CONFIGURABLE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20090275308A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Esmail, Nooruddin T., Valdez, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A communications device is configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device. The user device includes a data store having at least an identifier. The communications device is configured to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.

Claims

1. A communications device configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device, the user device having a data store including at least an identifier, wherein the communications device is configured to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.

2. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wireless connection.

3. The communications device of claim 2, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wireless connection from an unpowered user device.

4. The communications device of claim 3, wherein the user device includes an RFID chip.

5. The communications device of claim 2, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over an infrared connection.

6. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wired connection.

7. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to access a user profile associated with the received identifier.

8. The communications device of claim 7, wherein the communications device is configured to adjust at least one setting according to settings included in the accessed user profile.

9. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the received identifier corresponds to a user.

10. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational setting includes at least one service-based setting, which service-based setting may includes at least one of minutes available to a user, phone numbers with which a user is able to communicate, phone numbers with which a user is prohibited from communicating, and particular times during which a user may use communication services.

11. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational setting includes at least one of a ring tone and a wallpaper graphic.

12. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the user device is a faceplate removably connected to the communications device.

13. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the user device includes at least one of an exterior graphic, texture or contour complementary to the at least one operational setting.

14. A method of providing communications services through a communications device, comprising receiving at least an identifier from a user device having a data store when the user device is positioned proximate to the user device, and adjusting at least one operational setting within the communications device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving at least an identifier includes receiving an identifier over a wireless connection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an identifier over a wireless connection includes receiving an identifier from an unpowered user device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving at least an identifier over a wireless connection includes receiving at least an identifier over an RFID connection.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing a user profile associated with a received identifier.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one setting according to settings included in the accessed user profile.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the received identifier corresponds to a user.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one service-based setting, which service-based setting may includes at least one of minutes available to a user, phone numbers with which a user is able to communicate, phone numbers with which a user is prohibited from communicating, and particular times during which a user may use communication services.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one of a ring tone and a wallpaper graphic.

23. The method of claim 14, using a faceplate as the user device and removably connecting the faceplate to the communications device.

24. The method of claim 14, the user device including at least one of an exterior graphic, texture or contour complementary to the at least one operational setting.

25. A system comprising a communications device and a user device, the user device having a data store including at least an identifier, the communications device configured to receive at least an identifier from the user device, and to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.