IP Library Granted Patent US 9,042,827
Granted Patent B2
US 9,042,827 · App. 13/680,945 · Granted May 26, 2015

Modifying a function based on user proximity

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,042,827
App. No.
13/680,945
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

For modifying a function based on user proximity, a proximity module determines a distance between an electronic device and a transported device in wireless communication with the electronic device. The proximity module further modifies a function of the electronic device if the distance is within the specified range.

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores machine readable code;

a processor executing the machine readable code, the machine readable code comprising:

a proximity module that determines a distance between an electronic device and a transported device in wireless communication with the electronic device and that modifies a wireless data stream function that communicates data to the electronic device if the distance is within a specified range, wherein the wireless data stream is disabled if the distance exceeds an outer boundary of the range.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein modifying the wireless data stream function performs the modifications selected from the group consisting of decreasing a service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within the range and greater than a near range and increasing the service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within the near range.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance is calculated from observations selected from the group consisting of a time interval from a signal to a return signal, a loss of the wireless communication, a wireless communication signal strength, a wireless communication fingerprint, a radio direction finding, an inertial navigation location for the electronic device and the transported device, and global positioning system locations for the electronic device and the transported device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a critical operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a download.

6. A method comprising:

determining, by use of a processor, a distance between an electronic device and a transported device in wireless communication with the electronic device; and

modifying a wireless data stream function that communicates data to the electronic device if the distance is within a specified range, wherein the wireless data stream is disabled if the distance exceeds an outer boundary of the range.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein modifying the wireless data stream function comprises decreasing a service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within the range and greater than a near range.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein modifying the wireless data stream function comprises increasing a service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within a near range.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein modifying the wireless data stream function performs the modifications selected from the group consisting of enabling the wireless data stream function, disabling the wireless data stream function, unlocking the electronic device, and changing a status.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth connection, a WiFi network, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, a ZigBee connection, a Z-Wave connection, an ANT+ connection, an infrared connection, and a cellular telephone network communication.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of functions that each has at least one corresponding specified range.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the distance is calculated from a time interval from a signal to a return signal.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the distance is calculated from observations selected from the group consisting of a time interval from a signal to a return signal, a loss of the wireless communication, a wireless communication signal strength, a wireless communication fingerprint, a radio direction finding, an inertial navigation location for the electronic device and the transported device, and global positioning system locations for the electronic device and the transported device.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a critical operation.

15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a download.

16. A program product comprising a tangible computer readable storage medium storing machine readable code executed by a processor to perform the operations of:

determining a distance between an electronic device and a transported device in wireless communication with the electronic device; and

modifying a wireless data stream function that communicates data to the electronic device if the distance is within a specified range, wherein the wireless data stream is disabled if the distance exceeds an outer boundary of the range.

17. The program product of claim 16 , wherein modifying the wireless data stream function performs the modifications selected from the group consisting of decreasing a service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within the range and greater than a near range and increasing a service rate for the wireless data stream function if the distance is within the near range.

18. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the distance is calculated from observations selected from the group consisting of a time interval from a signal to a return signal, a loss of the wireless communication, a wireless communication signal strength, a wireless communication fingerprint, a radio direction finding, an inertial navigation location for the electronic device and the transported device, and global positioning system locations for the electronic device and the transported device.

19. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a critical operation.

20. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the wireless data stream function is not modified during a download.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 049687/0746 →