Configuration of mobile communication devices

• US 8,554,244 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: I'Anson, Colin, Woodfine-Jones, Adrian Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/449,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/404.2, 455/411, 455/456.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/566, 455/446, 455/422.1, 455/445, 455/452.2, 705/2, 370/310, 709/227, 371/119
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A communication system and method is disclosed. The communication system comprises: a mobile communication device configurable to communicate using one of a plurality of communication protocols; and a configuration server. The configuration server is adapted to determine the location of the mobile communication device and to configure a service of the mobile communication device based upon the determined location of the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a mobile communication device configurable to communicate using one of a plurality of communication protocols; and

a configuration server to

determine a location of the mobile communication device,

determine configuration information for the mobile communication device based on the determined location of the mobile communication device and information relating to a preference defined by a user of the mobile communication device as to a communication protocol, network, or device function to be employed when the mobile communication device is located at a predetermined location, and

send the configuration information to the mobile communication device to configure a functionality of the mobile communication device,

wherein the configuration information includes a configuration instruction to turn off a wireless local area network (LAN) functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located outside the predetermined location and another configuration instruction to turn on the wireless LAN functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located at the predetermined location.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information comprises a set of instructions to be used within the mobile communication device.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the set of instructions is executable to change a configuration setting of the mobile communication device when the set of instructions is executed.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information sent by the configuration server is further based on information relating to a status of the mobile communication device.

5. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration server comprises a content unit for communicating electronic content to or from the mobile communication device based upon the determined location of the mobile communication device.

6. A communication system according to claim 5, wherein the content unit is used to communicate the electronic content based on information relating to at least one of:

the user of the mobile communication device; and

a status of the mobile communication device.

7. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a module for establishing the location of the mobile communication device and is adapted to send information relating the established location to the configuration server.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the preference defined by the user of the mobile communication device includes a preference by the user to utilize a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) over a wireless local area network (LAN) when the mobile communication device is located at the predetermined location.

9. A method of configuring a mobile communication device in a communication system in which a plurality of communication paths are usable for delivering services to the mobile communication device, wherein the method comprises:

determining a location of the mobile communication device;

determining configuration information for the mobile communication device based on the determined location of the mobile communication device and information relating to a preference defined by a user of the mobile communication device as to a communication protocol, network, or device function to be employed when the mobile communication device is located at a predetermined location; and

sending the configuration information to the mobile communication device to configure a functionality of the mobile communication device,

wherein the configuration information includes a configuration instruction to turn off a wireless local area network (LAN) functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located outside the predetermined location and another configuration instruction to turn on the wireless LAN functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located at the predetermined location.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the configuration information comprises a set of instructions to be executed within the mobile communication device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the set of instructions is executable to change a configuration setting of the mobile communication device when the set of instructions is executed.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the configuration information is further based on information relating to a status of the mobile communication device.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

delivering electronic content to the mobile communication device based upon the determined location of the mobile communication device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein delivering the electronic content is based on information relating to at least one of:

the user of the mobile communication device; and

a status of the mobile communication device.

15. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving location information of the mobile communication device from the mobile communication device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which, when executed, causes a configuration server to:

determine a location of a mobile communication device;

determine configuration information for the mobile communication device based on the determined location of the mobile communication device and information relating to a preference defined by a user of the mobile communication device as to a communication protocol, network, or device function to be employed when the mobile communication device is located at a predetermined location; and

send the configuration information to the mobile communication device to configure a functionality of the mobile communication device,

wherein the configuration information includes a configuration instruction to turn off a wireless local area network (LAN) functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located outside the predetermined location and another configuration instruction to turn on the wireless LAN functionality of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located at the predetermined location.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the configuration information is further based on information relating to a status of the mobile communication device.