Methods and systems for managing mobile devices with flock participation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018295228-A1
Application number	US-201715479405-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2017
Priority date	Apr 5, 2017
Publication date	Oct 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments for managing mobile devices by one or more processors are described. A plurality of mobile devices are detected within a predetermined distance of each other for at least a predetermined duration. After the plurality of mobile devices are detected, the functionality of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices is altered based on data associated with another of the plurality of mobile devices.

First claim

1 . A method, by one or more processors, for managing mobile devices, comprising:
detecting a plurality of mobile devices within a predetermined distance of each other for at least a predetermined duration; wherein the detecting is performed by each of the plurality of mobile devices within the predetermined distance of each other for at least the predetermined duration; and after the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices, altering the functionality of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices based on data associated with another of the plurality of mobile devices; wherein the data associated with the other of the plurality of mobile devices includes data input into the other of the plurality of mobile devices through a user interface of the other of the plurality of mobile devices and information associated with a user of the other of the plurality of mobile devices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including, before the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, receiving an indication of a selection to have the altering performed.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the selection to have the altering performed occurs before the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile devices are in motion at least during the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the motion of each of the plurality of mobile devices is in substantially the same direction as the motion of the others of the plurality of mobile devices.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices includes altering the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices with respect to at least one of an operating system or a software application provision.

8 . A system for managing mobile devices, comprising:
at least one processor that
detects a plurality of mobile devices within a predetermined distance of each other for at least a predetermined duration; wherein the detecting is performed by each of the plurality of mobile devices within the predetermined distance of each other for at least the predetermined duration; and
after the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices, alters the functionality of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices based on data associated with another of the plurality of mobile devices; wherein the data associated with the other of the plurality of mobile devices includes data input into the other of the plurality of mobile devices through a user interface of the other of the plurality of mobile devices and information associated with a user of the other of the plurality of mobile devices.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor further, before the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, receives an indication of a selection to have the altering performed.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the selection to have the altering performed occurs before the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of mobile devices are in motion at least during the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the motion of each of the plurality of mobile devices is in substantially the same direction as the motion of the others of the plurality of mobile devices.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices includes altering the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices with respect to at least one of an operating system or a software application provision.

15 . A computer program product for managing mobile devices by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion that detects a plurality of mobile devices within a predetermined distance of each other for at least a predetermined duration; wherein the detecting is performed by each of the plurality of mobile devices within the predetermined distance of each other for at least the predetermined duration; and an executable portion that, after the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices, alters the functionality of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices based on data associated with another of the plurality of mobile devices; wherein the data associated with the other of the plurality of mobile devices includes data input into the other of the plurality of mobile devices through a user interface of the other of the plurality of mobile devices and information associated with a user of the other of the plurality of mobile devices.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions further include an executable portion that, before the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, receives an indication of a selection to have the altering performed.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the selection to have the altering performed occurs before the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

18 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of mobile devices are in motion at least during the detecting of the plurality of mobile devices.

19 . The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the motion of each of the plurality of mobile devices is in substantially the same direction as the motion of the others of the plurality of mobile devices.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the altering of the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices includes altering the functionality of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices with respect to at least one of an operating system or a software application provision.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Hardee Christopher J
• Joroff Steven R
• Nesbitt Pamela A
• Schneider Scott E

Classifications

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04M1/72572 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04W4/08 Primary

  User group management · CPC title

• H04W4/026

  using orientation information, e.g. compass · CPC title

• H04W4/023

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title