Managing features available on a portable communication device based on a travel speed detected by the portable communication device

• US 7,369,845 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McBrearty, Gerald F., Mullen, Shawn P., Shieh, Johnny M., Keohane, Susann M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/191,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/441, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/418, 455/417, 455/401, 455/404.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 455/415, 455/404.2, 340/992, 340/993, 340/430, 340/438, 340/441, 340/467, 340/988, 340/539.1, 340/436, 340/437, 340/466, 701/5, 701/7, 701/8, 701/9
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• 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 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A portable communication device detects a current speed of travel of the portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting the portable communication device. A speed based setting controller of the portable communication device compares the current speed to at least one threshold value set at the portable communication device. Responsive to the current speed exceeding the threshold value, the speed based setting controller automatically assigns a separate speed based setting to a current setting for each feature assigned to the threshold value, wherein each current setting for each feature designates the operability of that feature within the portable communication device, such that the current setting for each feature adjusts with a speed of travel as detected by the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting settings of at least one feature from among a plurality of features of a portable communication device comprising:

detecting, by said portable communication device, a first speed of travel at a first time and at least one subsequent speed of travel at at least one subsequent time of said portable communication device independent of any vehicle temporarily transporting said portable communication device;

comparing a change in speed from said first speed to said at least one subsequent speed and an amount of time from said first time to said at least one subsequent time with a plurality of emergency thresholds each specifying a sequence of speed changes over a separate specified period of time for controlling at least one call notification feature if said change in speed over said amount of time indicate a particular sequence of speed changes over a particular specified period of time as an emergency when compared with said plurality of emergency thresholds; and

responsive to said change in speed over said amount of time exceeding a particular emergency threshold from among said plurality of emergency thresholds, automatically assigning a separate speed based setting for said particular emergency threshold to a separate current setting for each of said at least one call notification feature, wherein said separate current setting for each of said at least one call notification feature designates operability of each of said at least one call notification feature within said portable communication device, such that said current setting for each of said at least one call notification feature adjusts with a speed of travel as detected by said portable communication device.

2. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, wherein detecting, by said portable communication device, a current speed of travel of said portable communication device, further comprises:

detecting, at said portable communication device at a first point in time, a first location of said portable communication device from a first set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device;

detecting, at said portable communication device at a second point in time, a second location of said portable communication device from a second set of GPS signals detected at said portable communication device; and

calculating one from among said first speed and said at least one subsequent speed based on a distance traveled between said first location and said second location over a time from said first point in time to said second point in time.

3. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user via an output interface of said portable communication device with a notification of a current speed of travel of at least one of said first speed and said at least one subsequent speed and a selectable option for setting said current speed to a new threshold value at said portable communication device to limit at least one of said call notification feature for safe use of said portable communication device; and

responsive to receiving a selection by said user of said selectable option, adding said current speed as a speed for said new threshold value to said plurality of emergency thresholds at said portable communication device.

4. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a current speed decelerating below said particular emergency threshold value, automatically returning said separate current setting for each said feature to a previous non-speed based setting.

5. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a current speed decelerating below said particular emergency threshold, automatically assigning to each said separate current setting for each said feature, of said plurality of features assigned to said particular emergency threshold to adjust on deceleration, a separate speed based setting.

6. The method for adjusting settings according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said first speed and said subsequent speed comprises a horizontal speed of travel element and a vertical speed of travel element.