Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction

Abstract

Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device 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. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a context message identifying a context state of a mobile device, wherein the identified context state is one of a plurality of defined potential context states, each of the plurality of defined potential context states corresponding to a range of potential sensor information regarding an environment of the mobile device, and wherein an availability of the mobile device to establish communication is defined as a function of a previously received mobile device context state independent of specific sensor information on which the context state is based;   independent of processing the specific sensor information on which the context state is based, processing the received context message to determine the availability of the mobile device, wherein the availability is determined based at least in part on the identified context state;   receiving a request for communication with the mobile device;   determining whether to allow the request for communication based at least in part on the availability of the mobile device; and   based at least in part on a determination that the request for communication is allowed, establishing the communication with the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented 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. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific sensor information on which the context state is based comprises at least one of a location of the mobile device or a degree of motion of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the mobile device indicates whether the mobile device is within a geospatial region. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the context message is received from the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit the context message only after determining that a change of the context state of the mobile device has occurred. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein reception of the context identifier occurs prior to reception of the request for communication, and wherein the specific computer-executable instructions cause the communications management component to determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to allowance of the request based on the previously received context identifier, without requesting an additional context identifier indicative of the context state of the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a communications management component comprising one or processors configured with specific computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the communications management component, causes the communications management component to:
 obtain a context identifier indicative of a context state of a mobile device, wherein the context identifier is one of a plurality of defined potential context identifiers, each of the plurality of defined potential identifiers corresponding to a range of potential sensor information regarding an environment of the mobile device, and wherein an availability of the mobile device to establish communication is defined as a function of a previously received mobile device context identifier independent of specific sensor information from which the context identifier was determined; 
 independent of processing the specific sensor information from which the context identifier was determined, process the received context identifier to determine the availability of the mobile device; 
 receive a request for communication including the mobile device; 
 determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to an allowance of the request; and 
 establish the communication including the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein reception of the context identifier indicates that a change of the context state of the mobile device has occurred. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions that further cause the communications management component to:
 receive a second context identifier of the plurality of defined context identifiers, wherein the second context identifier is indicative of a second context state of the mobile device;   independent of processing the specific sensor information from which the second context identifier was determined, process the second context identifier to determine an updated availability of the mobile device;   determine that the updated availability of the mobile device corresponds to termination of the communication; and   cause termination of the communication.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein processing the received context identifier to determine the availability of the mobile device comprises:
 receiving a mobile device profile mapping the received context identifier to the availability of the mobile device; and   processing the mobile device profile based at least in part on the received context identifier to determine the availability of the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions that further cause the communications management component to receive, from a user of the mobile device, instructions to associate the received context identifier to the availability of the mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the availability of the mobile device varies based at least in part on a third party associated with the request for communication, and wherein determining that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to an allowance of the request comprises comparing an identity of the third party associated with the request for communication to the availability of the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein reception of the context identifier occurs prior to reception of the request for communication, and wherein the specific computer-executable instructions cause the communications management component to determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to allowance of the request based on the previously received context identifier, without requesting an additional context identifier indicative of the context state of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . Non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:
 obtain a context identifier indicative of a context state of a mobile device, wherein the context identifier is one of a plurality of defined potential context identifiers, each of the plurality of defined potential identifiers corresponding to a range of potential sensor information regarding an environment of the mobile device, and wherein an availability of the mobile device to establish communication is defined as a function of a previously received mobile device context identifier independent of specific sensor information from which the context identifier was determined;   independent of processing the specific sensor information from which the context identifier was determined, process the received context identifier to determine the availability of the mobile device;   receive a request for communication including the mobile device;   determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to an allowance of the request; and   establish the communication including the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein reception of the context identifier occurs prior to reception of the request for communication, and wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to allowance of the request based on the previously received context identifier, without requesting an additional context identifier indicative of the context state of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein reception of the context identifier occurs only in response to a change of the context state of the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the specific sensor information from which the context identifier was determined 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, a current direction traveled by the mobile device, or a noise level associated with the current environment of the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to determine that the availability of the mobile device corresponds to an allowance of the request based at least in part by determining an identity from which the request for communication including the mobile device was received. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the identity from which the request for communication including the mobile device was received corresponds to at least one of a user of the mobile device or a third party contact of the mobile device.