Adjusting user settings on a handheld mobile communication device based upon location

• US 8,838,144 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wood, Robert H., Matton, Maxime, Duff, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, MARCOS L
• Application Number:
  US12/017,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090186630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 455/466, 4554121-4122
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A handheld electronic device that receives geo-location based signal data into a microprocessor on board the handheld electronic device. The microprocessor processes the signal data into location data representative of the present geographic location of the electronic handheld device. The microprocessor adjusts at least one user defined setting of the handheld electronic device based on whether the location data indicates that the handheld electronic device is within stored geographical boundaries.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting settings of an electronic device comprising:

receiving geo-location based signal data into a microprocessor of the electronic device;

processing said signal data into location data representative of the present geographic location of the electronic device;

adjusting a user defined email message downloading setting of the electronic device, at the electronic device, based on whether the location data indicates that the electronic device is within a stored user defined area, wherein the email message downloading setting indicates a predetermined number of characters of an email to be received at the electronic device; and

downloading the predetermined number of characters of an email message to the electronic device in accordance with the user defined email message downloading setting in the event the device is within the stored user defined area and the email message contains more characters than the predetermined number of characters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored user defined area is a home zone area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving of all messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored user defined area is a meeting area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving of all messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said received geo-location based signal data is data indicative of the present communication service provider which determines whether roaming charges presently apply.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving of all email messages.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving a message having an attachment.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a geo-location based signal data receiver; and

a microprocessor that converts an electronic signal received by said geo-location based signal data receiver into location data representative of the present geographic location of the electronic device, wherein the microprocessor

adjusts a user defined email message downloading setting of the electronic device based on whether the location data indicates that the electronic device is within a stored user defined area, wherein the email message downloading setting indicates a predetermined number of characters of an email to be received at the electronic device, and

downloads the predetermined number of characters of an email message to the electronic device in accordance with the user defined email message downloading setting in the event the device is within the stored user defined area and the email message contains more characters than the predetermined number of characters.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the stored user defined area is a home zone area.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving of all messages.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the stored user defined area is a meeting area.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein said received geo-location based signal data is data indicative of the present communication service provider which determines whether roaming charges presently apply.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes only receiving messages having an urgent priority associated therewith.

20. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the adjustment of a user defined message receiving setting further includes prohibiting receiving a message having an attachment.