Automatically changing a mobile device configuration

• US 20040127197A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roskind, James A.
• Application Number:
  US10/407,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• 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 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The described techniques automatically change the notification mode used by a mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication to the mobile communications device. The notification mode is changed in response to a detected change in an environmental characteristic. The mobile communications device monitors one or more environmental characteristics, such as motion, light, sound, and heat. When the mobile communications device detects a change in an environmental characteristic, the mobile communications device automatically adjusts the notification mode used to alert a user to an incoming communication. Additionally or alternatively, the notification mode is adjusted only when the magnitude of the detected environmental change exceeds a predetermined threshold. In some implementations, the notification mode change may be triggered only when the environmental characteristic change persists for a predetermined interval of time.

Claims

1. A method for automatically changing the configuration of a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

monitoring sensory input at the mobile communications device that is reflective of an environmental characteristic for the mobile communications device;

detecting the change in the environmental characteristic of the mobile communications device based on a change in the sensory input; and

in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic, automatically adjusting a notification mode of the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, when the change is detected, the notification mode is automatically adjusted without user manipulation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification mode is automatically adjusted by changing the notification mode from one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a haptic notification to another of the audible notification, the visual notification, and the haptic notification.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than an audible notification.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a visual notification.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a haptic notification.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the environmental characteristic comprises one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

detecting a change in the environmental characteristic comprises detecting a change from below a threshold of motion to above a threshold of motion, and

adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device from a haptic notification to an audible notification in response to transitioning from below a threshold of motion to above the threshold of motion.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

detecting a change in the environmental characteristic comprises detecting a change from above a threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion, and

adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device from an audible notification to a haptic notification or a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein:

detecting a change in the environmental characteristic comprises detecting a change from above a threshold of light to below the threshold of light, and

adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device to a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of light to below the threshold of light.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein:

detecting a change in the environmental characteristic comprises detecting a change from below a threshold of light to above the threshold of light, and

adjusting the notification mode comprises configuring the mobile communications device from a visual notification to an audible notification or a haptic notification in response to transitioning from below the threshold of light to above the threshold of light.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds a predetermined threshold of magnitude; and

adjusting the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds the predetermined threshold of magnitude.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the magnitude threshold is user configurable.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for a predetermined threshold time period; and

adjusting the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for the predetermined threshold time period.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the threshold time period is user configurable.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically adjusting the notification mode of the mobile communications device comprises automatically adjusting the notification mode of the mobile communications device in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic only when a predetermined condition also is met.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined condition comprises one or more of a predetermined time of day, a predetermined day, a predetermined day of week, and a predetermined day of the year.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein when the change in the environmental characteristic is detected, the notification mode is automatically adjusted in response to user confirmation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the user confirmation comprises user manipulation.

23. A method for handling user-selectable configuration options for automatically adjusting notification configuration information, the method comprising:

providing an interface to user-selectable configuration options for enabling automatic adjustment of a notification configuration for a mobile communications device in response to a change in an environmental characteristic experienced at the mobile communications device; and

enabling access to the user-selectable configuration options for the mobile communications device using the interface.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein providing the interface comprises using an Internet Protocol network to provide an interface to user-selectable configuration options.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the environmental characteristic comprises one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein enabling automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprises enabling the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein enabling automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprises enabling the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein enabling automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprises enabling the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising enabling modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration for the mobile communications device using the interface.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprises adding a user-selectable configuration option.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprises deleting a user-selectable configuration option.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprises updating a user-selectable configuration option.

33. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to automatically change the configuration of a mobile communications device, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

monitor sensory input at the mobile communications device that is reflective of an environmental characteristic for the mobile communications device;

detect the change in the environmental characteristic of the mobile communications device based on a change in the sensory input; and

in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic, automatically adjust a notification mode of the mobile communications device.

34. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the one or more code segments are configured to automatically adjust the notification mode without user manipulation, when the change is detected.

35. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein one or more code segments are configured to automatically adjust the notification mode by changing the notification mode from one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a haptic notification to another of the audible notification, the visual notification, and the haptic notification.

36. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

37. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

38. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

39. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than an audible notification.

40. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a visual notification.

41. The medium or signal of claim 35 wherein the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a haptic notification.

42. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the environmental characteristic comprises one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

43. The medium or signal of claim 42 wherein:

the one or more code segments configured to detect a change in the environmental characteristic comprise one or more code segments configured to detect a change from below a threshold of motion to above a threshold of motion, and

the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device from a haptic notification to an audible notification in response to transitioning from below a threshold of motion to above the threshold of motion.

44. The medium or signal of claim 42 wherein:

the one or more code segments configured to detect a change in the environmental characteristic comprise one or more code segments configured to detect a change from above a threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion, and

the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device from an audible notification to a haptic notification or a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion.

45. The medium or signal of claim 42 wherein:

the one or more code segments configured to detect a change in the environmental characteristic comprise one or more code segments configured to detect a change from above a threshold of light to below the threshold of light, and

the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device to a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of light to below the threshold of light.

46. The medium or signal of claim 42 wherein:

the one or more code segments configured to detect a change in the environmental characteristic comprise one or more code segments configured to detect a change from below a threshold of light to above the threshold of light, and

the one or more code segments configured to adjust the notification mode comprise one or more code segments configured to configure the mobile communications device from a visual notification to an audible notification or a haptic notification in response to transitioning from below the threshold of light to above the threshold of light.

47. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to:

determine whether the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds a predetermined threshold of magnitude; and

adjust the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds the predetermined threshold of magnitude.

48. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the magnitude threshold is user configurable.

49. The medium or signal of claim 33 the one or more code segments are further configured to:

determine whether the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for a predetermined threshold time period; and

adjust the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for the predetermined threshold time period.

50. The medium or signal of claim 49 wherein the threshold time period is user configurable.

51. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the one or more code segments configured to automatically adjust the notification mode of the mobile communications device comprise one or more code segments configured to automatically adjust the notification mode of the mobile communications device in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic only when a predetermined condition also is met.

52. The medium or signal of claim 51 wherein the predetermined condition comprises one or more of a predetermined time of day, a predetermined day, a predetermined day of week, and a predetermined day of the year.

53. The medium or signal of claim 33 wherein the one or more code segments are configured to automatically adjust the notification mode in response to user confirmation when the change in the environmental characteristic is detected.

54. The medium or signal of claim 53 wherein the user confirmation comprises user manipulation.

55. A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to handle user-selectable configuration options for automatically adjusting notification configuration information, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to:

provide an interface to user-selectable configuration options for enabling automatic adjustment of a notification configuration for a mobile communications device in response to a change in an environmental characteristic experienced at the mobile communications device; and

enable access to the user-selectable configuration options for the mobile communications device using the interface.

56. The medium or signal of claim 55 wherein the one or more code segments configured to provide the interface comprise one or more code segments configured to use an Internet Protocol network to provide an interface to user-selectable configuration options.

57. The medium or signal of claim 55 wherein the environmental characteristic comprises one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

58. The medium or signal of claim 55 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprise one or more code segments configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

59. The medium or signal of claim 55 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprise one or more code segments configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

60. The medium or signal of claim 55 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration comprise one or more code segments configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

61. The medium or signal of claim 55 the one or more code segments are further configured to enable modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration for the mobile communications device using the interface.

62. The medium or signal of claim 61 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprise one or more code segments configured to add a user-selectable configuration option.

63. The medium or signal of claim 61 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprise one or more code segments configured to delete a user-selectable configuration option.

64. The medium or signal of claim 61 wherein the one or more code segments configured to enable modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration information for the mobile communications device comprise one or more code segments configured to update a user-selectable configuration option.

65. An apparatus for automatically changing the configuration of a mobile communications device, the apparatus comprising a processor connected to one or more input components and one or more output components, wherein the processor is configured to:

monitor sensory input at the mobile communications device that is reflective of an environmental characteristic for the mobile communications device;

detect the change in the environmental characteristic of the mobile communications device based on a change in the sensory input; and

in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic, automatically adjust a notification mode of the mobile communications device.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is configured to automatically adjust the notification mode without user manipulation when the change is detected.

67. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is configured to automatically adjust the notification mode by changing the notification mode from one of an audible notification, a visual notification, and a haptic notification to another of the audible notification, the visual notification, and the haptic notification.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

69. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

71. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than an audible notification.

72. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a visual notification.

73. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the processor is configured to configure the mobile communications device to alert a user of an incoming communication by a notification mode other than a haptic notification.

74. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the one or more input components are configured to monitor one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the processor is configured to:

detect a change from below a threshold of motion to above a threshold of motion, and

configure the mobile communications device from a haptic notification to an audible notification in response to transitioning from below a threshold of motion to above the threshold of motion.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the processor is configured to:

detect a change from above a threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion, and

configure the mobile communications device from an audible notification to a haptic notification or a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of motion to below the threshold of motion.

77. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the processor is configured to:

detect a change from above a threshold of light to below the threshold of light, and

configure the mobile communications device to a visual notification in response to transitioning from above the threshold of light to below the threshold of light.

78. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the processor is configured to:

detect a change from below a threshold of light to above the threshold of light, and

configure the mobile communications device from a visual notification to an audible notification or a haptic notification in response to transitioning from below the threshold of light to above the threshold of light.

79. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds a predetermined threshold of magnitude; and

adjust the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change exceeds the predetermined threshold of magnitude.

80. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the magnitude threshold is user configurable.

81. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for a predetermined threshold time period; and

adjust the notification configuration associated with the mobile communications device based on the detected environmental characteristic change only when the detected environmental characteristic change is experienced for the predetermined threshold time period.

82. The apparatus of claim 81 wherein the threshold time period is user configurable.

83. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically adjust the notification mode of the mobile communications device in response to a detected change in the environmental characteristic only when a predetermined condition also is met.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the predetermined condition comprises one or more of a predetermined time of day, a predetermined day, a predetermined day of week, and a predetermined day of the year.

85. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the processor is configured to automatically adjust the notification mode in response to user confirmation when the change in the environmental characteristic is detected.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the user confirmation comprises user manipulation.

87. A system for handling user-selectable configuration options for automatically adjusting notification configuration information, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

provide an interface to user-selectable configuration options for enabling automatic adjustment of a notification configuration for a mobile communications device in response to a change in an environmental characteristic experienced at the mobile communications device; and

enable access to the user-selectable configuration options for the mobile communications device using the interface.

88. The system of claim 87 wherein the processor is configured to use an Internet Protocol network to provide an interface to user-selectable configuration options.

89. The system of claim 87 wherein the environmental characteristic comprises one or more of motion, light, sound, and heat.

90. The system of claim 87 wherein the processor is configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using an audible notification.

91. The system of claim 87 the processor is configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a visual notification.

92. The system of claim 87 the processor is configured to enable the automatic adjustment of the notification configuration to alert the user of an incoming communication by using a haptic notification.

93. The system of claim 87 wherein the processor is further configured to enable modification of the user-selectable configuration options to enable automatic adjustment of the notification configuration for the mobile communications device using the interface.

94. The system of claim 93 wherein the processor is configured to enable the addition of a user-selectable configuration option.

95. The system of claim 93 wherein the processor is configured to enable the deletion of a user-selectable configuration option.

96. The system of claim 93 wherein the processor is configured to enable the update of a user-selectable configuration option.