Microsoft's Device Manners Policy patent enforces "no-talking zones" and more

This is either the best or worst idea ever, depending on your point of view. Microsoft has patented what it calls a "device manners policy" (DMP), a wireless zone-enforced device protocol that allows local operators to turn certain features off (or on) based on local manner and safety policy. Similar to how wireless service on planes can lock out voice but allow data, Microsoft's DMP concept would allow local czars to enforce, for example, "no talking out loud" or "no photography" rules. Audio recording could be disabled at concerts, video recording killed at theaters, and ringers turned off at funerals. Of course, this all requires manufacturers to comply with the DMP protocol in their devices. In the end, we'd be looking at a pre-movie PSA that says "your phone is now being put on silent" rather than "please turn off your cell phone."

[Via Unwired Review]

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:03PM]

Welcome to Bill's House of Movies and Rape -- Your cell phone will be automatically disabled upon entrance to prevent any pesky 911 calls.

[MiggityMikeB Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:18PM]

Can we just skip this entirely and install farraday cages into the walls of movie theaters and restaurants?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:24PM]

This will be a fun one to hack into.

I'll be sure to disable all cellphones around my vehicle in a 100-yard radius.

This way I can be sure you are concentrating on driving. LOL

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:57PM]

Sign me up! I'll take two. One that I can turn on in coffee shop lines would be nice too.

[dosguy Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:36PM]

This should be standard equipment on all cars. Put the car into gear and pfffffft. Problem with drivers distracted by using cellphones---SOLVED!

[w Posted Jun 5th 2008 12:45PM]

Surely it's hackable

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 1:22PM]

This is basically trying to patent a location-based IT policy for mobile devices. Very simple idea. Patent probably won't go through, but this doesn't mean it still won't be implemented.

But people will just start to unlock their devices so that the policy no longer affects them. It would have to be an agreement between your service provider and the people who own these special zones. That would be pretty hard to work out.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 1:25PM]

FOA: Yangon

[ecobore Posted Jun 5th 2008 2:07PM]

nobody in their right mind would buy anything with this shit inside!

[mnorthcott Posted Jun 5th 2008 3:56PM]

couldn't some wise hacker find a way to use this to break into all the cellphones that lie in the zone, either for identity theft or even worse: direct marketing?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 3:27PM]

Am I the only one.....?
But...In the passed few movies I've been to, people haven't been on their phones. I mean, I've seen people open their phones and such to check a text-message, which really doesn't bug me...

I haven't seen anyone talking on their phone in a theater though....As annoying as I'm sure it would be, I think it'd be a lot easier and a lot cheaper to just tell an employee (I can't remember the actual term for one of the theater workers...like a theater bouncer) and have the bothersome person removed rather than implement such a huge scheme of mobile-DRM.

[junktrunk Posted Jun 5th 2008 6:01PM]

"In the passed few movies I've been to..."

Really, "passed"?? I mean, I hate to be the grammar police, but how much brain power does it take to understand that this could not possibly be the right way to spell that? It has always amazed me that people confuse "passed" and "past", "supposed" and "suppost". Come on!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2008 3:58PM]

I was once at a local clinic getting standard STD tests done and this woman was there (also for tests) talking on her cel the whole time very loudly and describing in detail everything going on to her girlfriend with a large No Cel Phone sign just to her right.... Also Can this same technology be used to turn peoples car lights on and cel phones off in Atlanta when it is dark or raining

[Landwomble Posted Jun 5th 2008 6:52PM]

this was one of the original sales pitches for bluetooth: your phone would auto-mute in libraries and cinemas etc. definitely not new.

[matthew2 Posted Jun 5th 2008 10:50PM]

Wow, Microsoft's utter contempt for consumers never ceases to amaze me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 6th 2008 2:12AM]

Perhaps most people don't understand, but the consumer market is actually less significant and dare I say less profitable than the business market. It's a profitable technology that Microsoft can market to businesses or government. I doubt there are people sitting at Microsoft Research and going out of their way to think of new and innovative ways to screw us.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 9th 2008 8:25AM]

The people and companies that fund and create original content have to have a way to monetize those investments. Otherwise, everything turns into amateur youtube like content.