Computing device with environment aware features
View Patent ↗An electronic device is provided which automatically adjusts settings based on the environment of the electronic device. The settings of the electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the electronic device.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine whether the electronic device is in a first location;
apply a countdown timer; and
lock the electronic device in the event that user interaction with the electronic device is not detected before expiry of the countdown timer,
wherein a duration of the countdown timer is different when the electronic device is not in the first location than when the electronic device is in the first location.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
require a first user input to unlock the electronic device responsive to determining that the electronic device is in the first location; and
require a second user input to unlock the electronic device responsive to determining that the electronic device is not in the first location,
wherein the second user input differs from the first user input.
3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second user input is more complex than the first user input.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is in the first location based on an identity of a base station with which the electronic device is communicating.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is in the first location based on a desktop computer with which the electronic device is communicating.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is in the first location based on a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is in the first location based on communications occurring through a short-range communications system of the electronic device.
8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the short-range communications system comprises a Bluetooth communication module.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is in the first location based on a wireless LAN through which the electronic device is communicating.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the electronic device is in the first location comprises determining whether the electronic device is within a specific proximity of a home location, and wherein the duration of the countdown timer is shorter when the electronic device is not in the first location than when the electronic device is in the first location.
11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the electronic device is in the first location comprises determining whether the electronic device is within a specific proximity of a work location, and wherein the duration of the countdown timer is shorter when the electronic device is not in the first location than when the electronic device is in the first location.
12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the electronic device is in the first location comprises determining whether the electronic device is in a location other than a home location or a work location, and wherein the duration of the countdown timer is shorter when the electronic device is in the first location than when the electronic device is not in the first location.
13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the electronic device is in the first location comprises determining whether the electronic device is proximal to a user of the electronic device based on user activity or lack thereof in response to a stimulus issued by an output device of the electronic device, and wherein the duration of the countdown timer is shorter when the electronic device is not in the first location than when the electronic device is in the first location.
14. An electronic device comprising:
a processor configured to:
determine a location of the electronic device;
determine a security setting associated with the determined location, wherein the security setting includes a countdown timer value defining a duration after which the electronic device will be locked if user interaction with the electronic device is not detected; and
automatically apply the determined security setting on the electronic device,
wherein the security setting is a home security setting when the electronic device is located within a specific proximity of a home location, a work security setting when the electronic device is located within a specific proximity of a work location, and another location security setting when the electronic device is not located within a specific proximity of the home location or the work location,
wherein the countdown timer value for the home security setting defines a different duration than for the work security setting, and
wherein the countdown timer value for the other security setting defines a different duration than for the home security setting.
15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the security setting of each of the home location, the work location and the other location has a different level of complexity, the level of complexity of each security setting being associated with an extent to which the respective location is a secure location.
16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the security setting includes a user input to unlock the electronic device from a lock mode which places restrictions on user access to the electronic device.
17. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the home security setting is more complex than the work security setting, and wherein the other security setting is more complex than the home security setting.
18. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the security setting includes a user input to unlock the electronic device, wherein the user input for the home security setting is more complex than the user input for the work security setting, and wherein the user input for the other security setting is more complex than the user input for the home security setting.
19. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the electronic device based on an identity of a base station with which the electronic device is communicating.
20. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the electronic device based on a desktop computer with which the electronic device is communicating.
21. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the electronic device based on a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal.
22. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the electronic device based on communications occurring through a short-range communications system of the electronic device.
23. The electronic device of claim 22 , wherein the short-range communications system comprises a Bluetooth communication module.
24. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the electronic device based on a wireless LAN through which the electronic device is communicating.
25. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the countdown timer value for the home security setting has a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the work security setting, and wherein the countdown timer value for the other security setting has a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the home security setting.