System and Method for Providing an Alarm Notification

• US 20140253320A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bender, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications

Abstract

A system and method are provided for outputting alarm notifications. The method comprises: prior to activating an alarm on the electronic device, determining, from data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of a predetermined type of event exists; and outputting a first modified alarm notification to indicate a relatively more urgent alarm if at least one of the predetermined type of event exists.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

prior to activating an alarm on the electronic device, determining, from data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of a predetermined type of event exists; and

outputting a first modified alarm notification to indicate a relatively more urgent alarm if at least one of the predetermined type of event exists.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a previously set alarm notification is output if the predetermined type of event does not exist, and the method further comprising:

detecting selection of a snooze function displayed with the previously set or first modified alarm notification;

prior to activating a snooze alarm notification, determining, from the data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected;

outputting a same alarm notification as that used prior to detecting selection of the snooze function if the predetermined type of event has not occurred since the snooze function was selected; and

outputting a second modified alarm notification if at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined type of event comprises at least one of:

a message from a predetermined sender;

a predetermined message type;

an urgent message;

a missed telephone call;

a calendar reminder; and

a calendar event occurring within a predetermined time from when the alarm is activated on the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modified alarm notification modifies a previously set alarm notification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the alarm function modifies a mode of the electronic device from a bedtime mode to a normal mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one event notification associated with the at least one predetermined type of event is suspended during the bedtime mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the at least one predetermined event type to be defined.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the enabling comprises displaying an alarm preferences user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is activated based on whether the at least one predetermined type of event exists.

10. An electronic device comprising a processor, memory, and at least one output device for providing an alarm notification, the memory comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to:

prior to activating an alarm on the electronic device, determine, from data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of a predetermined type of event exists; and

output a first modified alarm notification to indicate a relatively more urgent alarm if at least one of the predetermined type of event exists.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein a previously set alarm notification is output if the predetermined type of event does not exist, and the electronic device further comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to:

detect selection of a snooze function displayed with the previously set or first modified alarm notification;

prior to activating a snooze alarm notification, determine, from the data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected;

output a same alarm notification as that used prior to detecting selection of the snooze function if the predetermined type of event has not occurred since the snooze function was selected; and

output a second modified alarm notification if at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined type of event comprises at least one of:

a message from a predetermined sender;

a predetermined message type;

an urgent message;

a missed telephone call;

a calendar reminder; and

a calendar event occurring within a predetermined time from when the alarm is activated on the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first modified alarm notification modifies a previously set alarm notification.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein activating the alarm function modifies a mode of the electronic device from a bedtime mode to a normal mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein at least one event notification associated with the at least one predetermined type of event is suspended during the bedtime mode.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions for causing the processor to enable the at least one predetermined event type to be defined.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the enabling comprises displaying an alarm preferences user interface.

18. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the alarm is activated based on whether the at least one predetermined type of event exists.

19. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for:

prior to activating an alarm on the electronic device, determining, from data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of a predetermined type of event exists; and

outputting a first modified alarm notification to indicate a relatively more urgent alarm if at least one of the predetermined type of event exists.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein a previously set alarm notification is output if the predetermined type of event does not exist, and further comprising instructions for:

detecting selection of a snooze function displayed with the previously set or first modified alarm notification;

prior to activating a snooze alarm notification, determining, from the data stored on the electronic device, whether at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected;

outputting a same alarm notification as that used prior to detecting selection of the snooze function if the predetermined type of event has not occurred since the snooze function was selected; and

outputting a second modified alarm notification if at least one of the predetermined type of event has occurred since the snooze function was selected.