SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALERTING A USER ON AN EXTERNAL DEVICE OF NOTIFICATIONS OR ALERTS ORIGINATING FROM A NETWORK-CONNECTED DEVICE

• US 20150223033A1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pebble Technology Corporation (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Migicovsky, Eric B., Bennett, Jonathan V., Snider, Cory D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,877,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Users are experiencing an increasing number of alerts and notifications on their mobile devices. When it is inconvenient or not possible to view the network-connected device, an accessory can be used to save time and avoid missing notifications. A system comprising a network-connected device and an accessory are provided to address these problems. The accessory is capable of notifying the user of alerts from the network-connected device, allowing the user to quickly be advised of alerts without needing to first interact with the network-connected device. The system includes a method to selectively filter alerts so as to avoid unnecessarily interrupting the user in cases where the network device is inaccessible. The system is also capable of pushing new interface designs and themes from the network device to the accessory to alter the appearance and configuration of its display.

Claims

1. An accessory device for receiving notifications from a mobile end-user device, the accessory device comprising:

a wireless interface configured to receive at least one notification included in a first data transmission directly from the mobile end-user device via a short-range wireless protocol, the first data transmission having been generated by the mobile end-user device and addressed to the accessory device by the mobile end-user device,

wherein the contents of the notification are based on a second data transmission received by the mobile end-user device from a network, where the second data transmission has been filtered by the mobile end-user device to determine whether to send the first data transmission to the accessory device, and where a final destination address of the second data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device;

memory coupled to the wireless receiver and configured to store the notification;

an output device to provide information to a user; and

a processor coupled to the wireless receiver, the memory and the output device and configured to review the notification stored in the memory and notify a user of the accessory device by using the output device that the notification has been received.

2. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes prioritization information related to communications from a particular contact.

3. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes information regarding a type of notification.

4. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes current state information of the accessory device.

5. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is configured to sample a wireless radio frequency spectrum periodically and without user intervention to receive data transmissions from the mobile end-user device.

6. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a watch.

7. The accessory device of claim 6, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

8. The accessory device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input element coupled to the processor,

wherein the output device includes a display, and

wherein the processor is configured to receive at least one user input from the user input element and in response cause the display to display additional information related to the notification.

9. A mobile end-user device connected to a network and for sending notifications to an accessory device, the mobile end-user device comprising:

memory configured to store a notification contained in a first data transmission, where a final destination address of the first data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device;

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to review the notification stored in the memory and apply at least one filtering parameter to the notification to determine whether to notify a user of the accessory device that the notification has been received, and to generate a second data transmission addressed to the accessory device if a determination is made to notify the user, wherein the contents of the second data transmission are based on the notification; and

a wireless interface coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the second data transmission directly to the accessory device via a short-range wireless protocol.

10. The mobile end-user device of claim 9, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes prioritization information related to communications from a particular contact.

11. The mobile end-user device of claim 9, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes information regarding a type of notification.

12. The mobile end-user device of claim 9, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes current state information of the accessory device.

13. The mobile end-user device of claim 9, wherein the accessory device is a watch.

14. The mobile end-user device of claim 13, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

15. A method for notifying a user of an accessory device of notifications sent to a mobile end-user device, comprising the steps of:

receiving by the accessory device a first data transmission containing a notification sent from the mobile end-user device via a short-range wireless communication protocol, the first data transmission having been generated by the mobile end-user device and addressed to the accessory device by the mobile end-user device,

wherein the contents of the notification are based on at least a second data transmission received by the mobile end-user device from the network, where the second data transmission has been filtered by the mobile end-user device to determine whether to send the first data transmission to the accessory device, and where a final destination address of the second data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device; and

storing the notification in memory of the accessory device;

reviewing the notification stored in the memory; and

notifying the user of the accessory device that the notification has been received if a determination is made to notify the user based on the at least one filtering parameter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes prioritization information related to communications from a particular contact.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes information regarding a type of notification.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes current state information of the accessory device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising sampling a wireless radio frequency spectrum periodically and without user intervention to receive data transmissions from the mobile end-user device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the accessory device is a watch.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

22. A method for alerting a user of an accessory device of a notification sent to a mobile end-user device, comprising the steps of:

receiving by a mobile end-user device a first data transmission from a network, wherein the first data transmission includes a notification and a final address of the first data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device;

storing the notification in memory of the network device;

reviewing the notification stored in the memory;

applying at least one filtering parameter to the notification by the mobile end-user device to determine whether to notify a user of the accessory device that the notification has been received; and

generating by the mobile end-user device a second data transmission addressed to an accessory device by the mobile end-user device if a determination is made to notify the user based on the at least one filtering parameter, the contents of the second data transmission being based on the notification; and

transmitting the second data transmission to the accessory device over a short-range wireless communication protocol.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes prioritization information related to communications from a particular contact.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one filtering parameter further includes information regarding a type of notification.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one filtering parameter includes current state information of the accessory device.

26. The mobile end-user device of claim 22, wherein the accessory device is a watch.

27. The mobile end-user device of claim 26, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.