Customisation of an electronic device

• US 20040266409A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Christian, Nielsen, Peter Dam, Djabri, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

The operation of a mobile electronic device is controlled at least partially in accordance with operating characteristics adopted while the phone is at a first location. The operation of a mobile electronic device is controlled at least partially in accordance with a theme that how an electronic device responds to user input.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a memory for associating a first location with a first plurality of operating characteristics;

detection means for automatically detecting when the mobile device is at the first location;

adoption means for adopting the first plurality of operating characteristics when the mobile device is at the first location; and

a controller, for controlling the operation of the electronic device at least partially in accordance with the adopted operating characteristics.

2. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to automatically adopt the first plurality of operating characteristics when the mobile device is at the first location.

3. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for un-adopting the first plurality of operating characteristics when the mobile device is no longer at the first location.

4. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating characteristics determine at least partially the form of output presentable by the electronic device.

5. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating characteristics define at least one of the colors, wall paper, background, or screen saver used.

6. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an alert device, wherein the operating characteristics define at least one operating characteristic of the alert device.

7. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating characteristics adapts the application data available for use by the mobile electronic device.

8. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating characteristics include a software application.

9. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating characteristics include additional data for a software application.

10. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory is additionally arranged for associating a second location, exclusive of the first location, to a second plurality of operating characteristics, different from the first plurality of operating characteristics, and the adoption means is additionally arranged for adopting the second plurality of operating characteristics when the mobile device is at the second location.

11. A mobile electronics device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user interface having a display and a user input device, wherein the first plurality of operating characteristics, are themed, and define how an electronic device responds to user input.

12. A mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display is for displaying a menu including a plurality of user selectable options and the user input device is for navigating the displayed menu to select an option and wherein the first plurality of operating characteristics defines a first menu, such that when a first theme is adopted, the first menu is displayable.

14. A data structure comprising a first plurality of operating characteristics for controlling the operation of a mobile electronic device as claimed in claim 1.

25. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the selection means for selecting said first theme or said second theme for adoption by the electronic device comprises:

means for associating the first theme with a first location;

means for determining the location of the electronic device; and

means for adopting the first theme when the electronic device is located at the first location.

26. An electronic device as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

means for associating the second theme with a first location; and

means for adopting the second theme when the electronic device is located at the second location.

27. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection means for selecting said first theme or said second theme for adoption by the electronic device

is responsive to the user input device.

13. A method of customising a mobile electronic device, comprising the steps of:

associating a first plurality of operating characteristics for the mobile device with a first location;

detecting the location of the mobile electronic device;

adopting the first operating characteristics in the mobile electronic device when it is located at the first location; and

controlling the operation of the mobile electronic device at least partially in accordance with the adopted operating characteristics.

15. A computer program product comprising programming instructions for performing the method as claimed in claim 13.

16. A computer program as claimed in claim 15, embodied on a record medium.

17. An electronic device, having a plurality of user selectable options, comprising:

a user interface having a display and a user input device;

a memory for defining a first theme and a second theme, wherein the first theme defines how an electronic device is controlled by the user input to select an option when the first theme is adopted by the electronic device and the second theme defines how an electronic device is controlled by the user input to select an option when the second theme is adopted by the electronic device;

selection means for selecting said first theme or said second theme for adoption by the electronic device; and

a controller, for controlling the operation of the electronic device at least partially in accordance with the adopted one of the themes.

18. An electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display is for displaying a menu including a plurality of user selectable options and an user input device is for navigating the displayed menu to select an option and wherein the first theme defines a first user selectable menu and the second theme defines a second, different, user selectable menu such that when the first theme is adopted, the first menu is displayable and when the second theme is adopted, the second menu is displayable.

19. An electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first theme defines a first plurality of operating characteristics including a first user selectable menu structure and the second theme defines a second plurality of operating characteristics including a second, different, user selectable menu structure.

20. An electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the operating characteristics determine at least partially the form of output presentable by the electronic device.

21. An electronic device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an alert device, wherein the operating characteristics define at least one operating characteristic of the alert device.

22. An electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the operating characteristics controls at least partially the applications provided by the device.

23. An electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the operating characteristics include a software application.

24. An electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the operating characteristics include additional data for a software application.

29. A data structure comprising a first theme for controlling the operation of an electronic device as claimed in claim 17.

28. A method of customising the manner in which an electronic device, having a plurality of user selectable options, is controlled by a user to select an option, comprising the steps of:

providing a first theme defining how an electronic device is controlled by a user to select an option when the first theme is adopted by the electronic device;

providing a second theme that defines how an electronic device is controlled by the user to select an option when the second theme is adopted by the electronic device; and

selecting the first theme or the second theme for adoption by the electronic device.

30. A computer program comprising programming instructions, for performing the method as claimed in claim 28.

31. A computer program product as claimed in claim 30, embodied on a record medium.

32. A mobile electronic device, having a plurality of user selectable options, comprising:

a user interface having a display and a user input device;

a memory for associating a first theme with a first location, wherein the first theme defines how an electronic device is controlled by the user input to select an option when the first theme is adopted by the electronic device;

detection means for automatically detecting when the mobile device is at the first location;

selection means for selecting said first theme for adoption by the electronic device when the mobile device is at the first location; and

a controller, for controlling the operation of the electronic device at least partially in accordance with an adopted theme.

33. A method of customising the manner in which an electronic device, having a plurality of user selectable options, is controlled by a user to select an option, comprising the steps of:

providing a first theme defining how an electronic device is controlled by a user to select an option when the first theme is adopted by the electronic device;

detecting when the mobile electronic device is at a first location; and

adopting the first theme when the mobile electronic device is located at the first location.