Methods and apparatuses for configuration automation

• US 8,401,476 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US13/030,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20110142214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/445, 455/461, 455/566, 455/557, 455/552.1, 715/700
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automated configuring of user preferences. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to operate a data processing system, includes: detecting whether or not a portable device is connected to the data processing system; and automatically configuring one or more user preferences of the data processing system according to an identity of the portable device in response to a change in whether or not the portable device is connected to the data processing system. In one aspect of the present invention, call forwarding of at least one of a land line phone and a mobile phone is automatically configured when the mobile phone is brought close to the land line phone or when the mobile phone is taken away from the land line phone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting a user device to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system includes a graphical user interface;

transmitting a user preference data from the user device to the data processing system in response to the connecting, wherein the data processing system automatically configures a setting of the graphical user interface in response to receiving the user preference data, wherein the user device uses a first wireless short range protocol to communicate with the data processing system and a second wireless protocol to place and receive telephone calls over a cellular network, and wherein the first wireless short range protocol and the second wireless protocol are different.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the user device comprises coupling the user device to the data processing system with a wire.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

detecting the data processing system with a wireless interface; and

connecting to the data processing system using the wireless interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the setting of the graphical user interface comprises adjusting at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons.

5. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

connecting a user device to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system includes graphical user interface;

transmitting a user preference data from the user device to the data processing system in response to the connecting, wherein the data processing system automatically configures a setting of the graphical user interface in response to receiving the user preference data, wherein the user device uses a first wireless short range protocol to communicate with the data processing system and a second wireless protocol to place and receive telephone calls over a cellular network, and wherein the first wireless short range protocol and the second wireless protocol are different.

6. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein connecting the user device comprises coupling the user device to the data processing system with a wire.

7. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein connecting the user device comprises:

detecting the data processing system with a wireless interface; and

connecting to the data processing system using the wireless interface.

8. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein configuring the setting of the graphical user interface comprises adjusting at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising:

disconnecting the user device from the data processing system, wherein the data processing system automatically configures the setting of the graphical user interface in a default configuration in response to the disconnecting.

10. An apparatus comprising:

means for coupling a user device to a data processing system;

means for transmitting configuration parameters from the user device to the data processing system through the coupling means, wherein the data processing system automatically modifies at least one of window sizes, colors, fonts, background, and arrangement of icons of a graphical user interface in response to receiving the configuration parameters, wherein the user device uses a first wireless short range protocol to communicate with the data processing system and a second wireless protocol to place and receive telephone calls over a cellular network, and wherein the first wireless short range protocol and the second wireless protocol are different.