Communications device having a commute time function and methods of use thereof

• US 8,000,694 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Labidi, Cyril, Lee, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Phuoc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US12/233,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/414.3, 455/567, 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/021 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods to operate a commute time function of a communications device are described herein. In one embodiment, the commute time function is automatically activated based on an event and is then performed by (i) determining an up-to-date commute time based on commute information and (ii) displaying or speaking the up-to-date commute time on the device. In one embodiment, triggered by and before the occurrence of a calendar event, a device obtains a current commute time (based on the commute information and based on current traffic conditions). In this embodiment, the device reschedules the calendar event based on the current commute time, by sending an update to the contacts with whom the user is to meet that indicates a change to the calendar event. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for operating a mobile electronic device having a commute time function, comprising:

receiving and storing commute information provided by a user as input on the mobile electronic device, the commute information including start address and destination address;

prompting the user to input an event on the mobile electronic device, the event including a time entry and a day entry, and associating the event with said stored commute information; and

automatically activating the commute time function on the mobile electronic device based on the event, and then performing the commute time function on the mobile electronic device, wherein performing the commute time function on the mobile electronic device includes

a) the mobile electronic device determining an up-to-date commute time based on the stored commute information, wherein the mobile electronic device determining the up-to-date commute time includes

(i) the mobile electronic device sending the stored commute information to a website or an internet accessible service that computes the up-to-date commute time based on up-to-date traffic conditions and the stored commute information, and

(ii) the mobile electronic device receiving the up-to-date commute time from the website or the internet accessible service, and

b) the mobile electronic device displaying or speaking the up-to-date commute time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile electronic device automatically adjusting an alarm wake-up time to an earlier time in response to the up-to-date commute time being longer than a specified time, the alarm wake-up time being previously set by the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified time is manually set by the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified time is automatically computed based on a history of stored instances of the up-to-date commute time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile electronic device automatically selecting a first music selection in response to the up-to-date commute time being longer than a specified time and automatically selecting a second music selection in response to the up-to-date commute time being shorter than a specified time, the first music selection being different from the second music selection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting an activation time of a third party device based on the up-to-date commute time, the third party device being one of a coffee machine, an alarm clock, and an electronic calendar.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the activation time of the electronic calendar includes:

rescheduling a scheduled meeting stored in the electronic calendar, the scheduled meeting to include a select person; and

alerting the select person regarding the rescheduling.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile electronic device automatically downloading a number of news feeds, the number of news feeds is based on the up-to-date commute time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a total listening time of the number of downloaded newsfeeds is about equal to or longer than the up-to-date commute time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile electronic device automatically downloading a plurality of news feeds and/or a plurality of songs, a duration of the plurality of news feeds and/or the plurality of songs being about equal to or longer than the up-to-date commute time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a routine event that is set by the user to repeat according to a schedule.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is input into an electronic calendar in the mobile electronic device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically activating the commute time function on the mobile electronic device based on the event further comprises:

activating the commute time function on the mobile device at an activation time, wherein the activation time is inputted on the mobile device by the user to be a time prior to the event.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a mobile device housing having integrated therein

a communications network interface,

a user interface, and

programmed processing circuitry that implements

a map module to acquire, through the user interface and via tactile and/or spoken input from a user of the apparatus, commute information,

a calendar module to manage a calendar of the user and acquire, through the user interface and via tactile and/or spoken input from the user, a calendar event associated with the commute information,

a commute time module to obtain a current commute time based on the commute information and based on current traffic conditions obtained through the network interface, and to signal the user interface to present, via visual and/or spoken output, the current commute time,

a commute time activator to activate the commute time module based on but before occurrence of the calendar event, and

an alarm clock, wherein the commute time module adjusts an alarm wake-up time in the alarm clock, that was previously set by the user, to an earlier time in response to the current commute time being longer than a specified time.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the commute time module is to send the commute information to a transportation information service provider over the Internet, and receive the current commute time from the transportation information service provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user interface is to display an icon, and wherein clicking on the icon activates the commute time module.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the calendar event comprises a time, date, and location of a meeting.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the commute information comprises a start address and a destination address to be provided by the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the calendar event comprises a time entry and an entry that specifies a day of the week.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the calendar event identifies a contact with whom the user is to meet, and wherein the programmed processing circuitry further implements a calendar-event rescheduler to reschedule the calendar event based on the current commute time, by causing an update to be sent-to the contact that indicates a change to the rescheduled calendar event.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the programmed processing circuitry further implements a digital media player to play sound files that are stored in the apparatus, and wherein the commute time module automatically selects a first music selection for playback by the player in response to the commute time being longer than a specified time, and automatically selects a second, different music selection in response to the commute time being shorter than the specified time.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the commute time module is to download one or more news feeds, the number of newsfeeds being downloaded is based on the current commute time, wherein a total listening time of the number of downloaded newsfeeds is about equal to or longer than the commute time.

23. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein

the calendar module further acquires, through the user interface and via tactile and/or spoken input from the user, an activation time being a time before the calendar event, and

the commute time activator to activate the commute time module at the activation time.