WO2013128069A1

WO2013128069A1 - Method and apparatus for hierarchy-based control setting change

Info

Publication number: WO2013128069A1
Application number: PCT/FI2013/050091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Gichana OMWENGA
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2012-02-29
Filing date: 2013-01-29
Publication date: 2013-09-06

Abstract

An example approach is provided for determining relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. A relationship platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings. Then, the one or more devices may cause, at least in part, an initiation of one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR

HIERARCHY-BASED CONTROL SETTING CHANGE

BACKGROUND

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. One area of interest has been the development of user-friendly devices and services for such devices. For example, mobile devices may now be equipped with control setting changes in response to location, time, etc. In addition, applications and settings are being developed specifically for mobile devices, and services also exist to provide mobile device users with easier control over these settings. Nonetheless, device control settings are sometimes not tailored to respond to certain contexts or social contexts, such as a phone that inappropriately rings during a meeting. As such, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges to making device control settings responsive to various contexts.

SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Therefore, there is a need for an approach for hierarchy-based control setting change.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises determining relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. The method also comprises processing and/or facilitating a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings. The method further comprises causing, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof. According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to determine relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. The apparatus is also caused to process and/or facilitate a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings. The apparatus is further caused to cause, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof. According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium carries one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, an apparatus to determine relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. The apparatus is also caused to process and/or facilitate a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings. The apparatus is further caused to cause, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for determining relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. The apparatus also comprises means for processing and/or facilitating a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings. The apparatus further comprises means for causing, at least in part, an initiation of the one the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof causing, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof.

In addition, for various example embodiments of the invention, the following is applicable: a method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on (or derived at least in part from) any one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at least one service, the at least one service configured to perform any one or any combination of network or service provider methods (or processes) disclosed in this application.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based, at least in part, on data and/or information resulting from one or any combination of methods or processes disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is also applicable: a method comprising creating and/or modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based at least in part on data and/or information resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes) can be accomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile device side or in any shared way between service provider and mobile device with actions being performed on both sides.

For various example embodiments, the following is applicable: An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of originally filed claims 1-20 and 36-38. Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of hierarchy-based control setting change, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of the relationship platform, according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for applying control settings based on one or more hierarchies, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for determining one or more hierarchies, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of hardware that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) that can be used to implement an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Examples of a method, apparatus, and computer program for hierarchy-based control setting change are disclosed. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of hierarchy-based control setting change, according to one embodiment. As discussed, recent technological advances and developments have made devices more of user-friendly. For example, mobile devices are now equipped with control settings changing in response to location, time, etc. For instance, phone ring volume may change in response to the phone being within a certain radius of a workplace. In another instance, a phone setting may change after 8 PM, reflecting the likelihood that an associated user has left a work setting. In addition, applications and settings are being developed specifically for mobile devices, and services also exist to provide mobile device users with easier control over these settings. Nonetheless, control settings are sometimes not tailored to social contexts, such as ringing inappropriately during a meeting. Control settings are not yet adjusted based on the presence of other devices in a context. As such, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges to making device control settings more responsive to various contexts. To address this problem, a system 100 of FIG. 1 introduces the capability to apply control based on the relation of one or more devices relative to one or more other devices. In one embodiment, the system 100 may do so by determining relationship information among the UEs lOla-lOln (also collectively referred to as UEs 101) in the system 100. UEs 101 may be in system 100 by having physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof, with one another. In one instance, relationship information may be part of one or more hierarchies. The system 100 may then apply control settings to UEs 101 in accordance to their respective positions in the hierarchy. For example, a hierarchy may be a company organizational chart, defining levels of employees. If each UE 101 is associated with an employee, system 100 may then determine when UEs 101 are in proximity with each other and arrange the UEs 101 according to a hierarchy corresponding to the organizational chart. Then, UEs 101 may respond by initiating control settings that reflect to their respective position in the hierarchy. In one scenario, UEs 101 associated with employees may be prompted to apply a phone ring set to "Silent" when the presence of a UE 101 associated with one or more senior employees is detected in close proximity. Alternately, relationship information may convey that several UEs 101 associated with employees of the same level are proximate one another. This relationship information may be defined to entail a casual meeting setting, and the UEs 101 may be prompted to apply a phone ring set to "Vibrate."

In a further embodiment, UEs 101 may be prompted of entry into a hierarchy due to some information in addition to relationship information. In one scenario, the additional information may include context information, such as location. For instance, if a UE 101 were to enter a site associated with an existing hierarchy for the first time, the UE 101 may be notified of the hierarchy and prompted to enter some information that may permit the UE 101 to exist inside the hierarchy. For example, if a company's client were to enter a company site, a UE 101 associated with the client may be notified of entering a hierarchy including the company's organizational chart. For such a scenario, if the system 100 is informed that a client is present, the UE 101 may be placed at the top of the hierarchy. Alternately, if a UE 101 associated with a newly hired intern enters the company site, the system 100 may place the UE 101 at the lowest level of the hierarchy. Alternately, using a combination of relationship and context information, system 100 may prompt UEs 101 to apply control settings in commercial areas. For example, system 100 may detect that UE 101 has entered a store and prompt control setting application in response to UE 101 being associated with a top customer of the store. UEs 101 of less devoted customers may then also change control settings in response to the UE 101 of a top customer entering the store. In a simpler scenario, system 100 may detect that UE 101 is in the proximity of a movie theatre and prompt a control setting, such as setting phone ringer volume to "Silent."

In an even further embodiment, UEs 101 may arrange hierarchies in hierarchies. For example, hierarchies may exist for both UEs 101 associated with family members and UEs 101 associated with co-workers. When UEs 101 of both family members and co-workers are present, system 100 may prompt control settings according to which hierarchy takes precedent. For instance, a parent may be at the top of a family hierarchy such that the UE 101 associated with the parent has ringer volume set to "Loud" when UEs 101 associated with children are present. However, when a UE 101 associated with the parent's work supervisor is detected proximate the UE 101 of the parent, system 100 prompts the UE 101 associated with the parent to set ringer volume to "Vibrate" rather than "Loud" in view of the work organizational hierarchy taking precedent over the family hierarchy. Applying phone ringer volume settings is only one example of a control setting application. Any applications, services, or a combination thereof of the UEs 101 may respond to the hierarchy levels. In another embodiment, relationship information among one or more UEs 101 may trigger initiation of control settings at one or more other UEs 101 to create a consistent setting. In such an embodiment, one or more other UEs 101 may include UEs 101 of various types. For instance, one or more UEs 101 may include phones and one or more other UEs 101 may include stereo systems. In this scenario, the presence of the phone may cause specific reactions from the stereo systems. In one case, the stereo systems in a home may be pre-configured to respond to the presence of the homeowner's phone such that when the homeowner returns home (with the phone), the system 100 of the home sense's the phone's proximity and prompts the stereo system to turn on according to the homeowner's preferences. In a further embodiment, such preferences may be arranged in a hierarchy too, where the control settings of the stereo system are set to respond to the highest level in the hierarchy. For example, when a child returns home, the stereo may automatically switch on rock music. However, when a parent returns home (and the system 100 detects that the parent is higher in the hierarchy than the child), the stereo system switches to the radio's evening news according to the parent's settings. In such a scenario, the control settings applied may be determined according to the highest level of the one or more UEs 101.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises a user equipment (UE) 101 having connectivity to a relationship platform 103 and database 107 via a communication network 105. By way of example, the communication network 105 of system 100 includes one or more networks such as a data network, a wireless network, a telephony network, or any combination thereof. It is contemplated that the data network may be any local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public data network (e.g., the Internet), short range wireless network, or any other suitable packet-switched network, such as a commercially owned, proprietary packet-switched network, e.g., a proprietary cable or fiber-optic network, and the like, or any combination thereof. In addition, the wireless network may be, for example, a cellular network and may employ various technologies including enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g., worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth®, Internet Protocol (IP) data casting, satellite, mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), and the like, or any combination thereof.

The UE 101 is any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portable terminal including a mobile handset, station, unit, device, multimedia computer, multimedia tablet, Internet node, communicator, desktop computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, netbook computer, tablet computer, personal communication system (PCS) device, personal navigation device, personal digital assistants (PDAs), audio/video player, digital camera/camcorder, positioning device, television receiver, radio broadcast receiver, electronic book device, game device, or any combination thereof, including the accessories and peripherals of these devices, or any combination thereof. It is also contemplated that the UE 101 can support any type of interface to the user (such as "wearable" circuitry, etc.).

In one embodiment, relationship platform 103 may detect UEs 101 and determine relationship information among them. The relationship platform 103 may rely on the database 107 for a collection of hierarchies and arrange the detected UEs 101 according to the hierarchies. Database 107 may store various hierarchies, including hierarchies associated with UEs 101 and hierarchies associated with locations, as previously discussed. Level modules 109 at UEs 101 may then receive, from the relationship platform 103, respective levels of their UEs 101. For instance, if a hierarchy includes three levels and relationship platform 103 finds a particular UE 101 to be in level 2, the relationship platform 103 may relay to the UE 101 , the integer: 2. Setting modules 11 1 may process received levels to determine control settings to apply. Continuing off the previous example, perhaps setting module 11 1 determines that the UE 101 should adjust phone ringer volume to "Vibrate" in response to being in level 2. Should the UEs 101 in a system 100 change and the relationship platform 103 associate a particular UE 101 with level 1 , the setting module 11 1 may determine that the UE 101 should adjust phone ringer volume to "Loud," since "Loud" is the ringer volume associated with UE 101 being in level 1.

Once one or more control setting are determined, initiation module 113 may generate a notification or prompt to apply the settings. Also, when UE 101 enters a new hierarchy, initiation module 113 may create a prompt to configure control setting-to-level associations so that the control settings may be applied more readily the subsequent times UE 101 enters that given hierarchy.

By way of example, the UE 101, relationship platform 103, database 107, level module 109, setting module 1 11 , initiation module 1 13, or any combination thereof may communicate with each other and other components of the communication network 105 using well known, new or still developing protocols. In this context, a protocol includes a set of rules defining how the network nodes within the communication network 105 interact with each other based on information sent over the communication links. The protocols are effective at different layers of operation within each node, from generating and receiving physical signals of various types, to selecting a link for transferring those signals, to the format of information indicated by those signals, to identifying which software application executing on a computer system sends or receives the information. The conceptually different layers of protocols for exchanging information over a network are described in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. Communications between the network nodes are typically effected by exchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet typically comprises (1) header information associated with a particular protocol, and (2) payload information that follows the header information and contains information that may be processed independently of that particular protocol. In some protocols, the packet includes (3) trailer information following the payload and indicating the end of the payload information. The header includes information such as the source of the packet, its destination, the length of the payload, and other properties used by the protocol. Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocol includes a header and payload for a different protocol associated with a different, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for a particular protocol typically indicates a type for the next protocol contained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is said to be encapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers included in a packet traversing multiple heterogeneous networks, such as the Internet, typically include a physical (layer 1) header, a data- link (layer 2) header, an internetwork (layer 3) header and a transport (layer 4) header, and various application (layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) headers as defined by the OSI Reference Model.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of the relationship platform 103, according to one embodiment. By way of example, the relationship platform 103 includes one or more components for providing hierarchy-based control setting change. It is contemplated that the functions of these components may be combined in one or more components or performed by other components of equivalent functionality. In this embodiment, the relationship platform 103 includes a control logic 201, device module 203, hierarchy module 205, sort module 207, communication interface 209, and memory 21 1. The control logic 201 executes at least one algorithm for executing functions at the relationship platform 103. For example, the control logic 201 may interact with the device module 203 to determine the devices within a communication network 105, wherein one or more devices may have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to one or more other devices. In one embodiment, the device module 203 may detect when one or more devices are proximate one or more other devices. In one scenario, this may include the device module 203 determining when a phone is within a certain radius of or distance from another phone. The control logic 201 and device module 203 may use proximity detection (e.g. Bluetooth Discovery Mode, Google Latitude, etc.) to identify devices. The control logic 201 may direct the hierarchy module 205 to determine relationship information between the one or more UEs 101 detected by the device module 203. In one embodiment, the control logic 201 may determine the relationship information as one or more hierarchies associated with UEs 101 detected by the device module 203. For instance, the hierarchy module 205 may determine one or more hierarchies, including a hierarchy arranged like an organizational chart and/or a hierarchy reflecting family structure. Then, the control logic 201 may work with the sort module 207 to associate one or more UEs 101 with one or more levels in the one or more hierarchies. For the embodiment where one or more hierarchies reflects a company's organizational chart, for instance, the control logic 201 may determine when UEs 101 associated senior employees are in the vicinity of UEs 101 associated with junior employee, then proceed to sort the UEs 101 into levels of the organizational chart hierarchy such that each UE 101 is associated with a given level of the hierarchy. As discussed earlier, once levels are associated with each UE 101, respective level modules 109 may retrieve, from relationship platform 103, the level associated with the respective UE 101. Level modules 109 may then work with setting modules 11 1 and initiation modules 113 to apply one or more control settings corresponding to the level retrieved.

In a further embodiment, the device module 203 may continually update and determine the UEs 101 in proximity with each other, such that relationship information among the UEs 101 may be accurate. By extension, the UEs 101 may continually re-determine and apply control settings according to the updates.

Additionally, the control logic 201 may also utilize the communication interface 209 to communicate with components of the UEs 101, the relationship platform 103, the database 107, and other components of the system 100. The communication interface 209 may include multiple means of communication. For example, the communication interface 209 may be able to communicate over SMS, internet protocol, instant messaging, voice sessions (e.g., via a phone network), or other types of communication.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for initiating one or more control settings at one or more devices based on relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the control logic 201 performs the process 300 and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 6. In step 301, the control logic 201 may determine relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices. For instance, control logic 201 may detect UEs 101 that are proximate one another and part of communication network 105. In one scenario, control logic 201 may determine when UEs 101 are close enough in proximity to all be located in an office conference room. Next, for step 303, the control logic 201 may cause, at least in part, a sorting of relationship information between the one or more devices and one or more other devices. This step may involve the control logic 201 processing and/or facilitating a processing of information to cause, at least in part, an association of one or more devices with one or more levels in one or more hierarchies. For example, if relationship platform 103 recognizes a company organizational chart as a hierarchy, the control logic 201 may sort and determine the levels associated with UEs 101 , based on relationship information between the UEs 101. In one scenario, control logic 201 may cause UEs 101 associated with senior employees to be associated with level 1 , for instance, and UEs 101 associated with junior employees to be arranged in subsequent levels reflecting their positions in the organizational chart. Consequently, control logic 201 may determine the level of one or more devices relative to the level of one or more other devices (step 305).

In one embodiment, the process may include determining the one or more control settings according to the level of the one or more devices relative to the highest level of one or more other devices (step 307). For instance, if a level 2 UE 101 is the highest-level UE 101, the level module 109 and setting module 111 may determine a control setting where the incoming call ring tone may be set to volume: Loud. All the other UEs 101 in the system may initiate control settings in response to there being a level 2 UE 101 present, rather than processing relationship information relative to every other UE 101 in the system. However, if control logic 201 detects a UE 101 of level 1 entering the system 100, the level 1 UE 101 may now occupy the highest level of the hierarchy. As a result, level module 109 and setting module 11 1 of the level 2 UE 101 may determine a control setting where the incoming call ring tone volume is set to "Silent," and each other UE 101 may respond to there being a level 1 UE 101 proximate, regardless of their position in the hierarchy relative all other non- level 1 UEs 101. In a further embodiment, where there are multiple hierarchies, respective setting modules 11 1 may apply the control settings in response to its position relative to the highest level of the hierarchy. For instance, a UE 101 being the highest level in a family hierarchy may be secondary to being in a middle level of a company hierarchy. In such a scenario, even if the UE 101 would originally have volume set to, "Loud," according to its high level in the family hierarchy, the control setting applied may, in fact, be the volume setting, "Vibrate," in accordance to a middle level in the office hierarchy. Such an application of control settings may occur when the system 100 and control logic 201 sense that a higher- level hierarchy is present.

Overall, the control logic 201 may process and/or facilitate a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings (steps 307 and 309). In one embodiment, steps 307 and 309 may include determining context information associated with the one or more devices; and causing, at least in part, an integration of control settings based, at least in part, on context information, relationship information, or a combination thereof. For instance, the control logic 201 may initiate the company organizational chart hierarchy when context information associated with UE 101 determines that UE 101 is on company grounds.

After determining the relationships of one or more devices relative one another, the control logic 201 may work in conjunction with level modules 109 and setting modules 11 1, or some combination thereof, to cause, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof (step 309). In one embodiment, the one or more control settings are to be performed by one or more applications, one or more services, or a combination thereof. For instance, the level modules 109 and setting modules 11 1, or some combination thereof, may be one or more applications and/or one or more services. In a further embodiment, the control logic 21 may determine one or more updates to the one or more other devices near the one or more devices; and cause, at least in part, a re-determination of control settings based, at least in part, on the one or more updates. As described earlier, this means that the control logic 201 may re-evaluate positions in the hierarchy and relationship information amongst UEs 101 as the UEs 101 move in and out of proximity with one another.

In a further embodiment, respective UE 101 initiation modules 113 initiate the one or more control settings, wherein the initiation includes one or more notifications prior to applying the one or more control settings. Such a notification may include an audio notification, an initiation screen, a prompt requesting user approval, or some combination thereof.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for arranging the relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the control logic 201 performs the process 400 and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 6. For step 401, the control logic 201 may determine the relationship information as part of one or more hierarchies, wherein the one or more control settings are based, at least in part, on the one or more hierarchies. For instance, examples of relationship information that fall into hierarchical orders may include specifications of a particular UE 101 or information relating to the user associated with a particular UE 101.

In step 403, the control logic 201 may determine one or more types of relationship information between one or more devices. In one scenario, UEs 101 may have many different kinds of relationship information with other UEs 101. Control logic 201 may then hone in one type of relationship information, in particular, between the UEs 101 , such as job description of the user associated with a particular UE 101. For step 405, the control logic 201 may set up the hierarchy by causing, at least in part, the types of relationship information to be arranged in the one or more hierarchies. For example, prior to a hierarchy, "Hostess", "Waitress", and "Bartender" may be simply job descriptions. However, with step 405, the control logic may set up a hierarchy with "Waitress" and "Bartender" and level 1, and "Hostess" at level 2.

Once one or more hierarchies are established, the control logic 201 may determine to pre- configure the one more or more control settings with one or more devices, one or more services, one or more applications, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more hierarchies (step 407). As previously discussed, upon entry into a system 100 with an existing hierarchy, a user may be prompted to program his associated UE 101 with information regarding its position in the hierarchy. A user may also simply be prompted to pre-configure control settings corresponding to each level, such that in any hierarchy, control settings reflect the UE 101 's level in the same way. For example, UEs 101 may either respond to its level in each hierarchy differently, depending on the hierarchy, or UEs 101 may apply control settings responding to a given level the say way, across all hierarchies. In one scenario, UE 101 may set its ringer volume to "Vibrate" when it is in level 2 in the company hierarchy, but set ringer volume to "Loud" when it is in level 2 of the family hierarchy. Alternately, UE 101 may set its ringer volume to "Vibrate" when it is detected as being in level 2 of any hierarchy, whether UE 101 be in a system with a company hierarchy and/or a family hierarchy.

The processes described herein for hierarchy-based control setting change may be advantageously implemented via software, hardware, firmware or a combination of software and/or firmware and/or hardware. For example, the processes described herein, may be advantageously implemented via processor(s), Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc. Such exemplary hardware for performing the described functions is detailed below.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer system 500 upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Although computer system 500 is depicted with respect to a particular device or equipment, it is contemplated that other devices or equipment (e.g., network elements, servers, etc.) within FIG. 5 can deploy the illustrated hardware and components of system 500. Computer system 500 is programmed (e.g., via computer program code or instructions) to hierarchy-based control setting change as described herein and includes a communication mechanism such as a bus 510 for passing information between other internal and external components of the computer system 500. Information (also called data) is represented as a physical expression of a measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, but including, in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic, electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, biological, molecular, atomic, sub-atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north and south magnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent two states (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena can represent digits of a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneous quantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). A sequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is used to represent a number or code for a character. In some embodiments, information called analog data is represented by a near continuum of measurable values within a particular range. Computer system 500, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of hierarchy-based control setting change.

A bus 510 includes one or more parallel conductors of information so that information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus 510. One or more processors 502 for processing information are coupled with the bus 510. A processor (or multiple processors) 502 performs a set of operations on information as specified by computer program code related to hierarchy-based control setting change. The computer program code is a set of instructions or statements providing instructions for the operation of the processor and/or the computer system to perform specified functions. The code, for example, may be written in a computer programming language that is compiled into a native instruction set of the processor. The code may also be written directly using the native instruction set (e.g., machine language). The set of operations include bringing information in from the bus 510 and placing information on the bus 510. The set of operations also typically include comparing two or more units of information, shifting positions of units of information, and combining two or more units of information, such as by addition or multiplication or logical operations like OR, exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Each operation of the set of operations that can be performed by the processor is represented to the processor by information called instructions, such as an operation code of one or more digits. A sequence of operations to be executed by the processor 502, such as a sequence of operation codes, constitute processor instructions, also called computer system instructions or, simply, computer instructions. Processors may be implemented as mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical or quantum components, among others, alone or in combination.

Computer system 500 also includes a memory 504 coupled to bus 510. The memory 504, such as a random access memory (RAM) or any other dynamic storage device, stores information including processor instructions for hierarchy-based control setting change. Dynamic memory allows information stored therein to be changed by the computer system 500. RAM allows a unit of information stored at a location called a memory address to be stored and retrieved independently of information at neighboring addresses. The memory 504 is also used by the processor 502 to store temporary values during execution of processor instructions. The computer system 500 also includes a read only memory (ROM) 506 or any other static storage device coupled to the bus 510 for storing static information, including instructions, that is not changed by the computer system 500. Some memory is composed of volatile storage that loses the information stored thereon when power is lost. Also coupled to bus 510 is a non- volatile (persistent) storage device 508, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk or flash card, for storing information, including instructions, that persists even when the computer system 500 is turned off or otherwise loses power.

Information, including instructions for hierarchy-based control setting change, is provided to the bus 510 for use by the processor from an external input device 512, such as a keyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, a microphone, an Infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, a touch screen, or a sensor. A sensor detects conditions in its vicinity and transforms those detections into physical expression compatible with the measurable phenomenon used to represent information in computer system 500. Other external devices coupled to bus 510, used primarily for interacting with humans, include a display device 514, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, a plasma screen, or a printer for presenting text or images, and a pointing device 516, such as a mouse, a trackball, cursor direction keys, or a motion sensor, for controlling a position of a small cursor image presented on the display 514 and issuing commands associated with graphical elements presented on the display 514. In some embodiments, for example, in embodiments in which the computer system 500 performs all functions automatically without human input, one or more of external input device 512, display device 514 and pointing device 516 is omitted. In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 520, is coupled to bus 510. The special purpose hardware is configured to perform operations not performed by processor 502 quickly enough for special purposes. Examples of ASICs include graphics accelerator cards for generating images for display 514, cryptographic boards for encrypting and decrypting messages sent over a network, speech recognition, and interfaces to special external devices, such as robotic arms and medical scanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence of operations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware.

Computer system 500 also includes one or more instances of a communications interface 570 coupled to bus 510. Communication interface 570 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling to a variety of external devices that operate with their own processors, such as printers, scanners and external disks. In general the coupling is with a network link 578 that is connected to a local network 580 to which a variety of external devices with their own processors are connected. For example, communication interface 570 may be a parallel port or a serial port or a universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. In some embodiments, communications interface 570 is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or a telephone modem that provides an information communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. In some embodiments, a communication interface 570 is a cable modem that converts signals on bus 510 into signals for a communication connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signals for a communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As another example, communications interface 570 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also be implemented. For wireless links, the communications interface 570 sends or receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic or electromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals, that carry information streams, such as digital data. For example, in wireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell phones, the communications interface 570 includes a radio band electromagnetic transmitter and receiver called a radio transceiver. In certain embodiments, the communications interface 570 enables connection to the communication network 105 for hierarchy-based control setting change to the UE 101. The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing information to processor 502, including instructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to computer-readable storage medium (e.g., nonvolatile media, volatile media), and transmission media. Non-transitory media, such as non- volatile media, include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 508. Volatile media include, for example, dynamic memory 504. Transmission media include, for example, twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, and carrier waves that travel through space without wires or cables, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and infrared waves. Signals include man-made transient variations in amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization or other physical properties transmitted through the transmission media. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The term computer- readable storage medium is used herein to refer to any computer-readable medium except transmission media. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both of processor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and special purpose hardware, such as ASIC 520.

Network link 578 typically provides information communication using transmission media through one or more networks to other devices that use or process the information. For example, network link 578 may provide a connection through local network 580 to a host computer 582 or to equipment 584 operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISP equipment 584 in turn provides data communication services through the public, world-wide packet-switching communication network of networks now commonly referred to as the Internet 590. A computer called a server host 592 connected to the Internet hosts a process that provides a service in response to information received over the Internet. For example, server host 592 hosts a process that provides information representing video data for presentation at display 514. It is contemplated that the components of system 500 can be deployed in various configurations within other computer systems, e.g., host 582 and server 592.

At least some embodiments of the invention are related to the use of computer system 500 for implementing some or all of the techniques described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, those techniques are performed by computer system 500 in response to processor 502 executing one or more sequences of one or more processor instructions contained in memory 504. Such instructions, also called computer instructions, software and program code, may be read into memory 504 from another computer-readable medium such as storage device 508 or network link 578. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in memory 504 causes processor 502 to perform one or more of the method steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware, such as ASIC 520, may be used in place of or in combination with software to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software, unless otherwise explicitly stated herein.

The signals transmitted over network link 578 and other networks through communications interface 570, carry information to and from computer system 500. Computer system 500 can send and receive information, including program code, through the networks 580, 590 among others, through network link 578 and communications interface 570. In an example using the Internet 590, a server host 592 transmits program code for a particular application, requested by a message sent from computer 500, through Internet 590, ISP equipment 584, local network 580 and communications interface 570. The received code may be executed by processor 502 as it is received, or may be stored in memory 504 or in storage device 508 or any other non- volatile storage for later execution, or both. In this manner, computer system 500 may obtain application program code in the form of signals on a carrier wave.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequence of instructions or data or both to processor 502 for execution. For example, instructions and data may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as host 582. The remote computer loads the instructions and data into its dynamic memory and sends the instructions and data over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the computer system 500 receives the instructions and data on a telephone line and uses an infra-red transmitter to convert the instructions and data to a signal on an infra-red carrier wave serving as the network link 578. An infrared detector serving as communications interface 570 receives the instructions and data carried in the infrared signal and places information representing the instructions and data onto bus 510. Bus 510 carries the information to memory 504 from which processor 502 retrieves and executes the instructions using some of the data sent with the instructions. The instructions and data received in memory 504 may optionally be stored on storage device 508, either before or after execution by the processor 502.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chip set or chip 600 upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Chip set 600 is programmed to hierarchy-based control setting change as described herein and includes, for instance, the processor and memory components described with respect to FIG. 6 incorporated in one or more physical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical package includes an arrangement of one or more materials, components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set 600 can be implemented in a single chip. It is further contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set or chip 600 can be implemented as a single "system on a chip." It is further contemplated that in certain embodiments a separate ASIC would not be used, for example, and that all relevant functions as disclosed herein would be performed by a processor or processors. Chip set or chip 600, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of providing user interface navigation information associated with the availability of functions. Chip set or chip 600, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of hierarchy-based control setting change.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 600 includes a communication mechanism such as a bus 601 for passing information among the components of the chip set 600. A processor 603 has connectivity to the bus 601 to execute instructions and process information stored in, for example, a memory 605. The processor 603 may include one or more processing cores with each core configured to perform independently. A multi-core processor enables multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of a multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor 603 may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem via the bus 601 to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining, and multithreading. The processor 603 may also be accompanied with one or more specialized components to perform certain processing functions and tasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP) 607, or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) 609. A DSP 607 typically is configured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time independently of the processor 603. Similarly, an ASIC 609 can be configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed by a more general purpose processor. Other specialized components to aid in performing the inventive functions described herein may include one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), one or more controllers, or one or more other special-purpose computer chips.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 600 includes merely one or more processors and some software and/or firmware supporting and/or relating to and/or for the one or more processors. The processor 603 and accompanying components have connectivity to the memory 605 via the bus 601. The memory 605 includes both dynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executable instructions that when executed perform the inventive steps described herein to hierarchy-based control setting change. The memory 605 also stores the data associated with or generated by the execution of the inventive steps.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in the system of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, mobile terminal 701 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of hierarchy-based control setting change. Generally, a radio receiver is often defined in terms of front-end and back-end characteristics. The front-end of the receiver encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the back-end encompasses all of the base-band processing circuitry. As used in this application, the term "circuitry" refers to both: (1) hardware-only implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry), and (2) to combinations of circuitry and software (and/or firmware) (such as, if applicable to the particular context, to a combination of processor(s), including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions). This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application and if applicable to the particular context, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) and its (or their) accompanying software/or firmware. The term "circuitry" would also cover if applicable to the particular context, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a cellular network device or other network devices.

Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main Control Unit (MCU) 703, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 705, and a receiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and a speaker gain control unit. A main display unit 707 provides a display to the user in support of various applications and mobile terminal functions that perform or support the steps of hierarchy-based control setting change. The display 707 includes display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile telephone). Additionally, the display 707 and display circuitry are configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal. An audio function circuitry 709 includes a microphone 71 1 and microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from the microphone 71 1. The amplified speech signal output from the microphone 71 1 is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 713.

A radio section 715 amplifies power and converts frequency in order to communicate with a base station, which is included in a mobile communication system, via antenna 717. The power amplifier (PA) 719 and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally responsive to the MCU 703, with an output from the PA 719 coupled to the duplexer 721 or circulator or antenna switch, as known in the art. The PA 719 also couples to a battery interface and power control unit 720.

In use, a user of mobile terminal 701 speaks into the microphone 71 1 and his or her voice along with any detected background noise is converted into an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then converted into a digital signal through the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) 723. The control unit 703 routes the digital signal into the DSP 705 for processing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding, encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voice signals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellular transmission protocol such as enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), satellite, and the like, or any combination thereof.

The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 725 for compensation of any frequency- dependent impairments that occur during transmission though the air such as phase and amplitude distortion. After equalizing the bit stream, the modulator 727 combines the signal with a RF signal generated in the RF interface 729. The modulator 727 generates a sine wave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In order to prepare the signal for transmission, an up-converter 731 combines the sine wave output from the modulator 727 with another sine wave generated by a synthesizer 733 to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. The signal is then sent through a PA 719 to increase the signal to an appropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA 719 acts as a variable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP 705 from information received from a network base station. The signal is then filtered within the duplexer 721 and optionally sent to an antenna coupler 735 to match impedances to provide maximum power transfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna 717 to a local base station. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied to control the gain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may be forwarded from there to a remote telephone which may be another cellular telephone, any other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks.

Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal 701 are received via antenna 717 and immediately amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA) 737. A down-converter 739 lowers the carrier frequency while the demodulator 741 strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream. The signal then goes through the equalizer 725 and is processed by the DSP 705. A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) 743 converts the signal and the resulting output is transmitted to the user through the speaker 745, all under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU) 703 which can be implemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The MCU 703 receives various signals including input signals from the keyboard 747. The keyboard 747 and/or the MCU 703 in combination with other user input components (e.g., the microphone 71 1) comprise a user interface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU 703 runs a user interface software to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal 701 to hierarchy-based control setting change. The MCU 703 also delivers a display command and a switch command to the display 707 and to the speech output switching controller, respectively. Further, the MCU 703 exchanges information with the DSP 705 and can access an optionally incorporated SIM card 749 and a memory 751. In addition, the MCU 703 executes various control functions required of the terminal. The DSP 705 may, depending upon the implementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digital processing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP 705 determines the background noise level of the local environment from the signals detected by microphone 71 1 and sets the gain of microphone 71 1 to a level selected to compensate for the natural tendency of the user of the mobile terminal 701.

The CODEC 713 includes the ADC 723 and DAC 743. The memory 751 stores various data including call incoming tone data and is capable of storing other data including music data received via, e.g., the global Internet. The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, registers, or any other form of writable storage medium known in the art. The memory device 751 may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, magnetic disk storage, flash memory storage, or any other non-volatile storage medium capable of storing digital data.

An optionally incorporated SIM card 749 carries, for instance, important information, such as the cellular phone number, the carrier supplying service, subscription details, and security information. The SIM card 749 serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal 701 on a radio network. The card 749 also contains a memory for storing a personal telephone number registry, text messages, and user specific mobile terminal settings.

While the invention has been described in connection with a number of embodiments and implementations, the invention is not so limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims. Although features of the invention are expressed in certain combinations among the claims, it is contemplated that these features can be arranged in any combination and order.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising:

determining relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other

devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices; and

processing and/or facilitating a processing of the relationship information, the physical

proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings; and

causing, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof.

2. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the relationship information as part of one or more hierarchies,

wherein the one or more control settings are based, at least in part, on the one or more

hierarchies.

3. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining one or more types of relationship information between one or more devices; and causing, at least in part, the types of relationship information to be arranged in the one or more hierarchies.

4. A method of any of claims 2-3, further comprising:

determining to pre-configure the one or more control settings with one or more devices, one or more services, one or more applications, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more hierarchies.

5. A method of any of claims 2-4, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a sorting of relationship information between one or more devices and one or more other devices;

processing and/or facilitating a processing of relationship information to cause, at least in part, an association of one or more devices with one or more levels in the one or more hierarchies; and

determining the level of the one or more devices relative to the level of one or more other devices.

6. A method of any of claims 2-5, further comprising: determining the one or more control settings according to the level of the one or more devices relative to the highest level of one or more other devices.

7. A method of any of claims 1-6, further comprising:

determining context information associated with the one or more devices; and

causing, at least in part, an integration of control settings based, at least in part, on context information, relationship information, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of any of claims 1-7, further comprising:

determining one or more updates to the one or more other devices near the one or more

devices; and

causing, at least in part, a re- determination of the control settings based, at least in part, on the one or more updates.

9. A method of any of claims 1-8, wherein the initiation of one or more control settings is to be performed by one or more applications, the one or more services, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of any of claims 1-9, wherein the initiation includes a one or more notifications prior to applying the one or more control settings.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine relationship information among one or more devices and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices have physical proximity, social proximity, or a combination thereof to the one or more other devices; and

process and/or facilitate a processing of the relationship information, the physical proximity, the social proximity, or a combination thereof to determine one or more control settings; and

cause, at least in part, an initiation of the one or more control settings at the one or more

devices, the one or more other devices, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the relationship information as part of one or more hierarchies,

hierarchies.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more types of relationship information between one or more devices; and cause, at least in part, the types of relationship information to be arranged in the one or more hierarchies.

14. An apparatus of any of claims 12-13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine to pre-configure the one or more control settings with one or more devices, one or more services, one or more applications, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more hierarchies.

15. An apparatus of any of claims 12-14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a sorting of relationship information between one or more devices and one or more other devices;

process and/or facilitate a processing of relationship information to cause, at least in part, an association of one or more devices with one or more levels in the one or more hierarchies; and

determine the level of the one or more devices relative to the level of one or more other

devices.

16. An apparatus of any of claims 12-15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the one or more control settings according to the level of the one or more devices relative to the highest level of one or more other devices.

17. An apparatus of any of claims 11-16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a number of hops for distributing the one or more content items from a first one of the one or more devices to at least a second one of the one or more devices; and determine the one or more probabilities based, at least in part, on the number of hops.

18. An apparatus of any of claims 11-17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more updates to the one or more other devices near the one or more

devices; and

cause, at least in part, a re-determination of the control settings based, at least in part, on the one or more updates.

19. An apparatus of any of claims 1 1-18, wherein the initiation of one or more control settings is to be performed by one or more applications, the one or more services, or a combination thereof.

20. An apparatus of any of claims 11-19, wherein the initiation includes a one or more notifications prior to applying the one or more control settings.

21. An apparatus of any of claims 11-20, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

22. A computer- readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the steps of a method of at least one of claims 1-10.

23. An apparatus comprising means for at least performing a method of at least one of claims 1-10.

24. An apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising: user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

25. A computer program product including one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the steps of a method of at least one of claims 1-10.

26. A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at least one service, the at least one service configured to at least perform a method of at least one of claims 1-10.

27. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on at least a method of any of claims 1-10.

28. A method comprising facilitating creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based, at least in part, on at least a method of any of claims 1-10.