Automatic operation of a wireless device based on physical speed

• US 8,346,266 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wormald, Chris, Owen, Russell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US11/552,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 455/441, 455/238.1, 455/456.4, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/567, 4554561-4565, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/67.11, 455/401, 4554121-413, 455/517, 455/440, 455/569.1
• US Class Current: 455/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data

Abstract

A wireless device operates in an operating state determined as a function of the wireless device'"'"'s physical speed. In some implementations, the wireless device determines the physical speed using a GPS (global positioning system). If the wireless device determines based on the physical position and/or physical speed that the user is driving an automobile in a region in which using a wireless device is not permitted while driving, then the wireless device automatically disables device features. However, if the user is actually a passenger, then the user may over-ride the automatic disabling of device features. In some implementations, the wireless device also informs other wireless users that communication is inappropriate or impossible. In some implementations, the wireless device also informs a communications node to process communications directed to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method allowing a wireless device to operate according to an operating state, the method being executed in the wireless device or in a communications node coupled to the wireless device, the method comprising:

maintaining geographic-specific information useful for determining the operating state of the wireless device based on both a physical speed and a physical position of the wireless device;

determining both the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device;

determining the operating state of a plurality of possible operating states based on both the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device, in accordance with the geographic-specific information; and

allowing the wireless device to operate according to the operating state;

wherein for at least some of the possible operating states, a respective set of device features is disabled, the method further comprising;

communicating status information indicative of whether the wireless device is able to process communications;

wherein the status information is associated with permissions so as to allow a set of users to access the status information while disallowing all other users from accessing the status information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is executed by the communications node, the method further comprising:

communicating the operating state to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information from a position measurement system, the information being used to determine both the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the position measurement system is a GPS (global positioning system).

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input for enabling a certain feature that would otherwise be disabled based on the physical speed; and

enabling the certain feature in response to the user input.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from an automobile inside of which is the wireless device, the information being used to determine the physical speed of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective set of device features comprises at least one feature that would require attention by a user of the wireless device if the at least one feature were not disabled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective set of device features comprises at least one of telephony, direct dialling, telephony without a headset, Internet browsing, electronic messaging, voice call without a wired headset, voice call without a wireless headset, composing emails, reading emails, dialling a phone number using digit dial, dialling a phone number using voice activated dialling, dialing using speed dial, sending or receiving instant messages, typing notes in applications, using a mapping application, and unlocking a device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises at least one of the operating state, the physical position, and the physical speed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the physical speed comprises:

acquiring two position measurements; and

computing the physical speed of the wireless device as the difference between the two position measurements divided by a time interval between the two position measurements.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is executed by the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating to the communications node an indication to process communications directed at the wireless device at least until the operating state is changed.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is executed by the communications node, the method further comprising:

allowing access to the status information in accordance with the permission information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is executed by the communications node, the method further comprising any one of:

processing communications directed to the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device; and

disabling communications from the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor so as to implement the method of claim 1.

16. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless access radio configured to communicate with a wireless network;

an operating state function configured to maintain geographic-specific information relating to the physical position of the wireless device; and

a parameter measurement function configured to determine both the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device;

wherein the operating state function is further configured to;

determine the operating state of a plurality of possible operating states based on the physical speed, the physical position, and the geographic-specific information; and

allow the wireless device to operate according to the operating state, such that operation of the wireless device varies depending on the physical speed, the physical position and the geographic specific information;

wherein for at least some of the possible operating states, a respective set of device features is disabled;

wherein the operating state function is further configured to communicate status information indicative of whether the wireless device is able to process communications;

wherein the status information is associated with permissions so as to allow a set of users to access the status information while disallowing all other users from accessing the status information.

17. A communications node comprising:

an operating state function configured to;

maintain geographic-specific information relating to the physical position of the wireless device;

determine both the physical speed and the physical position of the wireless device;

determine the operating state of a plurality of possible operating states based on the physical speed, the physical position, and the geographic-specific information; and

allow the wireless device to operate according to the operating state, such that operation of the wireless device varies depending on the physical speed, the physical position and the geographic specific information;

wherein for at least some of the possible operating states, a respective set of device features is disabled;

wherein the operating state function is further configured to communicate status information indicative of whether the wireless device is able to process communications;

wherein the status information is associated with permissions so as to allow a set of users to access the status information while disallowing all other users from accessing the status information.

18. The communications node of claim 17 wherein the operating state function is further configured to perform at least one of:

communicate the operating state to the wireless device, the wireless device controlling operation of the wireless device in accordance with the operating state;

process communications directed to the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device; and

disable communications from the wireless device in accordance with the operating state of the wireless device.