Delayed user notification of events in a mobile device

• US 20060019638A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hassan, Ahmed E., Chiu, Denny, Wilson, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A sender-specified courtesy notification scheme to delay notification by a receiving device of the receipt of a data message is disclosed. A sender may specify a notification parameter defining a delay and send the parameter in association with the data message to a recipient. The recipient'"'"'s receiving device evaluates the parameter and notifies in response. Local notification data defined by the recipient may also be evaluated. Received data messages subject to delayed notification may be hidden by the receiving device or quietly displayed (e.g. as per other received messages) until the expiry of the delay. Notification parameters and data can be formulated as one or more rules which may take into account the current location of the receiving device. A notification delay may be ignored in certain situations depending on recent use of the receiving device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling notification of an event to a user of a mobile device comprising:

defining a notification parameter to specify a delay for notifying the user of the event; and

sending the notification parameter in association with a data communication to the user;

wherein the receipt of the data communication by the mobile device defines the event to be notified.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data communication comprises an electronic mail (email) message to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising including the notification parameter as a part of the data communication.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data communication comprises an electronic mail (email) message to the user and wherein including the notification parameter comprises using the notification parameter as a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

5. The method of claim 1 including receiving the data communication and notification parameter and notifying the user in response thereto.

6. In a mobile device generating events to be notified to a user of the device, a method for controlling notification comprising:

evaluating notification data defined for delaying notification of events; and

in response to the occurrence of one of the events, notifying of the one of the events in response to said evaluating.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the notification data comprises at least one of:

(i) a notification parameter received by the mobile device in association with a data communication, the receipt of the data communication defining the one of the events; and

(ii) local notification data defined using said mobile device.

8. The method of claim 6 comprising receiving an electronic mail (email) message and wherein the receiving of the email defines the occurrence of the one of the events to be notified.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising receiving a notification parameter in association with the email, the notification parameter defining at least a portion of the notification data.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving a notification parameter comprises receiving the notification parameter as a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

11. The method of claim 8 including displaying the receipt of the email while otherwise delaying its notification.

12. The method of claim 7 including defining the local notification data using said mobile device for delaying notification of the occurrence of events by the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 6 comprising determining a recent use of the mobile device and wherein said notifying is further responsive to said recent use.

14. A mobile device for delaying user notification of events, the mobile device comprising:

a communication system for transmitting and receiving data communications via a communication network;

a processor coupled to the communication system for processing messages; and

memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions to configure the processor to;

evaluate notification data defined for delaying notification of events; and

in response to the occurrence of one of the events, notify of the one of the events in response to said evaluating.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the notification data comprises at least one of:

(i) a notification parameter received by the mobile device in association with a data communication, the receipt of the data communication defining the one of the events; and

(ii) local notification data defined using said mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the memory stores instructions to configure the processor to receive data communications comprising an electronic mail (email) message to the user, the receiving defining the one of the events.

17. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the instructions configure the processor to determine a notification parameter received in association with the email, the notification parameter defining at least a portion of the notification data.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein determining the notification parameter comprises extracting the notification parameter from a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

19. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the instructions configure the processor to display the receipt of the email while otherwise delaying its notification.

20. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the instructions configure the processor to permit a user to define the local notification data using said mobile device for delaying notification of the occurrence of events by the mobile device.

21. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the instructions configure the processor to determine a recent use of the mobile device and notify in further responsive to said determining.

22. A data communication device for controlling notification of an event to a user of a mobile device comprising:

a communication system for transmitting and receiving data communications via a communication network;

a processor coupled to the communication system for processing data communications; and

memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions to configure the processor to;

define a notification parameter to specify a delay for notifying the user of the event; and

send the notification parameter in association with a data communication to the user;

wherein the receipt of the data communication by the mobile device defines the event to be notified.

23. The data communication device of claim 22 wherein the memory stores instructions for configuring the processor to compose and send the data communication comprising an electronic mail (email) message to the user.

24. The data communication device of claim 22 wherein the memory stores instructions to include the notification parameter as a part of the data communication.

25. The data communication device of claim 23 wherein the memory stores instructions to include the notification parameter as a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

26. A method for controlling notification of an electronic mail (email) to a user of a mobile device comprising:

defining a notification parameter specifying a delay for notifying the user of the email; and

sending the notification parameter in association with email to the user, the mobile device being adapted to receive the email and notification parameter and notify of the email in response.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein sending the notification parameter comprises including the notification parameter as a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

28. In a mobile device for receiving electronic mail (email) and notifying a user of the receipt of such email, a method for controlling said notifying comprising:

receiving a notification parameter in association with an email, the notification parameter specifying a delay for notifying of the email;

evaluating the notification parameter; and

delaying notifying of the email in response to said evaluating.

29. The method of claim 28 including:

defining local notification data for delaying notification of the receiving of email using said mobile device; and

wherein said delaying notifying is further responsive to the local notification data.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein receiving a notification parameter comprises receiving the notification parameter as a portion of a user-defined field of the email.

31. The method of claim 28 including displaying a receipt notice for the email while otherwise delaying notifying.