Method of controlling an electronic device

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein generally include a system and a method of controlling a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with an electronic device, such as a mounting device. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of providing information to the portable electronic device that causes the portable electronic device to perform one or more desirable functions or processes based on the portable electronic device's interaction with the mounting device. In some embodiments, the portable electronic device may respond differently when it is caused to interact with differently configured mounting devices. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and / or computing device software application that are configured to more easily setup and reliably control a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with the mounting device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62 / 063,859, filed Oct. 14, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and electronic devices used to enable the configuration and control of one or more portable electronic devices.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The popularity of portable electronics, such as smart phones, touch pads, PDAs, portable computers and portable music players, has increased dramatically in the past decade. As people have become more reliant on portable electronics they have found more and more uses in the home, business and automobiles, such as GPS applications, audio playback applications, texting applications, camera applications, baby monitors and many other useful applications.[0006]As the development of software applications that ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system and method for controlling a portable device based on its interaction with an electronic device. The portable device can perform various functions or activities based on the software applications running on it. The electronic device can sense the presence of the portable device and transfer information about it to the portable device. This information can include mode of operation information, which the portable device can use to perform certain functions. The portable device can also receive information from the electronic device and deliver it to the user in a hands-free manner. The technical effect of this system is to enable seamless control of the portable device based on its interaction with the electronic device.

Problems solved by technology

However, the use of portable electronic devices in an automobile or other similar applications have both safety and usability limitations.

As such, the driver is less likely to be able to react quickly to an emergency situation while driving and is a much greater risk to the surrounding drivers since their attention is diverted from the road while dialing and / or talking on the telephone.

These automobile systems only contain a simple communication interface that is not able to recognize and provide content based on the user's portable electronic device.

Also, with the proliferation of the use portable electronic devices it is often hard for the automobile's system to distinguish between multiple wireless communication enabled devices that are positioned within the local environment.

The confusion created by the presence of multiple wireless communication devices in an automobile, residential or business environment can cause or require the user to be distracted from his / her current activities due to the need to interact with the portable electronic device to define which device is to be used.

The distraction from the user's current activities can lead to safety concerns as well as simply be inconvenient for the user.

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