U.S. patent application number 13/992730 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for motion-based management of a wireless processor-based device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mohammad Shahid. Invention is credited to Mohammad Shahid.
Application Number | 20130343343 13/992730 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49260891 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130343343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shahid; Mohammad |
December 26, 2013 |
Motion-Based Management of a Wireless Processor-Based Device
Abstract
A mobile device may be managed based on information about a
geographic movement of the mobile device. The geographic movement
may take into account a location, a speed, and an acceleration for
the mobile device. A movement profile is determined based on the
geographic movement. A settings profile is determined based on the
movement profile and a profile mapping. Based on the settings
profile, resource consumption for the mobile device may be managed
by adjusting settings for the device accordingly.
Inventors: |
Shahid; Mohammad; (San Jose,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shahid; Mohammad |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49260891 |
Appl. No.: |
13/992730 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
March 30, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/31375 |
371 Date: |
September 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 36/14 20130101;
H04W 48/04 20130101; H04W 84/12 20130101; H04W 4/027 20130101; H04W
36/32 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101; H04W 84/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/331 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/32 20060101
H04W036/32 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: electronically detecting motion of a mobile
processor-based device; and selecting a wireless communication
protocol, based at least in part on detected mobile device
motion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting motion includes using a
satellite navigation system.
3. The method of claim 1, including selecting one of a plurality of
wireless communication interfaces of the mobile device.
4. The method of claim 1 including determining whether movement of
the mobile device matches a stored movement profile.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether movement of
the mobile device matches a stored movement profile includes
determining whether a present location of the mobile device matches
a location specified by the stored movement profile.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether movement of
the mobile device matches the stored movement profile includes
determining that a present speed of the mobile device matches a
speed specified by the stored movement profile.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether movement of
the mobile device matches the stored movement profile includes
determining that a present acceleration of the mobile device
matches an acceleration specified by the stored movement
profile.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether movement of
the mobile device matches the stored movement profile includes
selecting the stored movement profile from a plurality of movement
profiles stored in the mobile device.
9. The method of claim 4 including selecting, based on the stored
movement profile, a settings profile describing a setting for a
function for the mobile device.
10. The method of claim 9 including enabling the function of the
mobile device based on the setting for the function described in
the settings profile.
11. The method of claim 9 including disabling the function of the
mobile device based on the setting for the function described in
the settings profile.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the settings profile
further includes selecting a mapping from a plurality of mappings
stored in the mobile device, wherein the mapping associates the
movement profile with the settings profile.
13. The method of claim 1 including: determining that the
geographic movement of the mobile device fails to match any
existing stored movement profile defined for the mobile device;
selecting a default settings profile when the geographic movement
of the mobile device fails to match any existing stored movement
profile defined for the mobile device; and enabling a function for
the mobile device based on the setting for the function described
in the default settings profile.
14. One or more machine readable media comprising a plurality of
instructions that in response to being executed on a computing
device, cause the computing device to carry out a method
comprising: detecting motion of a mobile processor-based device;
and selecting a wireless communication protocol, based at least in
part on detected mobile device motion.
15. An apparatus comprising: a processor to detect motion of a
mobile processor-based device, and select a wireless communication
protocol, based at least in part on detected mobile device motion;
and a storage coupled to said processor.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an
accelerometer.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a speed
sensor.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a Global
Positioning System (GPS) module.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 including a cellular telephone
interface.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 including a Wi-Fi interface.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 including an altitude meter.
22. The apparatus of claim 15 including a Bluetooth interface.
23. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions to carry
out a method including wherein detecting motion includes using a
satellite navigation system.
24. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions to carry
out a method including selecting one of a plurality of wireless
communication interfaces of the mobile device.
25. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions including
determining whether movement of the mobile device matches a stored
movement profile.
26. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions including
wherein determining whether movement of the mobile device matches a
stored movement profile includes determining whether a present
location of the mobile device matches a location specified by the
stored movement profile.
27. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions including
wherein determining whether movement of the mobile device matches
the stored movement profile includes determining that a present
speed of the mobile device matches a speed specified by the stored
movement profile.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to resource management of a wireless
processor-based device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Mobile processor-based devices include things like cellular
telephones, laptop computers, mobile Internet devices, and
processor-based games to mention a few examples. Some mobile
processor-based devices include wireless communication protocols.
The available protocols include short range protocols such as the
Bluetooth protocols, longer range protocols including the Wi-Fi
protocol, and still longer range protocols including cellular
protocols, and/or a Wi-MAX protocol to mention some examples.
[0003] Many wireless mobile processor-based devices are capable of
selecting among more than one wireless protocol. For example many
cellular phones attempt to use a Wi-Fi wireless protocol to the
greatest possible extent to reduce cellular phone charges. In many
cases, a shorter range protocol is fine as long as the user is in
range of an appropriate access point or base station. Many wireless
mobile processor-based devices switch between one protocol and
another based on availability of a preferred or default wireless
protocol and the availability of other options.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Some embodiments are described with respect to the following
figures:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless processor-based
device in accordance with one embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for a sequence in accordance with
some embodiments; and
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless processor-based
device in accordance with another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A wireless mobile processor-based device may select a
wireless communication protocol based, at least in part, on a
characteristic of the motion of the mobile device. For example when
the device is being used by a person who is walking past a Wi-Fi
access point, it may be reasonable for the device to use a Wi-Fi
wireless protocol. When the same user, carrying the same device, is
going by the same access point on a highway at sixty miles an hour,
it may make more sense to use a cellular wireless communication
protocol, even when the user is completely within range of the
Wi-Fi access point. This is because it may be inefficient in a
number of ways to use the Wi-Fi access point for a very short
period of time determined by the speed of the mobile device.
[0009] For example constantly switching between wireless protocols
or using wireless protocols for a only short time may result in
inefficient operation, poor performance and excessive power
consumption. Thus, in some embodiments, a processor associated with
the mobile device selects or de-selects a wireless communication
protocol based, at least in part, on the speed of the mobile
device.
[0010] As an example, a user carrying a cellular telephone may walk
around inside a building and use a Wi-Fi access point to
communicate over a Wi-Fi communication protocol while the user is
in the building. Then when the user walks out of the building, the
user may continue to use the Wi-Fi access point. After the user
gets in the user's car and starts to drive away, the device may
switch from the Wi-Fi access point to a cellular base station based
on the detected speed of the cellular telephone. In other words the
device may not wait to lose the link and may switch wireless
communication protocols based on speed, the speed basically being a
predictor that the Wi-Fi link will be lost in some cases. This
allows the protocol switch to occur before the Wi-Fi communication
is lost.
[0011] Further, in some embodiments, a Wi-Fi interface for the
device that makes use of the Wi-Fi communication protocol may be
disabled or powered down when the user and device are travelling in
a car. This may be because searching for and using a Wi-Fi
connection in such a circumstance is not desirable. By disabling or
powering down the Wi-Fi interface, device resources that would
otherwise be dedicated to the Wi-Fi interface are not wasted.
[0012] In other embodiments, for example when the user is going by
a Wi-Fi access point in a car at a high speed, avoiding a
transition to a Wi-Fi preferred wireless communication protocol may
improve performance and power consumption. This may be because
switching to the Wi-Fi communication protocol for an instant will
neither improve performance nor reduce communication charges and
will probably result in increasing battery consumption.
[0013] Embodiments may relate to the use of wireless communication
protocols or standards including but not limited to cellular
networks, Bluetooth (IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) 802.15 standard, IEEE 802.15.1-2002, published Jun. 14,
2002), Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard, IEEE 802.11-2007, published
Jun. 12, 2007), and Wi-MAX (IEEE 802.16 standard, IEEE 802.16-204,
published Oct. 1, 2004).
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless processor-based device 100
may include a processor 102. The processor 102 in one embodiment
may be coupled to a speed sensor 218. The speed sensor 218 may be
any of a variety of well-known speed sensors including devices
using global positioning system (GPS) information to determine
speed, accelerometers, and any other technique for determining
speed including wireless triangulation. In one embodiment, the
processor 102 may be coupled to a motion sensor (not shown) using
one or more speed sensors 218 to determine speed, acceleration, and
location. In some embodiments, the speed sensor 218 or motion
sensor may also make use of an altitude meter (not shown). Also
coupled to the processor 102 are a plurality of wireless interfaces
104a through 104b. Any number of wireless interfaces may be
provided to implement any given number of wireless communication
protocols available to the device 100. Examples of possible
wireless communication protocols include cellular communication
protocols, Bluetooth communication protocols, Wi-Fi communication
protocols, and Wi-MAX communication protocols, as examples. Also
coupled to the processor 102, in some embodiments, is a battery
106. A storage 210 may be any optical, magnetic, or semiconductor
storage device. It may store a settings profiles 212, movement
profiles 214 and profile mappings 216 in some embodiments.
[0015] In some embodiments, one or more antennas (not shown in FIG.
1) may be provided as needed for various wireless communication
protocols. In some embodiments of the present invention, when the
speed sensor 218 detects a new and different speed, a check may be
made to determine whether a change in wireless communication
protocol should be implemented. Based on the speed of the device, a
determination may be made using a profile stored in the storage 210
about whether to change the communication protocol. For example,
one reason for changing the communication protocol including may be
that the new speed means that given the range of the communication
protocol that the communication link will soon be lost and so the
change should be implemented.
[0016] In some embodiments, a change in a wireless communication
protocol involves enabling or disabling a wireless communication
interface dedicated for the transmission of data using the wireless
communication protocol. In some embodiments, a change in a wireless
communication protocol involves transitioning the wireless
communication interface for the protocol to a reduced power state
(e.g., half-power, sleep/hibernation, etc.). In some embodiments, a
change in a wireless communication protocol may involve adjusting
an activation duty cycle for the wireless communication protocol.
An activation duty cycle for a wireless communication protocol
defines how frequently the wireless communication interface polls
or searches for a connection. As such, an adjustment in activation
duty cycle may involve more frequent or less frequent polls or
searches.
[0017] In some cases, a default or preferred communication protocol
may be used. Absent good reason to change, the default protocol is
normally implemented. Thus, in some cases, the default protocol may
be a Wi-Fi protocol and based on the speed, this default may be
overridden in some cases. For example, given the range of the Wi-Fi
protocol, if the device speed is too high, indicating that a link
will not be maintained for sufficient time, the Wi-Fi selection may
be overridden. In some embodiments, a motion sensor may be used to
determine a profile stored in storage 210 (e.g., as described above
in relation to the speed sensor 218) based on the detection of new
and different speed, acceleration, and/or location.
[0018] The mobile device 100 may include a storage device 210 in
accordance with various embodiments. The storage device 210 may be
implemented using any type of persistent storage. The storage
device 210 may be used, for example, to store data in accordance
with various embodiments.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, a settings profile 212 defines
one or more settings for various functions of a mobile device 100.
For example, a settings profile 212 in accordance with some
embodiments may define the settings for various communication
interfaces 104 for a mobile device 100. Examples of settings
profiles 212 are provided below in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Settings Profiles for Various Communication
Interfaces Profile Name Cellular Wi-Fi Bluetooth Profile 1 Off On
Off Profile 2 On Off On Profile 3 Off Off Off Default On On Off
[0020] As shown in the first row of Table 1, Profile 1 is an
example of a settings profile 212 in accordance with some
embodiments. Profile 1 defines that the mobile device's cellular
interface is disabled, the mobile device's Wi-Fi interface is
enabled, and the mobile device's Bluetooth interface is disabled.
Profile 1 may be used, for example, to define the communication
interface settings of the mobile device 100 when the mobile device
100 is presently located in a user's home.
[0021] The second through fourth rows of Table 1 show additional
examples of settings profiles 212 defined for the mobile device 100
in accordance with some embodiments. Profile 2, for example, may be
used to define the communication interface settings for the mobile
device 100 when the mobile device 100 is presently located in a
moving car. Further, Profile 3 may be used to define the
communication interface settings for the mobile device 100 when the
mobile device 100 is presently located in a flying airplane. In
addition, Profile 4 may be used to define default communication
interface settings for the mobile device 100.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, a movement profile 214 defines
one or more criteria for characterizing movement of a mobile device
100. In accordance with various embodiments, movement may be
characterized based on a location for the mobile device 100, a
speed determined for the mobile device 100, an acceleration
determined for the mobile device 100, and/or any combination of the
above. While location, speed, and acceleration have been discussed
as examples of movement criteria, one of ordinary skill in the art
may recognize that other criteria not discussed here may be used to
characterize the movement of a mobile device 100.
[0023] In one or more embodiments, movement criteria as defined by
the movement profile 214 may be specified in three dimensions. For
example, movement criteria may be specified in x, y, and z
directions such that x is a north-south component, y is an
east-west component, and z is an altitude and/or depth component.
As such, a determined speed (i.e., an example of a movement
criteria) of the mobile device 100 may have x, y, and z
components.
[0024] Tables 2 and 3 show examples of movement profiles 214 in
accordance with some embodiments. The values expressed in Tables 2
and 3 are provided for illustrative purposes and are not limiting.
In accordance with some embodiments, the values defined in a
movement profile 214 may be stored quantitatively, qualitatively,
as ranges, as maximum or minimum values, etc.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Movement Profile for a Car X Y Z Location
land/not sea land/not sea 0-25,000 ft Speed 0 or (10-200) 0 or
(10-200) 0-20 mph mph mph Acceleration 1-30 mph.sup.2 1-30
mph.sup.2 1-3 mph.sup.2
[0025] Table 2 shows an example of a movement profile 214 for when
the mobile device 100 is in a moving car. The movement profile 214
is defined in terms of location, speed, and acceleration over x, y,
and z components as described above.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Movement Profile for a Home X Y Z Location
37 48' 50-51'' N 122 28' 40-41'' W 0-25,000 ft Speed 0-5 mph 0-5
mph 0-1 mph Acceleration 0-1 mph.sup.2 0-1 mph.sup.2 0-1
mph.sup.2
[0026] Table 3 shows an example of a movement profile 214 for when
a mobile device 100 is in a user's home. As with Table 2, the
movement profile shown in Table 3 is defined in terms of location,
speed, and acceleration over x, y, and z components as discussed
above.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, a profile mapping 216 is defined
to associate a movement profile 214 with a settings profile 212. In
accordance with various embodiments, multiple movement profiles 214
may be associated with a common settings profile 212. For example,
a mobile device user may own numerous homes each with a distinct
movement profile (e.g., differing in terms of location components).
Accordingly, the mobile device user may decide to associate each
distinct movement profile 214 with a single settings profile 212
sufficient to uniformly manage the mobile device functions in each
of those home locations. Optionally, the mobile device user may
decide to associate each distinct movement profile 214 with
different settings profiles 212 to manage the mobile device
functions in each of those home locations separately.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, a sequence may be implemented in
hardware, software, and/or firmware. In firmware and software
embodiments it may be implemented by computer-executed instructions
stored in one or more non-transitory computer readable media, such
as an optical, semiconductor, or magnetic storage device. In some
embodiments, the sequence shown in FIG. 2 may be performed by, for
example, a motion-based device controller. In other embodiments,
the sequence shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented using any other
component(s) inside the mobile device 100.
[0029] In FIG. 2, the sequence 110 may initially determine the
velocity of the wireless processor-based devices, as indicated in
block 112. If a significant velocity change is detected as
determined in diamond 114, the new velocity may be stored as
indicated in block 116. Then the new velocity may be compared to
the profiles as indicated in block 118 to determine whether to
change wireless communication protocols based on speed. If so, the
new wireless communication protocol may be selected as indicated in
block 120.
[0030] In some embodiments, the sequence shown in FIG. 2 may be
adapted to consider one or more of speed/velocity, acceleration,
and/or location.
[0031] Thus referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment the
processor-based device 100 may include one or more antennas 122
coupled to a housing. The housing may include a speed detector 124
in one embodiment corresponding to the speed sensor 218 shown in
FIG. 1. Next, the speed detector may be coupled to a protocol
selector 126. In some embodiments, the housing may include a motion
detector (not shown) as described in relation to FIG. 1. As such,
the motion detector may be coupled to a protocol selector 126. In
one embodiment, the protocol selector may be hardware logic and in
other embodiments, it may be implemented by a processor such as a
processor 142 together with appropriate software. In any case, the
protocol selector 126 may implement the sequence shown in FIG. 2.
In addition, coupled to the protocol selector may be one or more
wireless interfaces 104 to implement different selectable wireless
communication protocols which may be selected, at least in part,
based on speed and in some cases in part based on a preferred or
default wireless communication protocol.
[0032] In one or more embodiments, the processor or selector may be
implemented in hardware, software, and/or firmware. In firmware and
software embodiments, they may be implemented by computer-executed
instructions stored in one or more non-transitory computer readable
media, such as an optical, semiconductor, or magnetic storage
device. Moreover, embodiments described herein may be implemented
as a mobile device, a communications device, or any other apparatus
with functionality to process and execute instructions. While the
subject matter disclosed herein has been described with respect to
a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will
appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom.
Further, specifics in the examples may be used anywhere in one or
more embodiments. It is intended that the appended claims cover all
such modifications and variations.
[0033] In view of the discussion herein, embodiments allow for
motion-based management of a mobile device 100. An example is now
provided. Assume a user wakes up at home and prepares to drive to
the airport to catch a flight. While at home, the processor 102 or
protocol selector 120 for the user's mobile device 100 is able to
recognize the present location as the user's home based on the
speed sensor 218. Moreover, while at home, the mobile device 100 is
either stationary (e.g., in a charging dock) or in the possession
of the user sitting or walking within the home. As such, the
processor or selector determines a relatively low speed and
acceleration for the mobile device 100. Based on these values and
the recognized position, Profile 1 (e.g., shown in Table 3) is
determined as the present movement profile 214 for the mobile
device 100 by the processor or selector. Accordingly, the
motion-based device controller 110 determines an appropriate
settings profile 212 to which Profile 1 is mapped (e.g., using a
profile mapping 216). The result is that the Wi-Fi interface 104 is
enabled and all others are disabled to make use of the user's
wireless local area network at home.
[0034] Continuing the example, assume that the user has now packed
their bags and is out the door. Before the user starts the car and
drives away, the user loads luggage into the car, sits in the
driveway in the car, etc. During this time, the processor or
selector determines that the present location for the mobile device
100 is still the user's home. Moreover, the speed and acceleration
determined by the processor or selector during this time is still
relatively low. Because the mobile device 100 has not yet
transitioned away from Profile 1, a new settings profile 212 is not
determined at this time and consequently no settings for the mobile
device 100 are adjusted. The mobile device 100 continues to make
use of the at-home wireless local area network via its Wi-Fi
interface 104.
[0035] Some time later, the user is now driving away from home and
to the airport. Initially (e.g., while driving away on the user's
street), the user's location may still be recognized as "home", yet
there is a relatively higher speed and acceleration (e.g., greater
than walking speed). The higher speed and acceleration result in
the processor or selector determining a new movement profile 214
for mobile device 100. Because the location is land-based and the
speed and acceleration values are within the suitable range,
processor or selector determines a movement profile 214 named
Profile 2 (e.g., as shown in Table 2) for the mobile device. Based
on its profile mapping 216, Profile 2 is associated with a
different settings profile 212 that enables the cellular interface,
disables the Wi-Fi interface, and enables the Bluetooth interface.
Using the definitions in the new settings profile 212, the
processor or selector makes the appropriate settings adjustments
for the mobile device 100.
[0036] Later, the user has driven far enough away that the present
location for the mobile device 100 is no longer recognized by the
processor or selector as a "home" location. However, the user is
still driving and the speed and acceleration during this time
continues to keep the mobile device 100 characterized as Profile 2.
Because the same movement profile 214 persists, it is not necessary
to determine a different settings profile 212 at this time
therefore making further management adjustments of mobile device
100 functions presently unnecessary.
[0037] Experiencing some bad luck, the user gets stuck at a
railroad crossing. While the user's location is still land-based,
the present speed and acceleration fall to zero while the user and
the device are waiting for the train to pass. As such, the motion
remains within the acceptable range for the movement profile 214
named Profile 2. Once the train passes, the user begins to drive
again and still no change in movement profile is required.
[0038] Still driving, the user approaches the airport. Up until the
moment the user parks the car, the user's mobile device 100
continues to maintain characterization as the movement profile 214
named Profile 2. However, from the time the user parks and begins
walking to the airport, the user's speed and acceleration fall out
of the acceptable range for the Profile 2. Further, the location is
not recognized by the processor or selector. Based on these
movement characteristics, the processor or selector determines
there is no present movement profile 214 match. Because there is no
movement profile 214 match, the default settings profile 212 is
selected by the processor or selector and adjustments are made: the
cellular interface stays enabled, the Wi-Fi interface is enabled,
and the Bluetooth interface is disabled. Using the Wi-Fi interface
206, the mobile device 100 can detect a "hot spot" at the airport
and connect to the Internet using the mobile device's Wi-Fi
capability.
[0039] While the user is at the airport checking in, waiting, and
boarding the plane, the user's movement profile does not change.
However, once the plane is in flight, a higher speed and
acceleration is determined for the mobile device 100 by the
processor or selector. Based on the high speed and acceleration,
the processor or selector 110 determines a match with an "airplane"
movement profile 214. Based on a profile mapping 216 that
associates the airplane movement profile 214 with a settings
profile 212 stored on the phone, device settings for the mobile
device 100 are adjusted by the processor or selector as follows:
the cellular interface is disabled; the Wi-Fi interface is
disabled; and the Bluetooth interface is disabled.
[0040] The following clauses and/or examples pertain to further
embodiments:
[0041] One example embodiment may be a method including:
electronically detecting motion of a mobile processor-based device;
and selecting a wireless communication protocol, based at least in
part on detected mobile device motion. The method may also include
detecting motion using a satellite navigation system. The method
may also include selecting one of a plurality of wireless
communication interfaces of the mobile device. The method may also
include determining whether movement of the mobile device matches a
stored movement profile. The method may also include determining
whether a present location of the mobile device matches a location
specified by the stored movement profile. The method may also
include determining that a present speed of the mobile device
matches a speed specified by the stored movement profile. The
method may also include determining that a present acceleration of
the mobile device matches an acceleration specified by the stored
movement profile. The method may also include selecting the stored
movement profile from a plurality of stored movement profiles
stored in the mobile device. The method may also include selecting,
based on the stored movement profile, a settings profile describing
a setting for a function for the mobile device. The method may also
include enabling the function of the mobile device based on the
setting for the function described in the settings profile. The
method may also include disabling the function of the mobile device
based on the setting for the function described in the settings
profile. The method may also include selecting a mapping from a
plurality of mappings stored in the mobile device, where the
mapping associates the stored movement profile with the settings
profile. The method may also include: determining that the
geographic movement of the mobile device fails to match any
existing stored movement profile defined for the mobile device;
selecting a default settings profile when the geographic movement
of the mobile device fails to match any existing movement profile
defined for the mobile device; and enabling a function for the
mobile device based on the setting for the function described in
the default settings profile.
[0042] One example embodiment may be one or more machine readable
media comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to
being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to
carry out the above-described method.
[0043] Another example embodiment may be an apparatus arranged to
perform the above-described method. The apparatus may further
include an accelerometer. The apparatus may further include a speed
sensor. The apparatus may further include a Global Positioning
System (GPS) module. The apparatus may further include a cellular
telephone interface. The apparatus may further include a Wi-Fi
interface. The apparatus may further include an altitude meter. The
apparatus may further include a Bluetooth interface.
[0044] References throughout this specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one implementation encompassed within the
present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase "one embodiment"
or "in an embodiment" are not necessarily referring to the same
embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or
characteristics may be instituted in other suitable forms other
than the particular embodiment illustrated and all such forms may
be encompassed within the claims of the present application.
[0045] While the present invention has been described with respect
to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will
appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is
intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and
variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present
invention.
* * * * *