Context-aware and location-aware cellular phones and methods

• US 20020119788A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reus, Edward F., Parupudi, Gopal, Evans, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/104 Location integrity, e.g. secure geotagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Context-aware and location-aware cellular phones and methods are described. In one embodiment, cellular phones are configured to wirelessly receive information that pertains to their current context or location. The phones then automatically use the information to modify one or more cellular phone behaviors, e.g. by turning the phone off, changing the ringer'"'"'s pitch, or placing the phone in a vibrate mode. In one particular embodiment, various location types are defined and have associated attributes that define a desired cellular phone behavior. One or more transmitters at a location for which a behavior is desired transmit information that pertains to the location'"'"'s class type. The cell phones can carry an association of class types and their behaviors so that when the phones receive the class type information, they can automatically adjust their behavior.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive information that pertains to a current context of the cellular phone;

determine the current context based on the information; and

modify at least one behavior of the cellular phone responsive to the current context.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1 further comprising a context service module that is configured to receive information from multiple different context providers.

3. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein the information pertains to a user of the cellular phone.

4. The cellular phone of claim 1 further comprising one or more hierarchical traversable tree structures on the phone, the tree structures comprising individual nodes each of which being associated with a phone context, the processors being configured to automatically determine a context by traversing at least one node on one of the trees.

5. The cellular phone of claim 1 further comprising an application program interface that is configured to wirelessly receive information that is associated with the phone'"'"'s context.

6. A method of operating a cellular phone comprising:

wirelessly receiving, with the cellular phone, information that pertains to a context of the cellular phone;

responsive to said receiving, modifying at least one behavior associated with the cellular phone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the phone is on or off.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavior pertains to operation of a cellular phone ringer.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone is in a vibration mode.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavior pertains to a ringer pitch.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the behavior pertains to forwarding calls.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said modifying comprises using one or more cellular phone settings that are resident on the cellular phone to modify the cellular phone'"'"'s settings.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said receiving comprises receiving cellular phone setting information that is to be used to modify the cellular phone'"'"'s behavior.

14. A cellular phone programmed to implement the method of claim 6.

16. A cellular phone embodying the computer-readable media of claim 15.

18. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the information comprises cellular phone settings.

19. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one behavior by turning the phone on or off.

20. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one behavior by adjusting a ringer pitch on the phone.

21. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one behavior by turning a cellular phone ringer on or off.

22. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one behavior by placing the phone in a vibration mode.

23. The cellular phone of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the one behavior by forwarding one or more calls to a user-provided telephone number.

25. The cellular phone of claim 24, wherein said information pertains to cellular phone settings that are associated with the current location.

26. The cellular phone of claim 24, wherein said information pertains to a defined location type of which the location is an instance.

27. The cellular phone of claim 24, wherein said means to modify comprises means to change the cellular phone'"'"'s behavior when it is no longer at the current location.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said transmitting information comprises transmitting information that is associated with a location type that has attributes that define a cellular phone behavior.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said transmitting information comprises transmitting information pertaining to cellular phone settings.

15. One or more readable media having readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a cellular phone, cause the cellular phone to:

wirelessly receive information that pertains to a context of the cellular phone; and

responsive to receiving the information, modify at least one behavior associated with the cellular phone.

17. A cellular phone comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive information associated with a current location of the cellular phone; and

modify at least one behavior of the cellular phone responsive to the information.

24. A cellular phone comprising:

receiving means configured to wirelessly receive information that pertains to a current location of a cellular phone; and

means to modify at least one behavior associated with the cellular phone responsive to said information.

28. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

defining one or more cellular phone behaviors for a given location; and

wirelessly transmitting information to cellular phones within that location that permits cellular phones to automatically modify their behavior while in that location.

31. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

providing one or more transmitters that are configured to transmit information that permits cellular phones to automatically modify their behavior;

placing the one or more transmitters in a location where a particular cellular phone behavior is desired; and

transmitting information using said one or more transmitters.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the behavior comprises whether the cellular phone is on or off.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the behavior pertains to the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the behavior pertains to the pitch of the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the behavior pertains to call forwarding.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone is to be on or off.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer is to be on or off.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the behavior pertains to the pitch of the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the behavior pertains to automatically forwarding telephone calls.

36. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

defining one or more class types each of which can be associated with a location for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired; and

associating attributes with the one or more class types, the attributes defining cellular phone behavior.

41. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

defining one or more class types each of which can be associated with a location for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired;

associating attributes with the one or more class types, the attributes defining cellular phone behavior; and

associating a class type with a location for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired.

42. A method of managing cellular phone behavior comprising:

associating a class type with a location for which a particular cellular phone behavior is desired, the class type having attributes that define the cellular phone'"'"'s behavior; and

wirelessly transmitting information pertaining to the class type for reception by cellular phones in the location, the information being configured to be used by cellular phones to automatically adjust one or more behaviors.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said associating comprises providing a transmitter at the location that is configured to transmit the information.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the behavior is defined by cellular phone settings.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone is on or off.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the behavior pertains to whether the cellular phone'"'"'s ringer is on or off.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the behavior pertains to call forwarding.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said determining comprises:

receiving location information;

accessing one or more hierarchical tree structures having nodes that correspond to locations; and

using the location information to traverse at least portions of the one or more tree structures to ascertain the present location.

48. A location-aware cell phone that can determine its location and automatically adjust one or more of its settings so that it behaves in a manner that has been defined for that location.

49. A method of operating a cellular phone comprising:

providing a cellular phone; and

determining, with the cellular phone, a present cellular phone location.