Method and apparatus for executing location dependent application in a mobile handset
First Claim
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1. A method for managing an application on a mobile handset, comprising:
- obtaining, by a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor from an air interface of the mobile handset, a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset;
storing, by the CellID monitor, the locality identifier in a memory accessible by the application;
setting, by the CellID monitor, a flag in memory accessible to the application each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed;
determining periodically, by an application dispatcher, whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, the application dispatcher clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to a criteria table containing locality identifier values associated with particular applications;
notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application;
comparing, by an application dispatcher, current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and
notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier value,wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, further comprising informing the application when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, andwherein the application is of a theme setting application that sets a theme on the mobile handset based upon an action parameter associated with the locality identifier in the criteria table, a text message generating application and an application controlling a Bluetooth transceiver on the mobile handset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and mobile handsets provide applications with access to locality identifier information heretofore not shared with applications. By accessing the locality identifier from memory, applications can provide location-specific services, such as alarms and location-specific themes. The locality identifier can be compared to a criteria table in memory to determine if an application should be notified or activated. The criteria table may include time and date criteria, so application notification can depend upon time, date and location information.
14 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for managing an application on a mobile handset, comprising:
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obtaining, by a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor from an air interface of the mobile handset, a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset; storing, by the CellID monitor, the locality identifier in a memory accessible by the application; setting, by the CellID monitor, a flag in memory accessible to the application each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; determining periodically, by an application dispatcher, whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, the application dispatcher clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to a criteria table containing locality identifier values associated with particular applications;
notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application;comparing, by an application dispatcher, current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier value, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, further comprising informing the application when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the application is of a theme setting application that sets a theme on the mobile handset based upon an action parameter associated with the locality identifier in the criteria table, a text message generating application and an application controlling a Bluetooth transceiver on the mobile handset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for managing an application on a mobile handset, comprising:
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obtaining, by a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor from an air interface of the mobile handset, a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset; storing, by the CellID monitor, the locality identifier in a memory accessible by the application; setting, by the CellID monitor, a flag in memory accessible to the application each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; determining periodically, by an application dispatcher, whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, the application dispatcher clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to a criteria table containing locality identifier values associated with particular applications; notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application; comparing, by an application dispatcher, current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier in the criteria table; and activating, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier value wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, further comprising informing the application when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the application is a theme setting application that sets a theme on the mobile handset based when the locality identifier matches a theme locality identifier value in the criteria table and current time and date satisfy time and date criteria associated with the matched theme locality identifier value. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for managing an application on a mobile handset, comprising:
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obtaining, by a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor from an air interface of the mobile handset, a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset; storing, by the CellID monitor, the locality identifier in a memory accessible by the application; setting, by the CellID monitor, a flag in memory accessible to the application each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; determining periodically, by an application dispatcher, whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, the application dispatcher clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to a criteria table containing locality identifier values associated with particular applications; notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application;
comparing, by an application dispatcher, current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; andnotifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier value, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, further comprising informing the application when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the application is a text message application that generates a text message to be sent from the mobile handset based upon an action parameter associated with the locality identifier in the criteria table. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for managing an application on a mobile handset, comprising:
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obtaining, by a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor from an air interface of the mobile handset, a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset; storing, by the CellID monitor, the locality identifier in a memory accessible by the application; setting, by the CellID monitor, a flag in memory accessible to the application each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; determining periodically, by an application dispatcher, whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, the application dispatcher clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to a criteria table containing locality identifier values associated with particular applications; notifying, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application;
comparing, by an application dispatcher, current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier in the criteria table; andactivating, by an application dispatcher, the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier value, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, further comprising informing the application when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the application is a text message application that generates a text message to be sent from the mobile handset when the locality identifier matches a message locality identifier value in the criteria table and current time and date satisfy time and date criteria associated with the matched message locality identifier value. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A mobile handset, comprising:
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing a criteria table, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations comprising; a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor, wherein performing the CellID monitor operation performs operations comprising; obtaining a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset from the air interface; storing the locality identifier in a memory accessible by an application executing on the processor; and setting a flag in memory accessible to applications executing on the processor each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; an application dispatcher module, wherein performing the application dispatcher module performs operations comprising; periodically determining whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to values stored in the criteria table which are associated with particular applications; and notifying at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application, wherein the criteria table stored in the memory contains locality identifier values, time and date criteria associated with at least one of the particular applications, and the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising; comparing current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and notifying the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the at least one of the particular applications and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising informing the at least one of the particular applications when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the at least one of the particular applications of a theme setting application that sets a theme on the mobile handset based upon an action parameter associated with the locality identifier in the criteria table. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
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19. A mobile handset of claim comprising:
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing a criteria table, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations comprising; a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor, wherein performing the CellID monitor operation performs operations comprising; obtaining a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset from the air interface; storing the locality identifier in a memory accessible by an application executing on the processor; and setting a flag in memory accessible to applications executing on the processor each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; an application dispatcher module, wherein performing the application dispatcher module performs operations comprising; periodically determining whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to values stored in the criteria table which are associated with particular applications; and notifying at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application; wherein the criteria table stored in the memory contains locality identifier values, time and date criteria associated with at least one of the particular applications, and the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising; comparing current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and activating the at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the at least one of the particular applications and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising informing the at least one of the particular applications when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions such that the at least one of the particular applications is a theme setting application that sets a theme when the locality identifier matches a theme locality identifier value in the criteria table and current time and date satisfy theme time and date criteria associated with the matched theme locality identifier. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
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21. A mobile handset comprising:
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing a criteria table, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations comprising; a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor, wherein performing the CellID monitor operation performs operations comprising; obtaining a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset from the air interface; storing the locality identifier in a memory accessible by an application executing on the processor; and setting a flag in memory accessible to applications executing on the processor each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; an application dispatcher module, wherein performing the application dispatcher module performs operations comprising; periodically determining whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to values stored in the criteria table which are associated with particular applications; and notifying at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application; wherein the criteria table stored in the memory contains locality identifier values, time and date criteria associated with at least one of the particular applications, and the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising; comparing current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and
notifying the application when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the at least one of the particular applications and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising informing the at least one of the particular applications when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions such that the at least one of the particular applications is a text message generating application that generates a text message to be sent from the mobile handset based upon an action parameter associated with the locality identifier in the criteria table. - View Dependent Claims (22)
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
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23. A mobile handset comprising:
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing a criteria table, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations comprising; a cell tower identifier (CellID) monitor, wherein performing the CellID monitor operation performs operations comprising; obtaining a locality identifier of a cellular tower within range of the mobile handset from the air interface; storing the locality identifier in a memory accessible by an application executing on the processor; and setting a flag in memory accessible to applications executing on the processor each time the locality identifier stored in memory is changed; an application dispatcher module, wherein performing the application dispatcher module performs operations comprising; periodically determining whether the flag has been set by the CellID monitor, and upon determining that the flag has been set, clearing the flag and comparing the locality identifier to values stored in the criteria table which are associated with particular applications; and notifying at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the application; wherein the criteria table stored in the memory contains locality identifier values, time and date criteria associated with at least one of the particular applications, and the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising; comparing current time and date to time and date criteria stored in the criteria table when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table; and
activating the at least one of the particular applications when the locality identifier matches a locality identifier value in the criteria table associated with the at least one of the particular applications and current time and date satisfy the time and date criteria associated with the matched locality identifier, wherein the mobile handset is a cellular telephone, and wherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions to perform operations further comprising informing the at least one of the particular applications when the cellular telephone communication link is handed over to another cellular tower, andwherein the processor is configured with processor executable software instructions such that the at least one of the particular applications is a text message application that generates a text message to be sent from the mobile handset when the locality identifier matches a message locality identifier value in the criteria table and current time and date satisfy theme time and date criteria associated with the matched message locality identifier. - View Dependent Claims (24)
- an air interface a processor coupled to the air interface; and
Specification