Use of proximity sensors for interacting with mobile devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- commencing, by a mobile device, a voice phone call;
during the phone call, collecting, by the mobile device, proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user;
during the phone call, collecting, by the mobile device, acceleration data that indicates the mobile device is being held such that a face of the mobile device faces downward; and
muting, by the mobile device, a microphone of the mobile device in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user and in response to the acceleration data that indicates the face of mobile device faces downward.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various arrangements for handling a call by a mobile device and/or selecting a function for execution by the mobile device are presented. A phone call may be commenced by a mobile device. During the phone call, the mobile device may collect proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user. The microphone of the mobile device may be muted in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user.
14 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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commencing, by a mobile device, a voice phone call; during the phone call, collecting, by the mobile device, proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user; during the phone call, collecting, by the mobile device, acceleration data that indicates the mobile device is being held such that a face of the mobile device faces downward; and muting, by the mobile device, a microphone of the mobile device in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user and in response to the acceleration data that indicates the face of mobile device faces downward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A mobile device comprising:
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a proximity sensor; a microphone; a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; during a voice phone call, analyze proximity data from the proximity sensor that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user; during the voice phone call, analyze acceleration data from the accelerometer that indicates the mobile device is being held such that a face of the mobile device faces downward; and cause the microphone to be muted in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user and in response to the acceleration data that indicates the face of mobile device faces downward. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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during a voice phone call, analyze proximity data from a proximity sensor that indicates a mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user; during the voice phone call, analyze acceleration data from an accelerometer that indicates the mobile device is being held such that a face of the mobile device faces downward; and cause a microphone to be muted in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user and in response to the acceleration data that indicates the face of mobile device faces downward. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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means for conducting the phone call; means for collecting proximity data during a voice phone call, wherein the proximity data indicates a mobile device is not proximate to an ear of a user; means for collecting acceleration data during the phone call, wherein the acceleration data indicates the mobile device is being held such that a face of the mobile device faces downward; and means for muting a microphone of the mobile device in response to the proximity data that indicates the mobile device is not proximate to the ear of the user and in response to the acceleration data that indicates the face of mobile device faces downward. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for comprising:
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collecting, by a mobile device, proximity data; collecting, by the mobile device, acceleration data; selecting, by the mobile device, a function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data, wherein; the function is selected from a set of functions configured to be executed by the mobile device; and selecting the function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data comprises; selecting a subset of functions from the set of functions using the proximity data and selecting the function for execution from the subset of functions using the acceleration data. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A mobile device comprising:
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a proximity sensor; an accelerometer; a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; analyze proximity data from the proximity sensor; analyze acceleration data from the accelerometer; select a function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data, wherein; the function is selected from a set of functions configured to be executed by the mobile device; and the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to select the function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data comprises processor-readable instructions configured, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; select a subset of functions from the set of functions using the proximity data and select the function for execution from the subset of functions using the acceleration data. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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analyze proximity data collected by a proximity sensor; analyze acceleration data collected by an accelerometer; select a function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data, wherein; the function is selected from a set of functions configured to be executed by the mobile device; and the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to select the function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data comprises processor-readable instructions configured, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; select a subset of functions from the set of functions using the proximity data and select the function for execution from the subset of functions using the acceleration data.
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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means for collecting proximity data; means for collecting acceleration data; means for selecting a function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data, wherein; the function is selected from a set of functions configured to be executed by a mobile device; and the means for selecting the function for execution using the proximity data and the acceleration data comprises; means for selecting a subset of functions from the set of functions using the proximity data and means for selecting the function for execution from the subset of functions using the acceleration data. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a mobile device, an indication of a function being executed by a second mobile device; collecting, by the mobile device, proximity data; and selecting, by the mobile device, the function for execution using the indication of the function being executed by the second mobile device and the proximity data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A mobile device configured to select a function for execution, the mobile device comprising:
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a proximity sensor; a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; receive an indication of the function being executed by a second mobile device; receive proximity data from the proximity sensor; and select the function for execution using the indication of the function being executed by the second mobile device and the proximity data. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer program product for selecting a function for execution on a mobile device, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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receive an indication of the function being executed by a second mobile device; collect proximity data using a proximity sensor; and select the function for execution using the indication of the function being executed by the second mobile device and the proximity data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for selecting a function for execution by a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving an indication of the function being executed by a second mobile device; means for collecting proximity data; and means for selecting the function for execution using the indication of the function being executed by the second mobile device and the proximity data. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for selecting a function for execution by a mobile device, the method comprising:
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collecting, by the mobile device, proximity data; selecting, by the mobile device, a subset of functions from a set of functions using the proximity data; and displaying, by the mobile device, indications of the subset of functions. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A mobile device configured to select a function for execution, the mobile device comprising:
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a proximity sensor; a touch screen display; a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; receive proximity data from the proximity sensor; select a subset of functions from a set of functions using the proximity data; and display, via the display, indications of the subset of functions. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A computer program product for selecting a function for execution on a mobile device, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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receive proximity data from a proximity sensor; select a subset of functions from a set of functions using the proximity data; and cause indications of the subset of functions to be displayed via a touch screen display. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for selecting a function for execution by a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
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means for collecting proximity data; means for selecting a subset of functions from a set of functions using the proximity data; and means for displaying indications of the subset of functions. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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Specification