Configurable communications device

• US 8,457,592 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Valdez, John, Esmail, Nooruddin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US12/113,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455/518, 455/416, 455/405, 455/69, 455/561, 455/417, 455/419, 369/47.36, 704/226, 700/90, 709/204, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A communications device is configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device. The user device includes a data store having at least an identifier. The communications device is configured to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a communications device configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device, the user device having a data store including at least an identifier,

wherein the communications device is configured to determine whether the user device is in proximity to the communications device, and if so;

transmit an indication to the user device that the user device is in proximity to the communications device;

receive the identifier transmitted to the communications device from the user device in response to the user device receiving the indication from the communications device; and

adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device in response to receiving the identifier from the user device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wireless connection.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wireless connection from an unpowered user device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the user device includes an RFID chip configured to receive the indication that the user device is in proximity to the communications device.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over an infrared connection.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to receive an identifier over a wired connection.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to access a user profile associated with the received identifier.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the communications device is configured to adjust at least one setting according to settings included in the accessed user profile.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the received identifier corresponds to a user.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational setting includes at least one service-based setting, which service-based setting includes at least one of minutes available to a user, phone numbers with which a user is able to communicate, phone numbers with which a user is prohibited from communicating, and particular times during which a user may use communication services.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational setting includes at least one of a ring tone and a wallpaper graphic.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the user device is a faceplate removably connected to the communications device and is configured to receive the indication that the faceplate is in proximity to the communications device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the user device includes at least one of an exterior graphic, texture or contour complementary to the at least one operational setting.

14. A method of providing communications services through a communications device, the method comprising:

determining, by the communications device, whether a user device is disposed on the communications device, wherein the user device includes a chip configured to wirelessly communicate with the communications device;

transmitting an indication to the user device that the user device is disposed on the communications device;

receiving at least an identifier from the user device when the communications device is disposed on the user device, and

adjusting at least one operational setting within the communications device based at least in part on the at least one identifier received.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving at least an identifier includes receiving an identifier over a wireless connection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an identifier over a wireless connection includes receiving an identifier from an unpowered user device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving at least an identifier over a wireless connection includes receiving at least an identifier over an RFID connection.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing a user profile associated with a received identifier.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one setting according to settings included in the accessed user profile.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the received identifier corresponds to a user.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one service-based setting, which service-based setting includes at least one of minutes available to a user, phone numbers with which a user is able to communicate, phone numbers with which a user is prohibited from communicating, and particular times during which a user may use communication services.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting at least one operational setting includes adjusting at least one of a ring tone and a wallpaper graphic.

23. The method of claim 14, using a faceplate as the user device and further comprising:

removably connecting the faceplate to the communications device; and

receiving, at the faceplate, the indication that the user device is disposed on the communications device.

24. The method of claim 14, the user device including at least one of an exterior graphic, texture or contour complementary to the at least one operational setting.

25. A system comprising:

a user device having a data store including at least an identifier and wherein the user device includes a chip configured to wirelessly transmit the identifier to a communications device in response to receiving an indication from the communications device that the user device is disposed on the communications device,

wherein the communications device is configured to determine whether the user device is disposed on the communications device, and if so, transmit the indication to the user device, receive the identifier from the user device, and adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the identifier.