Personalization of a mobile communcation device

• US 8,620,215 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abel, Miller Thomas, Guday, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US12/851,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID

Abstract

An accessory for personalizing a mobile communication device includes an accessory body that is configured to adorn the mobile communication device and at least partially cover its exterior. At least one graphic design is disposed on the exterior surface of the accessory body to convey a theme. A data tag is secured to the accessory. The data tag stores data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme. The data tag being configured so that the data is accessible via a short-range wireless protocol such as the Near-Field Communication (NFC) protocol.

Claims

1. An accessory for personalizing a mobile communication device comprising:

an accessory body that is configured to adorn the mobile communication device and at least partially cover an exterior of the mobile communication device, said accessory body having at least one exterior surface;

at least one graphic design disposed on the exterior surface of the accessory body to convey a theme; and

a data tag secured to the accessory, said data tag storing data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme, said data tag being configured so that the data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme is accessible by the mobile communication device via a short-range wireless protocol,

wherein data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme is available only when said accessory body is on the mobile communication device, and

wherein said data tag must be queried on a periodic basis to determine if the mobile communication device may continue performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless protocol is an NFC protocol.

3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the data tag is a passive tag that does not supply its own power.

4. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the functionality of the mobile communication device that supports the theme is selected from the group consisting of a ring tone, wallpaper and a screensaver.

5. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said data includes a network location from which content is downloadable in order to personalize the at least one functionality of the mobile communication device.

6. The accessory of claim 5 wherein the content includes visual and audio material in support of the theme.

7. The accessory of claim 5 wherein the content includes an application.

8. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the accessory body includes a faceplate, sleeve or cover that covers or encloses at least a part of the mobile communication device.

9. A method for personalizing a mobile communication device, comprising:

determining over a short-range wireless interface if an accessory adorns a mobile communication device, said accessory including at least one exterior surface and a data tag, said exterior having at least one graphic that conveys a theme and said data tag storing data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of the theme;

if the accessory adorns the mobile communication device, receiving the data at the mobile communication device from the data tag over a short-range wireless protocol; and

performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data at a later point in time,

wherein the later point in time is determined based upon a usage level of the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining if the accessory continues to adorn the mobile communication device at a time after the data has been received; and

if it is determined that the accessory does not continue to adorn the mobile communication device, preventing the mobile communication device from performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein if it is determined that the accessory continues to adorn the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device continues performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising preventing the mobile communication device from performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data after a prescribed period of time.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising exchanging security data with the data tag to authenticate the data tag.

14. The method of claims 9 the data tag is a passive tag that does not supply its own power.

15. A computer-readable medium, not consisting of a propagated signal, comprising instructions executable by a computing system, wherein the instructions configure the computing system to perform a method for personalizing a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving, over a short-range wireless interface, data that facilitates personalization of at least one functionality of the mobile communication device in support of a theme that is conveyed to an individual by at least one graphic included on an item that is associated with a data storage element that transmits the data to the mobile communication device over the short-range wireless interface; and

performing the functionality that is facilitated by the data on the mobile communication device, wherein said performing step is performed only during an idle period of time when the usage of the mobile communication device is below a predetermined threshold.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the item is a poster.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the item is a mobile phone accessory.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data is only received if the mobile phone accessory adorns the mobile phone.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the data includes a coupon to receive a discount on a product or service associated with the theme.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said data includes a network location from which content is downloadable in order to personalize the at least one functionality of the mobile communication device.