Situationally-Aware Alerts

• US 20190159170A1
• Filed: 01/28/2019
• Published: 05/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Thayne M., Pham, Hung A., Morrell, John B., Gleeson, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,609,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel

Abstract

An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts determines to provide an alert output (such as haptic, audio, visual, and so on) via an output device, determines a movement pattern based on one or more signals from one or more sensors indicating information relating at least to movement of the electronic device, and adjusts the alert output to account for the movement pattern. In some implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by delaying the alert output. In other implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by altering the alert output to be discernible despite the movement pattern based on a cadence of the movement pattern. In still other implementations, the electronic device may determine to provide the alert output in response to receiving an incoming communication and may adjust the alert output differently based on a priority associated with the incoming communication.

Claims

1. An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:

a haptic output device;

a sensor operable to produce a signal indicating information relating to movement of the electronic device; and

a processing unit connected to the sensor and the haptic output device that;

determines to provide a haptic output via the haptic output device;

determines a movement pattern using the signal; and

provides the haptic output after a delay;

wherein the delay accounts for the movement pattern.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the movement pattern indicates changes in elevation; and

the processing unit delays the haptic output until after the changes in elevation.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein:

the sensor includes a pressure sensor;

the processing unit identifies the changes in elevation using the pressure sensor; and

the processing unit delays the haptic output until the processing unit determines, using the pressure sensor, that the changes in elevation have ceased.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

determines a first period, using the movement pattern, where the electronic device will be less proximate to a user;

determines a second period, using the movement pattern, where the electronic device will be more proximate to the user; and

delays the haptic output from the first period to the second period.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit delays the haptic output:

for a first period when the movement pattern indicates a first type of movement; and

for a second period when the movement pattern indicates a second type of movement.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the signal includes information indicating a heart rate of a user is elevated; and

the processing unit delays the haptic output until the heart rate of the user reduces.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit:

estimates a time when the haptic output will be salient despite the movement pattern; and

delays the haptic output until the time.

8. An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:

a haptic output device;

a sensor that indicates movement of the electronic device; and

a processing unit connected to the sensor and the haptic output device that is configured to;

determine to provide a haptic output via the haptic output device;

uses the sensor to determine a movement pattern that has a cadence; and

adjust the haptic output to account for the movement pattern by delaying the haptic output so that the haptic output mismatches the cadence.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the processing unit provides the haptic output in response to an incoming message;

the haptic output is a first haptic output when the incoming message is associated with a first priority; and

the haptic output is a second haptic output when the incoming message is associated with a second priority.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the first priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a first group of senders; and

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the second priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a second group of senders.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the first priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a first type of communication; and

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the second priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a second type of communication.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the first priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a first communication source; and

the processing unit determines that the incoming message is associated with the second priority when a sender of the incoming message is associated with a second communication source.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the haptic output is a first haptic output; and

the processing unit provides a second haptic output upon determining than acknowledgement to the first haptic output has not been received.

15. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit:

determines that an acknowledgement of the haptic output has not been received; and

provides an additional output.

16. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit adjusts the haptic output by providing a different waveform.

17. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit adjusts the haptic output by altering an amplitude of a waveform.

18. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit adjusts the haptic output by phase shifting a waveform.

19. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit monitors the signal over a period of time in order to determine the movement pattern.

20. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the movement pattern corresponds to movement of the electronic device.

14. An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:

a haptic output device;

a sensor operable to produce a signal indicating information relating to movement of the electronic device; and

a processing unit connected to the sensor and the haptic output device that is configured to;

determine to provide a haptic output via the haptic output device;

determine a movement pattern using the signal; and

adjust the haptic output to account for the movement pattern by delaying the haptic output so that the electronic device is likely adjacent a body during the movement pattern when the haptic output is provided.