Abstract:
A portable communication device having a processor, a battery with a battery sensor, a display screen and a proximity sensor. The processor receives a signal from the display screen indicating whether the display screen is in a disabled state. The processor also receives a signal from the battery sensor indicating the remaining charge of the battery and the processor compares the remaining charge of the battery to a low power threshold. The processor also receives a signal indicating whether the proximity sensor is uncovered. If the display screen is in a disabled state, the remaining charge exceeds the low power threshold and the proximity sensor is uncovered, the device displays content. In certain embodiments, the device transmits a signal identifying the location of the device. In response, the device receives content based on the location of the device and stores the content in memory, filling a queue.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/523,346, filed Aug. 14, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to portable communication devices. More particularly the present disclosure relates to methods for displaying content on such a device that is not actively in use by the consumer and devices configured for displaying content under such circumstances. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electronic mobile communications device users, such as mobile phone users are increasingly running large numbers of simultaneous software applications on their phones. Each application uses device resources in different ways and at different times. Certain applications which run constantly on these devices are necessary for monitoring data streams such as voice calls, e-mails, or text messages while others run at all times to receive notifications like weather alerts or breaking news. The multitude of “always-on” applications contribute to significant current drain on the mobile electronic device and with a fixed battery capacity, these applications limit the useful life of the device between recharging. One known and commonly used method for limiting current drain in mobile applications is to keep the display of the device disabled when the device is not in use, meaning that the display is a “black screen.” For phones having a touch screen, the black screen display state typically corresponds to a locked or inactive touchscreen that is unable to receive user input. 
         [0004]    On known mobile phones, certain events or notifications can activate a display in the black screen state. For example, incoming phone calls wake a black screen display. However, these notifications occur at unspecified times whenever an outside event triggers them. Such notifications do not use other device sensors to decide whether to activate the display or not. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of modern mobile communication devices is the display of advertisements by certain applications which run on these devices. For example, advertisements are displayed at the launch of or during operation of certain mobile device games, or other such applications. One drawback of that type of advertisement is that it typically delays or interrupts the user from viewing the game or other content being displayed by the application. Thus, the advertisement may be considered a distraction or nuisance to a user who is engaged in the application. 
         [0006]    On non-mobile phone platforms such as personal computers and some electronic books readers, advertisements are displayed when the device is not actively being used. However, these devices are typically either always connected to a power source (such as desktop personal computers) or use special low-power display technology (such as certain e-book readers). Such advertisements are also displayed when a user is not present. In the case of an e-book, such advertisements may be disadvantageously displayed when the e-book is stored in a bag or purse. Applying such indiscriminate display of advertisements to a smartphone would drain the battery of the phone and result in dissatisfied users. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In various embodiments according to the present disclosure, a portable communication device has a processor, a battery with a battery sensor, a display screen and a proximity sensor. The processor receives a signal from the display screen indicating whether the display screen is in a disabled, or in other words black screen, state. The processor also receives a signal from the battery sensor indicating the remaining power level of the battery and the processor compares the remaining charge of the battery to a low power threshold. The processor also receives a signal indicating whether the proximity sensor is uncovered. If the remaining power level exceeds the low power threshold and the proximity sensor is uncovered, the device displays content from a queue of stored content. In certain embodiments, the displayed content is based on or related to the location of the device. Independent of the state of the display screen, the device transmits a signal identifying the location of the device at a frequency. In response, the device receives content based on the location of the device and stores the content in memory, filling the queue of stored content. 
         [0008]    The application manages the display of content on a device screen when the device screen is otherwise going unused by other applications, including the base operating system. One such device for performing these functions has a display, button(s) or touchscreen, proximity sensor, battery sensor, processor, memory, and at least one method of wireless data transmission (e.g. cellular, WiFi, etc.). Additional details regarding the device are described below. The device is generally powered on for extended periods of time in order to be available to receive events such as incoming voice calls, text messages, or e-mail. These events are sporadic and even with other uses for the device, the time the device is powered on is greater than or equal to the time it is actively in use with the display turned on. This period of inactivity where the device is powered on, but has an unused display is used by the methods and devices disclosed herein to display many types of content at varying intervals. Such an implementation requires the use of novel methods and applications in order to reduce power consumption and avoid displaying content to a phone that is stored in a user&#39;s pocket, bag or purse, where such content will go unseen. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart for one embodiment of a method for displaying content on an electronic communication device according to the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a graph illustrating the relationship of display frequency to battery charge for both the charging and discharging device states of a device according to the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a chart illustrating a subsection of the method of  FIG. 1  related to battery meter and proximity sensor input and the system resources utilized to execute these instructions. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a chart illustrating a subsection of the method of  FIG. 1  related to sharing a device&#39;s location, receiving content, displaying content, and detecting interaction with the content and the system resources utilized to execute these instructions. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, including the events, decisions, and inputs utilized to determining appropriate times to display content. The entire set of illustrated instructions  100  make use of a variety of device sensors and inputs which enable it to strategically display content on the display of the device, which is described below in more detail. Certain portions of the methods described herein may be embodied as code or in an application. In one embodiment, that application runs at startup as a background event when the device is powered on. Alternatively, the application can be launched manually by a user. As discussed in more detail below, the application monitors device inputs and sensors in order to determine when to execute certain commands. 
         [0016]    After the application has been launched, first, the application detects that the display is in a disabled state  101 , meaning that it is in a black screen or standby mode because it was placed in that state either manually by a user or after a configurable preset idle screen time threshold is surpassed or by some other automated trigger. In certain embodiments, the disabled state of the display screen may also correspond to a “locked” touchscreen mode. Once the display is in the disabled state, the content display portion of the application initiates  111  and a series of decision points are analyzed by the program. 
         [0017]    The first check of the content display portion is a comparison  113  of the remaining power stored in the battery to a low power threshold  103 . The low power threshold  103  is specific to the device and may be pre-defined as a fixed value in the application or user-configurable within the application. If the comparison  113  of the remaining charge to the low power threshold  103  determines that the remaining charge is below the threshold, the application will enter a standby mode  105  in which it uses very low power. While in the low power standby mode  105 , the application compares  107  the remaining power in the battery to a device specific resume power threshold  109 . The device specific resume power threshold  109  may be predefined as a fixed value within the application, calculated relative to the low power threshold  103 , or user-configurable within the application. As long as the comparison  107  of the remaining power in the battery to the resume power threshold  109  determines the remaining power is below the threshold  109 , the application remains in the low power standby mode  105 . 
         [0018]    If either the comparison  113  of the remaining power in the battery to the low power threshold  103  determines that the remaining power is above the threshold  103  or the comparison  107  of the remaining power in the battery to the resume power threshold  109  determines that the remaining power is above the threshold  109 , the application proceeds with further instructions checking to see if the proximity sensor is covered  115 . Proximity sensor  411  may be any number of sensors that detect the presence of an object proximate the sensor. For example, proximity sensor  411  could include a capacitive, photoelectric, infrared, electromagnetic or inductive sensor. 
         [0019]    Proximity sensors are traditionally used within live applications such as phone applications to detect when a user is bringing the device to his or her ear so that the display and touchscreen can be disabled, thus preventing inadvertent touchscreen input from the user&#39;s face. In the present disclosure, the proximity sensor is utilized to determine whether an object (e.g. table, pocket, purse, etc.) is blocking the front of the device prior to displaying content. If the check of the proximity sensor  115  determines that the sensor is covered, the application waits  125  for a period of time before initiating another such check. In one embodiment, the period of time for which it waits is based on input  123  about the current state of charging/discharging and the remaining power in the battery. In other embodiments, this time period may be preset and unchanging. 
         [0020]    If the check of the proximity sensor  115  reveals that the sensor is uncovered, the device proceeds to display content  121  for a pre-defined length of time. While the content is displayed  121 , the application monitors the device, looking for input from the user through a user input device, such as a touch screen. If the application determines action from the user  133 , the program returns  135  to the content display  121  command to display a new piece of content. It is understood that if the monitoring of user action  133  on successive content displays  121  continues to result in user action  135 , then at times user action  135  will return the program to either refresh the device location  117  and/or receive more content  119  from the server  131 . In this way, the user can quickly view multiple advertisements or non-commercial content specific to his or her location to see if any of them are of interest to him or her. If the monitoring of user action  133  results in no action by the user  129  in the time during content display, the display will be turned off  127  and the application will wait  125  for a period of time. In this embodiment, the period of time is based on input  123  about the remaining battery power and/or charging state of the battery. In other embodiments, the period of time may be pre-set. Alternatively, this period of time may be based on other factors, as described below. After waiting, the method returns to the steps of comparing the remaining charge to the low power threshold  113  and checking the state of the proximity sensor  115 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a graph  200  which provides more detail on how the wait duration  125  might be influenced by the inputs  123  of the remaining charge in the battery  207  and the charging state of the device. The number of content displays per hour  205  can be translated into a wait time  125  between pieces of content once the content display frequency  205  has been established. It will be understood that graph  200  does not depict the only possible implementation of content display frequency  205  relative to device inputs  123 , but instead it provides characteristics of content display of one embodiment of the present disclosure. When the battery is charging  201 ,  209  content display occurs at a frequency  205  greater than or equal to the frequency  205  when not charging  203  and  211 . At low levels of charge remaining in the battery  207 , the application standby mode  105  is illustrated as a display frequency  205  of zero whether charging  209  or not charging  211 . It is contemplated that if the battery is charging  201 ,  209 , the resume power threshold  109  may be lower than it would be if the battery is not charging  203 ,  211 . 
         [0022]    In addition to the battery input  123 , it is understood that in certain embodiments other variables such as time of day or location of device may affect the rate of content display  205 . The application may also adjust content display frequency  205  based on learned user behavior such as the typical frequency of charging the device. Such user charging behavior information may be stored in a memory  407 . If the application recognizes a pattern of the device being charged every 12 hours on certain days, display frequency can be increased compared to 18 hours between charges on other days. This behavior seeks to maximize content display frequency while minimizing the likelihood of the remaining battery power  207  reaching zero. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in certain embodiments, the device also transmits  117  a location identification and receives content  119  targeted to the device&#39;s location for display on the screen. It will be understood that steps  117  and  119  of  FIG. 1  may be performed as a separate operation, independent of and not contingent upon checks  113  and  115 . The location identification may be a zip code, GPS coordinates, longitude and latitude, or other geographic identifier. If the server recognizes the location as one in which the service is currently operating, the device then receives appropriate content  119  from the server  131  based on the shared location  117 . 
         [0024]    In certain embodiments, the received content is stored in a queue in a memory (described below) in the device for later retrieval. If the location  117  happens to be outside of the current operating range of the content delivery service, the content  119  might take the form of a message notifying the user that their current location is not supporting the delivery of content at this time. 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, the server may provide content that is not specific to the location. In such embodiments, the device need not transmit a location identification to a server. 
         [0026]    In certain embodiments the content is a set of advertisements particularly targeted to the user&#39;s location. For example, advertisements may be directed to informing users about goods or services offered by a business near the user&#39;s location. The content may also or alternatively include coupons or offers to the user that are targeted to the user&#39;s location. In certain embodiments some or all of the content may be non-advertising or non-commercial. For example, the system can be used to display public service announcements. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device  300  according to the present disclosure having a display screen  302 . Display screen may include one or more of a liquid crystal display (LCD), dot matrix display, light emitting diode display (LED), organic light emitting diode display (OLED) or similar displays and other such similar displays capable of providing visible information to a user. The device also includes one or more user input devices, which receive user input such as button pushes or swipes. One user input device included in this embodiment is a touchscreen  304 , which is shown in  FIG. 3  displaying a full-screen piece of content  306 . Touchscreen  304  may be a capacitive or resistive touchscreen or other similar screen capable of detecting the presence and location of a touch. 
         [0028]    Other user input devices shown in this embodiment are keys  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314  for input, and virtual keys  316 ,  318 , which are displayed on the display screen with the content. However, other key configurations may be used. When content  306  is displayed  121 , the application monitors the user input devices for user action  133  on one or more of the user input devices. In some cases, the action taken by a user may be confirmed on the display  302  prior to displaying a new piece of content  121 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a subsection  137  of  FIG. 1  relating to the decision of whether to launch the content display mode, sometimes referred to herein as the decision functions, and specific to the two decision points  113 ,  115  which are implemented prior to any content location sharing  117 , content transfer  119 , or content display  121 . Along with the reproduced portion of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  identifies certain device resources used  401 ,  403  to execute the commands within subsection  137 . When determining  113  if the remaining battery power is below the low power threshold  103 , the device uses various system resources  401 . Specifically, the device uses the processor  504  to compare the current battery level detected by the battery meter  409  to the low battery threshold stored in memory  407 . Similarly, when determining whether the proximity sensor is covered  115 , the device uses a different set of device resources  403 . Some resources like a processor  405  and memory  407  are used throughout the subsection  137 . However, when comparing battery power  113 , the method utilizes the device battery meter  409 ; and, when determining the state of the proximity sensor  115 , the proximity sensor  411  is used. Both the proximity sensor  411  and battery meter  409  have the beneficial feature of drawing very little current during operation. Thus, the decision functions of subsection  137  are low power functions. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates subsection  139  of the method of  FIG. 1  relating to content display, sometimes referred to herein as the content display functions, and specific to the four instructions immediately preceding, during, and after content display  121 . Along with the reproduced portion of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5  adds lists of general system resources used  501 ,  503 ,  505 ,  507  used in one embodiment to execute the commands within subsection  139 . In this embodiment, when sharing the device  25  location with a server  117 , the application uses one set of system resources  501 . These resources  501  include a second processor  509 , a second memory  511 , location services  513 , and a cellular radio  515 . The location services  513  used while sharing the device location with the server  117  may include the use of any location tracking technology including, but not limited to: global positioning system (GPS) receivers, cellular tower tracking, or WiFi network tracking. A transmitter, such as a cellular radio  515 , is used to transmit data wirelessly between the device and server and may also aid in the performance of any GPS receiver that may be utilized. 
         [0031]    When receiving content from a server  119 , the application uses a similar set of system resources  503 . After receiving the content  119 , display of the content  121  uses a different set of resources  505  including the use of a display  517 , light sensor  519 , and display backlights  521 . The display  517  and display backlights  521  are used jointly to produce an image on the device, while the backlight sensor  519  is often used on electronic devices to set the display backlights  521  to the proper brightness for the ambient lighting conditions. Finally, when monitoring the content display for user action  133 , the list of system resources used  507  includes a touchscreen  523 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device having a first processor  405  and a second processor  509 . The first processor  405  is communicatively connected with the first memory  407 , the proximity sensor  411  and the battery meter  409 , which is in communication with the battery  320 . The second processor  509  is communicatively connected with the second memory  511 , the location service  513 , the transmitter  515 , the display  517  a light sensor  519 , display backlights  521  and touchscreen  523 . 
         [0033]    It can now be recognized that in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , subsection  137  of both  FIGS. 1 and 4  is a low power, low system resources section of the overall set of application commands  100 . Conversely, subsection  139  is a higher power section of the overall application which requires a greater number of system resources. The fact that the low-power, low-resource checks occur prior to expending significant amounts of current on content display activities minimizes the use of power when the device is not likely to be viewed. It also prevents the application from draining the battery when the battery is already low. Further power savings can be recognized through use of a low-power processor  405  and memory  407  exclusively for monitoring the battery meter  113  and proximity sensor  115 . The low-power components are more efficient than utilizing the main system processor  509  and memory  511  which are typically used for high powered applications such as video decoding and display. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment of a communication device, the same processor  405  may be used to perform the content display functions and the decision functions. Similarly, in certain embodiments, the same memory used in the decision functions is used in the content display functions. 
         [0035]    Any process descriptions or blocks in figures should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0036]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.