Device control apparatus and method

• US 7,200,420 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Rankin, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/920,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.1, 455/558, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An electronic device such as a mobile telephone is provided with a reader for reading data from a physical data carrier. Physical data carriers are incorporated into accessories of the device, for example a telephone carrying case. The act of inserting the telephone into the case causes the reader to read data from the data carrier and the data is used to implement required device settings of the electronic device. The data carrier may be a bar code, RF tag or contact tag. By providing a number of carrying cases each with its own data carrier, merely exchanging cases initiates a number of associated device settings to be selected. Each case may be associated with a particular environment or user context allowing the user to alter the behavior of the device to suit context merely by interchanging carrying case. Data carrier may also be provided in other accessories such as car-telephone kits and battery chargers to alter device behavior accordingly. Device settings include those which govern the type of information relayed to the user when the device receives information from data delivery services.

Claims

1. Apparatus for implementing at least one operational setting of an interactive electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading information form a physical data carrier;

processing means for receiving the information read from the carrier by the reading means and interpreting said read information; and

control means responsive to said processing means for implementing the at least one operational setting;

wherein the physical data carrier is incorporated in an accessory usable with the interactive electronic device, such that the physical data carrier communicates with the interactive electronic device over a wireless medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information includes data specifying the at least one required device setting.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information includes data carrier identity information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising association means for associating said data carrier identity information with an at least one of the required device settings, wherein receipt of said carrier identity information by the processing means initiates implementation of the said at least one of the device settings.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said association means includes storage means for holding data linking each data carrier identity with at least one corresponding device setting.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said storage means is provided in the interactive electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said physical data carrier is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and said reading means is configured for interrogating such tags.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said physical data carrier bears a graphical pattern carrying information and said reading means is configured for reading the patterns.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said physical data carrier is provided in the form of a tag and said reading means is configured for reading information from such tags.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to select settings of the device which include incoming telephone call user alert settings, graphical user interface (GUI) settings, voice dial options, message reproduction settings, telephone usage access permissions and telephone user directory settings and entries.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to select settings of the device which include setting of filter options for incoming information made available in a push-type data distribution service.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising writing means for writing information to the physical data carrier, said information serving to associate said physical data carrier with at least one operational setting of the interactive electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interactive electronic device is a telecommunications device, personal digital assistant (PDA), Global Positioning System (GPS) data receiver or computer.

14. A physical data crier suitable for use with the apparatus of claim 1 and carrying information responsive to which said at least one operational setting of the apparatus is implemented.

15. An interactive electronic device accessory incorporating a physical data carrier suitable for use with the apparatus of claim 1, said data carder carrying information responsive to which said at least one operational setting of the apparatus is implemented.

16. A system incorporating the apparatus of claim 1 and the physical data carrier of claim 14.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical data carrier is incorporated in a) a pouch suitable for accommodating the interactive electronic device;

b) in a device power supply;

c) in a device battery charging apparatus, or d) in clothing carried by users.

18. A method of implementing at least one operational setting of an interactive electronic device, said method comprising:

reading information from a physical data carrier;

processing the information read from the physical data carrier to interpret said read information; and

implementing the at least one operational setting of the interactive electronic device in response to the interpreted information;

wherein the physical data carrier is incorporated in an accessory usable with a the interactive electronic device, such that the physical data carrier communicates with the interactive electronic device over a wireless medium.

19. The method of claim 18, further including writing information to a physical data carrier, said information serving to associate said physical data carrier with at least one operational setting of the interactive electronic device.