Systems and Methods for Group Communication Using a Mobile Device With Mode Transition Based On Motion

Abstract

Methods and systems of communication using a mobile device that include detecting a movement of the mobile device associated with transitioning from speaker phone mode to earpiece mode, or vice versa, and in response to detecting such movement, automatically transitioning the device to a different mode of operation. The detected action may be the motion and/or positioning of the device handset, such as the movement of the handset towards or away from the user's ear, and/or the placement of the handset on a surface in a face-up or face-down position. Further methods and systems for transitioning between communication pathways and security modes in response to a detected movement of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of group communication using a first mobile device, comprising:
 communicating with at least one second mobile device in a public mode;   receiving a message from the at least one second mobile device indicating a transition from public mode to private mode; and   suppressing communication at the first mobile device until an indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein suppressing communication comprises suspending forced audio messages from the at least one second mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 while communication is suppressed at the first mobile device, buffering messages received from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing an indication to a user of the first mobile device that the at least one second user device has transitioned to private mode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected when a first motion corresponding to a user of the first mobile device moving the first mobile device from a first position to a second position is detected. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first motion corresponds to the user moving the first mobile device to a position proximate the user's ear. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected based on input received at a user interface of the first mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 resuming communication when the indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         9 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 communicating with at least one second mobile device in a public mode; 
 receiving a message from the at least one second mobile device indicating a transition from public mode to private mode; and 
 suppressing communication at the mobile communication device until an indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected. 
   
     
     
         10 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that suppressing communication comprises suspending forced audio messages from the at least one second mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 buffering messages received from the at least one second mobile device for later playback while communication at the mobile communication device is suppressed.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 providing an indication to a user of the mobile communication device that the at least one second user device has transitioned to private mode.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected when a first motion corresponding to a user of the mobile communication device moving the mobile communication device from a first position to a second position is detected. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the first motion corresponds to the user moving the mobile communication device to a position proximate the user's ear. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected based on input received at a user interface of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 resuming communication when the indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 means for communicating with at least one second mobile device in a public mode;   means for receiving a message from the at least one second mobile device indicating a transition from public mode to private mode; and   means for suppressing communication at the mobile communication device until an indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , wherein means for suppressing communication comprises means for suspending forced audio messages from the at least one second mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for buffering messages received from the at least one second mobile device for later playback while communication is suppressed at the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         20 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for providing an indication to a user of the mobile communication device that the at least one second user device has transitioned to private mode.   
     
     
         21 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for detecting user compliance with the transition to private mode when a first motion corresponding to a user of the mobile communication device moving the mobile communication device from a first position to a second position is detected.   
     
     
         22 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for detecting user compliance with the transition to private mode based on input received at a user interface of the mobile communication device.   
     
     
         23 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for resuming communication when the indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a first mobile communication device to perform operations comprising:
 communicating with at least one second mobile device in a public mode;   receiving a message from the at least one second mobile device indicating a transition from public mode to private mode; and   suppressing communication at the first mobile communication device until an indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that suppressing communication comprises suspending forced audio messages from the at least one second mobile device. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:
 while communication is suppressed at the first mobile device, buffering messages received from the at least one second mobile device for later playback.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:
 providing an indication to a user of the first mobile device that the at least one second user device has transitioned to private mode.   
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected when a first motion corresponding to a user of the first mobile device moving the first mobile device from a first position to a second position is detected. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations such that user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected based on input received at a user interface of the first mobile device. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the first mobile communication device to perform operations further comprising:
 resuming communication when the indication of user compliance with the transition to private mode is detected.