Vibration Sensing System and Method for Categorizing Portable Device Context and Modifying Device Operation

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for operating a computing device including determining an amount of pressure exerted on a touch-sensitive surface of the computing device. According to the various embodiments, a touch input is received by the touch-sensitive surface. The amount of pressure exerted by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface is then determined. The computing device operates in a first manner when a first amount of pressure is received and operates in a second manner when a second amount of pressure is received.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 an enclosure defining a surface;   a set of one or more sensors configured to detect a pressure applied to the surface; and   a processor operably connected to the set of one or more sensors and configured to:
 receive a signal from a sensor of the set of one or more sensors, the received signal associated with the pressure applied to the surface; 
 identify a property of the received signal; and 
 determine, using the identified property of the received signal, that a user is applying a grip to the portable electronic device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The portable electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further operable to modify an operation of the portable electronic device when it is determined that the user is applying the grip to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         23 . The portable electronic device of  claim 22 , further comprising a telephone module, wherein the modified operation comprises a conditional answering of an incoming call received by the telephone module. 
     
     
         24 . The portable electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the modified operation comprises a modification of a ringtone produced by the telephone module. 
     
     
         25 . The portable electronic device of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, using the identified property of the received signal, when no grip is applied to the portable electronic device; and   increase a volume of the ringtone produced by the telephone module when it is determined that no grip is applied to the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         26 . The portable electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the user based on the identified property of the received signal. 
     
     
         27 . The portable electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the portable electronic device is further configured to:
 display a user interface image on a display of the portable electronic device; and   modify the user interface image in response to the identified property of the received signal.   
     
     
         28 . The portable electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a grip strength of the grip using the identified property of the received signal. 
     
     
         29 . The portable electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the user using the determined grip strength. 
     
     
         30 . The portable electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the determined grip strength is a value on a continuous scale of values. 
     
     
         31 . The portable electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is further configured to classify the grip strength as belonging to one of a set of predetermined categories. 
     
     
         32 . A method of operating a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a processor of the portable electronic device, a signal from a sensor of the portable electronic device, the sensor configured to detect a contact on an enclosure of the portable electronic device;   identifying, by the processor of the portable electronic device, a property of the received signal; and   using at least the identified property of the received signal to determine a holding state of the portable electronic device, the holding state comprising a grip on the enclosure by a user.   
     
     
         33 . The method of operating a portable electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the sensor is a pressure sensor, and   the method further comprises determining a level of pressure detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of operating a portable electronic device of  claim 33 , further comprising modifying an operation of the portable electronic device based on the determination of the holding state of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of operating a portable electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the portable electronic device includes a telephone module; and   the modified operation comprises at least one of a modified ringtone of the telephone module or a conditional answering of a telephone call received by the telephone module.   
     
     
         36 . The method of operating a portable electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the modified operation comprises an adjusted volume of the ringtone. 
     
     
         37 . The method of operating a portable electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the modified operation comprises at least one of a modified lighting of a display of the portable electronic device or a modified scroll speed of a graphical user interface of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         38 . An electronic device comprising:
 a memory;   an enclosure defining a touch-sensitive surface; and   a processor configured to receive at least one signal from the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   determine, using the at least one signal, that a pressure is applied to the touch-sensitive surface;   determine a level of the pressure applied to the touch-sensitive surface;   determine that a user is applying a grip to the electronic device using at least the determined level of pressure applied to the touch-sensitive surface; and   modify an operation of the electronic device, the modification of the operation being responsive to the level of pressure applied to the touch-sensitive surface.   
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to identify the user using at least the determined level of pressure applied to the touch-sensitive surface; 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 38 , wherein the modified operation comprises at least one of a modified lighting for a display of the electronic device, a conditional answering of a telephone call received by a telephone module of the electronic device, a modified volume of a ringtone produced by the telephone module, or a modified scroll speed of a graphical user interface of the electronic device.