Selective Alert Processing

• US 20120157069A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elliott, Doron M., Hernandez, Ivette
• Granted Patent: US 8,559,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system;

determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system;

blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication; and

sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication is a phone call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication is a text message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication is an email message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming communication is an instant message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the blocking includes electing not to transmit a notification.

7. The method of claim 1, further including storing a list of blocked incoming communications.

8. The method of claim 7, further including, reporting the list of blocked incoming communications when the do not disturb function is switched from an active state to an inactive state.

9. A vehicle computing apparatus comprising:

receiving programmed logic circuitry to receive a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing apparatus;

determining programmed logic circuitry to determine that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing apparatus;

blocking programmed logic circuitry to block a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication; and

sending programmed logic circuitry to send a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the incoming communication is a phone call.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the incoming communication is a text message.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the incoming communication is an email message.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the incoming communication is an instant message.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the blocking includes electing not to transmit a notification.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further including storing a list of blocked incoming communications.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including, reporting the list of blocked incoming communications when the do not disturb function is switched from an active state to an inactive state.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system;

determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system;

determining if the party sending the incoming communication is on an allowed party list; and

conditional on the party sending the communication being on the allowed list, sending a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication.

18. The method of claim 17, further including determining if a type of incoming communication is on an allowed type list of communication types, and wherein the sending a notification is also conditional on the type of incoming communication be on the allowed type list.