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Microsoft patents Inconspicuous Mode to save us from ourselves

Microsoft patents Inconspicuous Mode to save us from ourselves

Posted: 23 Jan 2013, 15:45, by Michael H.

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Microsoft patents Inconspicuous Mode to save us from ourselves

You know how it is when you go to the movies, it's impossible to remember to turn off your phone, or even put it on silent, because it's not like there is a giant screen in front of you and enormous speakers that tell you to do just that. Luckily, Microsoft wants to step in and take away all of that trouble with a new patented technology that it is calling Inconspicuous Mode.

The patent explains a system whereby your mobile phone would be automatically silenced, and the screen dimmed when you enter places like a movie theater. Of course, there are already apps, at least on Android, like Tasker and Locale which allow you to set up rules like this, or quick access profiles which would accomplish the same effect. But, the USPTO doesn't really care much about prior art as long as there is one key difference, which in this case might be the full automation.

The way Microsoft's Inconspicuous Mode would work is through a combination of GPS location, and one environmental factor, like lowered lights in a movie theater, or sound levels in a museum for example.

Not a bad idea, overall, but not something the USPTO necessarily should have decided was a patentable idea either.

source: USPTO via InfoWorld

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1. someones4 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 18:29 0

Isn't this something like Motorola's smart actions?

2. jroc74 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 19:10 0

Action based on GPS location....check.

Environmental ones....not sure. I dont use Smart Actions anymore. This MS thing might be like a combo of different apps, features. I think Samsung and other apps has something where the phone does something when its plced on its face.

Environmental checks would be a nice thing...

3. jroc74 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 19:19 0

I know with SA....you can set it to turn stuff off when the display dims... I could just set it to turn Airplane Mode on, turn volume down.

4. freebee269 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 22:33 0

"Not a bad idea, overall, but not something the USPTO necessarily should have decided was a patentable idea either. "

i wonder if this was said when apple patented round corners on a smartphone? my guess is no.

5. buccob posted on 28 Feb 2013, 07:03 0

Llama for Android is the best at automation. The UI might not be as good as Tasker or Locale, but it is more powerful than the later and it is free.

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- OS: Android 4.2.2
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Apple iPhone 5
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- Announced: 29 Aug 2012
- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.1.1
- Hardware: Quad core, 1600 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.5 inches, 720 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 35 hours of Talk Time, 980 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
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- OS: Android 4.1.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1700 MHz, Krait 300, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
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- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900), CDMA (800 1900)
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- Announced: 07 Jan 2013
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- Camera 13.1 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 11 hours of Talk Time, 550 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
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- Announced: 29 Oct 2012
- OS: Android 4.2.2 4.2.1 4.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15.3 hours of Talk Time, 390 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
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- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.0.4
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15 hours of Talk Time, 335 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE HSPA (unspecified) UMTS EDGE GPRS
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- Announced: 05 Sep 2012
- OS: Windows Phone 8
- Hardware: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 1024 MB RAM
- Display: 4.5 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8.7 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 17 hours of Talk Time, 400 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
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Microsoft patents Inconspicuous Mode to save us from ourselves

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5 Comments Follow Following

1. someones4 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 18:29 0

2. jroc74 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 19:10 0

3. jroc74 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 19:19 0

4. freebee269 posted on 23 Jan 2013, 22:33 0

5. buccob posted on 28 Feb 2013, 07:03 0

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