Apparatus and method for obtaining inconspicuous user input on a mobile device

• US 9,185,536 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Evan Johnson, Peter R. Johnson
• Original Assignee: James Evan Johnson, Peter R. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Peter R., Johnson, James Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Sharad
• Application Number:
  US13/621,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/567, 455/550.1, 4555561-5562
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Mobile device, method for operating the same, and associated computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory medium for obtaining inconspicuous user input on a mobile device. The mobile device automatically detects whether an accessory port is engaged with an accessory, such as a headset, for example. In response to at least one change in an indication of the detection, the device automatically performs a sequence of operations. According to one particular embodiment, alarm sequence of operations can include a transmission of an alarm notification to a predefined recipient, for example.

Claims

1. An electronic mobile device configured to accept inconspicuous user input, the device comprising:

a housing;

computer circuitry situated within the housing and including a processor operatively coupled to a data store, a user interface including a display and a user input device, and wireless communications circuitry;

an accessory port interfaced with the computer circuitry and including an electrical connector configured to engage with an accessory external to the housing;

wherein the computer circuitry is configured to implement a port detector module that provides an indication of whether the accessory port is engaged with the accessory;

wherein the computer circuitry stores an application that implements a personal protection module, wherein the application, when executed, causes the computer circuitry to execute a sequence of operations in response to at least one change in the indication of the port detector module, the sequence of operations not requiring operation of the accessory, and wherein the sequence of operations includes an alarm sequence that transmits an alarm message to a remote recipient via the communications circuitry; and

wherein the personal protection module is configured to enter into an armed state in response to a user input, wherein in the armed state the personal protection module permits activation of the alarm sequence, and wherein out of the armed state the personal protection module prevents activation of the alarm sequence.

2. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the accessory port is a headset port.

3. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one change in the indication of the port detector module is a disengagement of the accessory from the accessory port.

4. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the alarm sequence causes the electronic mobile device to transmit the alarm message following a specified time period in response to the at least one change in the indication of the port detector module.

5. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the alarm message includes an indication of a current location of the electronic mobile device.

6. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the alarm message includes a multimedia recording made by the electronic mobile device.

7. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the alarm message includes preconfigured medical information about a user of the electronic mobile device.

8. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the alarm sequence further includes transmission, via the wireless communications circuitry, of a false alarm message to a predetermined alarm message recipient in response to receiving a deactivation input from a user if a prior transmission of an alarm message to the alarm message recipient has been performed.

9. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the personal protection module is configured to automatically exit the armed state in response to a lapse of a predefined period of time following entry into the armed state.

10. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the personal protection module is configured to interrupt the sequence of operations in response to a subsequent change in the indication of the port detector module within a predefined period of time.

11. The electronic mobile device of claim 10, wherein the subsequent change in the indication of the port detector module includes a re-engagement of the accessory with the accessory port.

12. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one change in the indication of the port detector module is a series of at least one disengagement and at least one engagement of the accessory with the accessory port.

13. The electronic mobile device of claim 12, wherein the at least one change in the indication of the port detector module is a detection of a removal and an immediate re-engagement thereafter of the accessory with the accessory port.

14. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a multimedia recording module executable on the computer circuitry; and

wherein the sequence of operations includes initiating multimedia recording via the multimedia recording module.

15. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the sequence of operations includes an operation that monitors user input for a deactivation input and in response to the deactivation input, modifies or deactivates the sequence of operations.

16. The electronic mobile device of claim 15, wherein deactivation input includes an engagement or disengagement of the accessory with the accessory port.

17. A method for processing user input to a mobile device that includes computer circuitry including a processor operatively coupled to a data store, a user interface including a display and a user input device, and wireless communications circuitry, and an accessory port having an electrical connector configured to engage with an accessory external to the mobile device, the method comprising:

automatically detecting, by the mobile device, whether the accessory port is engaged with an accessory; and

automatically executing, by the mobile device, a preconfigured sequence of operations in response to at least one change in a detected state of engagement of the accessory port, the preconfigured sequence not requiring usage of the accessory, the preconfigured sequence of operations including an alarm sequence that transmits an alarm message to a remote recipient via the wireless communications circuitry; and

wherein the mobile device is configured to enter into an armed state in response to a user input, wherein in the armed state the mobile device permits automatically executing the alarm sequence, and wherein out of the armed state the mobile device prevents activation of the alarm sequence.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

instructions, executable on a mobile device that includes computer circuitry including a processor operatively coupled to a data store, a user interface including a display and a user input device, and wireless communications circuitry, and an accessory port having an electrical connector configured to engage with an accessory external to the mobile device, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the mobile device to automatically activate an alarm sequence in response to at least one change in an indication of whether the accessory port is engaged with an accessory, and wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the mobile device to enter into an armed state in response to a user input, wherein in the armed state the mobile device permits activation of the alarm sequence, and wherein out of the armed state the mobile device prevents activation of the alarm sequence.