New patent may make iPhones change settings based on locations

Tired of having to manually tweak your settings when logging on to different networks in different locations? That may no longer be a problem for iPhones and iPads in the future.

Apple has sought a "smart lock" patent for a system that can adjust its security levels and other settings based on the user's location.

"The security level and/or other device behavior, configurations, or settings on a mobile device can be modified based on the location of the mobile device. The location of the mobile device can be determined by analyzing location aspects present at a location, where any parameters or attributes of a location that can assist in identifying a particular location may be used as location aspects," Apple said in its patent application with the US Patent Trademark Office.

Under the patent, the device identifies a location and modifies the phone's settings accordingly.

A separate article on tech site T3.com said the patent can potentially allow an iPhone to give a user access without seeking a passcode if it detects it is at the user's home.
 
T3.com said the patent describes a system that tracks one's location based on GPS data or whether one is connected to a known WiFi network.

"Because some locations may be inherently more secure, such as a user's home or office, these locations may be considered 'safe' and require less stringent security," it quoted the patent application as saying.

On the other hand, T3 noted the pending system "sounds very similar" to Google's "personal unlock" feature that debuted at Google's I/O conference this year.

"Google says a future version of Android (probably Android L) will give devices the ability to check for other nearby devices owned by the same user, and will modify security systems like passcode requirement based on the info. Are we smelling the whiffs of a fresh patent war?" it said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News