Activating A Connected Flight Mode

Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for determining, by a mobile computing device while a cellular connection mode remains activated and a second wireless connection mode remains activated, that a sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on an airplane. The mobile computing device transitions, in response to having determined that the sensor has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on the airplane, the mobile computing device into a connected flight mode, including by terminating the cellular connection mode while allowing the second wireless connection mode to remain activated.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 activating, by a mobile computing device, a cellular connection mode of the mobile computing device;   activating, by the mobile computing device, a Wi-Fi wireless connection mode of the mobile computing device;   transitioning, by the mobile computing device, the mobile computing device into a connected flight mode, wherein transitioning the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode includes:
 terminating the cellular connection mode; 
 disabling an auto-join function of the WI-FI wireless connection mode; and 
 allowing manual user selection to connect the mobile computing device to a wireless network using the Wi-Fi wireless connection mode while the mobile computing device remains in the connected flight mode. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which a Wi-Fi wireless connection is automatically disconnected if a quality of connection available via the Wi-Fi wireless connection is below a first threshold value, to a state in which the Wi-Fi wireless connection is automatically disconnected if a quality of connection available via the Wi-Fi wireless connection is below a second threshold value that is different from the first threshold value. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which a captive portal for log-in is provided for a first period of time on the mobile computing device, to a state in which the captive portal for log-in is provided for a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the mobile computing device disconnects a Wi-Fi wireless connection after the second period of time while the mobile computing device is in the connected flight mode. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining, by the mobile computing device while the cellular connection mode remains activated, that a sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on an airplane; and   transitioning, by the mobile computing device in response to having determined that the sensor has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on the airplane.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the sensor includes a pressure sensor; and   determining that the sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on the airplane includes the mobile computing device detecting an atmospheric pressure being lower than a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 determining, by the mobile computing device in the connected flight mode, that the sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located off the airplane; and   transitioning, by the mobile computing device in response to having determined that the sensor detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located off the airplane, the mobile computing device into a normal mode, including by enabling the cellular connection mode while leaving the Wi-Fi wireless connection mode activated.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the mobile computing device, a user input to switch the mobile computing device from the normal mode to the connected flight mode.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic application backups are permitted to a state in which the automatic application backups are not permitted. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic background application refresh is permitted to a state in which the automatic background application refresh is not permitted. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic application updates are permitted to a state in which the automatic application updates are not permitted. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising activating, by the mobile computing device, a Bluetooth wireless connection mode of the mobile computing device, wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises allowing the Bluetooth wireless connection mode to remain activated. 
     
     
         32 . A computing system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable devices including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations that include:   activating, by a mobile computing device, a cellular connection mode of the mobile computing device;   activating, by the mobile computing device, a Wi-Fi wireless connection mode of the mobile computing device;   transitioning, by the mobile computing device, the mobile computing device into a connected flight mode, wherein transitioning the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode includes:
 terminating the cellular connection mode; 
 disabling an auto-join function of the WI-FI wireless connection mode; and 
 allowing manual user selection to connect the mobile computing device to a wireless network using the Wi-Fi wireless connection mode while the mobile computing device remains in the connected flight mode. 
   
     
     
         33 . The computing system of  claim 32 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which a Wi-Fi wireless connection is automatically disconnected if a quality of connection available via the Wi-Fi wireless connection is below a first threshold value, to a state in which the Wi-Fi wireless connection is automatically disconnected if a quality of connection available via the Wi-Fi wireless connection is below a second threshold value that is different from the first threshold value. 
     
     
         34 . The computing system of  claim 32 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which a captive portal for log-in is provided for a first period of time on the mobile computing device, to a state in which the captive portal for log-in is provided for a second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, wherein the mobile computing device disconnects a Wi-Fi wireless connection after the second period of time while the mobile computing device is in the connected flight mode. 
     
     
         35 . The computing system of  claim 32 , the operations further comprising:
 determining, by the mobile computing device while the cellular connection mode remains activated, that a sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on an airplane; and   transitioning, by the mobile computing device in response to having determined that the sensor has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on the airplane.   
     
     
         36 . The computing system of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the sensor includes a pressure sensor; and   determining that the sensor of the mobile computing device has detected information indicating that the mobile computing device is located on the airplane includes the mobile computing device detecting an atmospheric pressure being lower than a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         37 . The computing system of  claim 32 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic application backups are permitted to a state in which the automatic application backups are not permitted. 
     
     
         38 . The computing system of  claim 32 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic background application refresh is permitted to a state in which the automatic background application refresh is not permitted. 
     
     
         39 . The computing system of  claim 32 , wherein the transitioning of the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode comprises transitioning the mobile computing device from a state in which automatic application updates are permitted to a state in which the automatic application updates are not permitted. 
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that are executable by one or more processors to perform functions comprising:
 activating, by a mobile computing device, a cellular connection mode of the mobile computing device;   activating, by the mobile computing device, a Wi-Fi wireless connection mode of the mobile computing device;   transitioning, by the mobile computing device, the mobile computing device into a connected flight mode, wherein transitioning the mobile computing device into the connected flight mode includes:
 terminating the cellular connection mode; 
 disabling an auto-join function of the WI-FI wireless connection mode; and 
 allowing manual user selection to connect the mobile computing device to a wireless network using the Wi-Fi wireless connection mode while the mobile computing device remains in the connected flight mode.