Mobile device that activates upon removal from storage

• US 8,958,786 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Duncan, William D., Hyde, Roderick A., Pan, Tony S., Petroski, Robert C., Tuckerman, David B., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/972,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20140349631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A mobile device includes a motion sensor configured to acquire motion data, a light sensor configured to detect an ambient light level and generate light data, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive the motion data from the motion sensor, receive the light data from the light sensor, analyze the motion data to determine displacement data corresponding to a displacement of the mobile device, analyze the light data to detect a light transition, and analyze the displacement data and the light transition to determine whether to initiate an action.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processing circuit of a mobile device, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving motion data from a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the mobile device;

instructions for receiving light data from a light sensor configured to detect an ambient light level and generate the light data;

instructions for analyzing the motion data to determine displacement data corresponding to a displacement of the mobile device, wherein the motion data is based on the displacement being at least partially vertically upwards, and wherein the displacement includes a net rise;

instructions for analyzing the light data to detect a light transition, wherein analyzing the light data includes at least one of identifying a transition from dark to light, identifying a color transition corresponding to the light, and analyzing an average range of colors over a field of view;

instructions for determining a location of the mobile device in relation to a user of the mobile device; and

instructions for analyzing the displacement data and the light transition to determine whether to initiate an action, wherein the action is based on configuration data that comprises a light transition threshold which must be met in order to initiate the action, and wherein the light transition threshold is adjusted in response to the determined location of the mobile device in relation to the user of the mobile device.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprises instructions to initiate the action.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a handheld mobile device.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes changing an operational mode of the mobile device.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes activating the mobile device.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes answering a call received on the mobile device.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes adjusting a volume level of the mobile device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes adjusting a ringtone of the mobile device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes changing a power usage setting of the mobile device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes activating a sensor of the mobile device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes activating at least one application on the mobile device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action includes turning on a display of the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the action is based on configuration data.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for analyzing the motion data to determine displacement data includes instructions for performing a double integration operation.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for analyzing the displacement data include the instructions for comparing the displacement data to a motion profile.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for activating the light sensor based on the motion data.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for activating the motion sensor based on the light data.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions for receiving touch data from a touch sensor, and wherein the determination to initiate the action is based at least in part on the touch data.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor includes a capacitive sensor.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for analyzing the light data include instructions for identifying a change in a wavelength of light based on the generated light data.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for analyzing the light data include scene recognition instructions for comparing the first location to a second location.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processing circuit of a mobile device, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving light data from a light sensor of the mobile device, wherein the light sensor is configured to detect an ambient light level and generate the light data;

instructions for analyzing the light data to detect a light transition, wherein analyzing the light data includes at least one of identifying a transition from dark to light, identifying a color transition corresponding to the light, and analyzing an average range of colors over a field of view;

instructions for determining a location of the mobile device in relation to a user of the mobile device; and

instructions for initiating an action based on the light transition and a mode of the mobile device, wherein the action is based on configuration data that comprises a light transition threshold which must be met in order to initiate the action, wherein the light transition threshold is adjusted in response to the determined location of the mobile device in relation to the user of the mobile device, and wherein the mode corresponds to the mobile device being in a first location;

wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises estimating whether the mobile device is indoors or outdoors, wherein the light transition threshold is adjusted based on the estimation, and wherein the light transition threshold is further adjusted based on a time of day.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the mobile device is a handheld mobile device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes changing an operational mode of the mobile device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes activating the mobile device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes answering a call received on the mobile device.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes adjusting a volume level of the mobile device.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes adjusting a ringtone of the mobile device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes changing a power usage setting of the mobile device.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes activating a sensor of the mobile device.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes activating at least one application on the mobile device.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action includes turning on a display of the mobile device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the action is based on configuration data.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for receiving user input configured to select the mode corresponding to the mobile device being in the first location.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for receiving user input configured to specify that the mobile device is in the first location.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first location is a storage location.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the storage location is a pocket.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the storage location is a bag.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the storage location is a case.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for analyzing the light data include instructions for identifying a change in a wavelength of light based on the generated light data.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for analyzing the light data include scene recognition instructions for comparing the first location to a second location.