Time and location based theme of mobile telephones

• US 8,515,397 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gatti, John M., Vines, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US11/963,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/414.3, 455/456.3, 340/539.13, 379/88.24
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment

Abstract

A cellular or wireless mobile handset includes a processor configured with software to monitor time, date, location and other parameters, and change customization settings, known as themes, based upon the monitored parameter. Multiple themes may be stored on the mobile handset and implemented by the mobile handset processor based upon a variety of circumstances. A theme server may be accessed by the mobile handset to download theme settings and files. Working together, mobile handsets and a theme server can provide location-specific as well as time/date specific themes to mobile handsets.

Claims

1. A mobile handset capable of being configured with a theme, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with software to;

set a calendar event alarm associated with a calendar event in a calendar application, wherein the calendar event alarm includes a user indication that a theme change is required;

receive the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

access a theme server via a wireless data link in response to receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

transmit the calendar event to the theme server via the wireless data link;

receive a theme data record from the theme server via the wireless data link, wherein the theme data record is selected by the theme server based at least in part on the calendar event; and

change the theme implemented on the mobile handset using the received theme data record.

2. A method for changing a theme on a mobile handset, comprising:

setting a calendar event alarm associated with a calendar event in a calendar application, wherein the calendar event alarm includes a user indication that a theme change is required;

receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

accessing a theme server via a wireless data link in response to receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

transmitting the calendar event to the theme server via the wireless data link;

determining an appropriate theme data record based at least in part on the calendar event;

accessing the theme data record;

receiving the theme data record from the theme server via the wireless data link; and

changing the theme implemented on the mobile handset using the received theme data record.

3. A mobile handset, comprising:

means for setting a calendar event alarm associated with a calendar event in a calendar application, wherein the calendar event alarm includes a user indication that a theme change is required;

means for receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

means for accessing a theme server via a wireless data link in response to receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

means for transmitting the calendar event to the theme server via the wireless data link;

means for receiving a theme data record from the theme server via the wireless data link, wherein the theme data record is selected by the theme server based at least in part on the calendar event; and

means for changing the theme implemented on the mobile handset using the received theme data record.

4. A non-transitory processor readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable software instructions configured to cause a mobile handset processor to perform steps comprising:

setting a calendar event alarm associated with a calendar event in a calendar application, wherein the calendar event alarm includes a user indication that a theme change is required;

receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

accessing a theme server via a wireless data link in response to receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

transmitting the calendar event to the theme server via the wireless data link;

receiving a theme data record from the theme server via the wireless data link, wherein the theme data record is selected by the theme server based at least in part on the calendar event; and

changing the theme implemented on the mobile handset using the received theme data record.

5. A server configured to receive and transmit data via a network, comprising:

a server memory having stored thereon a plurality of theme data records; and

a server processor coupled to the server memory and configured to send data to and receive data from at least one mobile handset, wherein the server processor is configured with software to perform steps comprising;

receiving a calendar event from the at least one mobile handset;

determining that one of the plurality of theme data records should be downloaded to the at least one mobile handset based at least in part on the calendar event;

obtaining the one of the plurality of theme data records to be downloaded to the at least one mobile handset; and

downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the at least one mobile handset.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the server is further configured with software to perform steps comprising establishing a data link to the at least one mobile handset prior to downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the at least one mobile handset.

7. The server of claim 5, wherein the server is further configured with software to perform steps comprising accessing theme data records stored on another server via the Internet.

8. The server of claim 5, wherein the downloaded one of the plurality of theme data records includes a speed dial configuration.

9. A method for providing theme data to a mobile handset, comprising:

receiving a calendar event from the mobile handset in response to a calendar event alarm at the mobile handset including a user indication that a theme change is required;

determining that one of a plurality of theme data records should be downloaded to the mobile handset based at least in part on the calendar event;

obtaining the one of the plurality of theme data records to be downloaded to the mobile handset; and

downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the mobile handset.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a data link to the mobile handset prior to downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the mobile handset.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising accessing theme data records stored on another server via the Internet.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the downloaded one of the plurality of theme data records includes a speed dial configuration.

13. A server for providing theme data to a mobile handset, comprising:

means for receiving a calendar event from the mobile handset in response to a calendar event alarm at the mobile handset including a user indication that a theme change is required;

means for determining that one of a plurality of theme data records should be downloaded to the mobile handset based at least in part on the calendar event;

means for obtaining the one of the plurality of theme data records to be downloaded to the mobile handset; and

means for downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the mobile handset.

14. The server of claim 13, further comprising means for establishing a data link to the mobile handset prior to downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the mobile handset.

15. The server of claim 13, further comprising means for accessing theme data records stored on another server via the Internet.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the downloaded one of the plurality of theme data records includes a speed dial configuration.

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

receiving a calendar event from the mobile handset in response to a calendar event alarm at least one mobile handset including a user indication that a theme change is required;

determining that one of a plurality of theme data records should be downloaded to the at least one mobile handset based at least in part on the calendar event;

obtaining the one of the plurality of theme data records to be downloaded to the at least one mobile handset; and

downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the at least one mobile handset.

18. The non-transitory processor readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the stored server executable software instructions are further configured to cause a server processor to perform steps comprising establishing a data link to the at least one mobile handset prior to downloading the one of the plurality of theme data records to the at least one mobile handset.

19. The non-transitory processor readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the stored server executable software instructions are further configured to cause a server processor to perform steps comprising accessing theme data records stored on another server via the Internet.

20. The non-transitory processor readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the downloaded one of the plurality of theme data records includes a speed dial configuration.

21. A system, comprising:

a wireless communication system;

a mobile handset configured to communicate via the wireless communication system; and

a server configured to communicate via the wireless communication system, wherein the server comprises;

a server memory having stored thereon a plurality of additional theme data records; and

a server processor coupled to the server memory and configured to send data to and receive data from the mobile handset, wherein the server processor is configured with software to perform steps comprising;

receiving a calendar event from the mobile handset via the wireless network;

determining that one of the plurality of additional theme data records should be downloaded to the mobile handset based at least in part on the calendar event;

obtaining the one of the plurality of additional theme data records to be downloaded; and

downloading the one of the plurality of additional theme data records to the mobile handset via the wireless network, and

wherein the mobile handset comprises;

a mobile handset memory having stored therein a plurality of theme data records; and

a mobile handset processor coupled to the mobile handset memory, wherein the mobile handset processor is configured with software to perform steps comprising;

setting a calendar event alarm associated with a calendar event in a calendar application, wherein the calendar event alarm includes a user indication that a theme change is required;

receiving the calendar event alarm from the calendar application;

transmitting the calendar event to the theme server via the wireless network

receiving the downloaded one of the plurality of additional theme data records via the wireless network;

storing the received downloaded one of the plurality of additional theme data records in a data file of theme data records stored in the mobile handset memory; and

using the downloaded one of the plurality of additional theme data records stored in the mobile handset memory to change the theme implemented on the mobile handset.