System and method for display timeout on mobile communication devices

• US 8,682,402 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James, Sullivan, Marc A., Pratt, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US13/947,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/574, 345/207, 370/535
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• 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 communication device includes executable instructions for carrying out a method including setting a time duration for an application, receiving a first input, receiving a second input, determining the elapsed time between the first and second inputs, modifying the time duration based upon the elapsed time, and dimming a screen of the mobile device when the elapsed time exceeds the time duration.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a command at an application-timeout-table from an application-control that directs the application-timeout-table to select an application timeout value and a table entry associated with an application activated on the mobile communication device, the application timeout value being set according to one of a value pre-set at a factory and a user-customized value;

starting a counter to measure an amount of time of use of the application; and

transmitting the application timeout value, the counter, and the table entry to a compare-operation;

measuring a first value of a first timer, the first value of the first timer being equal to an elapsed time since an activation of the application;

comparing, by the compare-operation, the application timeout value with the first value of the first timer;

initiating a dimmer to dim a backlight of the mobile communication device upon the first value of the first timer reaching the application timeout value provided by the application-timeout-table;

measuring a second value of a second timer, the second value of the second timer being equal to an elapsed time since dimming the backlight;

comparing, by the compare-operation, the table entry with the second value of the second timer;

initiating an exit-application-operation upon the second value reaching a table entry value of the table entry;

setting, by the exit-application-operation, the mobile communication device into a no-application mode;

stopping the first timer and the second timer; and

writing a new application timeout value into the application-timeout-table, the new application timeout value being equal to the counter less the application timeout value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the application-control, the activation of the application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising resetting, by the application-control, the first timer upon detecting the activation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compare-operation is coupled to the first timer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the backlight comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular phone.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a command at an application-timeout-table from an application-control that directs the application-timeout-table to select an application timeout value and a table entry for a screen dimming application, the application timeout value and the table entry being associated with an application active on a mobile communication device, the application timeout value being set according to one of a value pre-set at a factory and a user-customized value;

starting a counter to measure an amount of time of use of the application;

transmitting the application timeout value, the counter, and the table entry to a compare-operation;

measuring a first value of a first timer, the first value of the first timer being equal to an elapsed time since an activation of the application;

comparing, by the compare-operation, the received application timeout value with the first value associated with the first timer;

initiating a dimmer to dim a backlight of the mobile communication device upon the first value reaching the application timeout value;

measuring a second value of a second timer, the second value of the second timer being equal to an elapsed time since dimming the backlight;

comparing, by the compare-operation, the table entry with the second value associated with the second timer;

initiating an exit-application-operation upon the second value reaching a value of the table entry;

setting, by the exit-application-operation, the mobile communication device into a no-application mode;

stopping the first timer and the second timer; and

writing a new application timeout value into the application-timeout-table, the new application timeout value being equal to the value of the counter less the application timeout value.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting, by the application-control, the activation of the application and resetting the first value and the second value upon detecting the activation.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the compare-operation is coupled to the first timer and the second timer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the compare-operation is coupled to the exit-application-operation.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the backlight comprises a light emitting diode.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular phone.

13. A mobile communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving a command at an application-timeout-table from an application-control that directs the application-timeout-table to select an application timeout value and a table entry associated with an application currently activated on the mobile communication device, the application timeout value being set according to one of a value pre-set at a factory and a user-customized value,

starting a counter to measure an amount of time of use of the application,

transmitting the application timeout value, the counter, and the table entry to a compare-operation,

measuring a first value of a first timer, the first value of the first timer being equal to an elapsed time since an activation of the application,

comparing, by the compare-operation, the application timeout value with the first value of the first timer,

initiating a dimmer to dim a backlight of the mobile communication device upon the first value of the first timer reaching the application timeout value provided by the application-timeout-table,

measuring a second value of a second timer, the second value of the second timer being equal to an elapsed time since dimming the backlight,

comparing, by the compare-operation, the table entry with the second value of the second timer,

initiating an exit-application-operation upon the second value reaching a table entry value of the table entry,

setting, by the exit-application-operation, the mobile communication device into a no-application mode,

stopping the first timer and the second timer, and

writing a new application timeout value into the application-timeout-table, the new application timeout value being equal to the counter less the application timeout value.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising a screen for displaying the application.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising detecting the activation of the application.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising a speaker for transmitting an audible signal from the mobile communication device.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular phone.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising a keypad to enable an interaction with the mobile communication device.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the memory stores an audio file and a video file.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a text message.