Auto responder

• US 8,897,822 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wavemarket Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/470,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20130303106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 926 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/466, 455/404.1, 455410-420, 455/569.2, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Mobile device auto responders that dynamically send customized automated messages that depend on the identity of an incoming call, on the location of the mobile device, on the speed of the mobile device, on the acceleration of the mobile device, and/or on the time of day. The automated message can be customized to include the location, speed, heading and/or acceleration of the mobile device as well as an estimated time of arrival over a predetermined stored route to a predetermined location. The automated message may be audio, video, email, iMessage™, instant message, or SMS message.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for handling incoming communications at a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming communication from a caller at the mobile device;

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

automatically detecting if the mobile device is in a moving vehicle;

automatically restricting use of the mobile device by blocking incoming message notifications and outgoing non-emergency messages when the mobile device is detected in a moving vehicle;

determining if use of the mobile device is restricted;

identifying the caller to determine a caller identity;

determining a destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining an estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

automatically transmitting from the mobile device a response message with an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination responsive to determining if use of the mobile device is restricted and responsive to the caller identity.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting use of the mobile device based on the detected at least one of location, speed, heading and acceleration of the mobile device.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 2, wherein restricting use of the mobile device further comprises at least one of locking a user interface of the mobile device, preventing receipt of phone calls, preventing sending of non-emergency messages, and preventing receipt of electronic messages.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising detecting the at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device responsive to the incoming communication.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the response message with an indication of the at least one of the location, the speed, the heading, and the acceleration of the mobile device.

6. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the caller identity with a predetermined identity list; and

automatically transmitting the response message responsive to the caller identity corresponding to an identity in the identity list.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein content of the response message is dependent on the caller identity.

8. A processor-implemented method for handling incoming communications at a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming communication from a caller at the mobile device;

automatically detecting if the mobile device is in a moving vehicle;

automatically restricting use of the mobile device by blocking incoming message notifications and outgoing non-emergency messages when the mobile device is detected in a moving vehicle;

determining if use of the mobile device is restricted;

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining a destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining an estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

automatically transmitting a response message to the caller responsive to determining use of the mobile device is restricted, wherein the response message comprises an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination.

9. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, persistent memory for storing information, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the current location of the mobile device, at least one input/output (“

I/O”

) element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, wherein the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to detect at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device to, and to determine if the mobile device is moving, and to determine a destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device, and to determine an estimated time of arrival at the determined destination;

wherein if the processor determines that the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing human detectable output and to prevent outgoing non-emergency communications;

wherein if the mobile device is moving and the data port receives an incoming call from a caller the application software controls the processor to identify the caller;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate a response message that depends on the identity of the caller, the response message comprising an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically cause the data port to send the response message.

10. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein if the processor cannot determine the identity of the caller a response message is not sent.

11. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, a visual message, an email message, an iMessage, and an instant message.

12. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the mobile device includes a compass sensor and the response message includes a compass heading.

13. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the mobile device is prevented from sending out a user initiated signal when the mobile device is moving.

14. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the response message comprises the location of the mobile device.

15. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the response message comprises the speed of the mobile device.

16. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the response message comprises the acceleration of the mobile device.

17. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

18. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on a route stored in the persistent memory.

19. The communication network according to claim 18, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on the current location of the mobile device.

20. The communication network according to claim 9, wherein the identity of the caller is determined from information stored in the persistent memory.

21. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, memory for storing information, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the location of the mobile device, at least one I/O element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, where the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to detect at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device, and to determine if the mobile device is moving, and to determine a destination and an estimated time of arrival at the destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

wherein if the processor determines that the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing the human detectable output and to prevent outgoing non-emergency communications;

wherein if the mobile device is moving when the data port receives an incoming call from a caller the application software controls the processor to determine the current location of the mobile device;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate an automatic response message that depends on the current location of the mobile device, the response message comprising an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to cause the data port to automatically send the response message.

22. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a visual message, a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, an iMessage, an instant message, and an email message.

23. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the application software controls the processor to determine when an abnormal condition occurs, and wherein when an abnormal condition occurs the response message is an emergency message.

24. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the abnormal condition is a collision.

25. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the response message comprises at least one of the location, the speed and the acceleration of the mobile device.

26. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

27. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on a route stored in the memory.

28. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, memory storing data related to a route to a destination, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the location of the mobile device, at least one I/O element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, wherein the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to detect at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device and to determine if the mobile device is moving;

wherein the application software automatically prevents the user from sending a message when the mobile device is moving;

wherein if the mobile device is moving when the data port receives an incoming call the application software controls the processor to determine the current location of the mobile device and to determine the destination based on the data related to the route and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

wherein if the current location of the mobile device is on the route the application software controls the processor to recall route information;

wherein the application software controls the processor to determine the speed of the mobile device;

wherein the application software controls the processor to produce an estimated time of arrival of the mobile device at the destination over the route from the current location;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate a response message that includes the estimated time of arrival; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically cause the data port to send the response message.

29. The communication network according to claim 28, wherein if the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing the human detectable output.

30. The communication network according to claim 28, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a text message, and an email message.

31. The communication network according to claim 28, wherein the response comprises the location of the mobile device.

32. The communication network according to claim 28, wherein the response message comprises at least one of the speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device.

33. The communication network according to claim 28, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

34. A non-transitory computer readable storage media containing coded instructions to:

implement a positioning system to produce location information;

implement a motion system to detect at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration to detect motion of a mobile device;

implement an I/O element to produce human detectable output;

implement a data port to receive incoming calls and send messages;

implement a memory to store location information;

automatically prevent the I/O element from producing human detectable output based on the detected motion;

automatically prevent outgoing non-emergency communications;

determine the current location of the mobile device;

determine a destination and an estimated time of arrival at the destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

formulate an automatic response message comprising an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination based on the current location; and

automatically send the automatic response message from the data port.

35. A non-transitory computer readable storage media containing coded instructions to:

implement a positioning system to produce location information;

implement a motion system to detect at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration to detect motion of a mobile device;

implement an I/O element to produce human detectable output;

implement a data port to receive incoming calls and send messages;

implement a memory to store caller identification information;

automatically prevent the I/O element from producing human detectable output based on the detected motion;

automatically prevent outgoing non-emergency communications based on the detected motion;

determine a destination and an estimated time of arrival at the destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

identify the caller when the data port receives an incoming call;

formulate an automatic response message comprising an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination based on the identity of the caller; and

automatically send the automatic response message from the data port.