Automated messaging response in wireless communication systems

• US 8,655,965 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: McWithey, Preston W., Shah, Chirag D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US12/718,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

Options for safely handling incoming data messages in a moving mobile device are provided within the mobile device. When an incoming data message is detected, the device determines its velocity. If the velocity exceeds a certain value, external data, such as visual or biometric data, measured by a device component is analyzed to determine whether the mobile device is in a driver position of a moving vehicle. If so, an announcement of the incoming call is prevented and a predetermined message is autonomously transmitted to the sender. If analysis of the external data is inconclusive, a prompt is presented to a recipient with selectable options of how to handle the incoming message. In response to the various inputs received from the recipient, the mobile device may either autonomously send a response message to the sender or may directly establish a voice call between the recipient and the sender.

Claims

1. A method for managing incoming data messages at a mobile device, said method comprising:

receiving a data message from a sender;

in response to said receiving, determining a velocity of said mobile device;

in response to determining, at the mobile device, that said velocity is greater than a predefined value, analyzing, at the mobile device, external data measured by at least one component of said mobile device; and

preventing, by the mobile device, announcement of said received data message, and autonomously transmitting, by the mobile device, a predetermined response message to said sender, in response to determining, at the mobile device, based on the external data, that the mobile device is in a driving position of a moving vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said external data comprises at least one of:

visual data captured by a camera component of the mobile device; and

audio data captured by a microphone component of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to determining, at the mobile device, that the mobile device is not in said driving position, presenting a prompt having at least one option for handling said data message;

receiving input identifying selection of one of said at least one option; and

in response to said input, enabling said mobile device to perform one of;

autonomously transmitting a predetermined response message to said sender; and

autonomously establishing a voice call with said sender.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining said velocity is performed using at least one of:

a satellite positioning system (SPS); and

an accelerometer contained within said mobile device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said presenting said prompt comprises:

detecting a hands-free apparatus coupled to said mobile device;

converting said data message into an audio file;

playing said audio file over said hands-free apparatus, wherein said prompt is presented as an audio prompt over said hands-free apparatus; and

monitoring said hands-free apparatus for audible response commands converted into said input.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein, in response to said input, said mobile device performs one of:

said transmitting, said establishing, and recording an audio message to transmit to said sender.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said audio message is transmitted to said sender as one of:

a multimedia message; and

a data message converted from said audio message.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said receiving said input comprises one of:

receiving active input from a user of said mobile device; and

failing to detect a response to said prompt for a predetermined time.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is in the driving position of the moving vehicle when the mobile device is in possession of a driver of the moving vehicle.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving vehicle is a car, and the mobile device is in the driving position of the moving vehicle when the mobile device is on the driver side of the car.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the mobile device, that said external data indicates that the mobile device is in the driving position of the moving vehicle is based on visual information and biometric information obtained by the mobile device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the visual information comprises an image that includes at least one of:

a passenger seat of the moving vehicle, a passenger of the moving vehicle, and a center console of the moving vehicle.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the biometric information comprises an audio sample that includes at least one heart beat.

9. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver coupled to said processor and to an antenna array;

a display device coupled to said processor;

an inertial reference apparatus coupled to said processor;

at least one external data capture device;

a storage memory coupled to said processor; and

an automated response module stored on said storage memory, wherein, when executed by said processor, said executing automated response module configures said mobile device;

to receive a data message from a sender;

to determine, in response to said receiving, a velocity of said mobile device using said inertial reference apparatus;

to analyze, at the mobile device, in response to determining, at the mobile device, that said velocity exceeds a predetermined value, external data measured by said at least one external data capture device; and

to prevent, by the mobile device, announcement of said received data message, and to autonomously transmit, by the mobile device, a predetermined response message to said sender, in response to determining, at the mobile device, based on the external data, that the mobile device is in a driving position of a moving vehicle.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 wherein said external data comprises at least one of:

visual data, wherein said at least one external data capture device comprises a camera component; and

audio data, wherein said at least one external data capture device comprises a microphone component.

11. The mobile device of claim 9 wherein said executing automated response module further configures said mobile device:

to present, in response to determining that said velocity exceeds a predefined value and in response to determining that said mobile device is not in said driving position, a prompt on said display device having at least one option for handling said data message;

to receive input identifying selection of one of said at least one option; and

to enable, in response to said input, said mobile device to perform one of;

autonomously transmitting a predetermined response message to said sender; and

autonomously establishing a voice call with said sender.

12. The mobile device of claim 9 wherein said inertial reference apparatus comprises at least one of:

a satellite positioning system (SPS) transceiver coupled to another antenna array; and

an accelerometer.

13. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein configuration of said mobile device to present said prompt comprises configuring said mobile device:

to detect a hands-free apparatus coupled to said mobile device;

to convert said data message into an audio file using a text-to-speech logic module stored on said storage memory and executed by said processor;

to play said audio file over said hands-free apparatus, wherein said prompt is presented as an audio prompt over said hands-free apparatus; and

to monitor said hands-free apparatus for audible response commands converted into said input.

14. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein, in response to said input, said mobile device is configured to perform one of:

said transmitting, said establishing, and recording an audio message to transmit to said sender.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein said audio message is transmitted to said sender as one of:

a multimedia message; and

a data message converted from said audio message.

16. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein configuration of said mobile device to receive said input comprises configuring said mobile device for one of:

receiving active input from a user of said mobile device; and

detecting a failure to respond to said prompt for a predetermined time-out period.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program code tangibly stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive a data message from a sender;

program code, executable in response to said receiving, to determine a velocity of a mobile device;

program code, executable in response to determining, at the mobile device, that said velocity is greater than a predefined value, to analyze, at the mobile device, external data measured by at least one component of said mobile device; and

program code to prevent, by the mobile device, announcement of said received data message, and to autonomously transmit, by the mobile device, a predetermined response message to said sender, in response to determining, at the mobile device, based on the external data, that the mobile device is in a driving position of a moving vehicle.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said external data comprises at least one of:

visual data captured by a camera component of the mobile device; and

audio data captured by a microphone component of the mobile device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

program code, executable in response to determining, at the mobile device, that the mobile device is not in said driving position, to present a prompt having at least one option for handling said data message;

program code to receive input identifying selection of one of said at least one option; and

program code, executable in response to said input, to enable said mobile device to perform one of;

autonomously transmitting a predetermined response message to said sender; and

autonomously establishing a voice call with said sender.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said program code to determine said velocity is performed using at least one of:

a satellite positioning system (SPS); and

an accelerometer contained within said mobile device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said program code to present said prompt comprises:

program code to detect a hands-free apparatus coupled to said mobile device;

program code to convert said data message into an audio file;

program code to play said audio file over said hands-free apparatus, wherein said prompt is presented as an audio prompt over said hands-free apparatus; and

program code to monitor said hands-free apparatus for audible response commands converted into said input.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein, in response to said input, said mobile device executes one of:

said program code to transmit, said program code to establish, and program code to record an audio message to transmit to said sender.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein said audio message is transmitted to said sender as one of:

a multimedia message; and

a data message converted from said audio message.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said program code to receive said input comprises one of:

program code to receive active input from a user of said mobile device; and

program code to detect failure to receive a response to said prompt for a predetermined time.

25. A system for managing incoming data messages at a mobile device, said system comprising:

means for receiving a data message from a sender;

means, executable in response to said receiving, for determining a velocity of said mobile device;

means, executable in response to determining, at the mobile device, that said velocity is greater than a predefined value, for analyzing, at the mobile device, external data measured by at least one component of said mobile device; and

means for preventing, by the mobile device, announcement of said received data message, and for autonomously transmitting, by the mobile device, a predetermined response message to said sender, in response to determining, at the mobile device, based on the external data, that the mobile device is in a driving position of a moving vehicle.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said external data comprises at least one of:

visual data captured by a camera component of the mobile device; and

audio data captured by a microphone component of the mobile device.

27. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

means, executable in response to determining, at the mobile device, that the mobile device is not in said driving position, for presenting a prompt having at least one option for handling said data message;

means for receiving input identifying selection of one of said at least one option; and

means, executable in response to said input, for enabling said mobile device to perform one of;

autonomously transmitting a predetermined response message to said sender; and

autonomously establishing a voice call with said sender.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said means for presenting said prompt comprises:

means for detecting a hands-free apparatus coupled to said mobile device;

means for converting said data message into an audio file;

means for playing said audio file over said hands-free apparatus, wherein said prompt is presented as an audio prompt over said hands-free apparatus; and

means for monitoring said hands-free apparatus for audible response commands converted into said input.