Non-intrusive interactive notification system and method

• US 7,548,955 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James J. Nicholas III
• Original Assignee: Transparence Incorporated
• Inventors: Nicholas, III, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET D
• Application Number:
  US12/016,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 719/318, 719/328, 719/329
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A method for displaying an image which can include a text or graphic message on a display driven by an electronic device that includes a graphical user interface, including the steps of storing the image at an electronic device, displaying the image in relation to a cursor icon of the graphical user interface (GUI), and moving the image as the cursor icon moves in response to user commanded movement of the cursor icon so that the image stays in relation to the cursor icon. A system and method for facilitating interactive communication between a cursor icon on a display screen of an electronic device and an image transmitted to the electronic device by an application program. A system and method that receives and manages notification alerts containing notification data from a variety of resources, and generates and distributes interactive notifications to a variety of recipients.

Claims

1. A system for providing notifications based on a plurality of resources, comprising:

a server executing a first program for receiving notification alerts from the plurality of resources, generating notifications based on the notification alerts, and delivering the notifications, wherein the notification alerts specify a notification type being at least one of format, priority level, retry schedule, and escalation schedule, and wherein the format is at least one of graphics, video, audio and text;

a client executing a second program and a third program, said second program receiving and presenting the notifications without interfering with execution of said third program, and providing access to a designated resource, said third program executing in the foreground of the client; and

a user interface module for allowing a user to configure and customize the system;

wherein said second program comprises a graphical user interface; and

wherein said notifications are presented in relation to a cursor icon of said graphical user interface, wherein said notifications are adapted to move in response to user commanded movement of said cursor icon so that said notifications stay in relation to said cursor icon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second program does not generate interrupts in the course of receiving and presenting the notifications.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second program presents the notifications as interactive sprites.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the notifications comprise dynamic data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the designated resource comprises a program.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the designated resource comprises a program that generated a corresponding notification alert.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first program provides a centralized interface for a resource generating a notification alert.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second program provides a single presentation interface for a resource generating a notification alert.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second program provides a single input interface to interact with a resource generating a notification alert.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second program provides receipt confirmations for successfully delivered notifications.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification alerts further comprise notification content and recipient identification.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system reporting module that monitors and reports system activities.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the notifications are adapted to be reoriented or a period of time when at least one of said notifications and said cursor icon is placed over an on-screen area which is outside of the edges of the display.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the interactive sprites are managed by a centralized notification system.