Notifying A User Of Events In A Computing Device

• US 20100058231A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Shiplacoff, Daniel, Mercer, Paul, Lyon, Jeremy, Dellinger, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,375,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

In a computing device, event notifications take the form of alerts that can be presented in different ways. The particular form of each event notification depends on the nature of the event, the user task being performed at the time the event occurs, the user'"'"'s preferences, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, the present invention presents event notifications in the form of banner alerts. Obtrusiveness is minimized by presenting the notification at a location near the edge of the screen (such as a bottom edge), and slightly shrinking the active display area to make room for the event notification. In this manner, event notifications can be presented without obscuring any part of the active display area. In addition, the user can obtain more information about the event by activating the notification (for example by tapping on it). In another aspect, the present invention provides a summary of pending event notifications. Thus, if the user is unable to (or does not wish to) respond to or acknowledge a notification when it is presented, the user can later view the event notification summary at his or her convenience, and can act on the event notifications at that time.

Claims

1. In a computing device, a method for notifying the user of an event, the method comprising:

displaying, in an active display area of a display screen, output for an activity being performed by the user; and

responsive to an event;

reducing the size of the active display area to create a vacant portion of the display screen;

displaying an event notification in the vacant portion of the display screen; and

concurrently with displaying the event notification, continuing to display output for the activity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, concurrently with displaying the event notification, processing user input for the activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is unrelated to the activity being performed by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the active display area comprises a window.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying output for the activity being performed by the user comprises displaying the output in one of a plurality of windows on the display screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying output for the activity being performed by the user comprises displaying the output in an active display area occupying substantially the entire display screen.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dismissing the event notification; and

restoring the active display area to its previous size.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein dismissing the event notification is performed responsive to user input indicating dismissal of the event notification.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein dismissing the event notification is performed after a predetermined period of time following display of the event notification.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dismissing the event notification; and

displaying a summary of a plurality of event notifications, the plurality comprising the event notification and at least one other event notification.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the summary of event notifications comprises displaying the summary in an area of the display screen previously occupied by the event notification.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, responsive to user input, expanding the summary of event notifications to provide additional information for at least one event.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dismissing the event notification; and

responsive to the event being of a first type, displaying a summary of a plurality of event notifications, the plurality comprising the event notification and at least one other event notification of the first type; and

responsive to the event being of a second type, displaying a summary of at least one event notification of the first type, the summary not including any events of the second type.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dismissing the event notification; and

responsive to the event notification being persistent, displaying a summary of a plurality of event notifications, the plurality comprising the event notification and at least one other persistent event notification; and

responsive to the event notification being non-persistent, displaying a summary of at least one persistent event notification, the summary not including any non-persistent event notifications.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to user input activating the displayed event notification, invoking an application for the displayed event notification.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the event notification comprises displaying a banner comprising the event notification.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

reducing the size of the active display area comprises scaling the contents of the active display area; and

continuing to display output for the activity comprises displaying the entire contents of the active display area.

19. In a computing device, a method for presenting status of a persistent set of data, the method comprising:

displaying, in an active display area of a display screen, output for an activity being performed by the user; and

responsive to a request for status of a persistent set of data;

reducing the size of the active display area to create a vacant portion of the display screen;

presenting status of the persistent set of data in the vacant portion of the display screen; and

concurrently with displaying the event notification, continuing to display output for the activity.

20. In a computing device, a method for notifying the user of an event, the method comprising:

displaying, in an active display area of a display screen, output for an activity being performed by the user;

responsive to an event having a first level of importance;

reducing the size of the active display area to create a vacant portion of the display screen;

displaying an event notification in the vacant portion of the display screen; and

concurrently with displaying the event notification, continuing to display output for the activity; and

responsive to an event having a second level of importance;

displaying an event notification at least partially obscuring the active display area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein displaying an event notification at least partially obscuring the active display area comprises displaying a dialog box.

22. A computer program product for notifying a computing device user of an event, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

displaying, in an active display area of a display screen, output for an activity being performed by the user; and

responsive to an event;

reducing the size of the active display area to create a vacant portion of the display screen;

displaying an event notification in the vacant portion of the display screen; and

concurrently with displaying the event notification, continuing to display output for the activity.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the event is unrelated to the activity being performed by the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising computer program code for:

dismissing the event notification; and

restoring the active display area to its previous size.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising computer program code for:

dismissing the event notification; and

displaying a summary of a plurality of event notifications, the plurality comprising the event notification and at least one other event notification.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein:

the computer program code for reducing the size of the active display area comprises computer program code for scaling the contents of the active display area; and

the computer program code for continuing to display output for the activity comprises computer program code for displaying the entire contents of the active display area.

27. In a computing device, a system for notifying a computing device user of an event, the system comprising:

a display screen, for displaying, in an active display area, output for an activity being performed by the user; and

a processor, for determining that an event has occurred;

wherein, responsive to the event, the display screen;

reduces the size of the active display area to create a vacant portion of the display screen;

displays an event notification in the vacant portion of the display screen; and

concurrently with displaying the event notification, continues to display output for the activity.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the event is unrelated to the activity being performed by the user.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein, subsequent to displaying the event notification, the display screen:

dismisses the event notification; and

restores the active display area to its previous size.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein, subsequent to displaying the event notification, the display screen:

dismisses the event notification; and

displays a summary of a plurality of event notifications, the plurality comprising the event notification and at least one other event notification.