AUTO RESPONDER

• US 20130303106A1
• Filed: 05/13/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wavemarket Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Mobile device auto responders that dynamically send customized automated messages that depend on the identity of an incoming call, on the location of the mobile device, on the speed of the mobile device, on the acceleration of the mobile device, and/or on the time of day. The automated message can be customized to include the location, speed, heading and/or acceleration of the mobile device as well as an estimated time of arrival over a predetermined stored route to a predetermined location. The automated message may be audio, video, email, iMessage™, instant message, or SMS message.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for handling incoming communications to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming communication from a caller to the mobile device;

determining if use of the mobile device is restricted;

identifying the caller to determine a caller identity; and

automatically transmitting a response message responsive to determining use of the mobile device is restricted and determining the caller identity.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading and acceleration of the mobile device;

restricting use of the mobile device based on the detected at least one of location, speed, heading and acceleration of the mobile device.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 2, wherein restricting use of the mobile device comprises at least one of locking a user interface of the mobile device, preventing receipt of phone calls, preventing sending of non-emergency messages, and preventing receipt of electronic messages.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising detecting the at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device responsive to the incoming communication.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one of location, speed and acceleration of the mobile device; and

transmitting the response message with an indication of the at least one of the location, the speed, the heading, and the acceleration of the mobile device.

6. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining an estimated time of arrival at a predetermined destination; and

transmitting the response message with an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the predetermined destination.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining a destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, speed and acceleration of the mobile device;

determining an estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

transmitting the response message with an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination.

8. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the caller identity with a predetermined identity list; and

automatically transmitting the response message responsive to the caller identity corresponding to an identity in the identity list.

9. The processor-implemented method of claim 1, wherein content of the response message is dependent on the caller identity.

10. A processor-implemented method for handling incoming communications to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming communication from a caller to the mobile device;

determining if use of the mobile device is restricted;

detecting at least one of location, speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device; and

automatically transmitting a response message to the caller responsive to determining use of the mobile device is restricted, wherein the response message comprises an indication of the at least one of the location, the speed, the heading, and the acceleration of the mobile device.

11. The processor-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a destination based on predetermined route information and the at least one of the location, the speed, the heading, and the acceleration of the mobile device;

determining an estimated time of arrival at the determined destination; and

transmitting the indication of the at least one of the location, the speed, the heading, and the acceleration as an indication of the estimated time of arrival at the determined destination.

12. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, persistent memory for storing information, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the current location of the mobile device, at least one input/output (“

I/O”

) element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, wherein the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to determine if the mobile device is moving;

wherein if the processor determines that the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing human detectable output;

wherein if the mobile device is moving and the data port receives an incoming call from a caller the application software controls the processor to identify the caller;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate a response message that depends on the identity of the caller; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to cause the data port to send the response message.

13. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein if the processor cannot determine the identity of the caller a response message is not sent.

14. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a short message service (“

SMS”

_message, a visual message, an email message, an iMessage, and an instant message.

15. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the mobile device includes a compass sensor and the response message includes a compass heading.

16. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the mobile device is prevented from sending out a user initiated signal when the mobile device is moving.

17. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message comprises the location of the mobile device.

18. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message comprises the speed of the mobile device.

19. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message comprises the acceleration of the mobile device.

20. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

21. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the response message comprises an estimated time of arrival of the mobile device at a predetermined location.

22. The communication network according to claim 21, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on a route stored in the persistent memory.

23. The communication network according to claim 22, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on the current location of the mobile device.

24. The communication network according to claim 12, wherein the identity of the caller is determined from information stored in the persistent memory.

25. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, memory for storing information, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the location of the mobile device, at least one I/O element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, where the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to determine if the mobile device is moving;

wherein if the processor determines that the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing the human detectable output;

wherein if the mobile device is moving when the data port receives an incoming call from a caller the application software controls the processor to determine the current location of the mobile device;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate an automatic response message that depends on the current location of the mobile device; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to cause the data port to send the response message.

26. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a visual message, a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, an iMessage, an instant message, and an email message.

27. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the application software controls the processor to determine when an abnormal condition occurs, and wherein when an abnormal condition occurs the response message is an emergency message.

28. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the abnormal condition is a collision.

29. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the response message comprises at least one of the location, the speed and the acceleration of the mobile device.

30. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

31. The communication network according to claim 25, wherein the application software determines an estimated time of arrival at a predetermined location based on the determined current location of the mobile device, and wherein the response message contains the estimated time of arrival.

32. The communication network according to claim 31, wherein the estimated time of arrival depends on a route stored in the memory.

33. A communication network, comprising:

a mobile device having a processor, memory storing data related to a route to a destination, a data port for receiving incoming calls and for sending messages, a location finder for determining the location of the mobile device, at least one I/O element for producing a human detectable output, and a clock for determining time, wherein the memory, data port, location finder, I/O element, and clock are operatively connected to the processor; and

application software controlling the processor;

wherein the application software controls the processor to determine if the mobile device is moving;

wherein the application software prevents the user from sending a message when the mobile device is moving;

wherein if the mobile device is moving when the data port receives an incoming call the application software controls the processor to determine the current location of the mobile device;

wherein if the current location of the mobile device is on the route the application software controls the processor to recall route information;

wherein the application software controls the processor to determine the speed of the mobile device;

wherein the application software controls the processor to produce an estimated time of arrival of the mobile device at the destination over the route from the current location;

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically formulate a response message that includes the estimated time of arrival; and

wherein the application software controls the processor to automatically cause the data port to send the response message.

34. The communication network according to claim 33, wherein if the mobile device is moving the application software controls the processor to automatically stop the I/O element from producing the human detectable output.

35. The communication network according to claim 33, wherein the response message is at least one of an audio message, a text message, and an email message.

36. The communication network according to claim 33, wherein the response comprises the location of the mobile device.

37. The communication network according to claim 33, wherein the response message comprises at least one of the speed, heading, and acceleration of the mobile device.

38. The communication network according to claim 33, wherein the response message depends on the time of day.

39. A computer readable storage media containing coded instructions to:

implement a positioning system to produce location information;

implement a motion system to detect motion;

implement an I/O element to produce human detectable output;

implement a data port to receive incoming calls and send messages;

implement a memory to store location information;

prevent the I/O element from producing human detectable output based on the detected motion;

determine the current location of a mobile device;

formulate an automatic response message based on the current location; and

send the automatic response message from the data port.

40. A computer readable storage media containing coded instructions to:

implement a positioning system to produce location information;

implement a motion system to detect motion;

implement an I/O element to produce human detectable output;

implement a data port to receive incoming calls and send messages;

implement a memory to store caller identification information;

prevent the I/O element from producing human detectable output based on the detected motion;

identify the caller when the data port receives an incoming call;

formulate an automatic response message based on the identity of the caller; and

send the automatic response message from the data port.