QUIET HOURS FOR NOTIFICATIONS

• US 20130332721A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A., Novick, Gregory, Forstall, Scott, Grainger, Morgan, Dicker, George R., Hawkins, Tyler
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal

Abstract

In some implementations, a computing device can be configured to automatically turn off notifications when generating a notification would cause a disturbance or be unwanted by a user. The device can be configured with quiet hours during which notifications that would otherwise be generated by the computing device can be suppressed. In some implementations, quiet hours can be configured as a time period with a start time and an end time. In some implementations, quiet hours can be derived from application data. For example, calendar data, alarm clock data, map data, etc. can be used to determine when quiet hours should be enforced. In some implementations, the device can be configured with exceptions to quiet hour notification suppression. In some implementations, the user can identify contacts to which the quiet hours notification suppression should not be applied.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a notification event on a mobile device, where the mobile device is configured to generate sound, light, movement or a combination thereof in response to the notification event determining whether one or more criteria are met, where the one or more criteria include time-based, location-based or movement-based criteria; and

preventing the mobile device from generating sound, light and/or movement in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more criteria are met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining that the mobile device is near a pre-defined geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining that a time associated with the notification event falls within a specified time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining that a user-mode has been activated that silences the mobile device, including generating sound, light and/or movement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user-mode is manually activated and de-activated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining the mobile device is moving faster than a threshold speed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining the mobile device is slower faster than a threshold speed for a pre-determined amount of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

determining that one or more exceptions are met; and

allowing, in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more exceptions are met, the mobile device to generating sound, light or movement.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprises determining that the notification event is associated with a contact stored in a contacts database on the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprises determining that the notification event is associated with a contact that is associated with a previous notification event that was detected within a threshold period of time.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes:

detecting a notification event on a mobile device, where the mobile device is configured to generate sound, light, movement or a combination thereof in response to the notification event;

determining whether one or more criteria are met, where the one or more criteria include time-based, location-based or movement-based criteria; and

preventing the mobile device from generating sound, light and/or movement in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more criteria are met.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that the mobile device is near a pre-defined geographic location.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that a time associated with the notification event falls within a specified time period.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that a user-mode has been activated that silences the mobile device, including generating sound, light and/or movement.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user-mode is manually activated and de-activated.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining the mobile device is moving faster than a threshold speed.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining the mobile device is slower faster than a threshold speed for a pre-determined amount of time.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause:

determining that one or more exceptions are met; and

allowing, in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more exceptions are met, the mobile device to generating sound, light or movement.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions that cause determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprise instructions that cause determining that the notification event is associated with a contact stored in a contacts database on the mobile device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions that cause determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprise instructions that cause determining that the notification event is associated with a contact that is associated with a previous notification event that was detected within a threshold period of time.

21. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes;

detecting a notification event on a mobile device, where the mobile device is configured to generate sound, light, movement or a combination thereof in response to the notification event;

determining whether one or more criteria are met, where the one or more criteria include time-based, location-based or movement-based criteria; and

preventing the mobile device from generating sound, light and/or movement in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more criteria are met.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that the mobile device is near a pre-defined geographic location.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that a time associated with the notification event falls within a specified time period.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining that a user-mode has been activated that silences the mobile device, including generating sound, light and/or movement.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the user-mode is manually activated and deactivated.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining the mobile device is moving faster than a threshold speed.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause determining the mobile device is slower faster than a threshold speed for a pre-determined amount of time.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions that cause determining further comprise instructions that cause:

determining that one or more exceptions are met; and

allowing, in response to detecting the notification event when the one or more exceptions are met, the mobile device to generating sound, light or movement.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the instructions that cause determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprise instructions that cause determining that the notification event is associated with a contact stored in a contacts database on the mobile device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the instructions that cause determining the one or more exceptions is met further comprise instructions that cause determining that the notification event is associated with a contact that is associated with a previous notification event that was detected within a threshold period of time.