Systems and methods for group communication using a mobile device with mode depending on user proximity or device position

• US 9,392,421 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Subbaramoo, Shobha M., Lindner, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLIDAY, JAIME MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US13/479,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/550.1, 455/567
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling group communications using a mobile device includes detecting a motion of the mobile device corresponding to a user placing the device on a surface, maintain a communication session with another mobile device while the user is detected in proximity to the first mobile device, and entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the device. The communication session may be maintained for a time-out period before entering the non-active mode. Further methods and systems include transitioning to a non-active communication mode in response to detecting a motion of the mobile device corresponding to a user placing the device on a surface.

Claims

1. A method of group communication using a first mobile device, comprising:

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the first mobile device corresponding to a user placing the first mobile device on a surface;

monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile device in response to detecting a motion corresponding to the user placing the first mobile device on a surface;

maintaining the communication session with the at least one second mobile device in an active mode while the user is detected in proximity to the first mobile device on the surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile device on the surface for a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the first mobile device has entered a non-active communication mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the first mobile device in a non-active communication mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile device for a pre-determined timeout period; and

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is maintained in an active mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile device for a predetermined timeout period, and the non-active communication mode is entered upon expiration of the timeout period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein entering the non-active communication mode comprises suppressing communication at the first mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

while in a non-active communication mode, buffering received messages from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile device comprises monitoring for the voice of a user of the first mobile device to detect the proximity of the user to the first mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile device comprises biometrically sensing for the proximity of the user to the first mobile device.

9. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a transceiver; and

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

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the mobile communication device on a surface;

monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the mobile communication device in response to detecting the motion corresponding to the user placing the mobile communication device on the surface;

maintaining the communication session with the at least one second mobile device in an active mode while the user is detected in proximity to the mobile communication device on the surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device on the surface for a predetermined time period.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

maintaining the mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device for a predetermined timeout period;

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the communication is maintained in an active mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device for a pre-determined timeout period, and the non-active communication mode is entered upon expiration of the timeout period.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that entering the non-active communication mode comprises suppressing communication at the mobile communication device.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

while in non-active communication mode, buffering received messages from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile devices comprises monitoring for the voice of a user of the mobile communication device to detect the proximity of the user to the mobile communication device.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile devices comprises biometrically sensing for the proximity of the user to the mobile communication device.

17. A mobile communication device, comprising:

means for establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

means for detecting a motion of the mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the mobile communication device on a surface;

means for monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the mobile communication device in response to detecting a motion corresponding to the user placing the mobile communication device on a surface;

means for maintaining the communication session with the at least one second mobile device in an active mode while the user is detected in proximity to the mobile communication device on the surface; and

means for entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device on the surface for a predetermined time period.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for maintaining the mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device for a predetermined timeout period; and

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for maintaining the communication session in an active mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the mobile communication device for a pre-determined timeout period; and

means for entering the non-active communication mode upon expiration of the timeout period.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein means for entering the non-active communication mode comprises means for suppressing communication at the mobile communication device.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21, further comprising:

while in non-active communication mode, means for buffering received messages from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein means for monitoring for the presence of a user comprises means for monitoring for the voice of a user of the mobile communication device to detect the proximity of the user to the mobile communication device.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein means for monitoring for the presence of a user comprises means for biometrically sensing for the proximity of the user to the mobile communication device.

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

establishing a communication session with at least one second mobile device;

detecting a motion of the first mobile communication device corresponding to a user placing the first mobile communication device on a surface;

monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile communication device in response to detecting a motion corresponding to the user placing the first mobile communication device on a surface;

maintaining the communication session with the at least one second mobile device in an active mode while the user is detected in proximity to the first mobile communication device on the surface; and

entering a non-active communication mode when the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile communication device on the surface for a predetermined time period.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

sending a message to the at least one second mobile device indicating that the first mobile communication device has entered a non-active communication mode.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

maintaining the first mobile communication device in a non-active communication mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile communication device for a predetermined timeout period; and

ending the communication session upon expiration of the timeout period.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that the communication session is maintained in an active mode while the user is not detected in proximity to the first mobile communication device for a pre-determined timeout period, and the non-active communication mode is entered upon expiration of the timeout period.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that entering the non-active communication mode comprises suppressing communication at the first mobile communication device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:

while in non-active communication mode, buffering received messages from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile communication device comprises monitoring for the voice of a user of the first mobile communication device to detect the proximity of the user to the first mobile communication device.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that monitoring for the presence of a user in proximity to the first mobile communication device comprises biometrically sensing for the proximity of the user to the first mobile communication device.