Proximity detection between a mobile device and a related object

• US 8,736,564 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Tong, Kuo-Feng, Kaiser, Devin Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): GIESY, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US13/115,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided related to proximity detection between a mobile device and a related object, such as a holder, holster, pocket liner, support surface, or the like. A pattern is associated with the related object or device, for example printed on a surface thereof, the pattern being discernable by a mobile device input module, such as a touch surface or optical navigation module. When the pattern is presented to the input module, the mobile device detects the pattern and may respond accordingly, for example by shifting to a standby mode or suppressing mobile device inputs.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a) an input module configured to discern input presented thereto and to produce signals indicative thereof, said input including a first type of input corresponding to active usage of the mobile device and a second type of input corresponding to a pattern presented by a predetermined object when the input module is proximately exposed thereto, wherein the predetermined object is inanimate; and

wherein the predetermined object is configured to store the mobil device or the predetermined object includes a surface upon which the mobile device can be placed or both; and

b) a pattern detection module operatively coupled to the input module, the pattern detection module configured to detect said pattern being presented to the input module,

wherein the mobile device is configured to adjust an operating condition thereof based at least in part on detection of said pattern.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the input module is an optical module, and the pattern is formed of one or more optically reflective elements.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the input module is a capacitive touch surface, and wherein the pattern is formed of one or more dielectric objects detectable by the capacitive touch screen.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern detection module is configured to detect a static pattern or a dynamically varying pattern.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is repeated over the predetermined object.

6. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is a non-naturally occurring pattern designed explicitly for detection purposes.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is non-occurring during said active usage of the mobile device.

8. A device for physical association with a mobile device, the device comprising a pattern capable of being discerned by an input module of the mobile device when the input module is proximately exposed to the pattern, the pattern being discernibly different to the mobile device relative to said input corresponding to active usage thereof, thereby facilitating detection of the pattern by the mobile device, wherein the device is inanimate and;

wherein the device is configured to store the mobile device or the device includes a surface upon which the mobile device can be placed or both.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is a non-naturally occurring pattern, said non-naturally occurring pattern being either inherent to the device or applied the device.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the non-naturally occurring pattern is designed explicitly for detection purposes.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is formed of one or more dielectric objects discernable by a capacitive touch surface input module, the device further comprising an electric circuit operatively coupled to at least one of said dielectric objects and configured to adjust discernability thereof.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is tiled over a predetermined region of the device.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is configured to fit within a field of view of the input module.

14. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is configured to be presented to the input module dynamically.

15. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is repeated over a predetermined region of the device.

16. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pattern is non-occurring during said active usage of the mobile device.

17. A device for physical association with a mobile device, the device comprising a pattern capable of being discerned by an input mudule of the mobile device when the input module is proximately exposed to the pattern, the pattern being discernibly different to the mobile device relative to said input corresponding to active usage thereof, thereby facilitating detection of the pattern by the mobile device, wherein the device is selected from the group comprising:

a holder, a container, a holster, a pocket, a carry case, a support surface, a mouse pad, and a charging cradle.

18. A method of detecting proximity between an input module of a mobile device and a predetermined related object, the input module further configured for receiving a first type of input corresponding to active usage of the mobile device, the method comprising:

a) processing information generated by the input module to detect a predetermined information pattern, the information pattern corresponding to a predetermined physical pattern being presented proximate to the input module in accordance with a second type of input, the physical pattern associated with the related object, wherein the related object is inanimate and;

wherein the related object is configured to store the mobile device or the related objected includes a surface upon which the mobile device can be placed or both; and

b) adjusting an operating condition of the mobile device upon detection of said pattern.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein adjusting the operating condition comprises one or more of:

initiating a standby mode of the mobile device, suppressing input from input modules of the mobile device, personalizing the mobile device, and adjusting operating features of the mobile device.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein detecting the information pattern comprises matching one or more aspects of the information generated by the input module to one or more stored aspects characteristic of the information pattern.

21. A computer program product for facilitating proximity detection of a mobile device input module to a related object, the input module further configured for receiving a first type of input corresponding to active usage of the mobile device, the computer program product comprising a non-transistory computer readable medium having recorded thereon code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of the mobile device, is adapted to:

a) process information generated by the input module in order to detect a predetermined information pattern, the information pattern corresponding to a predetermined physical pattern being presented proximate to the input module in accordance with a second type of input, the physical pattern associated with the related object, wherein the related object is inaimate and;

wherein the related object is configured to store the mobile device or the related objected includes a surface upon which the mobile device can be placed or both; and

b) adjust an operating condition of the mobile device upon detection of said pattern.