Method and Apparatus for Automatically Repeating Alarms and Notifications in Response to Device Motion

• US 20140171132A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Varoglu, Devrim, Ziemianska, Natalia
• Application Number:
  US13/715,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user'"'"'s activity may be inferred. When one or more alarms on the device are temporarily disabled or ignored, they may be automatically restored when sensor data indicates a change in the user'"'"'s activity. The restoration of alarm functionality may be accompanied by a repeat of notifications missed or not responded to during a certain period prior to the sensed change in user activity.

Claims

1. A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:

receive a telecommunications message in a wireless communications device while the device is in a first physical activity state;

detect a change to a second physical activity state; and

,

provide a notification of message receipt subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.

2. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein detecting a change to a second physical activity state comprises receiving data from at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, orientation sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors.

3. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first physical activity state is substantially no motion.

4. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first physical activity state is substantially repetitive motion.

5. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion.

6. A program storage device as recited in claim 5 wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion in a substantially upward direction.

7. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises an audible alarm.

8. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises a tactile alarm.

9. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises displaying a message on a display.

10. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device.

11. A program storage device as recited in claim 8 wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device within a preselected period of time.

12. A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:

provide a first notification of a time dependent event in a personal electronic device while the device is in a first physical activity state;

detect a change to a second physical activity state; and

,

provide a second notification of the time dependent event subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.

13. A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:

suppress alarms in a personal electronic device for a certain period of time selected by a user of the device;

determine a first physical activity state of the device;

detect a change to a second physical activity state;

time the duration of the second physical activity state; and

,

reactivate alarms in the personal electronic device if the duration of the second physical activity state exceeds a preselected length.

14. A program storage device as recited in claim 13 further comprising instructions to provide at least one notification of an alarm event that occurred prior to the detection of a change to a second physical activity state subsequent to the detection of a change to a second physical activity state.

15. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor;

at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and

,

a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to

receive a telecommunications message in the device while the device is in a first physical activity state;

detect a change to a second physical activity state; and

,

provide a notification of message receipt subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.

16. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein detecting a change to a second physical activity state comprises receiving data from at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, orientation sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors.

17. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first physical activity state is substantially no motion.

18. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first physical activity state is substantially repetitive motion.

19. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion.

20. A processor-based system as recited in claim 19 wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion in a substantially upward direction.

21. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises an audible alarm.

22. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises a tactile alarm.

23. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises displaying a message on a display.

24. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device.

25. A processor-based system as recited in claim 24 wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device within a preselected period of time.

26. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor;

at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a personal electronic device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and

,

a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to

provide a first notification of a time dependent event in the personal electronic device while the device is in a first physical activity state;

detect a change to a second physical activity state; and

,

provide a second notification of the time dependent event subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.

27. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor;

at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a personal electronic device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and

,

a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to

suppress alarms in the personal electronic device for a certain period of time selected by a user of the device;

determine a first physical activity state of the device;

detect a change to a second physical activity state;

time the duration of the second physical activity state; and

,

reactivate alarms in the personal electronic device if the duration of the second physical activity state exceeds a preselected length.