DISPLAY OF INFORMATION THROUGH AUXILIARY USER INTERFACE

• US 20100134299A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blancco Technology Group Ip Oy
• Original Assignee: Inhance Technology
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, William, Bermingham, Peter, Prendergast, Paul, Hannigan, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,886,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/121 Wireless intrusion detection systems [WIDS]; Wireless intrusion prevention systems [WIPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/128 Anti-malware arrangements, e.g. protection against SMS fraud or mobile malware
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention is directed to systems and methods for that provide a user interface on an electronic device, the user interface including: (i) an auxiliary interface for receiving input from a user and providing output to the user; and (ii) a primary access interface. Using the auxiliary interface, a message to the user is provided, without requiring the user to be authenticated through the primary access interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) defining a user interface of a provided electronic device, the user interface including;

(i) an auxiliary interface for receiving input from a user and providing output to the user; and

(ii) a primary access interface; and

(b) providing, using the auxiliary interface, a message to the user wherein the message is provided without requiring the user to be authenticated through the primary access interface.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message comprises one or more of:

an alarm;

an audio message;

a music performance;

a video message;

a graphical image;

a reminder to purchase items low in inventory;

a television program currently available for viewing;

instructions describing how a found device may be returned to its rightful owner;

a current date;

a current time; and

a prompt soliciting the user to enter a response to a request.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein content in the message was received by an account owned by the user within a predetermined period of time.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein content in the message is stored in a database.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the content in the message is chosen from the database based on a random selection.

6. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the selected message is chosen from the pre-stored collection based on at least one of:

the current date;

the current time; and

the current location of the electronic device.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message indicates that the current time is a preferred time to begin a communication.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising providing a prompt to the user with instructions regarding how to initiate the communication.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message comprises a message digest, the message digest comprising at least one of:

a summary regarding email messages waiting to be viewed;

a summary regarding number of calls received but not answered;

a summary regarding text messages received;

a summary regarding access attempts to the provided electronic device;

a summary regarding an urgent news flash;

a summary regarding weather conditions in a pre-defined location;

a summary regarding a status of a sports game for a predefined contest;

a summary regarding a score of a sports game for a predefined contest;

a summary regarding a status of a predefined sports team;

a summary regarding a status of predefined athlete;

a summary regarding upcoming meeting times;

a summary regarding closure of an educational school facility;

a summary regarding availability of an urgent warning message;

a summary regarding tasks needing attention;

a summary regarding upcoming bills that require payment;

a summary regarding bills that have been recently paid;

a summary regarding availability of a commercial offer; and

a summary regarding location of the provided electronic device.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the summary regarding text messages received includes at least one of a number of messages received and at least part of the content of a text message.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the summary regarding status of the provided electronic device includes at least one of:

an accessibility mode of the provided electronic device;

a battery status of the provided electronic device;

a status of software updates being made to the electronic device;

results of a self-test of the provided electronic device;

a notice indicating that the provided electronic device requires service; and

a notice that a companion device was detected or not detected by the provided electronic device.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the accessibility mode comprises at least one of:

a locked down status;

a normal status;

a restricted use status; and

a lost status.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message comprises a time-sensitive alert message, the time-sensitive alert message comprising one or more of:

an urgent communication request from an authorized third party;

an urgent notice from an authorized security authority;

notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that is providing a special commercial offer; and

notice of an impending dangerous event.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that is providing a special commercial offer further comprises instructions to provide input to receive additional information regarding the special commercial offer.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that is providing a special commercial offer further comprises display of a map of the business and a current location of the provided electronic device.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the time-sensitive alert message comprises notice of an impending dangerous event including at least one of:

a notice of a weather emergency;

a notice of a school lockdown condition;

a notice of a police emergency;

a notice of traffic emergency;

a notice of an Amber Alert;

a notice to urgently return to a designated location;

a notice of an armed intruder in the vicinity of a designated location;

a notice of an armed intruder in the vicinity of the mobile device;

a notice by an employer of a dangerous condition in a facility operated by the employer;

a notice of attempted unauthorized access to a computer system;

a notice of attempted unauthorized access to an account belonging to the user;

a notice of an attempted unauthorized access to the provided electronic device;

a notice of compromise of an area protected by a security system; and

a notice of theft of property owned by the user.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message comprises a map showing a current location of the provided electronic device.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the map further shows a desired destination in relation to the current location of the provided electronic device.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein desired destination is received by the provided electronic device from a third party.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein desired destination is the location of a person that requires assistance from the user.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the person that requires assistance includes at least one of:

a patient requiring assistance;

a motorist whose conveyance has failed to continue operating;

a child, wherein the user is the child'"'"'s guardian;

a guardian, wherein the user is the guardian'"'"'s child;

an injured soldier;

a pilot who ejected from an aircraft;

a pilot who executed an emergency landing from an aircraft; and

a motorist whose vehicle communicated an airbag deployment alert.

22. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the map further displays a route between a desired destination in relation to the current location of the provided electronic device.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the message comprises an advertising message.

24. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein the advertising message further comprises a special offer.

25. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein the advertising message further comprises a location of a business advertised in the advertising message.

26. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising:

determining a current location of the provided electronic device;

obtaining from an participating advertiser database one or more locations of businesses within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying one or more advertisements for the businesses within the predetermined distance.

27. The method as defined in claim 26 further comprising:

establishing, by the user, a pre-specified advertisement filter criterion; and

suppressing the one or more advertisements that do not satisfy the pre-specified advertising criterion.

28. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising:

retrieving a list of products frequently purchased by the user from a purchase history database;

determining that a product frequently purchased by the user is for sale by a business within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying a message indicating that the product frequently purchased by the user is available for purchase at the business within a predetermined distance.

29. The method as defined in claim 28 further comprising displaying a map indicating a location of the business within a predetermined distance.

30. The method as defined in claim 29 further comprising displaying a map indicating a current location of the provided electronic device with respect to the business within a predetermined distance.

31. The method as defined in claim 29 further comprising displaying a map indicating an iconic representation of the product frequently purchased by the user that is available for purchase at the respective business within a predetermined distance.

32. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising:

retrieving a list of services frequently purchased by the user from a purchase history database;

determining that a service frequently purchased by the user is for sale by a business within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying a message indicating that the service frequently purchased by the user is available for purchase at the business within a predetermined distance.

33. The method as defined in claim 32 further comprising:

determining from the purchase history database a time of day range that the service frequently purchased is most likely to be purchased;

determining that the current time of day is within the time of day range; and

displaying a message the present time is a preferred time to purchase the service.

34. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein the advertising message further comprises a prompt to provide data entry to obtain more information regarding the advertising message.

35. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein the advertising message further comprises a prompt to provide data entry to:

suppress future displays of messages from the business advertised in the advertising message; and

suppress messages from advertisers similar to the business advertised in the advertising message.