Notifications

• US 20120244841A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Teng, Stephanie E., Shi, Jinsheng, Shen, Albert, Haning, Ryan M., Guntaur, Paula, Kruzeniski, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

Notification techniques are described. In an implementation, an unlock screen is displayed by a mobile communications device that indicates that one or more keys of the mobile communications device are locked. If an input is detected at the mobile communications device to remove the lock, an animation is displayed that gives an appearance that the unlock screen is a page that is being turned and removing the lock of the one or more keys.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

updating an unlock screen of a mobile communication device to include notifications of events that have occurred since a last time the mobile communication device was locked;

assigning a priority level to each of the notifications; and

arranging output of the notifications via the unlock screen based on respective assigned priority levels of the notifications, the notifications being output in a manner that visually reflects the respective assigned priority levels and is visually different from at least one other notification having a different priority level.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the unlock screen is output in response to initiation of a key lock of the mobile communications device.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the unlock screen is output in response to initiation of a device lock of the mobile communications device that is configured to be removed using a PIN.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the unlock screen is configured to be removed in conjunction with display of an animation that gives an appearance that the unlock screen is a page that is being turned.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the unlock screen is configured to be removed via a gesture.

6. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising dynamically rearranging the notifications as subsequent said notifications are received according to assigned priority levels of the notifications.

7. A method as described in claim 6, wherein the rearranging is performed such that the notifications do not obscure each other.

8. A method as described in claim 6, wherein the rearranging is performed such that the notifications do not obscure an image that acts as a background for the unlock screen.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the updating includes displaying a particular said notification alone on the display device in response to a corresponding event and after a specified amount of time has passed, displaying the particular said notification with other said notifications if the number of the notifications that are to be output on the unlock screen does not exceed the specified number.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the updating includes displaying a particular said notification alone on the display device in response to a corresponding event and after a specified amount of time has passed, and condensing the notifications if the number of the notifications that are to be output on the unlock screen exceeds a specified number.

11. A mobile communications device comprising a display device and one or more modules that if the mobile communications device is in a device lock state is configured to determine a type of a notification and responsive to a determine that the notification is of a particular type, cause the notification to be output without receiving an input to unlock the device lock.

12. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more modules are configured to return the device lock responsive to a determination that the notification of the particular type has been addressed.

13. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more modules are configured to remove the device lock state in response to receipt of an input of a specified PIN number.

14. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to output a notification that is not the particular type as part of an unlock screen that is output when in the device lock state.

15. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the device lock is removable via a gesture.

16. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the device lock is removable via entry of a PIN.

17. A mobile communications device comprising a display device and one or more modules to cause a background screen displayed on the display device as an unlock screen to be replaced with a notification responsive to receipt of the notification and to return display of the background screen after a specified amount of time has passed.

18. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, wherein the display of the background screen is returned after the specified amount of time has passed without receipt of an input to unlock the mobile communications device.

19. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, wherein the replacement is performed based on a priority that is assigned to the notification such that if the notification does not have that priority, the notification does not cause the replacement to occur.

20. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, wherein the one or more modules are configured to include telephone functionality.