Resource configuration in multi-modal distributed computing systems

• US 7,984,287 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gopalakrishnan, Ponani, Maes, Stephane H., Ramaswamy, Ganesh N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US12/272,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 704/231
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method and system for configuring available resources in real-time to automatically accommodate the needs of the system user in multi-modal distributed computing system is disclosed. Information about the location or environment of a wireless device is used, preferably in combination with user personal preferences and past history to modify the behavior of the wireless device, including the selection of the most appropriate mode of interaction with the device and the activation of applications thereon as appropriate.

Claims

1. A system for resource configuration in a multi-modal distributed computing system having at least one resource capable of being configured, the system comprising:

an arrangement for obtaining information associated with a context of use of a mobile device within the system;

an arrangement for obtaining one or more preferences of a user for applications and functions to be launched based on a location of the mobile device;

an arrangement for obtaining information associated with the system;

and

an arrangement for configuring an interface to provide the most appropriate mode of interaction for a user of the mobile device within the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information associated with the context of use of the mobile device includes contextual information associated with the needs of the user of the mobile device, the location of the mobile device, and stored user preferences.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resource to be configured is an information resource.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information associated with the system includes information associated with characteristics of the environment in which the system is located.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said characteristics of the environment in which the system is located are current characteristics.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resource to be configured is a computing resource.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the computing resource is an application.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the application has multiple configurations and the application is configured to be most appropriate for the environment of use in which the mobile device is located.

9. A method for resource configuration in a multi-modal distributed computing system having at least one resource capable of being configured, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining information associated with a context of use of a mobile device within the system;

obtaining one or more preferences of a user for applications and functions to be launched based on a location of the mobile device;

obtaining information associated with the system; and

providing the most appropriate mode of interaction for a user of the mobile device within the system.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said information associated with the context of use of the mobile device includes contextual information associated with the needs of the user of the mobile device, the location of the mobile device, and the environment in which the mobile device is located.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one resource to be configured is an information resource.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said information associated with the system includes information associated with characteristics of the environment in which the system is located.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said characteristics of the environment in which the system is located are current characteristics.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one resource to be configured is a computing resource.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the computing resource is an application.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the application has multiple configurations and the application is configured to be most appropriate for the environment in which the mobile device is located.

17. A non-transitory program storage device readable by machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform resource configuration in a multi-modal distributed computing system having at least one resource capable of being configured, the resource configuration comprising:

obtaining information associated with a context of use of a mobile device within the system;

obtaining one or more preferences of a user for applications and functions to be launched based on a location of the mobile device;

obtaining information associated with the system; and

providing the most appropriate mode of interaction for a user of the mobile device within the system.