Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction

• US 8,160,560 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Inventors: Geyer, John J., Featherstone, Peter A., Wright, Andrew S., Chan, Mandy, Williams, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIBBEE, CHAYCE R
• Application Number:
  US12/040,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20080299959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 4554561-4566, 455/569.2, 455/99, 455/238.1, 455/345, 340/438, 340/441, 340/525, 340/575, 340/576, 340/901
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer system for managing communications comprising:

determining a set of potential mobile device context states, the set of potential mobile device context states being determined at least partially based on potential information from at least one sensor associated with a mobile communication device, the set of potential mobile device context states defined in accordance with a potential risk to a user of the mobile communication device associated with use of the mobile communication device;

causing the display of at least a subset of the set of potential mobile device context states via a graphical user interface;

obtaining a selection of a mobile device context state via the graphical user interface;

for the selected mobile device context state;

determining a set of one or more applicable mobile communication device availabilities, wherein each mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication with the mobile communication device based on a previously transmitted mobile communication device context state;

causing the display of at least a subset of the set of applicable mobile communication device availabilities;

obtaining a selection of a mobile communication device availability;

associating the selected mobile device context state with the selected mobile communication device availability; and

storing the association as a mobile communication device profile;

receiving from the mobile communication device a first mobile communication device context state corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context states, wherein the first mobile communication device context state is received independent of a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device;

determining a mobile communication device communication availability based on processing the first mobile communication device context state with the stored mobile communication device profile;

storing the determined mobile communication device communication availability;

receiving a first request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device and a third party communication device;

without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device by transmitting a request to the mobile communication device, and without causing a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device, processing the first request for initiation of communication based at least in part on the stored mobile communication device communication availability;

receiving from the mobile communication device a second mobile communication device context state corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context states, the second mobile communication device context state and the first mobile communication device context state being different context states, wherein receiving the second mobile communication device context state occurs only if the mobile communication device determines a change in mobile communication device context state has occurred, and wherein the second mobile communication device context state is received independent of a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device and independent of a request for a context state transmission;

determining an updated mobile communication device communication availability based on processing the second mobile communication device context state with the stored mobile communication device profile;

storing the updated mobile communication device communication availability;

receiving a second request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device and a third party communication device; and

without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device and without causing a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device, processing the second request for initiation of communication based at least in part on the stored updated mobile communication device communication availability.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a set of identifiable individuals reflective of potential communications with the mobile communication device;

causing the display of data indicative at least a subset of the set of identifiable individuals;

obtaining a selection of at least one identifiable individual;

associating the selected identifiable individual with the stored mobile communication device profile.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the set of identifiable individuals corresponds to caller identification information.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the set of identifiable individuals corresponds to a communication network address.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein causing the display of data indicative at least a subset of the set of identifiable individuals includes causing the display of icons representative of the subset of the set of identifiable individuals on the graphical user interface.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein associating of the selected identifiable individual with stored mobile communication device profile includes manipulating a selected icon to overlap with an icon indicative of a mobile communication device profile in accordance with a drag and drop technique.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein determining a set of identifiable individuals reflective of potential communications with the mobile communication device includes receiving the set of identifiable individuals reflective of potential communications with the mobile communication device from a communication network resource.

8. A method implemented in a computer system for managing communications comprising:

causing the display of a geographic region on a graphical user interface;

obtaining a definition of at least one geospatial zone within the displayed geographic region, wherein the at least one geospatial zone is defined by a centroid and a non-circular boundary;

causing the display of the at least one geospatial zone in a graphical user interface;

obtaining a selection of the at least one geospatial zones displayed in the graphical user interface;

determining a set of potential mobile device context information, the set of potential mobile device context information being determined at least partially based on potential information from at least one sensor associated with a mobile communication device, the set of potential mobile device context states defined in accordance with a potential risk to a user of the mobile communication device associated with use of the mobile communication device;

obtaining a selection of a mobile device context information via the graphical user interface;

,

determining a potential mobile device context state, the mobile device context state based at least in part on the selected mobile device context information and on potential information associated with a mobile communication device, the potential information specifying whether the mobile communication device is located within the selected at least one geospatial zone;

for the selected mobile device context state;

obtaining a selection of a one or more user identities corresponding to potential communication links with a mobile communication device;

determining a set of one or more applicable mobile communication device availabilities, wherein each mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication between the mobile communication device and a user identity based at least in part on a previously transmitted mobile communication device context state;

causing the display of at least a subset of the set of applicable mobile communication device availabilities;

obtaining a selection of a mobile communication device availability;

associating the selected mobile communication device availability with the determined mobile device context state and with the selected one or more user identities; and

storing the association in a mobile communication device profile;

independent of a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device;

receiving from the mobile communication device a first mobile communication device context state, the first mobile communication device context state including information as to whether the mobile communication device is within the at least one geospatial zone, the first mobile communication device context state further including information corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context information;

storing the received first mobile communication device context state;

receiving from the mobile communication device a second mobile communication device context state, the second mobile communication device context state including updated information as to whether the mobile communication device is within the at least one geospatial zone, the second mobile communication device context state further including updated information corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context information, the second mobile device context state and the first mobile device context states being different context states, wherein receiving the second mobile communication device context state occurs only if the mobile communication device determines a change in mobile communication device context state has occurred; and

storing the received second mobile communication device context state;

receiving a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device and a communicating user identity; and

without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device;

determining a communication availability of the mobile communication device based on processing the stored mobile communication device profile with the stored second mobile communication device context state and the communicating user identity; and

processing the request for initiation of communication based at least in part on the determined communication availability, wherein processing does not cause a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein obtaining the definition of the at least one geospatial zone corresponds to receiving, via an input device, a manipulation of the graphical user interface data indicative of the non-circular boundary.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein obtaining the definition of the at least one geospatial zone corresponds to receiving, via a mobile communication device, data indicative of logical coordinates of the non-circular boundary.

11. The method as recited claim 10, wherein data indicative of logical coordinates corresponds to global positioning system data, and wherein receiving, via a mobile communication device, data indicative of logical coordinates of the non-circular boundary includes receiving via manipulation of the mobile communication device, a set of global positioning system data corresponding to a user'"'"'s current location on the non-circular boundary of the at least one geographic region.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein obtaining a definition of at least one geospatial zone within the displayed geographic region includes obtaining the definition of the at least one geospatial zone from a network resource.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising publishing the definition of the at least one geospatial zone within the displayed geographic region, wherein the at least one geospatial zone is defined by a centroid and a non-circular boundary to a network resource.

14. A method implemented in a computer system for managing communications with a mobile communications device comprising:

determining a set of potential mobile device context states, the set of potential mobile device context states being determined at least partially based on potential information from at least one sensor associated with a mobile communication device, the set of potential mobile device context states defined in accordance with a potential risk to a user of the mobile device associated with use of the mobile communication device;

causing the display of at least a subset of the set of potential mobile device context states via a graphical user interface;

obtaining a selection of a mobile device context state via the graphical user interface;

for the selected mobile device context state;

determining a set of one or more applicable mobile communication device availabilities, wherein each mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication between the mobile communications device and an identifiable individual based on a previously transmitted mobile communication device context;

causing the display of the set of applicable mobile communication device availability availabilities;

obtaining a selection of a mobile communication device availability;

determining a set of identifiable individuals reflective of potential communications with the mobile communication device;

causing the display of data indicative of at least a subset of the set of identifiable individuals on the graphical user interface;

obtaining a selection of at least one identifiable individual;

associating the selected identifiable individual and the selected mobile device context state with the selected mobile communication device availability; and

storing the association as a mobile communication device profile;

independent of a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device;

receiving from the mobile communication device a mobile communication device context state corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context states;

storing the received mobile communication device context state;

receiving from the mobile communication device an updated mobile communication device context state corresponding to one of the set of potential mobile device context states, wherein receiving the updated mobile communication device context state occurs only if the mobile communication device determines a change in mobile communication device context state has occurred;

storing the received updated mobile communication device context state;

receiving a request for initiation of communication including the mobile communication device and the selected identifiable individual; and

without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device;

determining a communication availability of the mobile communication device based on processing the stored mobile communication device profile with the stored updated mobile communication device context state and the identity of the selected identifiable individual; and

processing the request for initiation of communication based at least in part on the determined communication availability, wherein processing does not cause a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein causing the display of the set of applicable mobile communication device availabilities in a graphical user interface includes causing the display of each of the applicable mobile communication device availabilities to be displayed as a geometric shape on the graphical user interface and wherein obtaining a selection of at least one of the set of applicable mobile communication device availabilities includes manipulation, via the graphical user interface, of data indicative of a selected individual to overlap with a display geometric shape.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein causing the display of data indicative at least a subset of the set of identifiable individuals on the graphical user interface includes causing each individual in the set of identifiable individual to be displayed as a selectable object in the graphical user interface.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising causing the display of a set of associations of selected individuals and mobile communication device availabilities via the graphical user interface.

18. A method implemented in a computer system for managing communications comprising:

determining a set of potential mobile device context states, the set of potential mobile device context states being determined at least partially based on potential information from at least one sensor associated with a mobile communication device, the set of potential mobile device context states defined in accordance with a potential risk to a user of the mobile device, the potential risk arising from use of the mobile communication device;

obtaining a selection of a mobile device context state via a graphical user interface;

for the selected mobile device context state;

determining a set of one or more applicable mobile communication device availabilities, wherein each mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication between the mobile device and an identifiable individual based on a previously transmitted mobile communication device context;

obtaining a selection of a mobile communication device availability;

obtaining a selection of at least one identifiable individual;

associating the at least one selected identifiable individual and the selected mobile device context state with the selected mobile communication device availability; and

storing the association as a mobile communication device profile;

receiving a current mobile communication device context state from the mobile communication device independent of a request for establishing a communication link, wherein the mobile communication device context is based at least partially on information from at least one sensor associated with the mobile communication device, wherein receiving current mobile communication device context information occurs only when the mobile communication device determines that a change in mobile communication device context information has occurred;

determining a mobile communication device communication availability based on processing the current mobile communication device context state with the stored mobile communication device profile;

storing the predetermined availability in the mobile communication device profile;

subsequently obtaining a request for establishing a communication including the at least one identified individual and the mobile communication device;

recalling the predetermined availability from the mobile communication device profile, wherein the mobile communication device profile is identified by the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual; and

responding to the request for establishing the communication based at least in part on the predetermined availability without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device, and without causing a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device;

receiving an updated mobile communication device context state from the mobile communication device independent of a request for establishing a communication link, wherein the updated mobile communication device context state is based at least partially on information from at least one sensor associated with the mobile communication device, wherein receiving an updated mobile communication device context state occurs only when the mobile communication device determines that a change in mobile communication device context information has occurred;

determining an updated mobile communication device communication availability based on processing the updated mobile communication device context state with the stored mobile communication device profile;

storing the updated availability in the mobile communication device profile;

subsequently obtaining a request for establishing a communication including the at least one identified individual and the mobile communication device;

recalling the updated availability from the mobile communication device profile, wherein the mobile communication device profile is identified by the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual; and

responding to the request for establishing the communication based at least in part on the updated availability without requesting a context state of the mobile communication device, and without causing a modification of at least one of communication reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile communication device profile is stored according to the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual corresponds to a telephone number.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual corresponds to a network resource address.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein recalling the predetermined availability from the mobile communication device profile includes matching a sequential number of characters from the data indicative of the selected identifiable individual until only a single associated communication device profile is available.