered based on the motion information; and
(c) altering the one or more settings of the mobile device based on the motion information.
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Abstract
Improved approaches for adapting settings of wireless communication devices based on estimated proximity to respective users. In accordance with one aspect, one or more settings of a wireless communication device can be automatically altered in accordance with motion (if any) of the wireless communication device. Consequently, settings of the wireless communication device can be dynamically adapted based on the proximity (e.g., motion) of the wireless communication device to its user.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for altering settings of a mobile device in accordance with motion information, said method comprising:
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(a) obtaining motion information for a mobile device;
(b) determining whether one or more settings of the mobile device should be altered based on the motion information; and
(c) altering the one or more settings of the mobile device based on the motion information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
wherein said obtaining (a) obtains the motion information from the motion sensor. -
7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the motion information is a current motion indication, and
wherein said determining (b) includes at least (b1) comparing the current motion indication with a threshold level, and (b2) determining whether a current state of the mobile device is active or stationary based on said comparing (b1). -
8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said altering (c) operates to alter the one or more settings of the mobile device in accordance with the current state.
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9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the current motion indication indicates a degree of movement.
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10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the mobile device comprise at least one user preference.
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11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the mobile device comprise at least one notification characteristic.
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12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a ringer, and
wherein said altering (c) of the one or more settings of the mobile device operates to set a ringer-mode for the ringer within the mobile device. -
13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more settings of the mobile device being altered by said altering (c) correspond to one or more user preferences.
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14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes at least a ringer and at least one motion sensor,
wherein said obtaining (a) obtains the motion information from the motion sensor, wherein the motion information is a current motion indication, wherein said determining (b) includes at least (b1) comparing the current motion indication with a threshold level, and (b2) determining whether a current state of the mobile device is active or stationary based on said comparing (b1), and wherein said altering (c) of the one or more settings of the mobile device operates to set a ringer-mode for the ringer within the mobile device in accordance with the current state.
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15. A method for altering settings of a mobile device, said method comprising:
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determining whether the mobile device is proximate to its owner;
setting one or more mobile device settings in accordance with a first mode when said determining determines that the mobile device is proximate to its owner; and
setting the one or more mobile device settings in accordance with a second mode when said determining determines that the mobile device is not proximate to its owner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
wherein said setting of the one or more mobile device settings in accordance with the first or second modes operates to alter a ringer-mode for the ringer within the mobile device. -
20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile telephone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant.
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21. A method for altering settings of a mobile device, said method comprising:
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(a) receiving a motion indication for the mobile device, the motion indication providing a quantification of the motion that the mobile device has recently undergone;
(b) determining from the motion indication whether the mobile device has been stationary for at least a first predetermined period of time;
(c) setting one or more mobile device settings to stationary preferences when said determining (b) determines that the mobile device has been stationary for at least the first predetermined period of time; and
(d) setting the one or more mobile device settings to active preferences when said determining (b) determines that the mobile device has not been stationary for at least the first predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
wherein the one or more mobile device settings comprise a ringer-mode setting for the ringer within the mobile device. -
23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile telephone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant.
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24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the stationary preferences and the active preferences are user-determined preferences for the one or more mobile device settings.
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25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the one or more settings of the mobile device comprise at least one notification characteristic.
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26. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:
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(e) determining whether the mobile device has been stationary for a second predetermined period of time, the second predetermined period of time being greater than the first predetermined period of time; and
(f) activating a usage lock for the mobile device when said determining (e) determines that the mobile device has been stationary for the second predetermined period of time.
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27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the usage lock prevents usage of the mobile device when activated, and
wherein the usage lock is deactivated to permit usage of the mobile device by entering a code. -
28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the mobile device includes a ringer, and
wherein the one or more mobile device settings comprise a ringer-mode setting for the ringer within the mobile device. -
29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile telephone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant.
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30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the stationary preferences and the active preferences are user-determined preferences for the one or more mobile device settings.
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31. A mobile communication device, comprising:
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a display screen;
navigation or data entry buttons for facilitating user interaction with said mobile communication device;
user preference store that stores user preference information;
a motion sensor that detects movement of said mobile communication device; and
a notification unit operatively connected to said user preference store and said motion sensor, said notification unit operating to provide notifications to a user of said mobile communication device based on the movement of said mobile communication device detected by said motion sensor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
wherein the user preference information includes a first set of user preferences and a second set of user preferences, wherein said notification unit operates to provide notifications to the user of said mobile communication device in accordance with the first set of user preferences when said motion sensor detects that said mobile communication device has recently undergone movement, and wherein said notification unit operates to provide notifications to the user of said mobile communication device in accordance with the second set of user preferences when said motion sensor detects that said mobile communication device has not recently undergone movement. -
35. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 31, wherein said mobile communication device further comprises a usage lock the usage lock prevents unauthorized usage of said mobile communication device when activated.
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36. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 31, wherein said mobile communication device further comprises a wireless browser for interaction with a remote server.
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37. A computer readable medium including computer program code for altering settings of a mobile device in accordance with motion information, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for obtaining motion information for a mobile device;
computer program code for determining whether one or more settings of the mobile device should be altered based on the motion information; and
computer program code for altering the one or more settings of the mobile device based on the motion information.
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38. A computer readable medium including computer program code for altering settings of a mobile device, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for determining whether the mobile device is proximate to its owner;
computer program code for setting one or more mobile device settings in accordance with a first mode when said determining determines that the mobile device is proximate to its owner; and
computer program code for setting the one or more mobile device settings in accordance with a second mode when said determining determines that the mobile device is not proximate to its owner.
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Specification