Automatic switching of modes and mode control capabilities on a wireless communication device

• US 9,313,320 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Zeilingold, Daphna, Sprigg, Stephen Alton, Stern, Ronen, Canoy, Michael-David Nakayoshi, Mealer-Burke, Vicki Christine, Larkin, Eric Darnell Sr., Atkins, Kristin Parsley, Silveira, Susan Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/485,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• 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 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for implementing different modes or persona of a wireless communication device that allow the wireless communication device to function as multiple devices corresponding to conditions and circumstances that may be defined by an enterprise. Operating modes or persona may be defined by a set of operating characteristics that may include user permissions, device functionality, capabilities enabled, and user restrictions that may be selected by the enterprise. Automatic switching between modes/persona may be controlled through triggers based on any of location, proximity, time, and context of the wireless communication device. Automatic switching of mode control capabilities may also controlled through such triggers, enabling an enterprise to limit the ability of users to override the automatic mode/persona implemented in response to an enterprise-defined trigger.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling multiple modes on a wireless communication device, comprising:

receiving signals from a wireless identity transmitter, wherein receiving signals from the wireless identity transmitter indicates that the wireless identity transmitter is within a defined proximity of the wireless communication device;

receiving a notification of a geofence event that identifies a location of the wireless communication device;

determining a first operating mode by applying the location of the wireless communication device to the wireless identity transmitter;

identifying a set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode;

switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode by implementing the identified set of operating characteristics on the wireless communication device;

determining whether the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability, wherein each mode control capability comprises a setting that defines a level of user control for selecting a mode other than the first operating mode; and

determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode based at least in part on a current operating mode of the wireless communication device; and

maintaining the current operating mode of the wireless communication device in response to determining that the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability comprises:

identifying the at least one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode;

determining whether the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

identifying a first mode control capability based on at least the location of the wireless communication device and the wireless identity transmitter in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode; and

identifying the first mode control capability as the one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability does not comprise a plurality of mode control capabilities.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability further comprises:

comparing the identified first mode control capability to a mode control capability setting currently implemented on the wireless communication device; and

switching to the first mode control capability in response to determining that the identified first mode control capability does not correspond to the mode control capability setting currently implemented.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises at least one of user permissions, user restrictions, a mandated content storage location on the wireless communication device, and a mandated subscription for communication on the wireless communication device; and

the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode and a mode control capability setting associated with the first mode control capability are created by an enterprise.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving signals from the wireless identity transmitter further indicates at least one context associated with the wireless identity transmitter, and wherein the at least one context is applicable to at least a second location such that applying the second location to the wireless identity transmitter determines a second operating mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second operating mode comprises a sub-mode of the first operating mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification of an additional trigger event selected from a group consisting of an appointment scheduled through a calendar application, a time-based constraint, a date-based constraint, and a signal received from a remote device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a second operating mode of the first operating mode by applying the additional trigger event to the location of the wireless communication device and the wireless identity transmitter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is stored in memory on the wireless communication device; and

sending a request to a server to obtain the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is not stored in memory.

11. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving signals from a wireless identity transmitter, wherein receiving signals from the wireless identity transmitter indicates that the wireless identity transmitter is within a defined proximity of the wireless communication device;

receiving a notification of a geofence event that identifies a location of the wireless communication device;

determining a first operating mode by applying the location of the wireless communication device to the wireless identity transmitter;

identifying a set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode;

switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode by implementing the identified set of operating characteristics on the wireless communication device

determining whether the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability, wherein each mode control capability comprises a setting that defines a level of user control for selecting a mode other than the first operating mode; and

determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode based at least in part on a current operating mode of the wireless communication device; and

maintaining the current operating mode of the wireless communication device in response to determining that the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability comprises:

identifying the at least one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode;

determining whether the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

identifying a first mode control capability based on at least the location of the wireless communication device and the wireless identity transmitter in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode; and

identifying the first mode control capability as the one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability does not comprise a plurality of mode control capabilities.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability further comprises:

comparing the identified first mode control capability to a mode control capability setting currently implemented on the wireless communication device; and

switching to the first mode control capability in response to determining that the identified first mode control capability does not correspond to the mode control capability setting currently implemented.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises at least one of user permissions, user restrictions, a mandated content storage location on the wireless communication device, and a mandated subscription for communication on the wireless communication device; and

the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode and a mode control capability setting associated with the first mode control capability are created by an enterprise.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving signals from the wireless identity transmitter further indicates at least one context associated with the wireless identity transmitter, and wherein the at least one context is applicable to at least a second location such that applying the second location to the wireless identity transmitter determines a second operating mode.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the second operating mode comprises a sub-mode of the first operating mode.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a notification of an additional trigger event selected from a group consisting of an appointment scheduled through a calendar application, a time-based constraint, a date-based constraint, and a signal received from a remote device.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining a second operating mode of the first operating mode by applying the additional trigger event to the location of the wireless communication device and the indicated wireless identity transmitter.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that identifying the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is stored in memory on the wireless communication device; and

sending a request to a server to obtain the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is not stored in memory.

21. A wireless communication device, comprising:

means for receiving signals from a wireless identity transmitter, wherein receiving signals from the wireless identity transmitter indicates that the wireless identity transmitter is within a defined proximity of the wireless communication device;

means for receiving a notification of a geofence event that identifies a location of the wireless communication device;

means for determining a first operating mode by applying the location of the wireless communication device to the wireless identity transmitter;

means for identifying a set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode;

means for switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode by implementing the identified set of operating characteristics on the wireless communication device;

means for determining whether the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability, wherein each mode control capability comprises a setting that defines a level of user control for selecting a mode other than the first operating mode; and

means for determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein means for switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode comprises:

means for determining whether the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode based at least in part on a current operating mode of the wireless communication device; and

means for maintaining the current operating mode of the wireless communication device in response to determining that the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein means for determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability comprises:

means for identifying at least one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode;

means for determining whether the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

means for identifying a first mode control capability based on at least the location of the wireless communication device and the wireless identity transmitter in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

means for identifying the first mode control capability as the one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability does not comprise a plurality of mode control capabilities;

means for comparing the identified first mode control capability to a mode control capability setting currently implemented on the wireless communication device in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability; and

means for switching to the first mode control capability in response to determining that the identified first mode control capability does not correspond to the mode control capability setting currently implemented.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein means for identifying the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises:

means for determining whether the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is stored in memory on the wireless communication device; and

means for sending a request to a server to obtain the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is not stored in memory.

25. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations comprising:

receiving signals from a wireless identity transmitter, wherein receiving the signals from the wireless identity transmitter indicates that the wireless identity transmitter is within a defined proximity of the wireless communication device;

receiving a notification of a geofence event that identifies a location of the wireless communication device;

determining a first operating mode by applying the location of the wireless communication device to the wireless identity transmitter;

identifying a set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode;

switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode by implementing the associated set of operating characteristics on the wireless communication device;

determining whether the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability, wherein each mode control capability comprises a setting that defines a level of user control for selecting a mode other than the first operating mode; and

determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability.

26. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that switching operation of the wireless communication device into the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode based at least in part on a current operating mode of the wireless communication device; and

maintaining the current operating mode of the wireless communication device in response to determining that the geofence event and the wireless identity transmitter are associated with an automatic mode switch to the first operating mode.

27. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that determining whether to switch to a new mode control capability comprises:

identifying at least one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode;

determining whether the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

identifying a first mode control capability based on at least the location of the wireless communication device and the wireless identity transmitter in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability comprises a plurality of mode control capabilities associated with the first operating mode;

identifying the first mode control capability as the one mode control capability associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the at least one mode control capability does not comprise a plurality of mode control capabilities;

comparing the identified first mode control capability to a mode control capability setting currently implemented on the wireless communication device in response to determining that the first operating mode is associated with at least one mode control capability; and

switching to the first mode control capability in response to determining that the identified first mode control capability does not correspond to the mode control capability setting currently implemented.

28. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor of a wireless communication device to perform operations such that identifying the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode comprises:

determining whether the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode is stored in memory on the wireless communication device; and

sending a request to a server to obtain the set of operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode in response to determining that the operating characteristics associated with the first operating mode are not stored in memory.