Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for associating notifications with alert functions of remote devices

• US 9,105,163 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ashbrook, Daniel L., Nguyen, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/537,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for associating notifications with alert functions of remote devices. A method may include causing transmission of an alert configuration signal to each of a plurality of remote devices. The alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform an alert function. The method may further include receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate a notification corresponding to an event with the alert function of at least one of the plurality of remote devices. The method may further include associating the notification with the alert function of the at least one of the plurality of remote devices such that the at least one of the plurality of remote devices performs the alert function when the event occurs. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing transmission of an alert configuration signal from a first device to each of a plurality of remote devices, wherein the alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform an alert function;

receiving user input at the first device indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate a notification corresponding to an event associated with the first device with the alert function of at least one of the plurality of remote devices; and

associating, by a processor, the notification with the alert function of the at least one of the plurality of remote devices such that, in an instance in which the event occurs, an instruction signal is sent from the first device to the at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of remote devices to perform the alert function, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the alert function in an instance in which the at least one of the plurality of devices is proximate the first device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices comprises causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices in sequential order, and wherein receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification comprises receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification with the alert function currently being performed on at least one of the plurality of remote devices.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

causing transmission of a capability inquiry signal to each of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the capability inquiry signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to indicate the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device; and

receiving an indication from each of the plurality of remote devices that indicates the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing display of a list of the plurality of remote devices and at least one alert function capable of being performed by each of the plurality of remote devices.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein causing display of the list further comprises causing display of a frequency of use of each of the at least one alert function capable of being performed by each of the plurality of remote devices.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert function comprises at least one of:

a visual alert, an audio alert, or a tangible alert.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform the alert function at an intensity level related to a frequency of use of the alert function of the remote device over a pre-determined period of time.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices comprises causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices that has an alert function that is not already associated with a notification for an event.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of remote devices comprises at least one of a watch, ring, pennant, personal digital assistant, or music player.

9. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

cause transmission of an alert configuration signal from a first device to each of a plurality of remote devices, wherein the alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform an alert function;

receive user input at the first device indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate a notification corresponding to an event associated with the first device with the alert function of at least one of the plurality of remote devices; and

associate the notification with the alert function of the at least one of the plurality of remote devices such that, in an instance in which the event occurs, an instruction signal is sent from the first device to the at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of remote devices to perform the alert function, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the alert function in an instance in which the at least one of the plurality of devices is proximate the first device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices by causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices in sequential order, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification by receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification with the alert function currently being performed on at least one of the plurality of remote devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

cause transmission of a capability inquiry signal to each of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the capability inquiry signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to indicate the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device; and

receive an indication from each of the plurality of remote devices that indicates the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause display of a list of the plurality of remote devices and at least one alert function capable of being performed by each of the plurality of remote devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause display of the list by further causing display of a frequency of use of each of the at least one alert function capable of being performed by each of the plurality of remote devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alert function comprises at least one of:

a visual alert, an audio alert, or a tangible alert.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform the alert function at an intensity level related to a frequency of use of the alert function of the remote device over a pre-determined period of time.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices by causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices that has an alert function that is not already associated with a notification for an event.

22. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of remote devices comprises at least one of a watch, ring, pennant, personal digital assistant, or music player.

17. Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being a computer readable medium and configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to:

cause transmission of an alert configuration signal from a first device to each of a plurality of remote devices, wherein the alert configuration signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to perform an alert function;

receive user input at the first device indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate a notification corresponding to an event associated with the first device with the alert function of at least one of the plurality of remote devices; and

associate the notification with the alert function of the at least one of the plurality of remote devices such that, in an instance in which the event occurs, an instruction signal is sent from the first device to the at least one of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of remote devices to perform the alert function, wherein the instruction signal instructs the at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the alert function in an instance in which the at least on of the plurality of devices is proximate the first device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to cause transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices by causing transmission of the alert configuration signal to each of the plurality of remote devices in sequential order, and wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to receive user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification by receiving user input indicating the user'"'"'s desire to associate the notification with the alert function currently being performed on at least one of the plurality of remote devices.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to:

cause transmission of a capability inquiry signal to each of the plurality of remote devices, wherein the capability inquiry signal instructs each of the plurality of remote devices to indicate the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device; and

receive an indication from each of the plurality of remote devices that indicates the alert functions capable of being performed by the remote device.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to cause display of a list of the plurality of remote devices and at least one alert function capable of being performed by each of the plurality of remote devices.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the plurality of remote devices comprises at least one of a watch, ring, pennant, personal digital assistant, or music player.