Automatic user availability status determination for a handheld communication device
First Claim
1. For a handheld communication device, a method for determining the availability status of a user of the device, comprising the steps of:
- checking whether or not a defined timeout has elapsed, from the last use of the device by the user;
if the timeout has not elapsed, deeming the availability status to be Available;
if the timeout has elapsed, checking to see if a real-time application is in use, and if so, deeming the availability status to be Available, or if not, checking to see if there are any unattended-to notifications; and
if there are any unattended-to notifications, then deeming the availability status to be Unavailable, but otherwise deeming the availability status to be Available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To automatically determine the availability status of the user of a handheld communication device, various selected conditions of the device may be checked, which imply whether or not the user is likely Available, or Unavailable or the equivalent. Normally, the selected conditions are checked only if the user has not explicitly or semi-explicitly set his or her status to Unavailable. The conditions to be checked can vary widely, but generally include anything from which it might be inferred or implied that the user is likely either Available or Unavailable or the equivalent. Such conditions can include, for example, whether or not a specified timeout for use of a keypad, trackwheel or other mechanical feature of the device has elapsed yet; whether or not a real-time application is in use; and preferably any one or more of a variety of other conditions, one further example being whether or not there are any unattended-to notifications such as an unanswered phone call, or a missed e-mail, SMS or other message.
39 Citations
8 Claims
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1. For a handheld communication device, a method for determining the availability status of a user of the device, comprising the steps of:
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checking whether or not a defined timeout has elapsed, from the last use of the device by the user;
if the timeout has not elapsed, deeming the availability status to be Available;
if the timeout has elapsed, checking to see if a real-time application is in use, and if so, deeming the availability status to be Available, or if not, checking to see if there are any unattended-to notifications; and
if there are any unattended-to notifications, then deeming the availability status to be Unavailable, but otherwise deeming the availability status to be Available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8)
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5. A handheld communication device, programmed with a method for determining the availability status of a user of the device, the method comprising the steps of:
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checking whether or not a defined timeout has elapsed, from the last use of the device by the user;
if the timeout has not elapsed, deeming the availability status to be Available;
if the timeout has elapsed, checking to see if a real-time application is in use, and if so, deeming the availability status to be Available, or if not, checking to see if there are any unattended-to notifications; and
if there are any unattended-to notifications, then deeming the availability status to be Unavailable, but otherwise deeming the availability status to be Available. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification