Method and apparatus for optional automatic configuration of wireless communications device behavior within small area transmitter service regions

• US 7,209,705 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Herle, Sudhindra Pundaleeka, Moles, Bryan Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Tuan
• Application Number:
  US09/992,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 455/452.1, 455/453.1, 455/456, 455/462, 455/465, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/422.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/41.1, 455/461
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A zone-based behavior service is supported by a small area wireless transmitter to communicate behaviors, encoded as attribute-value pairs, to wireless devices within the service area of the small area transmitter. In response to entering the service area and discovering the zone-based behavior service, operation of a wireless communications device is automatically customized to conform to the specified behaviors according to corresponding user preferences. For example, audible ring tones are automatically disabled when proscribed by the zone-based behavior service and such proscription is accepted by the user in previously defined attribute options, but automatic re-routing of incoming calls suggested by the behavior service may be rejected by the user or require manual acceptance from the user. Upon leaving the service area of the small area transmitter, the wireless communications device automatically restores prior operational parameters.

Claims

1. For use in a wireless communications system, a system for automatically customizing operation of a wireless device comprising:

a small area transmitter supporting wireless connectivity with wireless devices and a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter,

wherein a wireless device,

upon detecting the behavior service upon entering the service area and receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter, automatically sets operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences, and

upon detecting unavailability of the behavior service following previous availability of the behavior service, automatically restores operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the behavior service defines behavior of wireless devices through a set of attribute-value pairs.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable as a result of the wireless device leaving the service area of the small area transmitter.

4. For use in a wireless communications system, a system for automatically customizing operation of a wireless device comprising:

a wireless device configured to communicate with small area transmitters supporting wireless connectivity with wireless devices and a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter,

wherein the wireless device,

upon detecting the behavior service when entering the service area and receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter, automatically sets operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences, and

upon detecting unavailability of the behavior service following previous availability of the behavior service, automatically restores operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the behavior service defines behavior of wireless devices through a set of attribute-value pairs.

6. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable as a result of the wireless device leaving the service area of the small area transmitter.

7. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the user preferences specify, for each behavior associated with a known attribute within attribute-value pairs received from the small area transmitter, one of automatic acceptance of the behavior, automatic rejection of the behavior, and notification of a user for manual acceptance or rejection of the behavior, wherein the acceptance, rejection, or notification maybe conditional or unconditional.

8. For use in a wireless communications system, a system for automatically customizing operation of a wireless device comprising:

a small area transmitter supporting wireless connectivity and a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter; and

a controller within the wireless device, wherein the controller is capable of detecting the behavior service upon entering the service area,

receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter,

automatically setting operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences, and

detecting unavailability of the behavior service and automatically restoring operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the behavior service defines behavior of wireless devices through a set of attribute-value pairs.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable as a result of the wireless device leaving the service area of the small area transmitter.

11. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the user preferences specify, for each behavior associated with a known attribute within attribute-value pairs received from the small area transmitter, one of automatic acceptance of the behavior, automatic rejection of the behavior, and notification of a user for manual acceptance or rejection of the behavior, wherein the acceptance, rejection, or notification may be conditional or unconditional.

12. For use in a wireless communications system, a method of automatically customizing operation of a wireless device comprising:

providing, from a small area transmitter supporting wireless connectivity with wireless devices, a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter;

upon detecting the behavior service upon entering the service area and, at the wireless device, receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter, automatically setting operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences; and

upon detecting unavailability of the behavior service following previous availability of the behavior service, automatically restoring operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter further comprises:

transmitting a set of attribute-value pairs for reception by wireless devices within the service area.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising:

leaving the service area of the small area transmitter, wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable to the wireless device.

15. For use in a wireless communications system, a method of automatically customizing operation of a wireless device configured to communicate with small area transmitters supporting wireless connectivity with wireless devices and a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter, the method comprising:

upon detecting the behavior service when entering the service area and, at the wireless device, receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter, automatically setting operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences; and

upon detecting unavailability of the behavior service following previous availability of the behavior service, automatically restoring operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the step of receiving a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for the small area transmitter further comprises:

receiving a set of attribute-value pairs transmitted by the small area device.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising:

leaving the service area of the small area transmitter, wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable to the wireless device.

18. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising

specifying, within the user preferences, one of automatic acceptance of the behavior, automatic rejection of the behavior, and notification of a user for manual acceptance or rejection of a behavior for each behavior associated with a known attribute within attribute-value pairs received from the small area transmitter, wherein the acceptance, rejection, or notification maybe conditional or unconditional.

19. For use in a wireless communications system, a method of automatically customizing operation of a wireless device comprising:

providing a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for a small area transmitter supporting wireless connectivity to the wireless devices;

detecting the behavior service within a wireless device upon entering the service area and receiving a behavior set from the small area transmitter;

automatically setting operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences;

detecting unavailability of the behavior service within a wireless device, following previous availability of the behavior service; and

automatically restoring operation of the wireless device to a state existing prior to automatic setting of the operation of the wireless device to conform to the behavior set and associated user preferences.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of providing a behavior service defining behavior of wireless devices within a service area for a small area transmitter supporting wireless connectivity to the wireless devices further comprises:

transmitting a set of attribute-Value pairs defining behavior of wireless devices.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

leaving the service area of the small area transmitter, wherein the behavior service becomes unavailable to the wireless device.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

specifying, within the user preferences, one of automatic acceptance of the behavior, automatic rejection of the behavior, and notification of a user for manual acceptance or rejection of a behavior for each behavior associated with a known attribute within attribute-value pairs received from the small area transmitter, wherein the acceptance, rejection, or notification may be conditional or unconditional.