Method and apparatus for providing a notification of received message

• US 20020111198A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anders Heie
• Original Assignee: Anders Heie
• Inventors: Heie, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1025 Paging receivers with audible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1041 with alternative alert, e.g. remote or silent alert

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing a notification of a received message when the user may not have received the initial alert. An auto notification feature is provided, such that if the apparatus upon receiving a message detects no movement, then an additional alert is provided upon the apparatus detecting a movement. Also, if the user has not acknowledged the receipt of a message, then the most efficient method of providing alert is used for all the subsequent messages received.

Claims

1. A method of providing a notification of a received message in an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting motion of the electronic device;

determining a mode of the electronic device upon detecting a motion of the electronic device; and

executing an alert if it is determined that said mode determined in the step of determining is a sleep mode.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a motion sensor for monitoring the motion of the electronic device, prior to the step of detecting motion of the electronic device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving, in the electronic device, the message, prior to the step of activating a motion sensor.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of determining the mode of the electronic device, after the step of receiving the message.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of executing an first alert if determined that the mobile terminal is in the first mode, after the step of determining the mode of the electronic device and prior to the step of activating said motion sensor.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of executing the first alert comprises a step of executing a standard alert selected by the user of the electronic device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of executing a standard alert comprises a step of executing a vibrate type alert.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of executing a standard alert comprises a step of executing an audible type alert.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of executing a standard alert comprises a step of executing a visual type alert.

10. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of executing a second alert, if determined that the electronic device is in the second mode, after the step of determining the mode of the electronic device and prior to the step of activating said motion sensor.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprises the step of selecting said second alert from said list of alerts, prior to executing said second alert.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of selecting said second alert from said list of alerts comprises a step of selecting an efficient alert that consumes the least amount of battery power.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of executing said second alert comprises step of executing said second alert consuming least amount of battery power.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of setting the mode of the electronic, prior to the step of determining if the electronic device is set to said first mode or said second mode.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of executing said alert comprises a step of executing a set of alerts.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of executing said set of alerts comprises a step of executing a plurality of same type alerts.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of executing said plurality of same type alerts comprises a step executing each said same type alert with varying strength and duration.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of executing said set of alerts comprises a step of executing a plurality of audible type alerts.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of executing said set of alerts comprises a step of executing a plurality of visual type alerts.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of executing said set of alerts comprises a step of executing a plurality of vibrate type alerts.

21. A electronic device for receiving a message, the electronic device comprising:

a motion sensor for detecting motion of the electronic device; and

a processor, coupled the motion sensor, said processor for determining a mode of the electronic device upon detection of motion of the electronic device by said motion sensor;

said processor further for executing an alert if it is determined that the mode determined by said processor is a sleep mode.

22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said processor activates a motion sensor, before said processor detects motion of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processor receives the message, before said processor activates said motion sensor.

24. The electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said processor determines the mode of the electronic device, after said processor receives the message.

25. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said processor executes a first alert if said processor determines that the electronic device is in the first mode, after said processor determines the mode of the electronic device and before said processor activating said motion sensor.

26. The electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said first alert comprises a standard alert selected by the user of the electronic device.

27. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said standard alert comprises a vibrate type alert.

28. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said standard alert comprises an audible type alert.

29. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said standard alert comprises a step of executing a visual type alert.

30. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said processor executes a second alert if said processor determines that the electronic device is in said second mode, after said processor determines said mode of the electronic device and before said processor activates said motion sensor.

31. The electronic device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said second alert comprises a list of alerts.

32. The electronic device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said list of alerts comprises at least one efficient alert, wherein said efficient alert consumes the least amount of battery power.

33. The electronic device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said processor executes said second alert that consumes the least amount of battery power.

34. The electronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said processor sets the mode of the electronic, before said processor determines said mode of the electronic device.

35. The electronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said alert comprises a set of alerts.

36. The electronic device as claimed in claim 36, wherein said set of alerts comprises a plurality of same type alerts.

37. The electronic device as claimed in claim 36, wherein said processor executes each said plurality of same type alerts with varying strength and duration.

38. The electronic device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said set of alerts comprises a plurality of audible type alerts.

39. The electronic device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said set of alerts comprises a plurality of visual type alerts.

40. The electronic device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said set of alerts comprises a plurality of vibrate type alerts.