Methods and systems for configuring mobile devices using sensors

• US 8,040,233 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Srivastava, Aditya Narain, Adappa, Abhishek
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/140,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/517, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.17, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/505, 340521-525, 705/10, 110/8, 455/456.1, 700/94, 445/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems enable selection of a theme for implementation on a computing device based on sensor data. The computing device can include a variety of sensors including sensors capable of sensing ambient temperature, light, and sound, as well as geographic position, for example. Data collected by a sensor is used to select a theme correlated to the sensed condition. Data from sensors can also be used to generate customized advertisements that can be displayed on the computing device.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a theme implemented on a computing device, comprising:

receiving data collected by a sensor;

selecting a theme based on the data collected by the sensor, wherein the theme is stored in a theme file comprising a theme element for changing a display of the computing device and a theme element for changing a keypad of the computing device; and

applying the selected theme to the computing device to change the computing device display and the computing device keypad.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of applying the selected theme to the computing device comprises adjusting a color of a backlight.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the theme file of the selected theme is stored on the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the theme file of the selected theme is stored on a server.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending a request for the theme file of the selected theme to the server via a network; and

receiving the requested theme file of the selected theme from the server via the network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising including information regarding the computing device in the request for the theme file of the selected theme.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a theme based on the data collected by the sensor comprises selecting one of a plurality of themes using a theme list stored in memory of the computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the theme list includes theme criteria associated with each of the plurality of themes, and wherein the step of selecting a theme based on the data collected by the sensor further comprises comparing the data collected by the sensor to the theme criteria and selecting one of the plurality of themes for which the theme criteria is satisfied.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device includes a configurable keypad and the step of applying the selected theme to the computing device to change the computing device keypad includes applying the selected theme to the configurable keypad.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying the selected theme to the configurable keypad is accomplished using a keypad protocol.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the configurable keypad is a display-key keypad.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the configurable keypad is a touchscreen keypad.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the configurable keypad includes key displays positioned adjacent to the keys.

15. A method for presenting advertisements on a mobile computing device, comprising:

receiving data collected by a sensor on the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

the mobile computing device sending the data collected by the sensor along with a request for an advertisement to an advertisement server;

the mobile computing device receiving an advertisement relating to the data collected by the sensor; and

displaying the advertisement on the computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor further comprises a second sensor selected from the group consisting of a location sensor, and a Global Positioning System receiver.

17. A method for providing advertisements to a mobile computing device, comprising:

receiving from the mobile computing device a request for an advertisement including sensor data collected by a sensor coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

generating an advertisement based on the sensor data; and

sending the generated advertisement to the mobile computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of generating an advertisement based on the sensor data further comprises:

receiving information regarding the position of the mobile computing device;

requesting advertisement information from a server regarding advertisers located in the vicinity of the mobile computing device;

receiving advertisement information from the server; and

generating a customized advertisement using the received advertisement information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of advertisement information further comprises forwarding the received sensor data to the server.

20. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a sensor coupled to the processor

a display coupled to the processor;

a keypad coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

receiving data collected by the sensor;

selecting a theme based on the data collected by the sensor, wherein the theme is stored in a theme file comprising a theme element for changing a display of the computing device and a theme element for changing a keypad of the computing device; and

applying the selected theme to the computing device display to change the display and the keypad.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

22. The computing device of claim 21, further comprising a backlight, wherein:

the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising adjusting a color of a backlight based on data collected by the temperature sensor.

23. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the theme file of the selected theme is stored in the memory.

24. The computing device of claim 20, further comprising a network interface circuit coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising:

sending a request for the theme file of the selected theme to a server via the network interface circuit; and

receiving the requested theme file of the selected theme from the server via the network interface circuit.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the network interface circuit comprises a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive data via a wireless data network.

26. The computing device of claim 20, wherein:

the memory has stored therein a theme list identifying a plurality of themes and including theme criteria associated with each of the plurality of themes; and

the processor is configured with software instructions to perform the step of selecting a theme by performing steps comprising comparing the data collected by the sensor to the theme criteria and selecting one of the plurality of themes for which the theme criteria is satisfied.

27. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the keypad is a configurable keypad and the processor is configured with software instructions such that applying the selected theme to the computing device to change the keypad comprises applying the selected theme to the configurable keypad.

28. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the software configuring the processor includes a keypad protocol.

29. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the keypad is a display-key keypad.

30. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the keypad is a touchscreen keypad.

31. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the keypad includes key displays positioned adjacent to the keys.

32. A mobile computing device comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

a network interface circuit coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

receiving data collected by the sensor;

sending the data collected by the sensor along with a request for an advertisement to an advertisement server via the network interface circuit;

receiving an advertisement relating to the data collected by the sensor from the server via the network interface circuit; and

displaying the advertisement data on the display.

33. The computing device of claim 32, wherein the sensor further comprises a second sensor selected from the group consisting of a location sensor, and a Global Positioning System receiver.

34. The computing device of claim 32, wherein the network interface circuit comprises a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive data via a wireless data network.

35. A server configured to customize and distribute advertisements to a mobile computing device via a network, comprising:

a server memory;

a server processor coupled to the server memory; and

a network connection coupled to the server processor,

wherein the server processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

receiving from the mobile computing device via the network connection a request for an advertisement including data collected by a sensor coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

generating an advertisement based on the sensor data; and

sending the generated advertisement to the mobile computing device via the network interface.

36. The server of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

requesting advertisement information from a merchant server regarding advertisers located in the vicinity of the mobile computing device;

receiving advertisement information from the merchant server; and

generating the advertisement using the received advertisement information.

37. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform steps comprising:

receiving data collected by a sensor;

selecting a theme based on the data collected by the sensor, wherein the theme is stored in a theme file comprising a theme element for changing a display of the computing device and a theme element for changing a keypad of the computing device; and

applying the selected theme to the computing device to change the computing device display and the computing device keypad.

38. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to receive data collected by a temperature sensor.

39. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 38, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps further comprising:

adjusting a color of a backlight based on data collected by the temperature sensor.

40. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to select a theme with a theme file stored on the computing device.

41. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform further steps comprising:

sending a request for the theme file of the selected theme to a server via a network interface circuit; and

receiving the requested theme file of the selected theme from the server via the network interface circuit.

42. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 41, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform further steps comprising communicating with the server via a wireless data network.

43. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to select a theme by performing steps comprising:

comparing the data collected by the sensor to theme criteria included in a theme list stored in memory, the theme list identifying a plurality of themes; and

selecting one of the plurality of themes for which the theme criteria is satisfied.

44. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps such that applying the selected theme to the computing device to change the keypad comprises applying the selected theme to a configurable keypad.

45. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 44, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps further comprising applying the selected theme to the configurable keypad using a keypad protocol.

46. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps further comprising applying the selected theme to a display-key keypad.

47. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps further comprising applying the selected theme to a touchscreen keypad.

48. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 37, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device performing steps further comprising applying the selected theme to key displays positioned adjacent to keys of a keypad.

49. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile computing device to perform steps comprising:

receiving data collected by a sensor on the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

sending the data collected by a sensor along with a request for an advertisement to an advertisement server via a network interface circuit;

receiving an advertisement relating to the data collected by the sensor from the server via the network interface circuit; and

displaying the advertisement on a display of the mobile computing device.

50. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 49, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of the mobile computing device to further receive data from another sensor selected from the group consisting of a location sensor, and a Global Positioning System receiver.

51. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 49, wherein the tangible storage medium has stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of the mobile computing device to communicate with the server via a wireless data network.

52. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving from a mobile computing device via a network connection a request for an advertisement including data collected by a sensor coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

generating an advertisement based on the sensor data; and

sending the generated advertisement to the mobile computing device via the network interface.

53. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 52, wherein the tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform further steps comprising:

requesting advertisement information from a merchant server regarding advertisers located in the vicinity of the mobile computing device;

receiving advertisement information from the merchant server; and

generating the advertisement using the received advertisement information.

54. A computing device comprising:

a display;

a keypad;

means for sensing an ambient condition and generating corresponding sensor data;

means for selecting a theme based on the sensor data, wherein the theme is stored in a theme file comprising a theme element for changing a display of the computing device and a theme element for changing a keypad of the computing device; and

means for displaying the selected theme on the computing device to change the display and the keypad.

55. The computing device of claim 54, wherein the means for sensing an ambient condition comprises means for sensing an ambient temperature.

56. The computing device of claim 55, further comprising:

means for providing backlighting on the computing device; and

means for adjusting a color of the means for providing backlighting on the computing device in response to the temperature sensor data.

57. The computing device of claim 54, further comprising:

means for requesting a theme file of the selected theme from a server via a network; and

means for receiving the requested theme file of the selected theme.

58. The computing device of claim 54, further comprising:

means for comparing the data collected by the sensor to theme criteria within a theme list identifying a plurality of themes; and

selecting one of the plurality of themes for which the theme criteria is satisfied.

59. The computing device of claim 54, further comprising means for displaying the selected theme on a keypad.

60. A mobile computing device comprising:

means for sensing an ambient condition and generating corresponding sensor data, wherein the ambient condition comprises at least one ambient condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, vibration, noise, breath alcohol, acceleration, and ambient light;

means for sending the sensor data along with a request for an advertisement to a server;

means for receiving an advertisement from the server; and

means for displaying the advertisement on the mobile computing device.

61. A server configured to customize and distribute advertisements to a mobile computing device, comprising:

means for receiving a request for an advertisement including data collected by a sensor coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, a breath alcohol sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor;

means for generating an advertisement based on the sensor data; and

means for sending the generated advertisement to the mobile computing device.

62. The server of claim 61, further comprising:

requesting advertisement information from a merchant server regarding advertisers located in the vicinity of the mobile computing device;

receiving advertisement information from the merchant server; and

generating the advertisement using the received advertisement information.