Context-based management of mobile devices

Abstract

Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile device. Mobile devices process environmental inputs and transmit context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. A management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage requests for communication with the mobile device. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, at a mobile device, a first context of the mobile device based at least in part on sensor data of the mobile device;   generating, at the mobile device and prior to a requested communication session including the mobile device, a context notification message based at least in part on the determined first context, wherein management of the requested communication session by a remote call processing device is defined by the context notification message; and   transmitting the context notification message from the mobile device to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the context notification message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising initiating, at the mobile device, the requested communication session subsequent to allowance of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving, at the mobile device, a notification that the requested communication session has been disallowed by the remote call processing device based on the management defined by the context notification message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a second context of the mobile device; 
 generating, at the mobile device and prior to the requested communication session including the mobile device, an updated context notification message based at least in part on the determined second context, wherein management of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device is defined by the updated context notification message; and 
 transmitting the updated device context notification message from the mobile device to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the updated context notification message. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data of the mobile device comprises at least one of a geographic location of the mobile device or a degree of motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a mobile telephone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, or a vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein first context reflects a degree of user risk associated with using the mobile device to engage in a communications session. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile device comprising:
 a data store configure to store a context of the mobile device determined based at least in part on sensor data of the mobile device; and   a processor configured with specific computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 generate, prior to a requested communication session including the mobile device, a context notification message based at least in part on the context of the mobile device within the data store, wherein management of the requested communication session by a remote call processing device is defined by the context notification message; and 
 transmit the context notification message to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the context notification message. 
   
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine an updated context of the mobile device;   generate, prior to the requested communication session including the mobile device, an updated context notification message based at least in part on the updated context, wherein management of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device is defined by the updated context notification message; and   transmitting the updated device context notification message from the mobile device to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the updated context notification message.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 9 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor, prior to transmitting the updated device context notification message, determine that the updated context differs from the context stored within the data store. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the context notification message enables the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session without further communicating with the mobile device to determine a current context of the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to initiate, at the mobile device, the requested communication session subsequent to allowance of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to receive, at the mobile device, a notification that the requested communication session has been disallowed by the remote call processing device based on the management defined by the context notification message. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine a second context of the mobile device;   generate, at the mobile device and prior to the requested communication session including the mobile device, an updated context notification message based at least in part on the determined second context, wherein management of the requested communication session by a remote call processing device is defined by the updated context notification message; and   transmit the updated device context notification message from the mobile device to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the updated context notification message.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to determine the context of the mobile device based at least in part on an assessment of whether the mobile device is currently in a geospatial zone for which a usage policy is specified for the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor data includes data received by the mobile device from an automobile computer. 
     
     
         17 . Non-transitory computer-readable storage media including computer executable instructions comprising:
 first computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to maintain a context of the mobile device determined based at least in part on sensor data of the mobile device; and   second computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 generate, prior to a requested communication session including the mobile device, a context notification message based at least in part on the maintained context of the mobile device, wherein management of the requested communication session by a remote call processing device is defined by the context notification message; and 
 transmit the context notification message to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the context notification message. 
   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor based data includes at least one of a velocity associated with a current environment of the mobile device, a distance traveled by the mobile device within a specified period of time, or a current direction traveled by the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the second computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to initiate, at the mobile device, the requested communication session subsequent to allowance of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the second computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to receive, at the mobile device, a notification that the requested communication session has been disallowed by the remote call processing device based on the management defined by the context notification message. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise third computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine a second context of the mobile device;   generate, at the mobile device and prior to the requested communication session including the mobile device, an updated context notification message based at least in part on the determined second context, wherein management of the requested communication session by the remote call processing device is defined by the updated context notification message; and   transmit the updated device context notification message from the mobile device to the remote call processing device to enable the remote call processing device to process the requested communication session based on the management defined by the updated context notification message.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor data includes data reflective of a level of noise detected via a microphone of the mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the second computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 for each interval of a set of intervals, collect the sensor data at the mobile device; and   modify a duration of at least one interval within the set of intervals based at least in part on an expected variance in the sensor data.