Method and Apparatus For Automatically Adjusting the Operation of Notifications Based on Changes in Physical Activity Level

• US 20140206327A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Varoglu, Devrim, Ziemianska, Natalia A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

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. One or more of the sensors may be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wireless communication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensor data. Data from on-board sensors in the device—such as motion sensors, location sensors, and the like—may also be used to deduce the user'"'"'s current activity. In one embodiment, an extended period of inactivity triggers a reminder to the user to get up, stretch and move about. In other embodiments, transitions in a user'"'"'s activity level may be used to trigger reminders and/or set the state of the device (such as a Do Not Disturb state wherein notifications and alarms are suppressed).

Claims

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

receive data from at least one sensor responsive to a user'"'"'s physical activity level; and

,

change the operational behavior of a notification function of a device based at least in part on a change in the physical activity level of the user.

2. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, pulse rate sensors, breathing rate sensors, orientation sensors, ambient light sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors.

3. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an apparatus selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, photocells, charge coupled devices, global navigation satellite system receivers, Wi-Fi transceivers, cellular telephone transceivers and Assisted GPS receivers.

4. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a remote sensor worn by the user.

5. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the operational behavior is activating a preselected notification.

6. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the operational behavior is deactivating notifications on the device.

7. A non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the instructions to cause one or more processors to change the operational behavior of a notification function of a device comprise instructions to:

suppress a notification to perform a certain activity if the activity is detected within a preselected time period.

8. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor;

at least one sensor responsive to the activity level of a user and in data communication with the processor; and

,

a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to

receive data from at least one sensor responsive to a user'"'"'s activity level; and

,

change the operational behavior of a notification function of the device based at least in part on a change in the physical activity level of the user.

9. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, pulse rate sensors, breathing rate sensors, orientation sensors, ambient light sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors.

10. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an apparatus selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, photocells, charge coupled devices, global navigation satellite system receivers, Wi-Fi transceivers, cellular telephone transceivers and Assisted GPS receivers.

11. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor is a remote sensor worn by the user.

12. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the operational behavior is activating a certain, preselected reminder.

13. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the operational behavior is deactivating notifications on the device.

14. A processor based system as recited in claim 8 wherein the operational behavior is suppressing a notification to perform a certain activity if the activity is detected within a preselected time period.

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

receive data from at least one sensor responsive to a user'"'"'s physical activity level; and

,

notify the user if his or her physical activity level remains below a preselected threshold for a preselected period of time.

16. A program storage device as recited in claim 15 further comprising instructions to:

suppress the notification if the period of physical activity below the preselected threshold coincides with a period during which the user is likely asleep.

17. A program storage device as recited in claim 16 wherein the period during which the user is likely asleep is determined at least in part by the time of day of the period.

18. A program storage device as recited in claim 16 wherein the period during which the user is likely asleep is determined at least in part by a previously determined pattern of user behavior.

19. A program storage device as recited in claim 16 wherein the period during which the user is likely asleep is determined at least in part by whether a device comprising the program storage device is connected to an external power supply.

20. A program storage device as recited in claim 15 further comprising instructions to:

repeat the notification if a change in physical activity level is not detected within a preselected period of time.

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

receive data from at least one sensor responsive to a user'"'"'s physical activity level; and

,

activate a function of a device based at least in part on a change in the physical activity level of the user.

22. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 wherein the function which is activated is a music playlist.

23. A program storage device as recited in claim 22 wherein the change in physical activity level is a change to running activity.

24. A program storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein the running activity is determined at least in part by translational movement within a preselected range of speeds.

25. A program storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein the running activity is determined at least in part by periodic accelerations in a preselected direction.

26. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 wherein the function which is activated is a suppression of notifications [Do Not Disturb].

27. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 wherein the function which is activated is a display of previously suppressed notifications.

28. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 further comprising instructions to measure the duration of a change in the user'"'"'s activity level and activate the function only if the duration of the change exceeds a preselected period.

29. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 wherein the function which is activated is a display of a previously selected reminder.

30. A program storage device as recited in claim 21 further comprising instructions to:

prompt a user to input a desired reminder to be displayed upon a preselected change in activity level.