Method for receiving forwarded or delegated mobile device functions

• US 9,148,513 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Tadayon, Saied, Halavi, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/461,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 370/329, 370/338, 375/222, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver'"'"'s seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details.

Claims

1. A method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

first module receiving a code from a short-range wireless transmitter at an in-range vicinity of said short-range wireless transmitter, wherein said first module runs in a first mobile communication device and said short-range wireless transmitter is outside of said first mobile communication device;

determining a signal power level detected by said first mobile communication device from said short-range wireless transmitter;

in case said code indicates an in-range status and said signal power level is above a threshold, notifying an availability status for performing one or more functions or available choices related to data or voice communication to a data or voice service provider; and

receiving delegated or forwarded data or voice communication related to one or more modified functions or available choices for a second mobile communication device;

wherein a first antenna of said first mobile communication device wirelessly receives or transmits said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication via a wireless network; and

wherein said first mobile communication device detects a wireless signal from said short-range wireless transmitter via a second antenna or detector.

2. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, said method comprising:

sending an identifying data received via said short-range wireless transmitter to said data or voice service provider.

3. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said notification of an availability status for performing one or more functions or available choices is sent to said data or voice service provider via said wireless network.

4. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said notifying said availability status for performing one or more functions or available choices step comprises sending said availability status from said second mobile communication device.

5. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device and said second mobile communication device communicate via a wireless link.

6. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on matching or correspondence with an identifying data received via said short-range wireless transmitter.

7. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on a preconfigured set or list of identifications corresponding to communication devices.

8. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected dynamically for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on an identification corresponding to said first mobile communication device.

9. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on a dynamically specified identification corresponding to said first mobile communication device.

10. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on a user'"'"'s choice or an authority'"'"'s setting.

11. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on an identification of a vehicle.

12. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication device is selected for said delegated or forwarded data or voice communication, based on a priority setting.

13. A method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device, said method comprising:

first module receiving a code from a short-range wireless transmitter at an in-range vicinity of said short-range wireless transmitter, wherein said first module runs in a first mobile communication device and said short-range wireless transmitter is outside of said first mobile communication device;

determining a signal power level detected by said first mobile communication device from said short-range wireless transmitter;

in case said code indicates an in-range status and said signal power level is above a threshold, sending an indicator to a data or voice service provider to modify first set of one or more functions or available choices corresponding to said first mobile communication device, related to data or voice communication via a wireless network;

receiving an availability status of a second mobile communication device for performing one or more functions or available choices related to data or voice communication, via a wireless link with said second mobile communication device;

wherein data or voice communication corresponding to a first subset of said first set of one or more functions or available choices is delegated or forwarded to said second mobile communication device.

14. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 13, wherein in said receiving an availability status step, said first mobile communication device receives said availability status.

15. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 13, wherein in said receiving an availability status step, said data or voice service provider receives said availability status.

16. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

in case said first mobile communication device is out of an out-range vicinity of said short-range wireless transmitter, enabling or restoring a second subset of said first set of one or more functions or available choices for said first mobile communication device.

17. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

in case said first mobile communication device is out of an out-range vicinity of said short-range wireless transmitter, enabling or restoring said first set of one or more functions or available choices for said first mobile communication device.

18. The method for receiving one or more delegated functions or available choices for a mobile communication device as recited in claim 17, wherein said enabling or restoring step follows an expiration of a time period corresponding to said modification of first set of one or more functions or available choices.