EP1185058A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting user accessibility on a mobile communication device
Assignee: Microsoft Corp
•
Filing: 2001-08-01
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A mobile communication device having at least one sensor for detecting when the user is in possession of or located proximate to the mobile communication device. The detection signal output by the sensor may be used to determine when the user is accessible on a client application running on the mobile communication device.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew W. Taylor
- 👤 John Ian Ferrell
- 👤 Scott R. Shell
- 👤 William G. Verthein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/40; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/222; H04M1/72448; H04M1/72454; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/12; H04L51/04; H04L51/58; H04M1/72451; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of detecting accessibility of a user on a client application on
a mobile communication device, comprising: activating the mobile communication device; and detecting a signal output by a sensor of the mobile communication
device, wherein the signal indicates that the user is accessible on the client
application via the mobile communication device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: updating user accessibility information stored in the mobile
communication device based upon the signal output by the sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of updating the
user accessibility information comprises: comparing the signal output from the sensor with a predetermined
threshold; and updating the user accessibility information when the signal output from
the sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising: outputting an update signal from the mobile communication device to a
tracking system that tracks and records user accessibility of members of the
tracking system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting a timer, arranged in the mobile communication device, for a
predetermined period of time when the signal output from the sensor is
detected; and determining that the user is offline when the predetermined period of
time elapses signal without receipt of another signal from the sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a
motion sensor and wherein the determining step comprises: detecting movement of the mobile communication device when the signal
is output by the motion sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein the movement
detecting step comprises: comparing the signal output from the motion sensor with a
predetermined threshold value; and determining that the user is accessible on the client application via
the mobile communication device when the signal output from the
motion sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the tracking system
comprises an instant messaging server, and wherein the outputting step
comprises outputting the update signal to the instant messaging server.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting an access attempt to the mobile communication device; reading the user accessibility information; accepting the access attempt when the user accessibility information
indicates that the user is accessible; and updating the user accessibility information when the access attempt is
accepted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 9, further comprising: inputting user preference data via an input device arranged on the
mobile communication device; wherein the user accessibility determining step comprises reading the
user preference data input by the user and determining the user accessibility
based up on the user preference data stored in the mobile communication
device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein the accepting step
comprises denying the access attempt when the user preference data indicates
that the user does not want to be disturbed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining whether the user preference data includes alternate contact
information; and outputting the alternate contact information when the access attempt is
denied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable
instructions for performing the steps comprising: activating a mobile communication device; and detecting a signal output by a sensor of the mobile communication
device, wherein the signal indicates that the user is accessible on the client
application via the mobile communication device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps
comprising: updating user accessibility information stored in the mobile
communication device based upon the signal output by the sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 14, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of updating
the user accessibility information comprising: comparing the signal output from the sensor with a predetermined
threshold; and updating the user accessibility information when the signal output from
the sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: outputting an update signal from the mobile communication device to a
tracking system that tracks and records user accessibility of members of the
tracking system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: setting a timer, arranged in the mobile communication device, for a
predetermined period of time when the signal output from the sensor is
detected; and determining that the user is offline when the predetermined period of
time elapses signal without receipt of another signal from the sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein
the sensor includes a motion sensor and having further computer-executable
instructions for performing the determining step comprising: detecting movement of the mobile communication device when the signal
is output by the motion sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the movement
detecting step comprising: comparing the signal output from the motion sensor with a
predetermined threshold value; and determining that the user is accessible on the client application via the
mobile communication device when the signal output from the motion sensor
exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the
tracking system comprises an instant messaging server, and having further
computer-executable instructions for performing the outputting step
comprising outputting the update signal to the instant messaging server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: detecting an access attempt to the mobile communication device; reading the user accessibility information; accepting the access attempt when the user accessibility information
indicates that the user is accessible; and updating the user accessibility information when the access attempt is
accepted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer-readable medium according to claim 21, having
further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: inputting user preference data via an input device arranged on the
mobile communication device; wherein the user accessibility determining step comprises reading the
user preference data input by the user and determining the user accessibility
based up on the user preference data stored in the mobile communication
device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
A mobile communication device, comprising: at least one sensor for detecting when a user is accessible on a client
application of the mobile communication device and for outputting a detection
signal; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the
mobile communication device; and a central processing unit for receiving the detection signal and for
controlling the transceiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mobile communication device according to claim 23, wherein
the sensor comprises an accelerometer for detecting motion of the mobile
communication device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The mobile communication device according to claim 24, wherein
the central processing unit is arranged to compare the detection signal output
by the accelerometer with a predetermined threshold value; and wherein the central processing unit determines that the user is in
possession of the mobile communication device when the detection signal
exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mobile communication device according to claim 23, wherein
the sensor is a capacitive sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mobile communication device according to claim 23, wherein
the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the proximity sensor
comprises an infrared sensor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
A hand-held mobile communication device, comprising: at least one sensor for detecting when a user is accessible on a client
application of the hand-held mobile communication device and for outputting a
detection signal; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the
hand-held mobile communication device; and a central processing unit for receiving the detection signal and for
controlling the transceiver.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hand-held mobile communication device according to claim 29,
wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer for detecting motion of the
hand-held mobile communication device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
The hand-held mobile communication device according to claim 30, wherein the central processing unit is arranged to compare
the detection signal output by the accelerometer with a
predetermined threshold value; and wherein the central processing unit determines that the user is in
possession of the hand-held mobile communication device when the detection
signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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