Techniques for determining communication state using accelerometer data

• US 9,363,664 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelton, Gregory, Moon, Billy
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/324,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Techniques for communicating with a user on a network include receiving acceleration data that indicates acceleration of a mobile network node associated with a user of a network. A communication state for the user is determined based at least in part on the acceleration data. The communication state indicates a type of network communication suitable for communicating with the user. Network communications with the user are based on the communication state. Among other uses, such techniques allow a network communicating with a human through a mobile node carried by the human to infer from stopped or unusual motions when the human'"'"'s ability to receive or act on communications is impaired or otherwise affected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory including a library of acceleration characteristics associated with corresponding user activities;

an accelerometer configured to generate data indicative of changes in motion experienced by the apparatus; and

a processor configured to determine a communication state of the apparatus based at least on a comparison of the data indicative of changes in motion experienced by the apparatus to the library of acceleration characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to present a visual message based on the communication state of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the communication state of the apparatus also based on presence information.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the presence information includes recent login information for the apparatus or a recent communication sent by the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to initiate a voice call when the communication state of the apparatus indicates that the apparatus is unexpectedly not moving.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication state is associated with a type of network communication suitable for communicating with the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the type of network communication is cellular communication when the communication state is walking.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the type of network communication is through a loud signal on an ear piece when the communication state is stationary for a period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the library distinguishes between at least two of a persistently motionless user, a passive passenger of a vehicle, a mildly active passenger of a vehicle, a moderately active user, a strongly active user, and a passenger of an abnormally functioning vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the library includes histograms for communication states.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor initiates diagnostics systems for a human body associated with the apparatus based on the communication state.

12. A method comprising:

receiving data indicative of changes in motion experienced by an apparatus;

performing a comparison of a library of acceleration characteristics associated with corresponding user activities to the data indicative of changes in motion; and

determining a communication state of the apparatus based at least on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication state of the apparatus is also based on presence information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the presence information includes recent login information for the apparatus or a recent communication sent by the apparatus.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

initiating a voice call when the communication state of the apparatus indicates that the apparatus is unexpectedly not moving.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the library of acceleration characteristics includes acceleration frequency bands.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a mode of communication based on the communication state of the apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mode of communication is email when the communication state is stationary and the mode of communication is any form of short communication when the communication state is riding.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mode of communication is voice calls when the communication state is moving but not riding.

20. A system comprising:

an intermediate network device in communication with a network and comprising a first accelerometer to generate data indicative of changes in motion experienced by the intermediate network device; and

an end node device in communication with the intermediate network device and comprising a second accelerometer to generate data indicative of changes in motion experienced by the end node device;

wherein a communication state of a user is determined based on a comparison of the data indicative of changes in motion experienced by the end node device or the intermediate network device to a library of acceleration characteristics.