Personal media device input and output control based on associated conditions

• US 8,836,502 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Culbert, Michael, Tupman, David John, Keen, Daniel Shawn, Guetta, Anthony Joseph, Du Bois, Ryan Jeffrey, Tiscareno, Victor M., Harrington, David, Chick, Stephen John, Minoo, Jahan, Laefer, Jay Steven, Saul, Kevin, Forstall, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US12/005,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.22, 340/635, 455/567, 379/392.01
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a media device that controls input and output characteristics based on one or more associated conditions.

Claims

1. media device comprising:

a sensor for generating a sensor signal based on at least one current environmental condition associated with the media device,

a temporal source for generating a temporal signal associated with the media device, wherein the temporal signal includes at least one of a current time and a current date,

a data store for storing a plurality of known condition vectors in a condition vector database, wherein each known condition vector identifies an environmental condition and a temporal condition, and wherein at least one of the known condition vectors identifies a temporal condition that includes at least one of a time data field and a date data field, and

a processor for controlling an incoming call alert of the media device by assigning a first weight to the sensor signal and a second weight to the temporal signal, combining the weighted sensor and temporal signals to form a received condition vector, comparing the received condition vector with the stored plurality of known condition vectors, selecting a closest matching condition vector from the plurality of known condition vectors based on the received condition vector, and determining the incoming call alert of the media device based on the closest matching condition vector.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to continuously compare the received condition vector with the plurality of known condition vectors prior to receiving an incoming call to determine the incoming call alert of the media device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to use a pattern recognition algorithm when comparing the received condition vector with the plurality of known condition vectors.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to use a vector matching algorithm when comparing the received condition vector with the plurality of known condition vectors.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to select the closest matching condition vector by applying a decision model, wherein the decision model includes at least one of a linear regression model, a non-linear regression model, a logistic regression model, a Bayesian network model, a Markov model, a fuzzy model, and a propensity score.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the incoming call alert includes at least one of a vibration pattern, an audio pattern, a video display image, a light pattern, and a text output.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the time data field of the temporal condition specifies a time range associated with normal work hours.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the date data field of the temporal condition specifies a range of days in the week.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of known condition vectors identifies an event condition.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the event condition results from a user affecting at least one of a position, orientation, and movement of the media device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, an acoustic sensor, an acoustic frequency sensor, a sonic or sonar sensor, a radar sensor, an image sensor, a video sensor, a global positional system (GPS) detector, a RF detector, a RF or acoustic Doppler detector, a RF triangulation detector, a video sensor, a battery charging sensor, and a peripheral device detector.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the acoustic sensor includes a microphone.

13. A method for interfacing with a media device comprising:

storing a plurality of known condition vectors in a condition vector database, wherein each known condition vector identifies an environmental condition and a temporal condition, and wherein at least one of the known condition vectors identifies a temporal condition that includes at least one of a time of the day and a day of the week,

generating a sensor signal from a sensor based on at least one current environmental condition associated with the media device,

generating a temporal signal associated with the media device, wherein the temporal signal includes at least one of a current time and a current date,

assigning a first weight to the sensor signal and a second weight to the temporal signal,

combining the weighted sensor and temporal signals to form a received condition vector,

comparing the received condition vector with the stored plurality of known condition vectors,

selecting a closest matching condition vector from the plurality of known condition vectors based on the received condition vector, and

determining an incoming call alert of the media device based on the closest matching condition vector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing the received condition vector with the stored plurality of known condition vectors is repeated continuously prior to receiving an incoming call to determine the incoming call alert of the media device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing includes employing a pattern recognition algorithm.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing includes employing a vector matching algorithm.

17. The method of claim 13,wherein selecting the closest matching condition vector includes applying a decision model, wherein the decision model includes at least one of a linear regression model, a non-linear regression model, a logistic regression model, a Bayesian network model, a Markov model, a fuzzy model, and a propensity score.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the incoming call alert includes at least one of a vibration pattern, an audio pattern, a video display image, a light pattern, and a text output.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of known condition vectors identifies an event condition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the event condition results from a user affecting at least one of a position, orientation, and movement of the media device.