Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction

• US 8,781,491 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Inventors: Wright, Andrew S., Featherstone, Peter A., Chan, Mandy, Geyer, John J., Williams, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zewari, Sayed T
• Application Number:
  US12/040,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20080299954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 4554561-4566, 455/67.11, 455/557, 455/345, 455/569.2, 455/99, 455/238.1, 455/418, 455/565, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a communication management system, context change notification messages transmitted by a mobile communications device, at least some of said context change notification messages based on context assessments performed by the mobile communications device, the assessments being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, and of a user risk level associated with using the mobile communications device to engage in a communications session, wherein;

the context change notification messages are received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of mobile communication device context state has occurred,

the context change notification messages are received independent of requests to route incoming or outgoing calls, and

management by the communication management system of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the context change notification messages;

determining, by the communication management system, state data based at least in part on the received context change notification messages;

maintaining, by the communication management system, the state data in computer storage, wherein the state data is maintained and updated in said computer storage at least during time periods in which the mobile communications device is not being used by the user, said computer storage being separate from the mobile communications device, and wherein state data is maintained independent of requests to route incoming or outgoing calls;

in response to an incoming request from a third-party communications device to establish a communication session with the mobile communications device, using at least said state data, as maintained in said computer storage prior receipt of said request, to determine, at least, whether to permit the request to the mobile communications device, wherein the determination is made without further communication to the mobile communications device, and wherein the determination of whether to permit the request corresponds to the management defined in terms of the most recently received context change notification message; and

if it is determined not to permit the request, subsequently managing communications between the mobile communication device and the third-party communication device via the communication management system according to the management defined in terms of the most recently received context change notification message and without causing a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed such that no data is received from the mobile communications device between receipt of said incoming request and the determination of whether to permit the request to the mobile communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming request is a request for a voice call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming request is a request for a text messaging session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-change notification messages include notifications that the mobile communications device has entered into a particular geospatial zone for which one or more mobile communication device profiles exist.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-change notification messages include notifications that the mobile communications device has detected a particular type of in-transit activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to route the request to the mobile communications device comprises applying a routing rule that determines how to route the request as a function of, at least, a current context of the mobile communications device and an identity of a caller that initiated the request.

8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that embody the method of claim 1.

9. A call processing system programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A computer-implemented method for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device comprising:

receiving, by a communication management system, mobile communication device context change notification messages, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to processing, at a mobile communication device, a set of inputs associated with a current mobile communication device environment, the set of inputs being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, wherein;

the context change notification messages are received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of predefined mobile communication device context states has occurred,

the context change notification messages are received independent of requests to route incoming or outgoing calls, and

management by the communication management system of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the context change notification messages;

determining, by the communication management system, a mobile communication device communication availability as a function of the mobile communication device context, wherein the mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication, and wherein the determination of a mobile communication device communication availability corresponds to the management defined in terms of the most recently received context change notification message;

subsequently obtaining a request at the communication management system for initiation of a communication including the mobile communication device; and

processing, by the communication management system, the request for initiation of the communication based on the prior determination of the mobile communication device communication availability without further communicating with the mobile communication device;

if processing the request corresponds to a prior determination of unavailability, subsequently managing communications of the mobile communication device via the communication management system according to the management defined in terms of the most recently received context change notification message and without causing a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to a current mobile communication device environment transit state.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the current mobile communication device transit state is determined from a collection of inputs collected over time.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining the mobile communication device communication availability based on the mobile communication device context corresponds to determining whether the current mobile communication device location is within a geospatial definition.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein obtaining the request for initiation of a communication including the mobile communication device includes obtaining a request from the mobile communication device to establish communication with an external communication device.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein obtaining the request for initiation of a communication including the mobile communication device includes obtaining a request from an external communication device to establish communication with the mobile communication device.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein processing the request for initiation of the communication based on the determination of the mobile communication device communication availability includes permitting the establishment of communication between the mobile communication device and an external communication device based on the mobile communication device communication availability.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein processing the request for initiation of the communication based on the determination of the mobile communication device communication availability includes not permitting the establishment of communication between the mobile communication device and an external communication device based on the mobile communication device communication availability.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising obtaining a request for an alternative communication method in response to not permitting the establishment of communication between the mobile communication device and an external communication device based on the mobile communication device communication availability.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the alternative communication method corresponds to access to a voice mail system.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the alternative communication method corresponds to an interactive voice response system.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising generating a message to a user associated with the mobile communication device in response to not permitting the establishment of communication between the mobile communication device and an external communication device based on the mobile communication device communication availability.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that embody the method of claim 10.

24. A call processing system programmed to perform the method of claim 10.

22. The method as recited in 10 further comprising:

obtaining an updated mobile communication device context, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to a processing set of inputs associated with a current mobile communication device environment; and

determining an updated mobile communication device communication availability as a function of the updated mobile communication device context, wherein the mobile communication device availability is an assessment of a desirability of establishing a communication.

25. A method for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device comprising:

maintaining, by a communication management system, a mobile communication device profile, wherein the mobile communication device profile defines criteria for managing communication between a mobile communication device and a third party communication device as a function of a current mobile communication device context;

receiving, at the communication management system, current mobile communication device context information from an identified mobile communication device independent of a request for establishing a communication link, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to a set of inputs associated with a current mobile communication device environment, the set of inputs being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, and wherein;

the current mobile communication device context information is received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of predefined mobile communication device context states has occurred,

current mobile communication device context information is received independent of requests to route incoming or outgoing calls, and

management by the communication management system of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the current mobile communication device context information;

determining, by a communication management system, a mobile communication device communication availability based on processing the received current mobile communication device context information with the mobile communication device profile wherein the determination is made without further communicating with the mobile communication device, and wherein the determination of a mobile communication device communication availability corresponds to the management defined in terms of the most recently received current mobile communication device context information; and

subsequently managing communications between the mobile communication device and the third-party communication device based on the previously determined mobile communication device communication availability and according to the management defined in terms of the most recently received context change notification message without causing a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

26. A system for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device comprising:

a mobile communication device interface for obtaining mobile communication device context information determined by a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to a set of inputs associated with a current mobile communication device environment, the set of inputs being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, and wherein mobile communication device context information is received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of predefined mobile communication device context states has occurred;

a mobile communication device profile store for maintaining a mobile communication device profile according to predefined mobile communication device context states, wherein;

the mobile communication device profile defines criteria for managing communication between a mobile communication device and a third party communication device as a function of a current mobile communication device context,

management by a communication management component of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the obtained mobile communication device context information,

and the mobile communication device profile is determined asynchronously to a communication request based at least in part on obtained mobile communication device context information; and

a communication management component for subsequently managing communications between a mobile communication device and a third-party communication device based on the previously determined mobile communication device profile and according to the management defined in terms of the most recently obtained mobile communication device context information without causing a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device, wherein managing the communications does not require further communication with the mobile communication device.

27. A system for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device comprising:

a mobile communication device interface for obtaining mobile communication device context information determined by a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device context corresponds to a set of inputs associated with a current mobile communication device environment, the set of inputs being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, and wherein mobile communication device context information is received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of predefined mobile communication device context states has occurred;

a mobile communication device profile store for maintaining mobile communication device availability according to predefined mobile communication device context states, wherein the mobile communications device profile defines criteria for managing communication between a mobile communication device and a third party communication device as a function of a current mobile communication device context, and wherein management of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the obtained mobile communication device context information; and

means for managing communications between a mobile communication device and a third-party communication device according to the management defined in terms of the most recently obtained mobile communication device context information based on preprocessing corresponding mobile communication device profile as a function of the mobile communication device context information received prior to receiving a request to begin the managed communications;

wherein managing the communications does not require further communication with the mobile communication device, and wherein managing the communications does not cause a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

28. A system for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device comprising:

a mobile communication device interface for bilateral communications with a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device interface obtains mobile communication device context information determined by a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device context information being reflective of at least a motion-based context and a geographical context of the mobile communications device, wherein mobile communication device context information is received only where the mobile communication device determines that a change of predefined mobile communication device contexts has occurred;

a mobile communication device data store for maintaining mobile communication device availability profiles according to predefined mobile communication device contexts, wherein;

the mobile communication device availability is determined asynchronously to communication requests based at least in part on obtained mobile communication device context information,

the mobile communications device profile defines criteria for managing communication between a mobile communication device and a third-party communication device as a function of a current mobile communication device context, and

management of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the obtained mobile communication device context information; and

a communication management component for managing communications between a mobile communication device and a third-party communication device according to the management defined in terms of the most recently obtained mobile communication device context information based on the mobile communication device profiles and for providing alternative communication links between the mobile communication device and the third-party communication device wherein managing the communications does not require further communication with the mobile communication device, and wherein managing the communications does not cause a modification of at least one of call reception functionality and a power state of the mobile communication device.

29. A method of reducing a risk associated with use of a mobile communications device during vehicle operation, the method comprising:

on the mobile communications device;

performing an assessment of a mobile communication device context state, the context state reflecting whether a user of the mobile communications device can safely use the mobile communications device to engage in a communications session with another user, said assessment being based, at least in part, on sensor data reflective of motion of, and a geographic location of, the mobile communications device, wherein said assessment is performed by the mobile communications device while no communications session with the mobile communications device is currently pending or in progress; and

transmitting a message from the mobile communications device over a wireless network, said message indicative of a result of the assessment, wherein transmission occurs only where the assessment indicates that a change in mobile device context state has occurred, and wherein transmitting the message does not modify at least one of the call reception functionality and the power state of the mobile communications device, and wherein management of incoming requests for communication to the mobile communications device, outgoing requests for communication from the mobile communications device, or ongoing communications including the mobile communication device is defined in terms of the message; and

on a communication management system that is remote from the mobile communications device;

receiving said message and recording the result of the assessment in computer storage; and

after receiving said message at the communication management system and recording said result, receiving at the communication management system a request to route an incoming call, the source of the incoming call distinct from the communication management system, and in response to the request, determining how to route the incoming call according to the management defined in terms of the most recently received message based at least partly on the recorded result of the assessment and without further communicating with the mobile communications device, wherein routing the incoming call does not cause modification of at least one of the call reception functionality and the power state of the mobile communications device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of transmitting said message is performed in response to detection by the mobile communications device of a state change associated with a change in a user risk level.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein performing said assessment comprises using sensor-based location data to assess whether the mobile communications device is located in a geospatial zone represented in a memory of the mobile communications device.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein performing said assessment comprises implementing a state machine having a plurality of states, at least two of said states corresponding to different respective categories of in-transit activity.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein performing said assessment comprises using at least altitude and velocity data to assess whether the mobile communications device is in-flight in an aircraft.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the determination of how to route the incoming call is additionally based on a caller identity information associated with the incoming call.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein determining how to route the incoming call comprises using a previously stored profile associated with the user to determine how the call should be routed during an in-transit condition detected via the assessment.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising, on the mobile communications device, using a result of said assessment to determine whether to inhibit the user from placing a call from the mobile communications device.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein said sensor data comprises data generated by a sensor of an automotive vehicle and obtained by the mobile communications device via a wireless link with the automotive vehicle.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the system is a distributed system that comprises multiple nodes.