Method for modifying notifications in an electronic device

• US 7,873,646 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Castell, David, Adams, Neil, Brown, Michael K., Patterson, Ian, Yach, David
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SHEW FEN
• Application Number:
  US10/784,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,519 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/413, 455/435.1, 455/567, 707/102, 707/758, 707/999.102
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

An embodiment relates to a novel apparatus and method for changing modes of notification in an electronic device. An electronic device includes a calendar application and a variety of other applications such as the message reader application or the daily alarm application. The device is configured to use the calendar application to track whether and how the user is notified of the receipt of an electronic. In one embodiment, the user specifically associates a profile behavior to the calendar entry when the calendar entry is first created.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

at least one output device for emitting a plurality of different signals;

a microcomputer for processing a plurality of calendar appointments within a calendar application;

said microcomputer further configured for processing a plurality of applications;

said microcomputer configured to maintain a plurality of profiles;

each of said calendar appointments configured to have a different profile associated therewith;

each of said profiles associated with all of said applications;

each of said applications within each of said profiles having a plurality of notification behaviours;

each of said notification behaviours having an identical set of parameters for each of said applications;

each of said notification behaviours uniquely configurable for each said application and each said profile;

said microcomputer configured to maintain a profile settings application;

said profile settings application configured to receive user input for setting said notification behaviours for each of said applications for each said profile according to criteria comprised of type, tune and volume;

said profile settings application including a profile string matcher;

said profile string matcher configured to comprise a string of text and associate said string of text with one of said profiles;

wherein at least one of said calendar appointments is configured to have a profile associated therewith based on a match between a description of said at least one calendar appointment and said string of text within said profile string matcher;

wherein in the absence of a match between said description and said string of text, said calendar appointment is configured to have a default profile associated therewith;

said microcomputer configured to derive one of said notification behaviours when one of said applications executes during one of said plurality of calendar appointments;

said notification behaviour derived from said associated profile;

said microcomputer configured to cause said output device to emit one of said signals corresponding to said notification behaviour derived from said associated profile.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a cell telephone, and a smart telephone.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said signals are selected from the group consisting of audible, mechanical and visual signals.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said one of said applications is a receipt of an electronic message and said signal identifies said receipt.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said one of said applications is a daily alarm and said signal identifies said alarm.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said electronic device includes functionality of a telephone and one of said plurality of applications is a receipt of a telephone call.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said output devices include a flashing LED output device for emitting a visual signal and a speaker for emitting an audible signal.

8. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for an electronic device, said set of instructions for controlling said electronic device by comprising the method of:

maintaining a plurality of profiles;

processing a plurality of calendar appointments within a calendar application;

performing one of a plurality of applications during one of said plurality of calendar appointments;

each of said calendar appointments configured to have a different profile associated therewith;

each of said profiles associated with all of said applications;

each of said applications within each of said profiles having a plurality of notification behaviours;

each of said notification behaviours having an identical set of parameters for each of said applications;

each of said notification behaviours uniquely configurable for each said application and each said profile;

maintaining a profile settings application;

said profile settings application configured to maintain said notification behaviours for each of said applications for each said profile according to criteria comprised of type, tune and volume;

said profile settings application including a profile string matcher;

said profile string matcher configured to comprise a string of text;

said string of text associated with one of said profiles;

at least one of said calendar appointments configurable to have a profile associated therewith based on a match between a description of said at least one calendar appointment and said string of text within said profile string matcher;

wherein in the absence of a match between said description and said string of text, said calendar appointment is configured to have a default profile associated therewith;

deriving a notification behaviour from said profile associated with the calendar appointment that is active when performing said application; and

generating a signal according to said notification behaviour.