English:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to mobile devices and, more particularly, to tagging and sorting of content on the mobile device.
[0002] Lifestyles have become increasingly reliant on mobile communications. Wireless communication devices, such as cellular phones, laptop computers, pagers, personal communication systems (PCS), personal digital assistants (PDA), and the like, provide advantages of ubiquitous communication without geographic or time constraints. Such mobiles devices are equipped with various components that allow a user to create and store different types of content, and to receive and store content from other users. For example, many mobile devices include software that allows the user to create various data files, cameras that allow a user to take pictures or video, and communication devices that allow users to download various content to the mobile device.
[0003] With the ever increasing ability to create and receive various forms of content using a mobile device, users can become overwhelmed by the volume of information stored on such a device. Accordingly, a need exists for new ways of sorting content that allows a user a convenient manner of retrieving such stored information.
[0005] An additional advantageous embodiment provides a mobile device including a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile device, a controller configured to tag content with a receipt location of the mobile device when the content is received by the mobile device, and memory configured to store the tagged content.
[0006] A further advantageous embodiment provides a method of tagging content for sorting using a mobile device, where the method includes determining a creation location of the mobile device when content is created using the mobile device, tagging the content with the creation location, storing the tagged content, and sorting the tagged content based upon the creation location with respect to a specific location.
[0007] And a further advantageous embodiment provides a method of tagging content for sorting using a mobile device, where the method includes determining a receipt location of the mobile device when content is received by the mobile device, tagging the content with the receipt location, and storing the tagged content.
[0008] Additional advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein preferred embodiments of the disclosure is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated. As will be realized, the disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile device, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process for tagging and sorting newly-created content, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for tagging and sorting received content, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0013] The embodiments of the invention described below provide for the advantageous integration of location determination capability with other features or applications in a mobile device. More particularly, the embodiments provide for the utilization of location-based information to sort content contained in a mobile device. This function provides a new context in which to sort, organize, and present information in a way that is beneficial in many situations encountered by a user of a mobile device.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile device 100, according to an exemplary embodiment. While the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 is generally provided in the form of a wireless telephony device, the mobile device can be any wireless two-way communicator. For example, mobile device can be a portable laptop device, a cellular phone, a two-way trunked radio, a combination cellular phone and personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a cordless phone, a satellite phone, or any other suitable mobile device with telephony capabilities, such as a mobile computing device. Mobile device may also correspond to suitable portable objects, devices, or appliances including a transceiver, such as a wireless fidelity (WiFi) transceiver, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) transceiver, and the like.
[0016] Communications circuitry 101 includes audio processing circuitry 115, controller 117, location module 119 (such as GPS receiver) coupled to antenna 121, memory 123, notification module 125, and transceiver 127 coupled to antenna 129. Memory 123 may represent a hierarchy of memory, which may include both random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Computer program instructions, and corresponding data for operation can be stored in non-volatile memory, such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory. Memory 123 may be implemented as one or more discrete devices, stacked devices, or integrated with controller 117. Memory 123 may store information, such as one or more user profiles, one or more user defined policies, one or more contact lists, photos, videos, etc.
[0017] Controller 117 controls the operation of mobile device 100 according to programs and/or data stored to memory 123. Control functions may be implemented in a single controller or via multiple controllers. Suitable controllers may include, for example, both general purpose and special purpose controllers and digital signal processors. Controller 117 may interface with audio processing circuitry 115, which provides basic analog output signals to speaker 113 and receives analog audio inputs from microphone 111. Controller 117, as will be described in more detail below, is configured to execute a content tagging and sorting application stored to memory 123.
[0018] In this embodiment, the mobile device 100 includes a location module 119, which can be comprised of one or more location-determination technologies, including Global Positioning System (GPS) , assisted GPS (A-GPS), or network-centric technologies by which the location is determined from measurements made on terrestrial communication signals (e.g., cellular or digital television signals) by the mobile device 100 or a network with which mobile device 100 communicates. The location module 119 embodying such technologies may be capable of being disabled by the user or in certain circumstances; however, preferably at least one of the location-determination technologies comprising location module 119 is enabled during normal use of the mobile device 100.
[0019] The position of mobile device 100 is monitored, for example, through GPS technologies that utilize a system of orbital satellites to determine positioning information. For example, a GPS receiver, such as location module 119, calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS satellites high above the Earth. Each satellite continually transmits messages containing the time the message was sent, a precise orbit for the satellite sending the message (the ephemeris), and the general system health and rough orbits of all GPS satellites (the almanac). These signals travel at the speed of light (which varies between vacuum and the atmosphere). The receiver uses the arrival time of each message to measure the distance to each satellite, from which it determines the position of the receiver (conceptually the intersection of spheres). The resulting coordinates are converted to more user-friendly forms such as latitude and longitude, or location on a map, then displayed to the user. Accordingly, the spatial position of the receiving antenna can be determined with great accuracy and convenience.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process 200 for tagging and sorting newly-created content, according to an exemplary embodiment. The process 200 begins with the initialization of the content tagging and sorting application in step 201. The mobile device can be automatically configured to initialize this application upon powering up of the mobile device, or the mobile device can be configured to allow the user to initialize the application. For example, the user can set preferences in the mobile device that determines when and how the application is initialized, and defines various operation parameters under which the application operates.
[0021] In step 203, any newly-created content will be tagged with information regarding the geographic location of the mobile device at the time that the content was created. For example, a user of the mobile device creates content (e.g., takes a photograph or a video, records an audio memo, creates a new contact list entry, creates a new document, etc.), and the newly-created content is then tagged with metadata indicating the location where the content was created. Thus, at the time the content is created, the controller 117 can use the location module 119 to determine the geographic location of the mobile device 100 at that time, and then tag the content with that information, hereinafter referred to as the creation location information. Next, in step 205, the content with the tagged information can be stored in a file system of the memory 123.
[0022] In step 207, the stored tagged information can be sorted based on the tagged information to allow the user to retrieve the content using that tagged information. For example, the user can have the controller sort the various contents stored on the mobile device by location of the creation of the content, such as photographs taken in Miami, Florida, or contact list entries entered in Dallas, Texas. Alternatively, the content can be sorted based on the location of the creation of the content as it relates to the current location of the mobile device. For example, the user can request the controller 117 to use the location module 119 to determine the current location of the mobile device 100, and then sort the content based on the distance between the location at which it was created (e.g., using the stored metadata) and the current location. For example, controller 117 may create a list of the content that begins with content created at a location nearest to the current location and ends with content created at a location farthest from the current location. As a further example, controller 117 may create a list of all content created within a certain radial distance from the current location. The manner in which the content is sorted can be selected by the user in order to provide him or her with the ability to sort out content based on relevant and/or preferred criteria. The user also may limit or restrict population of the list to certain types of content, or otherwise by values of one or more fields in the metadata associated with the content items.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process 300 for tagging and sorting received content, according to an exemplary embodiment. The process 300 begins with the initialization of the content tagging and sorting application in step 301. The mobile device can be automatically configured to initialize this application upon powering up of the mobile device, or the mobile device can be configured to allow the user to initialize the application.
[0024] In step 303, the mobile device 100 receives content that is tagged with information regarding the geographic location where the content was created. Thus, in a situation where the user receives content from another user or content created using another device, and in which the content has been tagged with information regarding the location at which the content was created, then the mobile device 100 can receive such information. In addition to the tagged information regarding creation, the mobile device 100 in step 305 can also tag the received content with information regarding the location where the content was received by the mobile device 100 using the location module 119 and controller 117, hereinafter referred to as the receipt location information. Then, in step 307, the content with the tagged creation and receipt information can be stored in a file system of the memory 123.
[0025] Then, the stored tagged information can be sorted based on the tagged information in step 307 to allow the user to retrieve the content using that tagged information. For example, the user can have the controller sort the various content stored on the mobile device by creation location information and/or by the receipt location information. For instance, the content can be sorted based on the distance between mobile device 100's current location or another user-specified location (e.g., selected from a list of favorites) and either the creation location information, the receipt location information, or a combination thereof. Hence, the manner in which the content is sorted can be selected by the user in order to provide the user with the ability to sort out content based on relevant criteria defined by the user.
[0026] Thus, in the manner described above, the user can receive content from an external source that already has location metadata associated with it (e.g., where created). Furthermore, the user can optionally associate additional location metadata with the content (e.g., where received - based on user's current location), and then store the content and associated information in the file system of the mobile device.
[0027] When the user wishes to access or view a directory of some or all of the content stored on the mobile device, the file system manager can present the user with sorting options, one of which is by proximity to a specific location (e.g., the current location of the mobile device, a selected location such as work address, home address, etc.). If the user chooses this option, the file system manager sorts the files into groups based on proximity (e.g., <100m, <lkm, <10km, etc.) to the current location of the mobile device or to some other selected location, and presents the list of groups to the user. Files without location metadata can be presented in their own appropriately-labeled group or omitted from the list of groups presented to the user. If a particular file has multiple location metadata elements associated with it, the file system manager may utilize some or all of these in the determination of which group to place this element. The user may enable, disable, or configure various parameters related to the operation of this process. Alternately, the file system manager may organize the content based on distance from and orientation with respect to mobile device 100' s current location or another user- specified location, such that the controller 117 may display the content list in a two-dimensional, map-like arrangement.
[0028] It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments depicted and described herein set forth the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not meant to limit the scope of the claims hereto in any way. Numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosed concepts may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

中文:
[0001]本发明涉及移动设备,更具体地,涉及移动设备上内容的加标签(tagging)和分类(sorting)。
[0002]生活方式变得越来越依赖移动通信。诸如蜂窝电话、膝上型计算机、寻呼机、个人通信系统(PCS)、个人数字助理(PDA)等的无线通信设备提供了不受地域和时间限制的无所不在的通信的优点。这些移动设备配备了各种组件,以允许用户创建和存储不同类型的内容,并接收和存储来自其它用户的内容。例如,许多移动设备包括允许用户创建各种数据文件的软件、允许用户拍摄照片或视频的照相机、以及允许用户下载各种内容到移动设备的通信设备。
[0003]随着使用移动设备创建和接收各种形式的内容的能力日益增加,用户可能会变得淹没在这种设备上存储的大量信息中。因此,存在对于对内容进行分类的新方式的需求,以允许用户以便利的方式检索这些存储的信息。
[0005]另外的一个有利的实施方式提供了一种移动设备,该移动设备包括:位置模块,所述位置模块被配置为确定移动设备的位置;控制器,所述控制器被配置为当移动设备接收内容时,利用移动设备的接收位置为内容加标签;以及存储器,所述存储器被配置为存储已加标签的内容。
[0006]又一个有利的实施方式提供了一种使用移动设备为内容加标签以用于分类的方法,其中该方法包括:当使用移动设备创建内容时,确定移动设备的创建位置;利用创建位置为内容加标签;存储已加标签的内容;以及相对于特定位置基于创建位置来对已加标签的内容进行分类。
[0007]并且再一个有利的实施方式提供了一种使用移动设备为内容加标签以用于分类的方法,其中该方法包括:当移动设备接收内容时,确定该移动设备的接收位置;利用接收位置为内容加标签;以及存储已加标签的内容。
[0008]通过下面的详细描述,本公开的另外的优点对本领域技术人员来说将变得更加明显,其中,简单地通过设想的最佳模式的说明来显示和描述本发明的优选实施方式。应当认识到,本公开可以有其它和不同的实施方式,并且能够在各种明显方面修改本公开的一些细节。因此,附图和说明书将被视为实际上是说明性的,而非限制性的。
[0009]图1是根据示例性实施方式的移动设备的框图。
[0010]图2是根据示例性实施方式的为新创建的内容加标签和进行分类的过程的流程图。
[0011]图3是根据示例性实施方式的为接收的内容加标签和进行分类的过程的流程图。
[0013]下面描述的本发明的实施方式提供了将位置确定功能与其它功能或应用程序集成在移动设备中的优点。更具体地,实施方式提供了使用基于位置的信息来对包含在移动设备中的内容进行分类。这一功能提供了一种新的环境,其中按照在移动设备用户遇到的许多情况下都有利的方式来对信息进行分类、组织和呈现。
[0014]图1是根据示例性实施方式的移动设备100的框图。虽然总体上以无线电话设备的形式提供了图1中描绘的实施方式,但移动设备可以是任意无线双向通信装置。例如,移动设备可以是便携式膝上型设备、蜂窝电话、双向中继无线电设备、组合的蜂窝电话和个人数字助理(PDA)、智能电话、无绳电话、卫星电话、或诸如移动计算设备的任何其它合适的具有电话功能的移动设备。移动设备还可以对应于包含收发器的合适的便携式对象、设备或装置,收发器例如为无线保真(WiFi)收发器、全球微波接入互操作性(WiMAX)收发器等。
[0016]通信电路101包括音频处理电路115、控制器117、耦接于天线121的位置模块119(例如GPS接收器)、存储器123、通知模块125和耦接于天线129的收发器127。存储器123可表示分级存储器,其可以包括随机存取存储器(RAM)和只读存储器(ROM)。计算机程序指令和相应的操作数据可以存储在诸如可擦除可编程只读存储器(EPROM)、电可擦除可编程只读存储器(EEPROM)和/或闪存的非易失性存储器中。存储器123可实现为一个或多个分立器件、层叠器件,或与控制器117集成。存储器123可存储诸如一个或多个用户配置文件、一个或多个用户定义的策略、一个或多个联系人列表、相片、视频等的信息。
[0017]控制器117根据存储到存储器123的程序和/或数据来控制移动设备100的操作。控制功能可在一个控制器中实现,或经由多个控制器实现。合适的控制器例如可包括通用控制器和专用控制器以及数字信号处理器。控制器117可与音频处理电路115连接,音频处理电路115将基本模拟输出信号提供给扬声器113,并且从麦克风111接收模拟音频输入。如同下面将更详细描述的,控制器117被配置为对存储到存储器123的应用程序执行内容加标签和分类。
[0018]在此实施方式中,移动设备100包括位置模块119,该位置模块119可以由一种或多种位置确定技术或以网络为中心的技术组成,其中位置确定技术包括全球定位系统(GPS)、辅助GPS(A-GPS),以网络为中心的技术根据移动设备100或与移动设备100通信的网络对地面通信信号(例如,蜂窝或数字电视信号)进行的测量来确定位置。具体实现这些技术的位置模块119可以能够由用户禁用,或者可以在某些情况下被禁用;然而,优选地,在移动设备100的正常使用期间,启用包括位置模块119的位置确定技术中的至少一种技术。
[0019]例如,通过利用轨道卫星系统来确定定位信息的GPS技术来监测移动设备100的位置。例如,诸如位置模块119的GPS接收器通过对地球上空的GPS卫星星座发送的信号仔细地进行计时来计算其位置。每个卫星均连续地发送消息,所述消息包含发送该消息的时间、发送该消息的卫星的精确轨道(星历)、以及所有GPS卫星的总体系统健康和粗略轨道(历书)。这些信号以光速行进(其速度在真空与大气之间不同)。接收器使用各个消息的到达时间来测量与各个卫星的距离,根据该距离来确定接收器的位置(概念上,球面的交点)。得到的坐标被转换为更加用户友好的形式,例如纬度和经度、或者地图上的位置,然后显示给用户。因此,可以非常精确和方便地确定接收天线的空间位置。
[0020]图2是根据示例性实施方式的为新创建的内容加标签和进行分类的过程200的流程图。过程200开始于在步骤201中初始化内容加标签和分类应用程序。移动设备可被自动配置为移动设备一旦上电就初始化此应用程序,或者移动设备可被配置为允许用户初始化该应用程序。例如,用户可以在移动设备上设置优先选择,其确定何时和如何初始化应用程序,并且定义应用程序操作时的各种操作参数。
[0021]在步骤203中,将利用与创建内容时移动设备的地理位置有关的信息来为任何新创建的内容加标签。例如,移动设备的用户创建内容(例如,拍摄照片或视频、录制音频备忘录、创建新的联系人列表条目、创建新的文档等),然后利用指示创建内容的位置的元数据为新创建的内容加标签。因此,在创建内容的时刻,控制器117可以使用位置模块119来确定移动设备100在那个时刻的地理位置,然后利用该信息(此后被称作创建位置信息)为内容加标签。接下来,在步骤205中,可以将带有标签信息的内容存储在存储器123的文件系统中。
[0022]在步骤207中,可以基于标签信息来对存储的标签信息进行分类,以允许用户使用该标签信息检索内容。例如,用户可以使控制器按照存储在移动设备上的各种内容(例如在迈阿密、佛罗里达拍摄的照片,或者在达拉斯、德克萨斯输入的联系人列表条目)的创建位置对该内容进行分类。可选地,因为内容的创建位置与移动设备的当前位置相关,所以可以基于内容的创建位置对内容进行分类。例如,用户可以请求控制器117使用位置模块119来确定移动设备100的当前位置,然后基于创建内容的位置(例如,使用存储的元数据)与当前位置之间的距离来对内容进行分类。例如,控制器117可以创建从在最接近当前位置的位置处创建的内容到在最远离当前位置的位置处创建的内容的内容列表。作为另一示例,控制器117可以创建在距离当前位置特定径向距离内创建的所有内容的列表。用户可以选择对内容进行分类的方式,以便为他或她提供基于相关和/或优选标准对内容进行分类的能力。用户还可以将列表的对象限制或限定为特定类型的内容,或者通过与内容项相关联的元数据中的一个或多个字段的值来对其进行限制或限定。
[0023]图3是根据示例性实施方式的为接收的内容加标签和进行分类的过程300的流程图。过程300开始于在步骤301中初始化内容加标签和分类应用程序。移动设备可被自动配置为移动设备一旦上电就初始化此应用程序,或者移动设备可被配置为允许用户初始化该应用程序。
[0024]在步骤303中,移动设备100接收利用与创建内容时的地理位置有关的信息来加标签的内容。因此,在用户接收来自另一个用户的内容或使用另一个设备创建的内容、并且已经利用与创建内容时的位置有关的信息对内容加标签的情况下,则移动设备100可以接收这样的信息。除了有关创建的标签信息之外,在步骤305中,移动设备100还可以利用与移动设备100使用位置模块119和控制器117接收内容时的位置有关的信息(此后被称作接收位置信息)为接收的内容加标签。然后,在步骤307中,可以将带有创建和接收标签信息的内容存储在存储器123的文件系统中。
[0025]然后,可以基于步骤307中的标签信息来对存储的标签信息进行分类,以允许用户使用该标签信息检索内容。例如,用户可以使控制器按照创建位置信息和/或按照接收位置信息对存储在移动设备上的各种内容进行分类。例如,可以基于移动设备100的当前位置或另一用户指定位置(例如,从喜好列表中选择)与创建位置信息、接收位置信息或其组合之间的距离来对内容进行分类。因此,用户可以选择对内容进行分类的方式,以便为用户提供基于用户定义的相关标准对内容进行分类的能力。
[0026]因此,在上述方式中,用户可以从已经关联有位置元数据(例如,创建的地点)的外部源接收内容。此外,用户可以可选地将附加位置元数据与内容相关联(例如,接收的地点-基于用户的当前位置),然后将内容和相关联的信息存储在移动设备的文件系统中。
[0027]当用户希望访问或查看存储在移动设备上的内容中的一些或全部内容的目录时,文件系统管理器可以向用户呈现分类选项,其中一个选项是按照与特定位置(例如,移动设备的当前位置,诸如工作地址、家庭地址等的选择的位置)的接近程度进行分类。如果用户选择了此选项,则文件系统管理器基于与移动设备的当前位置或其它一些选择的位置的接近程度(例如,<100m、<1km、<10km等)来将文件分为组,并且将组列表呈现给用户。没有位置元数据的文件可以呈现在它们自己的适当标定的组中,或者从呈现给用户的组列表中省略。如果特定文件关联有多个位置元数据元素,则文件系统管理器可以利用这些元素中的一些或全部来确定将此元素放在哪个组中。用户可以使能、禁止或配置与此过程的操作相关的各种参数。可选地,文件系统管理器可基于到移动设备100的当前位置或另一用户指定位置的距离以及相对于移动设备100的当前位置或另一用户指定位置的方向来组织内容,使得控制器117可以用二维、映射式排列显示内容列表。
[0028]应当意识到,这里描绘和描述的示例性实施方式阐明了本公开的优选实施方式,并且不意图以任何方式将权利要求的范围限于这些实施方式。在上述教导下,本公开的各种修改和变型是可能的。因此应当理解,在所附的权利要求的范围内,可以按照与本文中具体描述的方式不同的方式来实践公开的概念。