Developing A Notification Framework For Electronic Device Events

• US 20090305744A1
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ullrich, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for developing a notification framework for presenting notification information to a user of an electronic device. One embodiment of a method, among others, includes receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device and receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device. The method further comprises assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input. A notification framework is then determined from the assessed context. The method also includes notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device. Notifying the user includes notifying the user within the notification framework.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processing device configured to develop a notification framework for defining how notifications are presented to a user of the electronic device when a specific event associated with the electronic device occurs;

one or more physical sensors configured to sense physical parameters; and

a plurality of output devices each configured to present notification information to the user in one of at least two different sensory modes, the sensory modes selected from the group consisting of audible, visual, and tactile;

wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context of the electronic device by processing the sensed physical parameters and by processing information retrieved from one or more software programs either running on the electronic device or running on a network with which the electronic device communicates;

wherein the processing device is further configured to determine a notification framework from the assessed context; and

wherein the processing device is further configured to determine whether the specific event associated with the electronic device occurs and to notify the user within the notification framework when the specific event occurs.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical sensors are selected from the group consisting of microphones, cameras, accelerometers, surface contact sensors, thermometers, and global positioning system (“

GPS”

) devices.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the information retrieved from the one or more software programs includes current schedule information retrieved from a calendar program, the current schedule information being associated with the user.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the information retrieved from the calendar program further includes current schedule information associated with one or more people whose contact information is stored in the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a cellular telephone.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with another cellular device via a cellular network.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine the strength or bandwidth of cellular signals, and wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context of the electronic device using the strength or bandwidth of the cellular signals.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a short range communication device configured to sense notification framework information from other nearby electronic devices, wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context by analyzing the predominate notification settings of a plurality of nearby electronic devices.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the specific event comprises one of an incoming telephone call, an incoming cellular phone call, an incoming text message, an incoming e-mail message, and a calendar reminder.

10. A notification developing program stored in memory and executed by a processing device, the notification developing program comprising:

logic adapted to receive physically sensed parameters;

logic adapted to receive virtually sensed parameters;

logic adapted to assess a context of an electronic device by processing the physically sensed parameters and the virtually sensed parameters;

logic adapted to determine a notification framework from the assessed context, the notification framework defining how notification information is presented to the user of the electronic device; and

logic adapted to detect when a notification event associated with the electronic device occurs.

11. The notification developing program of claim 10, wherein the notification developing program is stored on a computer-readable medium.

12. The notification developing program of claim 10, wherein, when a notification event is detected, the logic adapted to determine the notification framework is further adapted to notify the user within the notification framework of the notification event.

13. The notification developing program of claim 10, wherein the logic adapted to receive physically sensed parameters receives sound, images, force information, physiological information of the user, temperature readings, and location information.

14. The notification developing program of claim 10, wherein the logic adapted to receive virtually sensed parameters receives schedule information from a calendar program.

15. The notification developing program of claim 14, wherein the logic adapted to receive virtually sensed parameters receives schedule information from calendar programs of other users listed in a contact list stored in the electronic device.

16. The notification developing program of claim 10, further comprising logic adapted to receive parameters associated with wireless communication activities of the electronic device with other electronic devices, wherein the logic adapted to assess the context of the electronic device further processes the parameters associated with the wireless communication activities to assess the context.

17. The notification developing program of claim 16, wherein the parameters associated with wireless communication activity comprises shared notification settings from the other electronic devices, and wherein the logic adapted to assess the context determines a predominate notification setting of the shared notification settings for assessing the context.

18. The notification developing program of claim 10, wherein the logic adapted to determine a notification framework is further adapted to delay notification of the detected event to the user based on one or more physically sensed parameters or virtually sensed parameters.

19. The notification developing program of claim 18, wherein the delay is based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of the detection of pauses in a conversation, detection of a location of the electronic device in an elevator, and the current involvement of the user with another software application.

20. A method comprising:

receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device;

receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device;

assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input;

determining a notification framework from the assessed context; and

notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device;

wherein notifying the user includes notifying the user within said notification framework.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving input from virtual sensors within the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the input received from the virtual sensors includes schedule information of the user.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the physical sensors are integrated with the electronic device.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the input from the one or more other electronic devices includes information regarding notification framework settings of the other electronic devices.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the detected event includes one of an incoming telephone call, an incoming cellular phone call, an incoming text message, an incoming e-mail message, and an incoming calendar reminder.