Computing device with environment aware features

Abstract

A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device.

1 . A method for performing filtering on a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one input signal from a first input device of the mobile electronic device;   determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on the at least one input signal received from the first input device;   automatically adapting a filter setting for filtering the electronic messages in dependence on the determined location; and   filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter setting is only stored locally on the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting comprises filtering out notifications for messages based on the determined location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting comprises filtering out notifications for work-related emails when the determined location is a home location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the mobile electronic device based on the at least one input signal received from the first input device further comprises determining if the mobile electronic device is in a secure location and the method further comprises: applying a first security setting to the mobile electronic device if the mobile electronic device is in the secure location and applying a second security setting to the mobile electronic device if the mobile electronic device is not in the secure location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a location of the mobile electronic device comprises:
 determining a location in accordance with one or more identifiers associated with a base station in communication with the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a processor;   a communication subsystem connected to the processor for exchanging signals with a wireless communication network and for receiving electronic messages;   a first input device connected to the processor for receiving at least one input signal;   the processor being configured for determining location information for the mobile electronic device based on the at least one input signal received from the first input device; and   a message filtering module associated with the processor for filtering electronic messages received by the mobile electronic device, the message filtering module being configured for automatically adapting a filter setting for filtering the electronic messages in dependence on the determined location information and being further configured for filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the filter setting is only stored locally on the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting comprises filtering out notifications for messages based on the determined location. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the message filtering module is further configured to filter out notifications to work-related messages when the determined location information corresponds to a home location. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured for determining if the mobile electronic device is in a secure location and wherein the processor is further configured for applying a first security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is in the secure location and applying a second security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is not in the secure location. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein determining a location of the mobile electronic device comprises:
 determining a location in accordance with one or more identifiers associated with a base station in communication with the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first input device comprises a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         15 . A method for automatically setting a status used by an instant messaging module, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one input signal from a first input device of a mobile electronic device;   determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on the at least one input signal received from the first input device; and   automatically setting the status used by the instant messaging module in dependence on the determined location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the location of the device is determined to be a home location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user's home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user's work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or work location;
 wherein the status is changed to indicate that the mobile electronic device is at home when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the home location, and the status is changed to indicate that the mobile electronic device is at work when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the work location, and the status is changed to indicate that the mobile electronic device is away when the location of the mobile electronic device is neither the home location or the work location.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein determining the location of the mobile electronic device based on the at least one input signal received from the first input device further comprises determining if the mobile electronic device is in a secure location and the method further comprising applying a first security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is in the secure location and applying a second security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is not in the secure location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining a location of the mobile electronic device comprises:
 determining a location in accordance with one or more identifiers associated with a base station in communication with the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first input device comprises a global positioning system receiver. 
     
     
         20 . A mobile electronic device enabled for receiving electronic messages, the mobile electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a first input device connected to the processor for receiving inputs;   a communication subsystem connected to the processor for exchanging signals with a wireless communication network and for receiving electronic messages;   the processor being configured for determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on at least one input signal received from the first input device; and   an instant messaging module associated with the processor for sending and receiving instant messages on the mobile electronic device, the instant messaging module being configured for automatically setting a status used by the instant messaging module in dependence on the determined location information.   
     
     
         21 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured for determining wherein the location of the device is determined to be a home location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user's home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user's work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or work location;
 wherein the instant messaging module is configured for changing the status to indicate that the mobile electronic device is at home when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the home location, and to change the status to indicate that the mobile electronic device is at work when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the work location, and to change the status to indicate that the mobile electronic device is away when the location of the mobile electronic device is neither the home location or the work location.   
     
     
         22 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 20  wherein the processor is further configured for determining if the mobile electronic device is in a secure location and wherein the processor is further configured for applying a first security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is in the secure location and applying a second security setting to the mobile electronic device if it is not in the secure location.