System and method for activating a communication device based on usage information

• US 7,769,415 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven, Vuong, Thanh Vinh
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Paul P
• Application Number:
  US10/995,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.3, 455/13.4, 455/522, 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/127.3, 455/127.5, 455/298, 455/299, 4553431-3436, 455/FOR.235, 455/FOR.236, 455/38.3, 455/67, 455/69, 455/226, 455/228, 455/230, 455/231, 455/434, 4554561-4564, 455/463, 455/517, 455/566, 455/567, 455/405, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/462, 320/112, 320/114, 320/124, 320/127, 320/132, 320/133, 320/138, 320/151, 713/300, 713/320, 713/330, 713/340, 340/309.1, 340/309.4, 340/311.1, 340/835.22, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 340/7.32, 340/636.1, 340/636.12, 340/636.17, 340/636.18, 340/636.19, 340/636.2, 375/202, 375/224, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/105, 379/104, 379/102, 379/201.01, 379/201.05, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for controlling operation of a communication device. The communication device comprises: a casing for housing a display and a keyboard; and a microprocessor controlling aspects of the keyboard and display. The invention provides a power application operating on the microprocessor. The application monitors activation cycles of the device, stores activation data related to the activation cycles and identifies a new activation cycle for the device utilizing an activation pattern derived from the activation data.

Claims

1. A handheld mobile communication device, comprising:

a display;

a memory device;

an accelerometer;

a microprocessor controlling aspects of said display; and

a power application module operating on said microprocessor to analyze signals from said accelerometer to

determine a movement from, and a return to, a resting location for said device to determine activation times of said device;

store and retrieve activation times in said memory device;

identify a new activation cycle that

has an activation time and a deactivation time derived from said activation times,

deactivates an additional component in said device in an existing activation cycle that is operable on said device during said new activation cycle and

runs through a power consumption mode selected from at least an on mode, an off mode, and a sleep mode,

monitor a status of said accelerometer to determine an activation boundary for at least one of said activation cycles;

begin a timer to track time of use of said device after activation of said device; and

after a predetermined length of time of non usage of said device or upon a predetermined event detected by said device, place said device in a lower power consumption mode.

2. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said power application further monitors a status at least one of a sensor, a power switch and an activation event relating to said device to determine said activation times.

3. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein:

said new activation cycle runs through said on mode and a mode selected from one of said sleep mode and said off mode during its cycle;

said sleep mode comprises a plurality of partially on modes where different sets of functionalities for said device are enabled depending on at least one of a detected time or day of the week for said device; and

said activation time and said deactivation time are determined from patterns identified in said activation times.

4. The handheld mobile communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said new activation cycle adjusts activation boundaries depending on a day of a current week tracked by said device.

5. The handheld mobile communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said activation and deactivation times of said new activation cycle are different from activation data for other activation cycles.

6. The handheld mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connection signal to a docking station is also used to determine when said device has been moved from said resting position and return of said device to about said resting position.

7. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 5, wherein one of said at least two partially on modes deactivates said display and another of said at least two partially on modes deactivates said display and a communications module operating on said device.

8. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said activation data is provided to a remote server for use in controlling a second device remote from said communication device.

9. A method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device, comprising:

analyzing signals from an accelerometer in said device to determine a movement from, and a return to, a resting location for said device to determine activation times of said device of activation cycles of said device;

storing said activation times related to said activation cycles;

identifying a new activation cycle that has an activation time and a deactivation time derived from said activation times, said new activation cycle set to

deactivate an additional component in said device in an existing activation cycle that is operable on said device during said existing activation cycle, and

run through a power consumption mode selected from at least an on mode, an off mode, and a sleep mode;

monitoring for a status of said accelerometer to determine an activation boundary for at least one of said activation cycles;

initiating a timer to track time of use of said device after activation of said device; and

after a predetermined length of time of non usage of said device or upon a predetermined event detected by said device, placing said device in a lower power consumption mode.

10. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein

said monitoring activation cycles of said device further comprises monitoring a status at least one of a sensor, a power switch and an activation event relating to said activation times.

11. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said new activation cycle runs through said on mode and a mode selected from one of said sleep mode and said off mode during its cycle;

said sleep mode comprises a plurality of partially on modes where different sets of functionalities for said device are enabled depending on at least one of a detected time or day of the week for said device; and

said activation time and said deactivation time are determined from patterns identified in said activation times.

12. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said new activation cycle adjusts activation boundaries depending on a day of a week tracked by said device.

13. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said activation and deactivation times of said new activation cycle are different from activation times for other activation cycles.

14. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a connection signal to a docking station is also used to determine when said device has been moved from said resting position and return of said device to about said resting position.

15. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sleep mode deactivates said display.

16. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sleep mode deactivates said display and a communications module operating on said device.

17. The method for controlling a power cycle for a mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said activation data is provided to a remote server for use in controlling a second device remote from said communication device.

18. A handheld mobile communication device, comprising:

a display;

a memory device;

an accelerometer;

a microprocessor controlling aspects of said display; and

a power application module operating on said microprocessor to analyze signals from said accelerometer to identify movements of said device to determine activation times of said device,

store and retrieve said activation times in said memory device, identify a new activation cycle that

has an activation time and a deactivation time derived from said activation times,

deactivates an additional component in said device in an existing activation cycle that is operable on said device during said new activation cycle, and

runs through a power consumption mode selected from at least an on mode, an off mode, and a sleep mode,

monitor a status of said accelerometer to determine an activation boundary for at least one of said activation cycles;

begin a timer to track time of use of said device after activation of said device; and

after a predetermined length of time of non usage of said device or upon a predetermined event detected by said device, place said device in a lower power consumption mode.

19. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 18, wherein said power application analyzes signals from said accelerometer to determine a movement from, and a return to, a resting location for said device to determine said activation times for said activation cycles.

20. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 18, wherein:

said new activation cycle runs through said on mode and a mode selected from one of said sleep mode and said off mode during its cycle;

said sleep mode comprises a plurality of partially on modes where different sets of functionalities for said device are enabled depending on at least one of a detected time or day of the week for said device; and

said activation time and said deactivation time are determined from patterns identified in said activation times.