Google could be developing an automated airplane mode feature for mobile devices, as suggested by a recently discovered patent. Traditionally, airplane mode is a feature that users have to manually enable or disable on their Android devices. However, this patent details a system that would activate and deactivate this feature automatically, potentially offering users a more convenient and streamlined experience when traveling.
The patent, titled "Connect Flight Mode," describes a functionality designed for mobile computing devices including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The proposed feature uses various triggers such as pressure drops, ultrasonic signals, the Wi-Fi signal of a plane, and the user's travel booking activities to detect when the device is on an airplane. Once the device determines it's on a plane, it will automatically switch to airplane mode, returning to normal mode once it detects that the user is back on the ground.
Connect Flight Mode isn't just an automatic switch to airplane mode. It's designed to support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, unlike the traditional airplane mode that shuts these connections down along with the cellular network. The document also suggests that the feature would adjust Wi-Fi settings to match the specific type of connection offered by the airplane, ensuring the user remains connected. However, the patent also mentions that the feature may disconnect from a network if the battery gets too low or if the quality of the network is poor.
Moreover, this mode would allow your device to configure Wi-Fi settings for a sustained user experience. Automatic backups, background app refreshes, and updates get paused when this mode is activated, thus potentially saving battery life and limiting data usage.
While exciting, it's important to remember that this is just a patent application, and there’s no guarantee that this feature will ever become a reality. Google, like many other companies, regularly files patents, but only a fraction of them ever materialize into real products or features. Nevertheless, if Google decides to implement the Connected Flight Mode, it could prove to be a highly convenient feature for frequent travelers, streamlining connectivity and simplifying the user experience during flights.