METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE GROUP BEHAVIOR

• US 20080146212A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

Mobile communications devices that are within a pre-defined group are controlled by rules specified for the group when those mobile communications devices are within a group setting. A group setting may be dictated by the location of the mobile communications devices of the group, their proximity to one another, a current time, and so forth. Once it is determined that the group setting exists, pre-defined rules specified for the mobile communications devices within the group setting are implemented to control behaviors of the mobile communications devices. Ringers may be muted, outbound calls may be disabled, inbound calls may be forwarded elsewhere, and so forth. The mobile communications devices then become less of a distraction to the group setting.

Claims

1. A method of applying rules to mobile communication devices, comprising:

determining that a mobile communication device is within a defined group of mobile communication devices; and

upon determining that the mobile communication device is within the defined group, implementing at least one rule specified for the defined group of mobile communications devices for the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the mobile communication device is within the defined group comprises detecting a physical location to an external device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the defined group is based on physical proximity of the mobile communications device to a physical location defined for the group of mobile communications devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises directing incoming calls to the mobile communication device to a voicemail account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail account applies for each member of the group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises directing incoming calls to a specified mobile communications device of the group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises muting the ringer of the mobile communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule comprises an exception rule that prevents at least one other rule defined for the group from being implemented, wherein implementing the rules for the mobile communications device comprises determining whether the exception rule applies to the mobile communications device and implementing the exception rule when it applies.

9. A computer readable medium containing instructions that perform acts comprising:

determining whether a parameter related to a mobile communications device falls within a threshold that defines a grouping of mobile communications devices;

when the parameter falls within the threshold, then implementing at least one rule defined for the group for the mobile communications device.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises a physical location of the mobile communications device and wherein the threshold comprises a distance from the physical location of the mobile communications device to a physical location defined for the group.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises a proximity of the mobile communications device to at least one other mobile communications device of the group.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises a current time and wherein the threshold comprises a start time for implementation of the at least one rule for the group.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one rule comprises muting a ringer.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one rule comprises forwarding at least some incoming calls to a number designated for the group.

15. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a mobile communications network;

a memory storing rules for detecting when to implement actions to take in relation to calls based on at least one parameter defined for a group of mobile communications devices; and

a processor configured to send and receive calls via the transceiver, to determine the parameter, and to implement the actions to take in relation to calls based on the determined parameter.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 15, further comprising a speaker, wherein the processor generates a ringer sound through the speaker for incoming calls, and wherein the instructions regarding actions to take in relation to calls comprise muting the ringer sound.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the instructions regarding actions to take in relation to calls comprises sending an instruction to the mobile communications network to forward at least some incoming calls to a designated number.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the instructions regarding actions to take in relation to calls comprise disabling at least some outbound calls.

19. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal related to location of another mobile communications device in the group of mobile communications devices and to compute a proximity to the other mobile communications device, wherein the parameter comprises a threshold proximity to the other mobile communications device of the group, and wherein the processor implements the actions when the computed proximity is within the threshold proximity.

20. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a current time, wherein the parameter comprises a time span for group actions, and wherein the processor implements the actions when the current time falls within the time span for group actions.