Method of and apparatus for zone dependent content in a mobile device

• US 7,783,308 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogren, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US10/885,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/575.1, 455/445, 455/519, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/344, 4554561-457, 342/457, 342/450, 340/686, 340/825, 725/31
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A mobile device comprises a geographic sensor for determining an approximate location of the mobile device, a memory for storing information, and a microprocessor for controlling the device and adapted for receiving data from the geographic sensor and determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular zone. In another embodiment, the mobile device comprises a device sensor for sensing at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area, a memory for storing information, and a microprocessor for controlling the device and adapted for receiving data from the device sensor and determining whether predetermined conditions, regarding additional mobile devices within a predefined area, are met. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A mobile device adapted to be responsive to at least one geographic zone, the mobile device comprising:

a geographic sensor for determining an approximate location of the mobile device;

a memory for storing information, wherein at least a portion of the information is associated with the at least one geographic zone;

a display for presenting the information to the user; and

a microprocessor, interoperably coupled to the memory and the display, for controlling the mobile device and being adapted for receiving data from the geographic sensor and determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone,

wherein the memory is adapted to store the information in the form of a plurality of data items,

wherein each of the plurality of data items is associated with at least one particular geographic zone of a plurality of geographic zones, and

each of the plurality of data items is accessible in dependence of whether it is determined by the microprocessor that the mobile device is located in an associated particular geographic zone and

the microprocessor presents the plurality of data items to the user on the display in an order that is a function of the particular one of the at least one geographic zone,

wherein the data items associated with the at least one geographic zone in which the mobile device is located is presented to the user in priority before other data items are presented to the user.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the mobile device is located in a particular secure zone, information stored in the memory may be accessed.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the mobile device is not located in a particular secure zone, information stored in the memory is not accessible.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the inaccessible information is not decryptable.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the inaccessible information is locked.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores personal information in a home category portion of the memory.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the home category portion of the memory is accessible when the mobile device is located in a home zone.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores work information in a work category portion of the memory.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the work category portion of the memory is accessible when the mobile device is located in a work zone.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each data item stored in the memory is associated with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is accessible.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each data item stored in the memory is associated with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is not accessible.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a device sensor for sensing at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area.

13. A method of utilizing at least one geographic zone in the operation of a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, by a geographic sensor, an approximate location of the mobile device;

storing information in a memory in a plurality of data items,

wherein a plurality of the data items are associated with at least one geographic zone of a plurality of geographic zones;

determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone based on data received from the geographic sensor, and

accessing the plurality of data items in dependence of whether it is determined by the microprocessor that the mobile device is located in an associated particular geographic zone associate with the data items and

presenting the sorted data items to the user in an order that is a function of the particular one of the at least one geographic zone, and

the data items are presented to the user on a display of the mobile device,

wherein data items associated with the at least one geographic zone in which the mobile device is located is presented to the user on the display in priority before other information is presented to the user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of allowing access to the information if the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of preventing access to the information if the mobile device is not located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of locking the information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of preventing decryption of the information.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing personal information in a home category portion of the memory.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of allowing access to the home category portion of the memory when the mobile device is located in a home zone.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing work information in a work category portion of the memory.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of allowing access to the work category portion of the memory when the mobile device is located in a work zone.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of associating each data item stored in the memory with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is accessible.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising associating each data item stored in the memory with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is not accessible.