Wireless Mobile Device Feature Control via Beacon Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to remotely control features of wireless mobile devices, as users often forget or neglect to enable or disable certain features in specific environments, leading to distractions, safety concerns, and compliance issues with regulations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses executable software on mobile devices to detect signals with a Media Access Control (MAC) Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) and serial number, enabling or disabling device features based on the received signal, storing the current state of features, and reverting them when the signal is no longer detected, with options for user prompting and automatic modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually control device features, then device functionality is maintained, but user compliance with environmental restrictions deteriorates due to forgetfulness or neglect
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables devices to automatically detect environmental signals and adjust their own features without user intervention. The device monitors for specific MAC OUIs and serial numbers, then autonomously enables or disables features based on the detected environment, eliminating the need for manual user control while ensuring compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the device continuously monitors for environmental signals (MAC OUIs and serial numbers) and adjusts its features in response. This closed-loop control ensures the device maintains appropriate settings based on real-time environmental conditions, improving compliance reliability.
2Reliability
If device features are automatically modified based on detected signals, then safety and compliance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal MAC OUIs and serial numbers that can represent multiple environments and feature combinations. A single signal detection mechanism handles various environments (automobiles, hospitals, theaters) by interpreting different MAC OUIs, reducing the need for separate detection systems for each environment and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls device features by changing parameters (enabling/disabling specific features) based on detected signals. Rather than adding complex control mechanisms, the system modifies existing feature states in response to signal parameters, achieving safety and compliance through parameter adjustment rather than structural complexity.
3Reliability
If all wireless communication is blocked to ensure compliance, then RF signal restrictions are met, but loss of information increases due to inability to receive important communications
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different communication features based on the environment. Rather than blocking all RF communication uniformly, the system selectively disables specific features (camera, recording, audible tones) while maintaining others (emergency calls), ensuring compliance with RF restrictions while preserving critical communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts feature states based on the detected environment. Features are not permanently disabled but are conditionally enabled or disabled based on real-time signal detection. This dynamic approach allows the device to maintain emergency communication capabilities when needed while complying with RF restrictions in appropriate environments.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including a plurality of wireless beacons carried by a wireless portable device, a wireless transceiver of the portable device that monitors a predetermined wireless spectrum and detects a signal from another of the plurality of wireless beacons, a processor of the portable device that decodes the detected beacon for an identifier including a sequence of bits, a processor of the portable device that correlates a content of the identifier with one of a plurality of programs of the portable device by matching the one or more bits of an identifier sequence of the one program with a content and location of one or bits of the identifier of the detected beacon and a processor of the portable device that interacts with another device that is directly physically adjacent the portable device via the beacon carried by the portable device and via execution of the one program.