System and method for creating an adjusted alarm time

• US 6,940,395 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Steinmark, Daniel E
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie B.
• Application Number:
  US09/895,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/601, 340/505, 340/539.1, 340/5.8, 340/5.85, 340/995.13, 340/995.21, 340/905, 340/256.02, 340/256.06, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting an alarm/reminder activation time that takes into account a user-requested alarm/reminder time and unexpected conditions that are unknown to the user, or are realized after the user has entered the user-requested alarm time, is provided. User related information is used to gather present unexpected condition information relevant to the user from a content provider periodically. Based on the user related and configuration information and the unexpected condition information, an adjusted alarm time is determined periodically. An alarm signal is activated when the actual time reaches the adjusted alarm time.

Claims

1. A method for providing an adjustable alarm system, the method comprising:

receiving user related and configuration information, the user related information including a user-requested alarm time and user login information, the user login information allowing retrieval of the user-requested alarm time, and at least one of parameters or preferences that relate different intensity levels of an unexpected condition to the amount of alarm adjustment;

connecting to a content provider to gather present unexpected condition information relevant to the user;

determining an adjusted alarm time, wherein the adjusted alarm time factors in the user related and configuration information and the unexpected condition information; and

providing an alarm signal when the actual time reaches the adjusted alarm time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is made to the content provider on a periodic basis to gather the most recent unexpected condition information, and the adjusted alarm time is determined on a periodic basis based on the user related and configuration information and the most recent unexpected condition information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user login information allows the retrieval of user-requested alarm time and at least one of other user related information or other user configuration information based on historical information obtained in a previous use by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user related information includes at least one of a user'"'"'s location, a user'"'"'s destination, user'"'"'s preferred routes and user related flight or mass-transit information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user'"'"'s location and the user'"'"'s destination are utilized to determine the routes that a user uses to travel from the location to the destination.

6. The method for claim 1, the at least one of parameters and preferences that specify the amount of alarm adjustment for certain unexpected conditions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a special alarm is activated when the adjusted alarm time differs from the user-requested alarm time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to traffic information, including at least one of accidents, delays, average speed, congestion, construction and travel restrictions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to weather information, including at least one of snow, rain, fog, sleet hail and high winds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to delay or advancement of at least one of mass-transit arrival time and mass-transit departure time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm signal includes at least one of an audible, visual, sensory and vibration signal.

12. A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with an alarm system for providing an adjustable alarm signal, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for:

receiving user related and configuration information, the user related information including a user-requested alarm time and user login information, the user login information allowing retrieval of the user-requested alarm time, and the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that relate different intensity levels of an unexpected condition to the amount of alarm adjustment;

connecting to a content provider to gather present unexpected condition information relevant to the user;

determining an adjusted alarm time, wherein the adjusted alarm time factors in the user related and configuration information and the unexpected condition information; and

providing an alarm signal when the actual time reaches the adjusted alarm time.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that control the amount of effect for certain unexpected conditions.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein a special alarm is activated by the enhanced alarm clock when the adjusted alarm time differs from the user-requested alarm time.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to traffic information, including at least one of accidents, delays, average speed, congestion, construction and travel restrictions.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to weather information, including at least one of snow, rain, fog, sleet hail and high winds.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the unexpected condition information relates to delay or advancement of at least one of mass-transit arrival time and mass-transit departure time.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the alarm signal includes at least one of an audible, visual, sensory and vibration signal.

19. An enhanced alarm signal generating system, comprising:

an alarm signal generator that receives user related and configuration information and create an alarm signal, the user related information including a user-requested alarm time and user login information, the user login information allowing retrieval of the user-requested alarm time;

a content provider to gather present unexpected condition information relevant to the user; and

a communications link the connects the alarm signal generator with the content provider, wherein user related information is sent to the content provider via the communications link to gather the unexpected condition information, an adjusted alarm time being determined on the basis of the user related and configuration information and the unexpected condition information, and an alarm signal being created when the actual time reaches the adjusted alarm time, and

wherein, the unexpected condition information is kept at, and the adjusted alarm time is determined by, equipment remote from the alarm signal generator.

20. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that specify the amount of alarm adjustment for certain unexpected conditions.

21. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that relate different intensity levels of an unexpected condition to the amount of alarm adjustment.

22. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that control the amount of effect for certain unexpected conditions.

23. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the alarm signal is a special alarm when the adjusted alarm time differs from the user-requested alarm time.

24. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the alarm signal includes at least one of an audible, visual, sensory and vibration signal.

25. The enhanced alarm signal generating system of claim 19, wherein the alarm signal generator is any one of a normal alarm clock integrated with a receiver and a processor, an enhanced alarm clock device, and a device that incorporates an enhanced alarm clock.

26. A call back style alarm system, comprising:

a call back service that receives user related and configuration information, and determines an adjusted alarm time, the user related information including a user-requested alarm time and user login information, the user login information allowing retrieval of the user-requested alarm time;

a content updater coupled to the call back service, the content updater gathering present unexpected condition information relevant to the user;

a telecommunication device that receives a call from the call back service; and

a communications link that connects the call back service with the telecommunication device during a call, wherein user related and configuration information of the user is received at the call back service, which uses the user related information to obtain unexpected condition information pertinent to the user from the content updater, the adjusted alarm time being determined on the basis of the user related and configuration information and the unexpected condition information, a call being made to the telecommunication device when the actual time reaches the adjusted alarm times;

wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that relate different intensity levels of an unexpected condition to the amount of alarm adjustment.

27. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the user related and configuration information is entered through the telecommunication device during a call.

28. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, further comprising a terminal that provides user related and configuration information to the call back service, wherein the terminal is provided with an inputting interface for a user to enter user related and configuration information.

29. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the unexpected condition information is gathered on a periodic basis to receive the most recent unexpected condition information, and the adjusted alarm time is determined on a periodic basis based on the user related and configuration information and the most recent unexpected condition information.

30. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the user login information allows the retrieval of user-requested alarm time and at least one of other user related information or other user configuration information based on historical information obtained, in a previous use by a user.

31. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that specify the amount of alarm adjustment for certain unexpected conditions.

32. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the user configuration information includes at least one of parameters and preferences that control the amount of effect for certain unexpected conditions.

33. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the call is made in a different mode when the adjusted alarm time differs from the user-requested alarm time.

34. The call back style alarm system of claim 26, wherein the telecommunication device is any one of a telephone, a wireless phone, a pager, a text messenger, a computing device and a personal digital assistant.