Environment Independent User Preference Communication

• US 20100223555A1
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., O'Neil, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment.

Claims

1. A method for communicating user preferences to an environment, comprising:

determining a first environment preference for a first user, the first environment preference being environment independent;

determining a capability of a first specific environment;

determining, by a first computing device, an environment setting for the first specific environment, the environment setting being determined from the first environment preference for the first user and the capability of the first specific environment; and

communicating the environment setting to the environment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for the first environment preference for the first user, the request being received from a second computing device associated with the environment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for the first environment preference for the first user and a second environment preference for a second user; and

determining a primary user from the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a graphical user interface that provides an option for the first user to indicate the first environment preference.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a category related to the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, where determining the first environment preference includes interpreting a user action in a second specific environment.

7. The method of claim 1, the environment including at least one of the following:

an automobile, a room, a house, a boat, an airplane, a helicopter, a retail establishment, a gym, and an office.

8. A system for communicating user preferences to an environment, comprising:

a memory component that stores;

first logic for determining a first environment preference for a first user, the first environment preference being environment independent;

second logic for determining a capability of a first specific environment;

third logic for determining an environment setting for the first specific environment, the environment setting being determined from the first environment preference for the first user and the capability of the first specific environment; and

fourth logic for communicating the environment setting to the environment.

9. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing logic for receiving a request for the first environment preference for the first user, the request being received from a computing device associated with the environment.

10. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing:

fifth logic for receiving a request for the first environment preference for the first user and a second environment preference for a second user; and

sixth logic for determining a primary user from the first user and the second user.

11. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing seventh logic for providing a graphical user interface that provides an option for the first user to indicate the first environment preference.

12. The system of claim 8, the memory component further storing eight logic for retrieving a category related to the first user.

13. The system of claim 8, where determining the first environment preference includes interpreting a user action in a second specific environment.

14. The system of claim 8, the environment including at least one of the following:

an automobile, a room, a house, a boat, an airplane, a helicopter, a retail establishment, a gym, and an office.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for communicating user preferences to an environment that stores a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

determine a first environment preference for a first user, the first environment preference being environment independent;

determine a capability of a first specific environment;

determine an environment setting for the first specific environment, the environment setting being determined from the first environment preference for the first user and the capability of the first specific environment; and

communicate the environment setting to the environment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to receive a request for the first environment preference for the first user, the request being received from a computing device associated with the environment.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to perform at least the following:

receive a request for the first environment preference for the first user and a second environment preference for a second user; and

determine a primary user from the first user and the second user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to provide a graphical user interface that provides an option for the first user to indicate the first environment preference.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program further causing the computer to retrieve a category related to the first user.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where determining the first environment preference includes interpreting a user action in a second specific environment.