U.S. patent application number 16/826882 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-16 for organizational context-based operations of a mobile device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Murugan Gopalan, Himanshu Khurana, Raghavendra Prasad Balapala, Sanjay Roy, Ananth Sozhan, Deepak Sundar Meganathan, Manu Taranath, Roshan Lawrence Valder, Sakthi Vinayagan K.
Application Number | 20200228917 16/826882 |
Document ID | 20200228917 / US20200228917 |
Family ID | 68062858 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-16 |
Patent Application | download [pdf] |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200228917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sundar Meganathan; Deepak ;
et al. |
July 16, 2020 |
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT-BASED OPERATIONS OF A MOBILE DEVICE
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for organizational context-based
operations of a mobile device are described herein. One device
includes instructions stored thereon executable by a processor to
determine location information corresponding to a mobile device in
a facility associated with an organization, determine a particular
area of the facility in which the mobile device is located based on
the location information, determine an organizational context while
the device is in the particular area, and cause a change of an
operation of the mobile device based on the context.
Inventors: |
Sundar Meganathan; Deepak;
(Bangalore, IN) ; Vinayagan K; Sakthi; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Valder; Roshan Lawrence; (Bangalore, IN)
; Gopalan; Murugan; (Bangalore, IN) ; Roy;
Sanjay; (Plymouth, MN) ; Khurana; Himanshu;
(Plymouth, MN) ; Taranath; Manu; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Sozhan; Ananth; (Bangalore, IN) ; Prasad
Balapala; Raghavendra; (Nandikotkur, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68062858 |
Appl. No.: |
16/826882 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16140184 |
Sep 24, 2018 |
10602306 |
|
|
16826882 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/10 20130101;
H04W 48/16 20130101; H04W 68/00 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W
8/005 20130101; H04W 4/021 20130101; H04W 4/33 20180201 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/021 20060101
H04W004/021; H04W 4/33 20060101 H04W004/33; H04W 4/80 20060101
H04W004/80; H04W 8/00 20060101 H04W008/00; H04W 48/16 20060101
H04W048/16; H04W 68/00 20060101 H04W068/00 |
Claims
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions
stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the
processor to: determine location information corresponding to a
mobile device in a facility associated with an organization;
determine a portion of the facility in which the mobile device is
located based on the location information; determine an
organizational context while the device is in the portion of the
facility; and cause a change in operation of the mobile device
based on the context.
2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to determine the
organizational context include instructions to determine a group of
the organization to which a user associated with the mobile device
belongs.
3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to determine the
location information include instructions to determine the location
information responsive to a communication being established between
the mobile device and a beacon associated with the facility.
4. The medium of claim 3, wherein the beacon is one of a plurality
of beacons installed within the facility.
5. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to determine the
location information include instructions to determine the location
information responsive to a communication between the mobile device
and an access reader of an access control system associated with
the facility.
6. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to determine the
organizational context include instructions to determine a time
associated with the determination of the portion of the facility in
which the mobile device is located.
7. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to cause the
change in operation of the mobile device include instructions to
cause a change in an audio profile of the mobile device.
8. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to cause the
change in the operation of the mobile device include instructions
to cause the mobile device to display information promulgated by
the organization.
9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the information corresponds to
the portion of the facility in which the mobile device is
located.
10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the information additionally
corresponds to a time associated with the determination of the
portion of the facility in which the mobile device is located.
11. A system, comprising: an access reader of an access control
system associated with a facility; a wireless beacon installed in
the facility; and a mobile device configured to change from a first
audio profile to a second audio profile responsive to a
determination that the mobile device is located in a particular
portion of the facility based on a communication between the mobile
device and at least one of the access reader and the wireless
beacon.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured
to: change from the first audio profile to the second audio profile
responsive to a determination that the mobile device is located in
the particular area of the facility during a particular time
period; and not change from the first audio profile to the second
audio profile responsive to a determination that the mobile device
is located in the particular area of the facility outside of the
particular time period.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured
to change from the first audio profile to the second audio profile
responsive to a determination that the mobile device has entered
the facility.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular portion of the
facility is a particular room of the facility.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured
to change from the first audio profile to the second audio profile
responsive to an input made using an interface of the mobile
device.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured
to prompt a user to perform the input using the interface of the
mobile device.
17. A method for organizational context-based operations of a
mobile device, comprising: determining that a mobile device is
located in a particular portion of a facility controlled, at least
in part, by an organization, based on a communication between the
mobile device and at least one of an access reader and a wireless
beacon of the facility; determining a group of the organization to
which a user associated with the mobile device belongs; determining
a time context associated with the mobile device being in the
particular portion; receiving information from the organization,
the information determined based on the group and the time context;
and displaying the information via the mobile device.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method includes displaying
the information via an application executed by the mobile
device.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the particular portion is a
conference room of the facility, and wherein the information
includes instructions for establishing a conference call in the
conference room.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the method includes ceasing
displaying the information via the mobile device responsive to a
determination that the mobile device has exited the particular
portion of the facility.
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/140,184, filed Sep. 24, 2018, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and
methods for organizational context-based operations of a mobile
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An organization may desire to improve the experiences of
people in a facility (e.g., building) under the organization's
control. In some instances, this may include providing useful
information. In some instances, this may include fostering an
environment of respect and/or free of distraction.
[0004] Some previous approaches may provide information via notice
boards which have the notable shortcoming of having fixed locations
and may thus not be seen by those who do not pass by or take
notice. Some previous approaches may provide information
electronically (e.g., via email, messaging systems, and/or social
networking methods. In such approaches, information may be sent to
people's fixed (e.g., desktop) computing devices and/or mobile
devices.
[0005] However, these types of notices can be missed as they may be
buried under previously sent communications. Additionally, previous
facility messaging systems may lack the ability to schedule
information based on contexts of time and/or location, rendering
people inundated with an overabundance of unhelpful information.
Furthermore, these systems may not make information persistent
and/or available to people based on the organization's needs and
may not allow for connecting pieces of disparate information, such
as websites and/or multimedia, into one point of access.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for organizational context-based
operations of a mobile device in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart associated with
organizational context-based operations of a mobile device in
accordance with one or more embodiments of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Organizational context-based control of a mobile device is
described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a
computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon
executable by a processor to determine location information
corresponding to a mobile device in a facility associated with an
organization, determine a particular area of the facility in which
the mobile device is located based on the location information,
determine an organizational context while the device is in the
particular area, and cause a change of an operation of the mobile
device based on the context.
[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure can utilize the
ubiquity and utility of mobile devices to provide information to
people and foster an environment free of distraction. By using a
mobile device--something most users typically already
carry--embodiments of the present disclosure can provide useful,
contextual information based on a person's location in a facility,
the time context (e.g., time of day, day of week, etc.), and/or
their membership in an organizational group (e.g., a division, a
workgroup, a managerial level, etc.).
[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure can allow
organizations to send persistent information to people via their
mobile devices based on the location of the mobile device in a
facility, the time, and the group(s) to which they belong.
Determining the location of a person can enable the communication
of information to be filtered and contextual. In some embodiments,
for instance, the information may pertain specifically to that
location. In contrast with previous approaches, an organization can
provide context-specific information at an appropriate time and
place. Thus, the information provided can be meaningfully improved
over previous approaches by not being buried under previously sent
communications. Additionally, embodiments herein can avoid the
problems of previous approaches associated with inundating people
with an overabundance of unhelpful information. Furthermore,
embodiments herein can connect pieces of disparate information,
such as websites and/or multimedia, into one point of access.
[0011] Accordingly, a user can look at the display of her mobile
device and instantly visualize information specifically tailored to
her based on her location, her membership and/or position within
the organization, and/or the time. Such display represents a marked
improvement in the ability for a user to process relevant, useful
information using the relatively small display size of a mobile
device. When display space is at a premium, embodiments of the
present disclosure improve the functioning of the display by
tailoring the information displayed thereon to specific
context(s).
[0012] In an example, a user who enters a conference room may be
provided with information regarding how to establish a conference
call using the room's conference phone. In another example, if an
emergency is occurring on the third floor of a building, users
currently located on the third floor may be notified with
instructions detailing evacuation paths. In another example, users
entering a room holding a presentation can be provided with
information such as notes, a copy of the presentation, and/or
information about the presenter.
[0013] In some embodiments, the experiences of people in a facility
can be improved by changing the audio profiles of mobile device(s)
in a particular location. Previously, for instance, attendees of an
event (e.g., a conference, class, meeting, etc.) may be asked to
silence their mobile devices. In some cases, this instruction may
be forgotten, incorrectly executed, or otherwise not followed.
Annoyance and/or embarrassment may result when an audible
notification is received in an area where silence is desired.
Additionally, important calls may be missed by those who forget to
re-activate their ringer upon the conclusion of the event and/or
their exit from the event area.
[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure can cause a mobile
device to change from a first audio profile to a second audio
profile based on the location of the mobile device. In some
embodiments, the first audio profile can be a "full volume" profile
where notifications are provided above a certain volume level and
the second audio profile can be a "silent mode" profile where
notifications are provided without any audible aspect or via
vibration. Embodiments herein are not limited to two audio profiles
and the audio profiles discussed herein can be configured by the
organization and/or the individual user. In some embodiments, the
change can be configured to occur automatically (e.g., without user
input) based on the user's location. In some embodiments, the
change can be configured to occur based on the user's location and
responsive to an input via an interface of the mobile device. For
example, the user may be prompted, via the mobile device, to accept
a change to silent mode. The user may respond to the prompt by
selecting a display icon, for instance, or by another method, such
as a voice command and/or gesture (knock on the mobile device,
gesture using the mobile device, etc.).
[0015] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. The drawings
show by way of illustration how one or more embodiments of the
disclosure may be practiced.
[0016] These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more
embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or
structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of
the present disclosure.
[0017] As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various
embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, combined, and/or
eliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments of
the present disclosure. The proportion and the relative scale of
the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the
embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a
limiting sense.
[0018] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which
the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number
and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the
drawing. As used herein, "a" or "a number of" something can refer
to one or more such things. For example, "a number of areas" can
refer to one or more areas.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for organizational
context-based operations of a mobile device in accordance with one
or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1,
system 100 includes a facility 102 having an area 104 therein. The
facility 102 can include one or more buildings, businesses, homes,
plants, hospitals, refineries, etc. The facility (or a portion of
the facility including the area 104) can be controlled by an
organization. An organization, as used herein, refers to a company,
a firm, a corporation, an institution, a consortium, a partnership,
and/or another entity that owns and/or utilizes the facility 102.
An organization can include people as discussed herein who may
possess mobile devices (e.g., the mobile device 104) in accordance
with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0020] The area 104 can be a portion of the facility 102. In some
embodiments, the area 104 can be a room, a plurality of rooms, a
wing, a building, a plurality of buildings, an installation, etc.
In some embodiments, the area 104 can be defined by physical
boundaries (e.g., walls, doors, etc.). In some embodiments, the
area 104 can be defined by logical and/or geographic boundaries.
The area 104 can be defined by a user, by a Building Information
Model (BIM) associated with the facility 102, and/or by an access
control system associated with the facility 102.
[0021] The system 100 can include a mobile device 106. The mobile
device 106 can be a client device carried or worn by a user. For
example, the mobile device 106 can be a phone (e.g., smartphone),
personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet, and/or wearable device
(e.g., wristband, watch, necklace, etc.). It is to be understood
that "mobile device" as referred to herein can include one or more
auxiliary devices in communication with a mobile device (e.g.,
wireless headsets, wearable devices, etc.). The mobile device 106
can include one or more software applications (e.g., apps) which
can define and/or control communications between the mobile device
106, a computing device 108, additional mobile devices, one or more
beacons of the facility and/or one or more access readers of the
facility. Apps may be received by the mobile device 106 from the
computing device 108, for instance. Apps may be launched by a user
and/or responsive to some other condition (e.g., the interaction
between the mobile device 106 and a beacon (discussed below)). In
some embodiments, apps can be executing as background apps. Apps
may be and/or include a digital identity, discussed further
below.
[0022] The mobile device 106 can include a location functionality
configured to allow a determination of a location of the mobile
device 106. In some embodiments, the location functionality
includes a GPS and/or Wi-Fi functionality of the mobile device 106,
though embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited.
For example, the mobile device 106 can include an imaging
functionality (e.g., a camera) which can be used to read a code at
a particular (e.g., known) location in the facility 102.
[0023] In some embodiments, the system 100 can include one or more
beacons. The example illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two beacons, a
first beacon 110-1 and a second beacon 110-2 (cumulatively referred
to herein as "beacons 110"). Though two beacons are shown,
embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a
particular number of beacons 110. The beacons 110 can devices
capable of wireless communication with the mobile device 106. In
some embodiments, one or more of the beacons 110 can be associated
with (e.g., located proximal to) a door of the area 104. In some
embodiments, one or more of the beacons 110 are not associated with
a door of the area 104. In some embodiments, the beacons 110 can be
dispersed throughout the facility 102 such that a location of the
mobile device 106 can be tracked throughout the facility 102. In
addition to, or in place of, the location functionality of the
mobile device 106, the beacons can allow the determination of a
location of the mobile device 106. For example, the beacons 110 can
allow the determination of whether the mobile device 106 is within
a particular (e.g., threshold) distance of the area 104. In some
embodiments, being located within a threshold distance of the area
104 refers to a condition of being located within the area 104. The
beacons 110 can communicate with the mobile device 106 via
BLUETOOTH.RTM. Low Energy (BLE) technology (e.g., as an iBeacon),
Wi-Fi, etc. In some embodiments, the beacons 110 can include one or
more readable tags (e.g., near field communication (NFC)) tags.
[0024] In some embodiments the facility 102 can include one or more
access readers. The example illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two
access readers, a first access reader 112-1 and a second access
reader 112-2 (cumulatively referred to herein as "access readers
112"). Though two access readers 112 are shown, embodiments of the
present disclosure are not limited to a particular number of access
readers 112. The access readers 112 can devices capable of wireless
communication with the mobile device 106. One or more of the access
readers 112 can be associated with (e.g., located proximal to) a
door of the area 104. In some embodiments, pairs of access readers
112 may be associated with a door to the area 104. For instance,
the first access reader 112-1 may be an "in" reader configured to
indicate the entry of the mobile device 106 into the area 104 and
the second access reader 112-2 may be an "out" reader configured to
indicate the exit of the mobile device 106 from the area 104.
[0025] The access readers 112 can, in some embodiments, include, or
be associated with, a locking device (e.g., for a door). In some
examples, the access readers 112 can include one or more actuating
mechanisms. The access readers 112 can be associated with one or
more controlled functionalities. As used herein "controlled
functionality" refers to a functionality under the control of the
facility or an organization therein. For instance, an electronic
door lock may be controlled by one or more of the access readers
112. In some embodiments, the control may be provided from the
mobile device 104. In some embodiments, the control may be provided
directly (from the computing device 108 to the access readers 112)
or via one or more intermediary devices (e.g., a controller) in
communication with the access readers 112.
[0026] In some cases, the facility 102 can include both beacons 110
and access readers 112. In some cases, the facility 102 includes
beacons 110 but not access readers 112. In some cases, the facility
102 includes access readers 112 but not beacons 110. In some cases,
the facility 102 may include neither beacons 110 nor access readers
112. In such cases, the location of the mobile device 106 may be
determined using alternative methods such as, for example, GPS,
magnetic fingerprinting techniques, etc.
[0027] The computing device 108 can be a device or plurality of
devices configured to provide control of one or more aspects of the
facility 102. Though in the example illustrated in FIG. 1 the
computing device 108 is shown external to the facility 102 (e.g.,
remote with respect to the facility 102), embodiments of the
present disclosure are not so limited. In some embodiments, the
computing device 108 is internal to the facility 102 (e.g., local
with respect to the facility 102). In some embodiments the
computing device 108 can control (e.g., manage) access to a number
of areas (e.g., the area 104) of the facility 102. In some
embodiments, the computing device 108 can be cloud-based. In some
embodiments, the computing device 108 can manage access to one or
more areas across a plurality of facilities.
[0028] The mobile device 106 can communicate with (e.g., exchange
data with) the computing device 108 via a wired and/or wireless
connection, for instance. In some embodiments, the mobile device
106 can communicate using one or more communications modules (e.g.,
cellular, Wi-Fi, etc.). Communication between various devices
herein can be carried out over a wireless network. A wireless
network, as used herein, can include Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH.RTM., or any
other suitable means to wirelessly transmit and/or receive
information.
[0029] The mobile device 106 can include a memory 116 and a
processor 114 configured to execute executable instructions stored
in the memory 116 to perform various examples of the present
disclosure, for example. That is, the memory 116 can be any type of
non-transitory storage medium that can be accessed by the processor
114 to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For
example, the memory 116 can be a non-transitory computer readable
medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer
program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by the
processor 114.
[0030] The memory 116 can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. The
memory 116 can also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or
non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, the memory 116
can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access
memory (DRAM) and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)),
read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM) and/or compact-disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disc, a digital versatile disc
(DVD) or other optical storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as
magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of
memory.
[0031] Further, although memory 116 is illustrated as being located
within the mobile device 106, embodiments of the present disclosure
are not so limited. For example, memory 116 can also be located
internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer
readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another
wired or wireless connection). In some embodiments, the memory 116
and/or the processor 114 can be located in the computing device
108.
[0032] In addition to, or in place of, the execution of executable
instructions, various examples of the present disclosure can be
performed via one or more devices (e.g., one or more controllers)
having logic. As used herein, "logic" is an alternative or
additional processing resource to execute the actions and/or
functions, etc., described herein, which includes hardware (e.g.,
various forms of transistor logic, application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), etc.), as opposed to computer executable
instructions (e.g., software, firmware, etc.) stored in memory and
executable by a processor. It is presumed that logic similarly
executes instructions for purposes of the embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0033] The mobile device 106 can include an interface 118. In some
embodiments, the interface 118 includes a display (e.g., a screen).
The display can be, for instance, a touch-screen (e.g., the display
can include touch-screen capabilities). The interface 118 can
provide (e.g., display and/or present) information to a user of the
mobile device 106.
[0034] Additionally, the mobile device 106 can receive information
from the user of the mobile device 106 through an interaction with
the user via the interface 118. For example, the mobile device 106
(e.g., the display of the interface 118) can receive input from the
user via the interface 118. The user can enter the input into the
mobile device 106 using, for instance, a mouse and/or keyboard
associated with the mobile device 106, or by touching the display
of the interface 118 in embodiments in which the display includes
touch-screen capabilities (e.g., embodiments in which the display
is a touch screen). In some embodiments, the interface 118 includes
an audio interface such that the mobile device 106 can receive
audio commands. In some embodiments, the interface 118 can be
configured to detect gesture input(s) made by a user with respect
to the mobile device and execute instructions responsive to that
input.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart 220 associated with
organizational context-based operations of a mobile device in
accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the steps of the flowchart 220 can be executed
by a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device 106, previously
described in connection with FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the
steps of the flowchart 220 can be executed by a computing device
(e.g., the computing device 108, previously described in connection
with FIG. 1). In some embodiments, a mobile device and a computing
device (e.g., a computing device external to the facility) can
perform a subset of the steps of the flowchart 220.
[0036] At 222, embodiments herein can determine location
information corresponding top a mobile device in a facility
associated with an organization. Location information can refer to
a location of the mobile device. The location can be provided as a
particular geographic location (e.g., latitude/longitude) and/or a
location with respect to another location, such as an area of a
facility or a beacon of a facility. In some embodiments, location
information can be communicated from the mobile device, and thus
received, responsive to a communication being established between
the mobile device and one or more beacons and/or access readers of
a facility. In some embodiments, an indication that the mobile
device is within a particular distance of an area of a facility can
be received.
[0037] At 224, embodiments herein can determine a particular area
of the facility in which the mobile device is located based on the
location information. In some embodiments, location information can
include a determination that the mobile device is located within a
particular area and/or within a particular distance of an area of a
facility. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure can
determine that the user has drawn within 5 meters of a particular
area of a facility. Being within the particular distance of the
area may indicate that the user desires to enter the area. Further,
embodiments of the present disclosure can determine a direction of
travel of the user and/or a speed of the user. If the user is
traveling directly toward the area, embodiments can determine that
the user desires to enter the area.
[0038] At 226, embodiments herein can determine an organizational
context while the device is in the particular area. As described
herein, organizational context can include, for instance, a time
context and/or a group of the organization to which a user of the
mobile device belongs (discussed further below).
[0039] At 228, embodiments herein can cause a change of an
operation of the mobile device based on the context. In some
embodiments, such a change can include causing the mobile device to
display information (e.g., information promulgated by the
organization). In some embodiments, such a change can include
causing a change in an audio profile of the mobile device.
[0040] It is to be understood that embodiments herein can cause
changes in operations of mobile devices based upon one or more of:
location, time context, and group(s) to which a user of the mobile
device belongs. With respect to location, embodiments herein can
tailor information to users that is relevant based on their current
location. For example, information regarding the day's meeting
schedule in a particular conference room can be provided to a user
who has entered that conference room. Information regarding the
procedure for electronically reserving a conference room can be
provided to a user who has entered that conference room.
Instructions for establishing a conference call in a particular
conference room can be provided to a user who has entered that
conference room. The day's lunch menu can be provided to a user who
has entered a cafeteria. Recent changes in visitor policy can be
provided to a user who is in proximity to an organization's front
desk. Evacuation instructions can be provided to a user who is on a
same floor as a current emergency. In some embodiments, when a user
leaves a particular location, the information provided can be
removed from their display. Such removal can alleviate problems
associated with information overload, for instance. Thus, when the
information becomes less relevant to the user based on the user's
exit from a particular location, that information may no longer be
provided (e.g., until the user returns to the same location).
[0041] With respect to time context, embodiments herein can tailor
information to users that is relevant based on the time context.
Stated differently, time context may govern the information
communicated by the organization that is to be displayed by the
mobile device. Time context can refer to single time instances
and/or to recurring time instances and/or events. For example, if a
user in a reserved conference room is nearing the end of their
scheduled reservation period, instructions for extending the
reservation can be provided. Alternatively, embodiments herein can
recommend and/or reserve a different available conference room. If
a presentation to which the user was invited is approaching (e.g.,
less than fifteen minutes away), a copy of the presentation may be
provided.
[0042] With respect to group(s), embodiments herein can tailor
information to users that is relevant based on the organizational
group(s) to which users belong. Group, as used herein, can refer to
a user's positional rank within an organization, membership of a
"team," workgroup, and/or task force within an organization, and/or
job description, among others. For example, information regarding a
current emergency in a facility may be communicated in first manner
(or level of detail) to a first user, who is an executive of the
organization, and in a second manner (or level of detail) to a
second user, who is a medical professional of the organization. In
a common workspace, information regarding a project and/or
collaborative goal may be communicated to an executive at a higher
level of resolution (e.g., including fewer fine details) than to a
junior employee.
[0043] Determining a group to which the user belongs can include
accessing a digital identity stored on a mobile device of the user.
A digital identity can correspond to the physical identity of the
user. The digital identity can be unique to the mobile device of
the user (e.g., one digital identity per mobile device of the
user). The digital identity can be (or be a portion of) an app, for
instance (e.g., executable instructions stored on a
computer-readable medium).
[0044] In some embodiments, the digital identity can be a permanent
digital identity. A permanent digital identity can be a digital
identity that does not expire. For example, a permanent digital
identity can be sent to the mobile device of a user who is an
employee that works in the facility. The employee can utilize the
permanent digital identity until the employee is no longer employed
at the facility.
[0045] In some embodiments, the digital identity can be a temporary
digital identity. A temporary digital identity can be a digital
identity that expires after a set period of time. For example, a
temporary digital identity can be sent to the mobile device of a
user who is a visitor or guest at the facility. After the set
period of time, the visitor/guest's temporary digital identity can
expire, and the visitor/guest can lose access to the facility (or
to particular areas of the facility). In some embodiments, the
digital identity can be shared with a building management system.
The building management system can allow management (e.g.,
monitoring and/or control) of the facility.
[0046] In some embodiments, a digital identity may expire after a
particular period of time (e.g., one day). In some embodiments, a
digital identity may expire based on a location of the mobile
device. For example, a digital identity may expire when a user
visiting the facility exits the facility. As the digital identity
expires, so too can the access rights associated with it.
[0047] The information communicated to mobile devices described
herein is not limited to a particular type of content and can
include, for instance, text, images, multimedia files, hyperlinks,
audio files, etc. In some embodiments, the initial display of
information may be generalized such that a plurality of disparate
messages can be displayed simultaneously. In some embodiments,
further details associated with a message can be accessed by
selection of that message. Accordingly, users can view relevant
information at-a-glance and optionally drill down on certain
portions of that information that may be of particular interest to
them. In some embodiments, organizational information can be
provided via an application executed by the mobile device. In some
embodiments, organizational information can be provided via a
hyperlink associated with an external web page corresponding to the
organization. Selection of such a hyperlink, for instance, can
cause the mobile device to display the relevant information based
on the location of the mobile device, the time context and/or the
group.
[0048] As previously discussed, causing changes of operations of
mobile devices can include changing audio profiles. Stated
differently, embodiments herein can cause a mobile device to change
from a first audio profile to a second audio profile based on the
location of the mobile device. In a general example, a mobile
device can change from a "normal" or a "high volume" audio profile
to a "silent" or "vibrate" audio profile when the user enters a
particular area (e.g., a lecture hall) of a facility. In some
embodiments, a change to the second audio profile may occur when
the user enters the facility (e.g., at the beginning of a workday)
and then the mobile device can revert to the first audio profile
when the user exits the facility (e.g., at the end of a
workday).
[0049] Changing audio profiles may occur or not occur based on time
context. For example, a mobile device can change from the first
audio profile to the second audio profile responsive to a
determination that the mobile device is located in the particular
area of the facility during a particular time period but not change
from the first audio profile to the second audio profile responsive
to a determination that the mobile device is located in the
particular area of the facility outside of the particular time
period. As an example, a cafeteria may be a noisy gathering place
during lunch hours but may be used for independent study in the
morning and evening. The importance of deactivating a mobile
device's ringer in a particular area may vary based on the time
context.
[0050] In some embodiments, a change from a first audio profile to
a second audio profile may be made automatically (e.g., without
user input). In some embodiments, a change from the first audio
profile to the second audio profile may be made only following an
input made using the interface of the mobile device. For example,
if a user approaches or enters a lecture hall, a prompt can be
issued notifying the user that silence is desired inside the
lecture hall. In some embodiments, acknowledgement of the prompt
via the selection of a display element can cause the change to the
second audio profile.
[0051] Embodiments herein do not limit the first and second audio
profiles to particular types and/or volumes of audio. Additionally,
it is to be understood that embodiments herein are not limited to
two audio profiles. In some embodiments, an audio profile can
correspond to "full" notification volume settings. In some
embodiments, an audio profile can correspond to "silent"
notification volume settings. In some embodiments, an audio profile
can correspond to a particular volume that is less than "full" and
greater than "silent." For instance, an audio profile can
correspond to 15 percent volume. In some embodiments, an audio
profile can correspond to particular types (or particular subsets)
of sounds. Further, different audio profiles can be associated with
different areas of a facility. A first audio profile may be
associated with a first area of a facility, a second audio profile
may be associated with a second area of the facility, a third audio
profile may be associated with a third area of the facility,
etc.
[0052] In some embodiments, when the mobile device leaves the
particular area, the mobile device can be changed from the second
audio profile back to the first audio profile. In a manner
analogous to that discussed above, some embodiments can include
user approval and/or acknowledgement before reversion back to the
first audio profile.
[0053] In some embodiments, causing changes of operations of mobile
devices can include changing profiles other than audio profiles.
For instance, some embodiments can include changing display
profiles. Stated differently, embodiments herein can cause a mobile
device to change from a first display profile to a second display
profile based on the location of the mobile device. In a general
example, a mobile device can change from a "normal" or a "bright"
display profile to a "dim" or "reduced brightness" display profile
when the user enters a particular area (e.g., a lecture hall) of a
facility.
[0054] Some embodiments can include changing recording profiles
(e.g., audio recording profiles). Stated differently, embodiments
herein can cause a mobile device to change from a first recording
profile to a second recording profile based on the location of the
mobile device. In a general example, a mobile device can change
from a "normal" or a "not recording" display profile to a
"recording audio" or "recording video" profile when the user enters
a particular area (e.g., a meeting room) of a facility.
[0055] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same
techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown.
This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or
variations of various embodiments of the disclosure.
[0056] It is to be understood that the above description has been
made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one.
Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not
specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in
the art upon reviewing the above description.
[0057] The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure
includes any other applications in which the above structures and
methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of
the disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended
claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
[0058] In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are
grouped together in example embodiments illustrated in the figures
for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of
disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that
the embodiments of the disclosure require more features than are
expressly recited in each claim.
[0059] Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject
matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed
embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into
the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a
separate embodiment.
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