System and method for providing improved detection of user inaction

• US 8,665,105 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Kirkup, Michael, Wilson, Sean, Pattenden, Christopher, Moosavi, Vahid
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US13/366,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/686.6, 340/539.3, 340/5.31, 340/13.25, 340/13.26, 340/13.2, 340/13.21, 455/550.1, 455/575.6, 455/41.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.2, 455/344, 455/569.1, 455/552.1, 455/575.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile computing device may include an interface device, a near field communication (NFC) device, and a processor coupled with the interface device and the NFC device. The processor may be capable of detecting proximity of an encasement based upon the NFC device, and changing an operational mode of the interface device based upon detecting the proximity of the encasement.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device including:

an interface device;

a first near field communication (NFC) device; and

a processor coupled with the interface device and the first NFC device, the processor being configured to

detect proximity of an encasement including a second NFC device based upon the first NFC device when the mobile computing device is both in and either going into or coming out of the encasement, and

responsive to the proximity detection, change an operational mode of the interface device.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the interface device comprises a keyboard.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the interface device comprises a touch screen.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the interface device comprises a track ball.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the interface device comprises a display.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1 further including a wireless communications device coupled with the processor;

and wherein the processor is further configured to change a notification profile associated with the wireless communications device based upon detecting the proximity of the encasement.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to enable the interface device based upon a failure of the first NFC device to detect proximity of the encasement.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a command to the encasement via the first NFC device.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a response from the second NFC device via the first NFC device.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the encasement comprises a holster.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the first NFC device comprises an active NFC device.

12. A method performed by a mobile computing device including an interface device and a first near field communication (NFC) device, the method including:

detecting proximity of an encasement including a second NFC device using the first NFC device when the mobile computing device is both in and either going into or coming out of the encasement; and

responsive to the proximity detection, changing an operational mode of the interface device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the interface device comprises a keyboard.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the interface device comprises a touch screen.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the interface device comprises a display.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the mobile computing device further includes a wireless communications device;

and further including changing a notification profile associated with the wireless communications device based upon detecting the proximity of the encasement.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the encasement comprises a holster.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a mobile computing device including an interface device and a first near field communication (NFC) device, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile computing device to perform steps including:

detecting proximity of an encasement including a second NFC device using the first NFC device when the mobile computing device is both in and either going into or coming out of the encasement; and

responsive to the proximity detection, changing an operational mode of the interface device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the interface device comprises a keyboard.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the interface device comprises a touch screen.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the interface device comprises a display.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the mobile computing device further includes a wireless communications device;

and further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile computing device to change a notification profile associated with the wireless communications device based upon detecting the proximity of the encasement.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the encasement comprises a holster.

24. An electronics system including:

a mobile computing device including;

an interface device,

a first near field communication (NFC) device, and

a processor coupled with the interface device and the first NFC device; and

an encasement including a second NFC device;

wherein the processor is configured to

detect proximity of the encasement based upon NFC communication between the first NFC device and the second NFC device when the mobile computing device is both in and either going into or coming out of the encasement, and

responsive to the proximity detection, change an operational mode of the interface device.

25. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the interface device comprises a keyboard.

26. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the interface device comprises a touch screen.

27. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the interface device comprises a display.

28. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the mobile computing device further includes a wireless communications device coupled with the processor;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to change a notification profile associated with the wireless communications device based upon detecting the proximity of the encasement.

29. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the encasement comprises a holster.

30. The electronics system of claim 24 further including at least one clip carried by the encasement.

31. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the second NFC device comprises a passive NFC device.

32. The electronics system of claim 24 wherein the first NFC device comprises an active NFC device.

33. An apparatus for use with a mobile computing device including an interface device and a first near field communication (NFC) device, the apparatus including:

an encasement for use with the mobile computing device; and

a second NFC device carried by the encasement and configured to communicate with the first NFC device of the mobile computing device via NFC communication to cause said mobile computing device to change an operational mode of the interface device responsive to the mobile computing device being both in and either going into or coming out of the encasement.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the encasement comprises a holster.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further including at least one clip carried by the encasement.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second NFC device includes a passive NFC device.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first NFC device includes an active NFC device.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second NFC device comprises an NFC chip.

39. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second NFC device comprises an NFC antenna.