Methods and systems for altering features of mobile devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729708-B2
Application number	US-201514828386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2015
Priority date	Aug 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

There is provided a method for altering features of a mobile device. The method includes detecting a charm having a charm identification, obtaining the charm identification from the charm, identifying the charm using the charm identification, altering a theme of the mobile device to a new theme based on the charm, in response to the identifying of the charm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for use by a mobile device, the mobile device having a hardware processor and a wireless component having a wireless transceiver, the method comprising:
detecting, using the wireless transceiver, a charm having a memory storing a charm identification;
receiving, using the wireless transceiver, a wireless signal including the charm identification from the charm;
identifying, using the hardware processor, the charm and a plurality of digital assets using the charm identification;
obtaining, using the hardware processor, the plurality of digital assets corresponding to the charm, in response to the identifying;
presenting, using the hardware processor, the plurality of digital assets corresponding to the charm on a user interface;
receiving, using the hardware processor, a user selection of a first digital asset of the plurality of digital assets via the user interface; and
changing, using the hardware processor, a current display theme of the mobile device to a new display theme, in response to receiving the user selection of the first digital asset, wherein the new display theme corresponds to the first digital asset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
launching, using the hardware processor, a mobile application for use by a user in response to the detecting.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
requesting, using the wireless transceiver, the charm identification from the charm in response to the detecting.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying on a display of the mobile device, using the hardware processor, the user interface notifying a user of the identifying.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the changing the current display theme changes a home screen display image setting of the mobile device to a new home screen display image corresponding to the charm identification, and wherein the method further comprises presenting, using a display of the mobile device, the new home screen display image in response to returning to the home screen of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charm corresponds to a physical object having a second wireless component including one or more NFC chips.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is covered by a mobile device case, the mobile device case including a moving element, a spring, a motor, a battery, and a third wireless component.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
sending, using the wireless transceiver, a wireless signal to the mobile device case of the mobile device in response to an event, wherein the sending causes a movement of the moving element of the mobile device case.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the changing the current display theme changes a ring tone setting of the mobile device to a new ring tone corresponding to the charm identification, and wherein the method further comprises playing, using a speaker of the mobile device, the new ring tone in response to receiving a call by the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a back side, a front side, and a display on the front side, and wherein the charm is attached to the mobile device using a chain or is attached to the back side of the mobile device.

11. A mobile device comprising:
a wireless component having a wireless transceiver; and
a hardware processor configured to:
detect, using the wireless transceiver, a charm having a memory storing a charm identification;
receive, using the wireless transceiver, a wireless signal including the charm identification from the charm;
identify the charm and a plurality of digital assets using the charm identification;
obtain the plurality of digital assets corresponding to the charm, in response to the identifying;
present the plurality of digital assets corresponding to the charm on a user interface;
receive a user selection of a first digital asset of the plurality of digital assets via the user interface; and
change a current display theme of the mobile device to a new display theme, in response to receiving the user selection of the first digital asset, wherein the new display theme corresponds to the first digital asset.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
launch a mobile application for use by a user in response to detecting the charm.

13. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
request, using the wireless transceiver, the charm identification from the charm in response to detecting the charm.

14. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
display, on a display of the mobile device, the user interface notifying a user of identifying the charm.

15. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the changing the current display theme changes a home screen display image setting of the mobile device to a new home screen display image corresponding to the charm identification, and wherein the hardware processor is configured to present, using a display of the mobile device, the new home screen display image in response to returning to the home screen of the mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the charm corresponds to a physical object including a second wireless component including one or more NFC chips.

17. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is covered by a mobile device case, the mobile device case including a moving element, a spring, a motor, a battery, and a third wireless component.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
send, using the wireless transceiver, a wireless signal to the mobile device case of the mobile device in response to an event, wherein the sending causes a movement of the moving element of the mobile device case.

19. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the changing the current display theme changes a ring tone setting of the mobile device to a new ring tone corresponding to the charm identification, and wherein the hardware processor is configured to play, using a speaker of the mobile device, the new ring tone in response to receiving a call by the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 11 further comprising:
a back side;
a front side; and
a display on the front side;
wherein the charm is attached to the mobile device using a chain or is attached to the back side of the mobile device.

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Hornbeek Stephen
• Martyn Melissa
• Powell Roxana
• Thurman Tracy
• Watkinson Courtney

Classifications

• H04M3/42042

  Notifying the called party of information on the calling party (details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72) · CPC title

• H04W4/008

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M3/42153 Primary

  by subscriber · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04M2250/04

  including near field communication means, e.g. RFID · CPC title