Device rotation for SIM selection

• US 8,073,483 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, John, McNamara, Justin, Cenciarelli, Fulvio, Mikan, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/340,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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

A device having multiple configurations, wherein each configuration allows operation of the device according to features that may be different than other configurations. Each of the configurations is controlled by a separate SIM card. The device is configured to select an operating configuration, and associated SIM card, in response to detecting an orientation of the device. As the orientation of the device changes, the device selects an operating configuration in accord with user intent.

Claims

1. A device configured to select an operating configuration of the device in accordance with an orientation of the device, the device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense the orientation of the device; and

a processing portion configured to;

determine that the sensed orientation is one of a first orientation and a second orientation; and

configure the device to an operating configuration associated with the sensed orientation, wherein;

the device is configured to a first operating configuration when the device is determined to be in the first orientation; and

the device is configured to a second operating configuration when the device is determined to be in the second orientation; and

a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card associated with the first operating configuration and a second SIM card associated with the second operating configuration.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein configuring the device to the first operating configuration comprises selecting functions associated with the first SIM card, and wherein configuring the device to the second operating configuration comprises selecting functions associated with the second SIM card.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the functions include at least one of:

linking the operating configuration to a billing account, making available an address book associated with the operating configuration, aligning a user interface to match the operating configuration or selecting ringtones associated with the operating configuration.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing portion is further configured to initiate an action associated with the operating configuration.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the processing portion is further configured to continue the initiated action whether or not the sensed orientation changes.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to detect an incoming phone call associated with a configuration other than the operating configuration.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is further configured to answer the incoming call in response to one or more of the following:

changing the orientation of the device to another orientation associated with the incoming phone call or a user input.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first end having a first pattern and a second end having a second pattern.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a video display configured to provide a user interface aligned with the determined orientation of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensed orientation may be one of a plurality of orientations each associated with one of a plurality of configurations, and

wherein the processing portion configures the device to operate according to one configuration associated with the sensed orientation.

11. A device configured to select an operating configuration of the device in accordance with an orientation of the device, the device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense the orientation of the device;

a plurality of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards; and

a processing portion configured to;

determine the sensed orientation of the device being one of a plurality of orientations; and

configure the device to an operating configuration associated with the one of the plurality of orientations, wherein the device has a plurality of operating configurations, and wherein the operating configuration is associated with one of the plurality of SIM cards.

12. A method to select an operating configuration of a device according to an orientation of the device, the method comprising:

sensing an orientation of the device;

determining the sensed orientation of the device being one of a first orientation and a second orientation;

configuring the device to an operating configuration associated with the sensed orientation, wherein;

the device is configured to a first operating configuration when the device is determined to be in the first orientation;

the device is configured to a second operating configuration when the device is determined to be in the second orientation; and

the first operating configuration is associated with a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and wherein the second operating configuration is associated with a second SIM card.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the device to the first operating configuration comprises selecting functions associated with the first SIM card, and wherein configuring the device to the second operating configuration comprises selecting functions associated with the second SIM card.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the functions include at least one of:

linking the operating configuration to a billing account, making available an address book associated with the operating configuration, aligning a user interface to match the operating configuration or selecting ringtones associated with the operating configuration.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising initiating an action associated with the operating configuration.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising continuing the initiated action whether or not the sensed orientation changes.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting an incoming phone call associated with a configuration other than the operating configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising answering the incoming call in response to one or more of the following:

changing the orientation of the device to another orientation associated with the incoming phone call or a user input.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a first end having a first pattern and a second end having a second pattern.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring a video display to provide a user interface aligned with the determined orientation of the device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensed orientation may be one of a plurality of orientations each associated with one of a plurality of configurations, and wherein the processing portion configures the device to operate according to one configuration associated with the sensed orientation.