Adjusting mobile device state based on user intentions and/or identity

• US 9,229,489 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toksvig, Michael John McKenzie, Papakipos, Matthew Nicholas, Ondrejka, Cory Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/100,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.1, 250/201, 455/411, 340/5.83, 345/173, 345/633, 345/158, 702/150, 715/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 : Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 : controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, while a mobile electronic device is in a first operation state, it receives sensor data from one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device analyzes the sensor data to estimate a current intention of a user with respect to the mobile electronic device; and transition from the first operation state to a second operation state based on the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a mobile electronic device that is associated with a member of a social-networking system, receiving sensor data, while the mobile electronic device is in a first operation state, from one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device;

by the mobile electronic device, receiving, from the social-networking system, characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, the social-networking system being remote from the mobile electronic device;

by the mobile electronic device, comparing the sensor data to characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system to estimate a current intention of a user with respect to the mobile electronic device, the characteristic information being associated with the member of the social-networking system;

based on the comparison of the sensor data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, verifying the user as the member of the social-networking system; and

in response to verifying that the user of the mobile electronic device is the member of the social-networking system based on the comparison of the sensory data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, transitioning, by the mobile electronic device, from the first operation state to a second operation state based on the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device that was determined based on the sensor data and the information maintained by the social-networking system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on, an input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked, and the one or more sensors are all turned on; and

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on, the input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked, and at least one of the one or more sensors is turned off.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and the mobile electronic device is security locked; and

analyzing the sensor data and information maintained by the social-networking system to estimate the current intention of the user comprises comparing the sensor data to characteristic information stored in a profile associated with the user by the social-networking system; and

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and the mobile electronic device is security unlocked without requiring user input of a password.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor data comprise a plurality types of sensor data received from a plurality of sensors of the mobile electronic device; and

the plurality types of sensor data together are used to estimate the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises location data, and the method further comprises:

determining, based on the location data and the information maintained by the social-networking system that the user of the mobile device is in an atypical location for the user of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises social connection data indicating that the user of the mobile device is with one or more users with which the user has a social connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises calendar data and the mobile electronic device is transitioned to the second operation state based on the sensor data and the calendar data maintained by the social-networking system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information maintained by the social-networking system comprises a status update associated with the user, and the method further comprises:

determining that the user is at a specific location based on the sensor data and the status update associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and an input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked; and

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and the input component of the mobile electronic device is locked.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor data comprises data selected from the group consisting of touch-sensor data indicating that the user is not touching the mobile electronic device with a hand, speed-sensor data indicating a decrease in speed of a movement of the mobile electronic device, and light-sensor data indicating a decrease in ambient light around the mobile electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and an input component of the mobile electronic device is locked; and

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and the input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor data comprises touch-sensor data indicating that the user is performing an action selected from the group consisting of touching the mobile electronic device with a hand, grasping the mobile electronic device with the hand, and touching the mobile electronic device with one or more fingers.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor data comprises data selected from the group consisting of speed-sensor data indicating an increase in speed of a movement of the mobile electronic device and light-sensor data indicating an increase in ambient light around the mobile electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising transitioning from the second operation state back to the first operation state if the user has not further interacted with the mobile device for a predefined period of time.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile electronic device is transitioned to the unlocked state based on the characteristic information identifying the user of the mobile electronic device as being the member of the social-networking system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the characteristic information associated with the member of the social-networking system comprises location information and the mobile electronic device is transitioned into the unlocked state in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is in an atypical location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data comprises imaging data, and the method further comprises:

determining, based on the imaging data and the information maintained by the social-networking system that the user is likely an owner of the mobile electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing the image data to perform facial recognition with respect to the user and the owner of the mobile electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, if the facial recognition with respect to the user and the owner of the mobile electronic device does not yield a satisfactory results, then requiring a password or Personal Identification Number from the user for transitioning from the first operation state to the second operation state.

20. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and

the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

receive sensor data, while a mobile electronic device is in a first operation state, from one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device;

receive, from a social-networking system, characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, the social-networking system being remote from the mobile electronic device;

compare the sensor data to characteristic information maintained by a social-networking system to estimate a current intention of a user with respect to the mobile electronic device, the user comprising a member of the social-networking system, the characteristic information being associated with the member of the social-networking system;

based on the comparison of the sensor data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, verifying the user as the member of the social-networking system; and

in response to verifying that the user of the mobile electronic device is the member of the social-networking system based on the comparison of the sensory data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, transition from the first operation state to a second operation state based on the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device as determined based on the sensor data and the information maintained by the social-networking system.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and an input component of the mobile electronic device is locked;

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and the input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked; and

the sensor data comprise touch-sensor data indicating that the user is touching the mobile electronic device with a hand.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and the mobile electronic device is security locked;

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and the mobile electronic device is security unlocked; and

the sensor data comprise imaging data indicating that the user is likely an owner of the mobile electronic device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein:

while in the first operation state, a screen of the mobile electronic device is turned on and an input component of the mobile electronic device is unlocked;

while in the second operation state, the screen of the mobile electronic device is turned off and the input component of the mobile electronic device is locked; and

the sensor data comprise touch-sensor data indicating that the user is not touching the mobile electronic device with a hand.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensor data comprises location data, and the one or more processors being further operable when executed to:

determine, based on the location data and the information maintained by the social-networking system that the user of the mobile device is in an atypical location for the user of the mobile device.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises social connection data indicating that the user of the mobile device is with one or more users with which the user has a social connection.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises calendar data and the mobile electronic device is transitioned to the second operation state based on the sensor data and the calendar data maintained by the social-networking system.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the information maintained by the social-networking system comprises a status update associated with the user, and the one or more processors being further operable when executed to:

determine that the user is at a specific location based on the sensor data and the status update associated with the user.

28. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by a mobile electronic device to:

receive sensor data, while the mobile electronic device is in a first operation state, from one or more sensors of the mobile electronic device;

receive, from a social-networking system, characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, the social-networking system being remote from the mobile electronic device;

compare the sensor data to characteristic information maintained by a social-networking system to estimate a current intention of a user with respect to the mobile electronic device, the mobile device being associated with a member of the social-networking system, the characteristic information being associated with the member of the social-networking system;

based on the comparison of the sensor data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, verifying the user as the member of the social-networking system; and

in response to verifying that the user of the mobile electronic device is the member of the social-networking system based on the comparison of the sensory data to the characteristic information maintained by the social-networking system, transition from the first operation state to a second operation state based on the current intention of the user with respect to the mobile electronic device as determined based on the sensor data and the information maintained by the social-networking system.

29. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 28, wherein the sensor data comprises location data, and the software is further operable when executed by the mobile electronic device to:

determine, based on the location data and the information maintained by the social-networking system that the user of the mobile device is in an atypical location for the user of the mobile device.

30. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 28, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises social connection data indicating that the user of the mobile device is with one or more users with which the user has a social connection.

31. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 28, wherein the information maintained by the social networking system comprises calendar data and the mobile electronic device is transitioned to the second operation state based on the sensor data and the calendar data maintained by the social-networking system.

32. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 28, wherein the information maintained by the social-networking system comprises a status update associated with the user, and the software is further operable when executed by the mobile electronic device to:

determine that the user is at a specific location based on the sensor data and the status update associated with the user.