Environment independent user preference communication

• US 7,747,246 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., O'Neil, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/366,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 367/198, 370/401, 379/88.01, 455/415, 455/432.3, 455/456.1, 455/458, 700/1, 700/300, 701/201, 705/34, 705/37
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment.

Claims

1. A method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment, comprising:

receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user;

receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device;

determining at least one user preference related to the user, the at least one user preference being environment independent;

determining capabilities related to the environment;

determining at least one environment setting, the at least one environment setting being determined from the at least one user preference and the determined capabilities of the environment; and

communicating the at least one environment setting to the environment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data related to at least one user preference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving data related to at least one user preference includes receiving the data via the environment.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving data related to at least one user preference includes receiving the data via a website.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing data related to at least one user preference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is received from the environment via a local network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the environment includes at least one of the following:

an automobile, a room, a house, a boat, an airplane, a helicopter, a retail establishment, a gym, and an office.

8. A method for setting user preferences in an environment, comprising:

receiving a first user identifier via a portable user device;

utilizing the first user identifier to determine the identity of a first user;

communicating with a remote provisioning system to receive at least one user preference, the at least one user preference being environment independent;

determining at least one capability of the environment;

determining at least one environment setting based on the at least one user preference and the at least one determined capability of the environment; and

adapting the at least one user preference into the at least one environment setting in the environment, based on the at least one determined capability of the environment.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether the first user has access to the environment.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a second user identifier;

determining a primary user from the first user identifier and the second user identifier; and

determining a secondary user from the first user identifier and the second user identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing the second user identifier to determine the identity of the second user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the second user has access to the environment.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein adapting at least one user preference to at least one setting in the environment includes determining whether the at least one preference is a user specific preference for the environment.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein adapting at least one user preference to at least one setting in the environment includes determining whether the at least one preference is a general preference of the environment.

15. A computer readable storage medium that stores a program for setting user preferences in an environment, such that, when executed by a computer the program causes the computer to perform at least the following:

receive a first user identifier via a portable user device;

utilize the first user identifier to determine the identity of a first user;

communicate with a remote provisioning system to receive at least one user preference, the at least one user preference being environment independent;

determine at least one environment setting based on the at least one user preference and at least one previously determined environment capability; and

adapt the at least one user preference into the at least one environment setting in the environment based on the determined environment capability.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to determine whether the first user has access to the environment.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to perform at least the following:

receive a second user identifier;

determine a primary user from the first user identifier and the second user identifier; and

determine a secondary user from the first user identifier and the second user identifier.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the program further causing the computer to utilize the second user identifier to determine the identity of the second user.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the adapting at least one user preference to at least one setting in the environment includes determining whether the at least one preference is a user specific preference for the environment.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein adapting at least one user preference to at least one setting in the environment includes determining whether the at least one preference is a general preference of the environment.