Apparatus and method for processing schedule-related event in wireless terminal

• US 20060135220A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jae-Ho, Kim, Hyun-Ji, Seo, Jeong-Wook
• Application Number:
  US11/312,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for processing schedule-related events by performing an avatar agent function. In the apparatus and method, a character agent function is added to a wireless terminal. When an event is generated in the wireless terminal, the generation and processing of the event is expressed by means of a corresponding avatar UI. Accordingly, when schedule-related events are generated, it is possible to express the events through the character agent function.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a character UI image according to the schedule-related events;

an event collector for collecting the schedule-related events, and generating event messages for identifying the schedule-related events;

an event controller for proving a plurality of specialists for the schedule-related event, determining a specialist corresponding to the event message among the specialists, and selecting and outputting a character UI based on the schedule-related event, which is included in the determined specialist; and

an agent expression part for accessing and outputting a character image and a text corresponding to the character UI based on the schedule-related event.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for setting a timer event according to a beginning time or an ending time of a previously registered schedule, and displaying both a message for indicating change of a reception notification mode and a character corresponding to the message when the timer event occurs.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller further comprises:

a specialist for determining if a beginning time or an ending time of a previously registered schedule overlaps with another schedule when a current time is the beginning time or the ending time of the previously registered schedule, determining a change time point of a reception notification mode when the time of the schedule overlaps with another schedule, and displaying both a message for indicating no change of a reception notification mode and a character corresponding to the message when a current time is the change time point.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for raising an alarm for an ending of a previously registered schedule when an alarm event occurs according to an ending time of the previously registered schedule, displaying a list of schedule-related menus when raising the alarm, receiving at least one menu selected from the schedule-related menus, and displaying both a message for indicating an addition of an item corresponding to the received menu and a character corresponding to the message.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the schedule-related menu comprises at least one of a memo, a schedule registration, a registration of things to do, a check of a previously registered schedule, and an ending of a schedule alarm.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for setting a timer event at a point before a predetermined period of a previously registered holiday or on the holiday, raising an alarm for a remaining number of days up to the holiday according to an occurred timer event, or displaying both a message for reporting that a day is the holiday and a character corresponding to the message.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for displaying content for indicating an addition of a schedule of a holiday when a holiday alarm event occurs, or displaying both a message for indicating a check of a previously registered schedule existing in the holiday and a character corresponding to the message.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for setting a timer event for an alarm at a point before a predetermined period of a previously registered anniversary or on the anniversary, raising an alarm for a remaining number of days up to the anniversary according to an occurred timer event, or displaying both a message for reporting that a day is the anniversary and a character corresponding to the message.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller comprises:

a specialist for displaying content for indicating an addition of a schedule of an anniversary when an anniversary alarm event occurs, or displaying both a message for indicating check of a previously registered schedule existing in the anniversary and a character corresponding to the message.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller is configured to check previously registered schedules at a preset time point, and display both a message for indicating check of the registered schedules and a character corresponding to the message when a number of the registered schedules is larger than a number of preset schedules.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event controller is configured to check a list of things to do, which is set by a user, at a preset time point, and display both a list of incomplete things to do and a character corresponding to the list when the incomplete things to do exists at the time point.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to:

store a character image for reporting a beginning and an ending of a schedule, a character image for indicating a change of a reception notification mode, a character image for indicating a registration of another schedule, things to do and a memo according to the ending of the schedule, a character image for reporting a holiday and indicating an addition of a schedule to the holiday, a character image for indicating a check of a schedule previously registered in the holiday and the registered schedule, a character image for reporting an anniversary and indicating an addition of a schedule to the anniversary, a character image for indicating a check of a schedule previously registered in the anniversary and the registered schedule, and a character image for indicating a check of previously registered things to do and completion or incompletion of the things to do.

13. A method for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

storing schedule-related events when the schedule-related events occur;

checking preset specialists in order to process each schedule-related event;

calling the checked specialists and allowing the specialists to process the schedule-related events; and

checking processing results according to the specialists having processed the schedule-related events, and displaying processing result-related expressions preset according to the specialists based on the processing results.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specialists for processing schedule beginning and ending alarm events among the schedule-related events correspond to a first specialist and a second specialist, the method further comprising the steps of:

controlling the first specialist to generate the schedule beginning alarm event at a beginning time of a preset schedule, determine if a current reception notification mode is a first mode, and display both a message for indicating a change of the reception notification mode to a second mode and a character corresponding to the message; and

controlling the second specialist to generate the schedule ending alarm event at an ending time of a preset schedule, determine if the current reception notification mode is the second mode, and display both a message for indicating a change of the reception notification mode to the first mode and a character corresponding to the message.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, when the second specialist indicates a change of the reception notification mode from a second mode to a first mode according to a generation of a schedule ending alarm event, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling a third specialist to display a schedule-related list comprising menus of another schedule, a memo, and things to do when the schedule ending alarm event is generated; and

controlling the third specialist to display both a message for indicating an addition of at least one item in the list and a character corresponding to the message, receive at least one item selected by a user, and execute a function for the received item.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein, when the memo menu is selected, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the second specialist to display a sub-menu comprising at least one of a voice memo, audio memo and text memo items; and

controlling the second specialist to operate at least one of a camera and a microphone connected to an audio processor according to a selected item.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

controlling a first specialist and a second specialist to check existence of another schedule before the schedule beginning and ending alarm events are generated, and display a message for indicating a change of the mode at a time point at which the overlapping schedule is ended; and

controlling a third specialist to display both a message for indicating an addition of a schedule and a character corresponding to the message at the time point at which the overlapping schedule is ended.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a first mode corresponds to a bell mode and a second mode corresponds to a vibration mode.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a step of:

when a fourth specialist displays a mode change indication message, preventing the message from being displayed if a user does not change the mode more than a preset number of times.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

controlling a fourth specialist to automatically change a corresponding mode when schedule beginning and ending alarm events are generated, and display both a message for reporting the changed mode and a character corresponding to the message.

21. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specialists for processing a holiday alarm event among the schedule-related events correspond to a fifth specialist and a ninth specialist, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the fifth specialist to check a previously registered holiday, set an alarm event for a corresponding holiday before a preset time point, generate the holiday alarm event at a generation time point of the holiday alarm event, and display both a message according to the holiday alarm event and a character corresponding to the message; and

controlling the ninth specialist to determine if a schedule of the previously registered holiday exists when the holiday alarm event is generated, display the previously registered schedule, or display both a message for indicating a registration of a schedule and a character corresponding to the message.

22. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specialists for processing an anniversary alarm event among the schedule-related events correspond to a sixth specialist and a tenth specialist, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the sixth specialist to determine if an anniversary preset by a user exists, set an alarm event for the corresponding anniversary before a preset time point, raise an alarm for the corresponding anniversary when the alarm event is generated, and display both a message according to the anniversary and a character corresponding to the message; and

controlling the tenth specialist to determine if a preset schedule corresponding to the anniversary exists when the alarm event is generated, display the preset schedule, or display both a message for indicating a registration of a schedule and a character corresponding to the message.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

controlling a seventh specialist for processing an alarm event at the corresponding anniversary to determine if the anniversary preset by the user exists, set an alarm so that the alarm event occurs at the corresponding anniversary when the anniversary exists, and display both a message for reporting the corresponding anniversary and a character corresponding to the message when the corresponding anniversary comes.

24. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specialist for processing an A/S alarm event among the schedule-related events corresponds to an eleventh specialist, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the eleventh specialist to check a status and A/S information of the wireless terminal after predetermined time periods, and display both a message for indicating the status and the A/S of the wireless terminal and a character corresponding to the message according to results of the check.

25. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specialists for processing a things-to-do (TO-DO) alarm event among the schedule-related events correspond to a twelfth specialist and a thirteenth specialist, the method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the twelfth specialist to check a current day'"'"'s TO-DO registered in advance at a first preset time, and display both a message for reporting existence of the current day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO and a character corresponding to the message when the current day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO exists as a result of the check; and

controlling the thirteenth specialist to check the other day'"'"'s TO-DO at a second preset time, and display both a message for reporting existence of the other day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO and a character corresponding to the message when the other day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO exists as a result of the check

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the messages for reporting the existence of the incomplete TO-DO are displayed and allow a status of the incomplete TO-DO to be changed to a deletion and allow an addition or change of a completion time point by a user.

27. A method for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if registered schedules exist;

determining if a schedule satisfying schedule alarm conditions exists among the registered schedules and when the schedule satisfying the schedule alarm conditions exists, raising an alarm for the schedule and displaying a message for indicating a change of a reception notification mode according to the schedule; and

receiving a setting regarding whether to change the reception notification mode and changing the reception notification mode if instructed to do so.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

when an alarm satisfying the schedule conditions and reporting a beginning of a schedule is generated, displaying a message for indicating a change of a reception notification mode to a vibration mode; and

when an alarm satisfying the schedule conditions and reporting an ending of the schedule is generated, displaying a message for indicating a change of the reception notification mode to a bell mode.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

when the message for indicating the change of the mode is displayed, not displaying the message if a user does not change the mode more than a preset number of times.

30. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

when another schedule overlaps before the schedule for which the alarm has raised is ended, not displaying the message for indicating the change of the mode; and

after the overlapping schedule is ended, displaying the message for indicating the change of the mode.

31. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

when schedule beginning and ending alarms are generated, not displaying the message for indicating the change of the mode and changing the mode automatically to a preset mode.

32. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

when a schedule ending alarm is generated, displaying a schedule-related menu comprising menus of a memo registration, a schedule registration, a TO-DO registration and a schedule check; and

receiving at least one menu selected from the displayed menus, and executing a menu corresponding to the received menu.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

when the memo registration menu is selected, displaying sub-items including an image memo, an audio memo and a text memo; and

operating a camera when the image memo item is selected, operating a microphone when the audio memo item is selected, and performing a change to an input mode when the text memo item is selected.

34. A method for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if registered anniversaries exist;

when an anniversary satisfying anniversary alarm conditions exists among the registered anniversaries, raising an alarm for the anniversary;

displaying at least one message for reporting both a schedule registration according to the anniversary and requesting whether to add other anniversaries when raising the alarm for the anniversary; and

adding said other anniversaries, and registering and storing a schedule according to a user setting.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

performing the raising of the alarm for the anniversary either at a preset time point before the anniversary or at a preset time on the anniversary; and

setting an alarm to an anniversary nearest to the anniversary for which the alarm has raised, among the registered anniversaries at an ending time point of the alarm.

36. A method for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if registered holidays exist;

when a holiday satisfying holiday alarm conditions exists among the registered holidays, raising an alarm for the holiday;

displaying a message for reporting whether to register a schedule according to the holiday when raising the alarm for the holiday; and

registering and storing a schedule of the holiday according to a user setting.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

performing the raising of the alarm for the holiday either at a preset time point before the holiday or at a preset time on the holiday; and

setting an alarm to a holiday nearest to the holiday for which the alarm has raised, among the registered holidays at an ending time point of the alarm.

38. A method for processing schedule-related events in a wireless terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

checking registered TO-DO items;

determining if incomplete TO-DO items exist among the TO-DO items; and

when the incomplete TO-DO items exist, displaying the incomplete TO-DO items at time points at which existence of the incomplete TO-DO items are reported.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a current day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO item or another day'"'"'s incomplete TO-DO item according to the time points at which the incomplete TO-DO items are reported.

40. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein an item selected by a user from the incomplete TO-DO items is deleted, or a completion time point of a TO-DO item is changed and stored.