SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS

• US 20130244633A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: JACOBS, Paul E., JAIN, Nikhil, MENENDEZ, Jose R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A personal hub for managing notifications across mobile devices and for separating the notification from the content. By separately managing the manner of notification provided to the user from its associated content, the personal hub may give a user more control over a number of mobile devices by allowing the user to escalate or dismiss different notifications across one or more mobile devices. Notifications may be managed based on device settings, priority settings, privilege settings, urgency flags, and/or other factors. In an embodiment, the user may receive an unobtrusive user-perceptible notification of an incoming communication from a personal hub that is less obtrusive than notifications which may be generated by the mobile device receiving the incoming communication.

Claims

1. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for receiving an incoming call;

means for generating an alert message in response to the incoming call; and

means for sending the alert message via a wireless data link; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message from the mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for generating a user-perceptible notification in response to the received alert message, wherein the user-perceptible notification is a vibration;

means for determining whether a first user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the first user input is received, generating a first audio signal to send to an earpiece based at least in part on the alert message and sending the first audio signal to the earpiece via a wireless data link;

wherein the first audio signal sent from the personal hub to the earpiece comprises at least one of (i) a ringtone associated with caller identification that was included in the alert message or (ii) a speech synthesis of caller identification that was included in the alert message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the personal hub further comprises;

means for determining whether a second user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the second user input is received, sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link; and

the mobile device further comprises;

means for receiving the answer signal via a wireless data link;

means for establishing a wireless data link between the mobile device and the earpiece; and

means for activating the incoming call by exchanging voice and data packets between the mobile device and the earpiece over the wireless data link between the mobile device and the earpiece.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the personal hub further comprises;

means for determining whether the first user input is received in the personal hub within a delay time; and

the mobile device further comprises;

means for generating an audible ring or vibration when it is determined that the first user input is not received in the personal hub within the delay time.

4. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a personal hub;

receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a first, wireless data link;

generating a user-perceptible notification in response to the received alert message;

determining whether a first user input is received; and

in response to determining that the first user input is received;

generating a first audio signal to send to an earpiece based at least in part on the alert message; and

sending the first audio signal to the earpiece via a second data link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first audio signal sent from the personal hub to the earpiece comprises at least one of (i) a ringtone associated with caller identification that was included in the alert message or (ii) a speech synthesis of caller identification that was included in the alert message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first audio signal sent from the personal hub to the earpiece comprises at least one of a general status-warning sound or a general reminder sound.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

by the personal hub;

determining whether a second user input is received; and

in response to determining that the second user input is received;

generating a second audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of a reminder or a warning; and

sending the second audio signal to the earpiece via the second data link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the speech synthesis of a reminder or a warning was included in the alert message received from the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first audio signal sent from the personal hub to the earpiece comprises a sender-specific tone associated with a sender of a text based message.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

by the personal hub;

determining whether a second user input is received; and

in response to determining that the second user input is received;

generating a second audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the text based message; and

sending the second audio signal to an earpiece via the second data link.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the second data link is wireless.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

by the personal hub;

determining whether a second user input is received; and

in response to determining that the second user input is received;

sending an answer signal to the mobile device via the first, wireless data link.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input is a first gesture;

and

wherein the second user input is a second gesture that is different from the first gesture.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input is one of a movement, a touchscreen input, and a button press;

and wherein the second user input is different from the first user input.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the user-perceptible notification is a vibration, a displayed message, a blinking light, or a flashing screen.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

by the mobile device;

receiving the answer signal via the first, wireless data link;

establishing a third data link between the mobile device and the earpiece; and

activating a call with the mobile device by exchanging voice and data packets between the mobile device and the earpiece over the third data link.

17. The method of any one of claim 4 to claim 16, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving an incoming call;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming call; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via the first, wireless data link.

18. A personal hub comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of any one of claim 4 to claim 15.

19. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a personal hub to perform the method of any one of claim 4 to claim 15.

20. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for receiving an incoming text based message, wherein the incoming text based message is one of an email, a text message, or a reminder;

means for generating a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message;

means for generating an alert message in response to the incoming text based message, the alert message including the speech synthesis of the incoming text based message; and

means for sending the alert message via a wireless data link; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message from the mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for generating a user-perceptible notification in response to the received alert message, wherein the user-perceptible notification is a vibration;

means for determining whether a first user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the first user input is received, displaying at least a portion of the incoming text based message on a display of the personal hub.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the personal hub further comprises:

means for determining whether a second user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the second user input is received;

means for generating a first audio signal based at least in part on the speech synthesis that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

means for sending the first audio signal to an earpiece via a wireless data link.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the personal hub further comprises;

means for determining whether the first user input is received in the personal hub within a delay time; and

the mobile device further comprises;

means for generating an audible sound or vibration when it is determined that the first user input is not received in the personal hub within the delay time.

23. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a personal hub;

receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a first, wireless data link, the alert message including a speech synthesis of an incoming text based message that was received by the mobile device;

generating a user-perceptible notification in response to the received alert message;

determining whether a first user input is received; and

in response to determining that the first user input is received, displaying at least a portion of the incoming text based message on a display of the personal hub.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

by the personal hub;

determining whether a second user input is received; and

in response to determining that the second user input is received;

generating a first audio signal based at least in part on the speech synthesis that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

sending the first audio signal to an earpiece via a second data link.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second data link is wireless.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

by the personal hub;

sending a receipt indication to the mobile device via the first, wireless data link in response to determining that the second user input is received and the incoming text based message is a reminder.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first user input is a gesture and the second user input is a different gesture.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first user input is one of a movement, a touchscreen input, and a button press;

and wherein the second user input is different from the first user input.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the user-perceptible notification is one or more of a vibration, a displayed message, a blinking light, and a flashing screen;

and

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the incoming text based message is one of an email, a text message, or a reminder.

31. The method of any one of claim 23 to claim 30, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming text based message;

generating the speech synthesis of the incoming text based message;

generating the alert message in response to the received incoming text based message; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a data link.

32. A personal hub comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of any one of claim 23 to claim 30.

33. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a personal hub to perform the method of any one of claim 23 to claim 30.

34. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for receiving an incoming call or incoming text based message;

means for determining caller identification or sender identification for the incoming call or incoming text based message;

means for generating an alert message in response to the incoming call or incoming text based message, the alert message including (a) the caller identification for the incoming call received by the mobile device or (b) the sender identification for the incoming text based message received by the mobile device; and

means for sending the alert message via a wireless data link; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message from the mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender within a specified time period based on the caller identification or sender identification that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

means for, in response to determining that the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for receiving the answer signal via a wireless data link;

means for establishing a wireless data link between the mobile device and an earpiece; and

means for activating the incoming call by exchanging voice and data packets between the mobile device and the earpiece over the wireless data link between the mobile device and an earpiece.

36. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a personal hub;

receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a wireless data link, the alert message including (a) a caller identification for an incoming call received by the mobile device or (b) a sender identification for an incoming text based message received by the mobile device;

determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender based on the caller identification or sender identification that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

in response to determining that the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender based on the caller identification or sender identification further comprises determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a repeat caller or repeat sender within a specified time period.

38. The method of any one of claim 36 to claim 37, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming call;

determining the caller identification for the incoming call;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming call; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a wireless data link.

39. The method of any one of claim 36 to claim 37, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming text based message;

determining the sender identification for the incoming text based message;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming text based message; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a wireless data link.

40. A personal hub comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of any one of claim 36 to claim 37.

41. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a personal hub to perform the method of any one of claim 36 to claim 37.

42. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for receiving an incoming call or incoming text based message;

means for determining caller identification or sender identification for the incoming call or incoming text based message;

means for generating an alert message in response to the incoming call or incoming text based message, the alert message including (a) the caller identification for the incoming call received by the mobile device or (b) the sender identification for the incoming text based message received by the mobile device; and

means for sending the alert message via a wireless data link; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message from the mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a privileged caller or privileged sender based on the caller identification or sender identification that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

means for, in response to determining that the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a privileged caller or privileged sender, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for receiving the answer signal via a wireless data link;

means for establishing a wireless data link between the mobile device and an earpiece; and

means for activating the incoming call by exchanging voice and data packets between the mobile device and the earpiece over the wireless data link between the mobile device and the earpiece.

44. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a personal hub;

receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a wireless data link, the alert message including (a) a caller identification for an incoming call received by the mobile device or (b) a sender identification for an incoming text based message received by the mobile device;

determining whether the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a privileged caller or privileged sender based on the caller identification or sender identification that was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

in response to determining that the incoming call or incoming text based message is from a privileged caller or privileged sender, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming call;

determining the caller identification for the incoming call;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming call; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a data link.

46. The method of any one of claim 44, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming text based message;

determining the sender identification for the incoming text based message;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming text based message; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a data link.

47. A personal hub comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 44.

48. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a personal hub to perform the method of claim 44.

49. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for receiving an incoming call or incoming text based message, the incoming call or incoming text based message including an indication that the incoming call or incoming text based message is urgent;

means for generating an alert message in response to the incoming call or incoming text based message, the alert message including an urgency flag; and

means for sending the alert message to the personal hub via a wireless data link; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for determining whether an urgency flag was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

means for, in response to determining that an urgency flag was included in the alert message received from the mobile device, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for receiving the answer signal via a wireless data link;

means for establishing a wireless data link between the mobile device and an earpiece; and

means for activating the incoming call by exchanging voice and data packets between the mobile device and the earpiece over the wireless data link between the mobile device and the earpiece.

51. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a personal hub;

receiving an alert message from a mobile device via a wireless data link, the alert message including an urgency flag for an incoming call received by the mobile device or an incoming text based message received by the mobile device;

determining whether an urgency flag was included in the alert message received from the mobile device; and

in response to determining that an urgency flag was included in the alert message received from the mobile device, (i) sending an answer signal to the mobile device via a wireless data link, (ii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play a ringtone one or more times, (iii) sending, to the mobile device via a wireless data link, a signal configured to cause the mobile device to play audio based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message, (iv) sending an audio signal including a ringtone to an earpiece via a wireless data link, (v) sending an audio signal based at least in part on a speech synthesis of the incoming text based message to an earpiece via a wireless data link, or (vi) any combination thereof.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming call, the incoming call including an indication the incoming call is urgent;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming call; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a data link.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising, prior to the personal hub receiving the alert message:

by the mobile device;

receiving the incoming text based message, the incoming text based message including an indication that the incoming text based message is urgent;

generating the alert message in response to the incoming text based message; and

sending the alert message to the personal hub via a data link.

54. A personal hub comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 51.

55. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a personal hub to perform the method of claim 51.

56. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for generating an alert message;

means for sending the alert message to a personal hub via a wireless data link;

means for receiving, from the personal hub via a wireless data link, a user input indication; and

means for, in response to receiving the user input indication from the personal hub, sending, to an earpiece via a wireless data link, an audio signal including (i) a ringtone associated with caller identification for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (ii) a speech synthesis of caller identification for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iii) a speech synthesis of sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iv) a speech synthesis of at least a portion of an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (v) a sound associated with sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (vi) a general status-warning sound for a status warning that triggered the generation of the alert message, (vii) a general reminder sound for a reminder that triggered the generation of the alert message, or (viii) any combination thereof; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message via a wireless data link;

means for generating a user-perceptible notification in response to receiving the alert message, wherein the user-perceptible notification is a vibration;

means for determining whether user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the user input is received, sending the user input indication to the mobile device via a wireless data link.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for, in response to receiving the user input indication from the personal hub, generating the audio signal.

58. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a mobile device;

generating an alert message;

sending the alert message to a personal hub via a wireless data link, wherein the personal hub is configured to generate a user-perceptible notification in response to receiving the alert message;

receiving, from the personal hub via a wireless data link, a user input indication that responded to the user-perceptible notification; and

in response to receiving the user input indication from the personal hub, sending, or playing audio based on, an audio signal including (i) a ringtone associated with caller identification for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (ii) a speech synthesis of caller identification for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iii) a speech synthesis of sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iv) a speech synthesis of at least a portion of an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (v) a sound associated with sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (vi) a general status-warning sound for a status warning that triggered the generation of the alert message, (vii) a general reminder sound for a reminder that triggered the generation of the alert message, or (viii) any combination thereof.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein sending, or playing audio based on, an audio signal comprises:

by the mobile device;

sending the audio signal to an earpiece via a data link between the mobile device and the earpiece.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the data link between the mobile device and the earpiece is wireless.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

by the mobile device;

in response to receiving the user input indication from the personal hub, generating the audio signal.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein sending, or playing audio based on, an audio signal comprises:

by the mobile device;

playing audio based on the audio signal.

63. A mobile device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of any one of claim 58 to claim 62.

64. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform the method of any one of claim 58 to claim 62.

65. A system for providing notifications to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

means for generating an alert message;

means for sending the alert message to a personal hub via a wireless data link;

means for, in response to failing to receive, from the personal hub via a wireless data link, a user input indication or a receipt within a specified time, vibrating and/or generating an audio signal including (i) a ringtone for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (ii) a sound associated with sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iii) a general status-warning sound for a status warning that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iv) a general reminder sound for a reminder that triggered the generation of the alert message, or (viii) any combination thereof; and

a personal hub comprising;

means for receiving the alert message via a wireless data link;

means for, in response to receiving the alert message, sending the receipt to the mobile device via a wireless data link;

means for generating a user-perceptible notification in response to receiving the alert message, wherein the user-perceptible notification is a vibration;

means for determining whether user input is received; and

means for, in response to determining that the user input is received, sending the user input indication to the mobile device via a wireless data link.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for sending the audio signal to an earpiece via a wireless data link.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the mobile device further comprises:

means for playing audio based on the audio signal.

68. A method for providing notifications to a user, the method comprising:

by a mobile device;

generating an alert message;

sending the alert message to a personal hub via a wireless data link, wherein the personal hub is configured to generate a user-perceptible notification in response to receiving the alert message, wherein the personal hub is configured to generate a receipt in response to receiving the alert message;

in response to failing to receive, from the personal hub via a wireless data link, a user input indication or a receipt within a specified time, vibrating and/or generating an audio signal including (i) a ringtone for an incoming call that triggered the generation of the alert message, (ii) a sound associated with sender identification for an incoming text based message that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iii) a general status-warning sound for a status warning that triggered the generation of the alert message, (iv) a general reminder sound for a reminder that triggered the generation of the alert message, or (viii) any combination thereof.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

by the mobile device;

sending the audio signal to an earpiece via a data link between the mobile device and the earpiece.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the data link between the mobile device and the earpiece is wireless.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

by the mobile device;

playing audio based on the audio signal.

72. A mobile device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform the method of any one of claim 68 to claim 71.

73. A non-transitory processor-readable medium configured with processor-executable instructions to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform the method of any one of claim 68 to claim 71.