Automatic sleep mode prevention of mobile device in car holder

• US 9,501,292 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anagog Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anagog Ltd.
• Inventors: Levy, Gil, Aizenbud, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Dung
• Application Number:
  US13/989,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20130339720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 455573-574, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/448 Execution paradigms, e.g. implementations of programming paradigms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communications device includes at least one application programmer interface (API) to provide status information from components of the device, where the status information is indicative of the device being operated in an automobile, and a decision unit to modify at least one of screen backlighting and device locking in accordance with a driving state determined in accordance with at least the status information. A method for preventing sleep mode in a mobile communications device includes detecting active charging of the device, establishing that the device is in an automotive vehicle, based on the detecting and establishing, determining that a charging/vehicle state exists; and when the charging/vehicle state exists, instructing a screen backlight of the device to remain on, and disabling key locking for the mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile communication device comprising an at least one orientation sensor, the method comprising:

detecting that the mobile communication device is being charged;

determining that the mobile communication device is positioned in a persistent general upright attitude indicative the mobile communication device is in a phone cradle, wherein said determining is performed using input from the at least one orientation sensor;

based on said determining, said detecting and based on GPS data obtained from a GPS unit of the mobile communication device, determining the mobile communication device is in a driving state, wherein the GPS data is indicative of a movement of the mobile communication device is consistent with being inside a driving vehicle; and

in response to said determining the mobile communication device is in the driving state, modifying a device locking to prevent the mobile communication device from being locked as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises in response to said determining the mobile communication device is in the driving state, instructing a screen backlight of the mobile communication device to remain on as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises in response to said determining the mobile communication device is in the driving state, initiating a hands free mode of the mobile communication device, whereby enabling the hands free mode while the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises in response to said determining the mobile communication device is in the driving state, opening an application in a foreground of the mobile communication device, whereby in response to a determination that the mobile communication device is in a driving state, the application is opened in the foreground of the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one orientation sensor at least one of:

a gyro, an accelerometer and a magnetic orientometer.

6. A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A mobile communication device comprising:

an at least one orientation sensor;

a GPS unit; and

a processor configured to;

detect that the mobile communication device is being charged;

determine that the mobile communication device is positioned in a persistent general upright attitude indicative the mobile communication device is in a phone cradle, wherein said determining is performed using input from said at least one orientation sensor;

determine, based on the detection of the mobile communication device being charged and based on the determination that the mobile communication device is posited in a persistent general upright attitude indicative the mobile communication device is in a phone cradle and based on GPS data obtained from said GPS unit, that the mobile communication device is in a driving state, wherein the GPS data is indicative of a movement of the mobile communication device is consistent with being inside a driving vehicle; and

in response to the determination that the mobile communication device being in the driving state, modify a device locking to prevent the mobile communication device from being locked as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said processor is further adapted, in response to the determination of the mobile communication device being in the driving state, to turning on a screen backlight of the mobile communication modify device and having the screen backlight remain on as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said processor is further adapted, in response to the determination of the mobile communication device being in the driving state, to disable key locking for the mobile communication device as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said processor is further adapted, in response to the determination of the mobile communication device being in the driving state, to initiate a hands free mode of the mobile communication device, whereby enabling the hands free mode while the mobile communication device is in the driving state.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein said processor is further adapted, in response to the determination of the mobile communication device being in the driving state, to opening an application in a foreground of the mobile communication device.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which program instructions when read by a processor of a mobile communication device, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

detecting that the mobile communication device is being charged;

determining that the mobile communication device is positioned in a persistent general upright attitude indicative the mobile communication device is in a phone cradle;

based on said determining, said detecting and based on GPS data obtained from a GPS unit of the mobile communication device, determining the mobile communication device is in a driving state, wherein the GPS data is indicative of a movement of the mobile communication device is consistent with being inside a driving vehicle; and

in response to the determination that the mobile communication device being in the driving state, modifying a device locking to prevent the mobile communication device from being locked as long as the mobile communication device is in the driving state.