Device and method for generating user notifications associated with tasks that are pending completion

• US 8,010,098 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., Kirkup, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton
• Application Number:
  US12/758,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/567, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A device and method for generating user notifications associated with tasks that are pending completion on a mobile device. When additional input is required from a user of the mobile device to complete performance of a task and is not being received from the user within a predefined time period, at least one form of user notification is generated. The particular form or forms of user notification are defined by a user profile associated with the user. User notifications may comprise visual, audible, and/or vibratory alerts, and different forms of these user notifications may be generated in a sequence. The volume of audible alerts or the period between periodic user notifications may vary over time.

Claims

1. A method of generating user notifications on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving user input to initiate processing of a message on the mobile device, wherein the processing comprises encrypting and sending the message to one or more recipients;

determining if a processor of the mobile device is awaiting additional user input to process the message;

determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after the receiving;

upon determining that the processor is awaiting additional user input to process the message, after determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after the receiving, prompting for the additional user input;

determining if the additional user input is not received within a predefined time period; and

generating at least one form of user notification if the additional user input is not received within the predefined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating is repeated until the additional input is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated periodically.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the period at which the at least one form of user notification is generated varies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated until a second predefined time period has elapsed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated in accordance with a user profile.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user profile defines the at least one form of user notification that is to be generated based on a state of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the state of the mobile device is a state selected from the following group:

the mobile device is in a cradle;

the mobile device is in a holster; and

the mobile device is neither in a cradle nor in a holster.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the user profile defines a plurality of forms of user notification that is to be generated in a sequence.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification consists of at least one of the following:

a visual alert, an audible alert, and a vibratory alert.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one form of user notification varies over time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the message comprises encoding the message using PGP.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the message comprises encoding the message using S/MIME.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium upon which a plurality of instructions are stored, the instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive user input to initiate processing of a message on a mobile device, wherein the processing comprises encrypting and sending the message to one or more recipients;

determine if the processor is awaiting additional user input to process the message;

wherein the processor determines that the additional user input is not required immediately after receiving the user input to initiate processing of the message on the mobile device;

prompt for the additional user input, upon determining that the processor is awaiting additional user input to process the message, after determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after receiving the user input to initiate processing of the message on the mobile device;

determine if the additional user input is not received within a predefined time period; and

generate at least one form of user notification if the additional user input is not received within the predefined time period.

15. A mobile device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive user input to initiate processing of a message on a mobile device, wherein the processing comprises encrypting and sending the message to one or more recipients;

determine if the processor is awaiting additional user input is to process the message;

wherein the processor determines that the additional user input is not required immediately after receiving the user input to initiate processing of the message on the mobile device;

prompt for the additional user input, upon determining that the processor is awaiting additional user input is to process the message, after determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after receiving the user input to initiate processing of the message on the mobile device;

determine if the additional user input is not received within a predefined time period; and

generate at least one form of user notification if the additional user input is not received within the predefined time period.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to generate the at least one form of user notification in accordance with a user profile.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the user profile defines the at least one form of user notification that is to be generated based on a state of the mobile device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the state of the mobile device is a state selected from the following group:

the mobile device is in a cradle;

the mobile device is in a holster; and

the mobile device is neither in a cradle nor in a holster.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the user profile defines a plurality of forms of user notification that is to be generated in a sequence.

20. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving user input to initiate processing of a message on the mobile device, wherein the processing comprises encrypting and sending the message to one or more recipients;

means for determining if additional user input is being awaited to process the message;

means for determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after receiving the user input to initiate processing of the message on the mobile device;

means for prompting for the additional user input, upon determining that the additional user input is being awaited to process the message, after determining that the additional user input is not required immediately after the receiving;

means for determining if the additional user input is not received within a predefined time period; and

means for generating at least one form of user notification if the additional user input is not received within the predefined time period.