Device with alternating status message display capability

• US 6,323,783 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timex Group BV (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Group BV (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Daly, Edward Jr., Lizzi, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bangachon, William L
• Application Number:
  US09/159,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 455/38.3, 455/38.4, 370/311, 370/313, 368/30, 368/71, 368/244, 368/288, 345/40, 345/25, 345/113
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for

Abstract

A device such as a watch, pager or combination pager/watch that can iteratively display status information messages for set predetermined periods of time at a predetermined location on the display. In normal operation, the device is displaying a variety of standard information. Upon the detection of a status condition, the device will alternately display the standard information and status information messages corresponding to the status condition to more effectively alert the user to the existence of the status condition.

Claims

1. A device for at least one of generating and displaying time information and receiving transmitted coded message signals, the device comprising:

means for generating time information indicative of the time of day;

a status information message means for;

(a) determining if a first status condition is satisfied and generating a first status information message corresponding thereto; and

(b) determining if a second status condition is satisfied and generating a second status information message corresponding thereto;

a display for;

(a) continuously displaying the time information at a first predetermined location on the display even when a status information message is being displayed; and

(b) for displaying the first status information message at a second predetermined location, different from the first predetermined location, when the first status condition is satisfied, and thereafter, for displaying the second status information message at the second predetermined location when the second status condition is satisfied, and thereafter, for continually and iteratively redisplaying at least the first status information message and the second status information message at the second predetermined location on the display when the respective first and second status conditions are still satisfied;

wherein the display of at least the first status information message and the second status information message are continually alternately displayed at the second predetermined location on the display; and

wherein when the first status information message is being displayed on the display the second status information message is not being displayed on the display, and when the second status information message is being displayed on the display the first status information message is not being displayed on the display.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the status information message means determines if at least a third status condition is satisfied and generates at least a third status information message corresponding thereto;

and prior to redisplaying the first status information message, the display displays at the second predetermined location of the display at least the third status information message when the third status condition is satisfied, and thereafter, redisplays at least the first status information at the second predetermined location on the display;

wherein only one status information message is being displayed at a time at the second predetermined location when the respective status conditions are satisfied;

wherein when the first status information message is being displayed on the display neither the second nor third status information message is being displayed on the display, and when the second status information message is being displayed on the display neither the first nor third status information message is being displayed on the display, and when the third status information message is being displayed on the display neither the first nor second status information message is being displayed on the display.

3. A method of displaying information on a display of a device that is at least capable of one of generating and displaying time information and receiving transmitted coded message signals, the method comprising:

(a) generating and continuously displaying time information indicative of the time of day at a first predetermined location on the display;

(b) determining whether a first status condition is satisfied such that it is necessary to display on the display a first status information message corresponding thereto and displaying on the display the first status information message, at a second predetermined location different from the first predetermined location;

(c) determining whether a second status condition is satisfied such that it is necessary to display on the display a second status information message corresponding thereto and displaying on the display the second status information message, at the second predetermined location;

(d) continually and iteratively redisplaying at least the first status information message and the second status information message at the second predetermined location of the display if the respective first and second status conditions are still satisfied;

wherein the display of at least the first status information message and the second status information message are continually alternately displayed at the second predetermined location on the display;

wherein when the first status information message is being displayed on the display the second status information message is not being displayed on the display, and when the second status information message is being displayed on the display the first status information message is not being displayed on the display; and

even when the first or second status information messages are being displayed at the second predetermined location, the time information is being continually displayed at the first predetermined location.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, including the steps of:

determining if at least a third status condition is satisfied and generating at least a third status information message corresponding thereto; and

displaying, after displaying the second status information message and prior to redisplaying at least the first status information message, in the second predetermined location of the display, at least the third status information message corresponding to the third status condition when the third status condition is satisfied;

whereby only one status information message is being displayed at a time at the second predetermined location on the display.

5. A device for at least one of generating and displaying time information and receiving transmitted coded message signals, the device comprising;

an information generator for generating time information indicative of the time of day;

a status information message generator for determing if a first status condition is satisfied and generating a first status information message corresponding thereto; and

a display for

(a) continuously displaying the time information at a first predetermined location on the display even when a status information message is being displayed; and

(b) for temporarily and iteratively displaying at least the first status information message at a second predetermined location, different from the first predetermined location, when the first status condition is satisfied.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display is configured to display additional information at the second predetermined location;

wherein

(i) the additional information is continuously displayed at the second predetermined location when the first status condition is not satisfied;

(ii) when the first status information message is being displayed at the second predetermined position on the display, the additional information is not being displayed on the display; and

(iii) when the additional information is being displayed at the second predetermined position on the display, the first status information message is not being displayed on the display;

such that when the first status information message is satisfied, there is a repeated and alternating display of at least the additional information and the first status information message at the second predetermined location.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the additional information comprises one or more of date information, day of the week information and time zone information.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first status information message is a text message.

9. A method of displaying information on a display of a device that is at least capable of one of generating and displaying time information and receiving transmitted coded message signals, the method comprising:

(a) generating and continuously displaying time information indicative of the time of day at a first predetermined location on the display;

(b) determinging whether a first status condition is satisfied such that it is necessary to display on the display a first status information message corresponding thereto and temporarily and iteratively displaying on the display at least the first status information message at a second predetermined location different from the first predetermined location.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display is configured to display additional information at the second predetermined location, wherein the method comrpises the further steps of ;

displaying continuously the additional information at the second predetermined location when the first status condition is not satisfied; and

at a second predetermined position, when the first status condition is satisfied, iteratively and continuously displaying at least the first status information message and the additional infomration.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display is configured to display additional information at the second predetermined location, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:

determing if at least a second status condition is satisfied and generating at least a second status information message corresponding thereto; and

displaying, after displaying the first status information message and prior to redisplaying the additional information in the second predetermined location of the display, at least the second status information message when the second status condition is satisfied;

whereby only one status information message is being displayed at a time at the second predetermined location on the display and whereby the additional information and a status information do not appear simultaneously on the display at the second predetermined location.