Method and apparatus for providing soft reminders

• US 9,275,376 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Domingo, Erich, Gerlach, James, Irvine, David, Hartford, Stephen, Barraclough, Keith, Simsarian, Kristian, Pierik, Anke, Nyffeler, Christopher, Dame, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US12/731,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 715/808
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting soft reminders (e.g., reminders for notes with no triggering criteria). A reminder manager receives an input, from a user, for specifying a note. The note is not associated with triggering criteria. In response to the request, the reminder manager retrieves contextual information from a device associated with the user, and causes, at least in part, presentation of a reminder of the note based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving a polymorphic note associated with a device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof, wherein the polymorphic note upon receipt is associated with no specific triggering criteria;

determining a subject associated with the polymorphic note and one or more triggering items;

retrieving contextual information from the device;

adding social tools to the polymorphic note, whereby the polymorphic note historically separates objects;

matching the contextual information that relates to the subject to further define the subject; and

generating a reminder of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information and the one or more triggering items

wherein a plurality of polymorphic notes are organized into electronic notebooks, and wherein the polymorphic notes are linked in an explicit relationship to facilitate navigation between them.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a modification of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information, one or more user inputs at the device, one or more communications associated with the device, or a combination thereof; and

causing, at least in part, an evolving of the polymorphic note into one or more objects of one or more different application types based, at least in part, on the modification,

wherein a presentation of the reminder is further based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the contextual information indicates a substantially dormant period of the device, the method further comprising:

selecting a random time within the dormant period,

wherein the presentation of the reminder occurs at the random time.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a recommendation of one or more activities based, at least in part, on the subject; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of the recommendation at the device.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the polymorphic note is associated with a group of users, and wherein the reminder is presented to the group of users at approximately the same time.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, an attachment of a media file, a document, or a combination thereof to the polymorphic note.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input, from the user, in response to the reminder, the input specifying the triggering criteria; and

scheduling the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the triggering criteria.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

sharing the polymorphic note with at least one other device;

receiving information from the at least one other device, the information including a communication regarding the polymorphic note; and

determining whether the at least one other device is authorized to modify the polymorphic note,

wherein the modification of the polymorphic note is based on the information.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the matched contextual information is a current activity of the device.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the polymorphic note includes no specific criteria associated with traditional reminders pertaining to time, location, and people.

11. A method of claim 1, further comprising users of the polymorphic note providing commentary on a topic supported by the polymorphic note.

12. A method of claim 11, further comprising causing the commentary to be viewed by one or more other users of the polymorphic note.

13. A method of claim 1, wherein the polymorphic note includes private attributes accessible by a creator of the polymorphic note, and public attributes at least viewable by users other than the creator of the polymorphic note.

14. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a random time within an active period or dormant period as determined by the contextual information,

wherein the presentation of the reminder occurs at the random time.

15. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

retrieve a polymorphic note associated with a device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof, wherein the polymorphic note upon receipt is associated with no specific triggering criteria;

determine a subject associated with the polymorphic note and one or more triggering items;

retrieve contextual information from the device;

add social tools to the polymorphic note, whereby the polymorphic note historically separates objects;

match the contextual information that relates to the subject to further define the subject; and

generate a reminder of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information and the one or more triggering items

wherein a plurality of polymorphic notes are organized into electronic notebooks, and wherein the polymorphic notes are linked in an explicit relationship to facilitate navigation between them.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a modification of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information, one or more user inputs at the device, one or more communications associated with the device, or a combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, an evolving of the polymorphic note into one or more objects of one or more different application types based, at least in part, on the modification,

wherein a presentation of the reminder is further based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the contextual information indicates a substantially dormant period of the device, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

select a random time within the dormant period,

wherein the presentation of the reminder occurs at the random time.

18. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a recommendation of one or more activities based, at least in part, on the subject; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of the recommendation at the device.

19. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the polymorphic note is associated with a group of users, and wherein the reminder is presented to the group of users at approximately the same time.

20. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, an attachment of a media file, a document, or a combination thereof to the polymorphic note.

21. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive an input, from the user, in response to the reminder, the input specifying the triggering criteria; and

schedule the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the triggering criteria.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

retrieving a polymorphic note associated with a device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof, wherein the polymorphic note upon receipt is associated with no specific triggering criteria;

determining a subject associated with the polymorphic note and one or more triggering items;

retrieving contextual information from the device;

adding social tools to the polymorphic note, whereby the polymorphic note historically separates objects;

matching the contextual information that relates to the subject to further define the subject; and

generating a reminder of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information and the one or more triggering items

wherein a plurality of polymorphic notes are organized into electronic notebooks, and wherein the polymorphic notes are linked in an explicit relationship to facilitate navigation between them.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

causing, at least in part, a modification of the polymorphic note based, at least in part, on the contextual information, one or more user inputs at the device, one or more communications associated with the device, or a combination thereof; and

causing, at least in part, an evolving of the polymorphic note into one or more objects of one or more different application types based, at least in part, on the modification,

wherein a presentation of the reminder is further based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the contextual information includes a device activity, and wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

selecting a random time during the device activity,

wherein the presentation of the reminder occurs at the random time.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the contextual information indicates a substantially dormant period of the device, and wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

selecting a random time within the dormant period,

wherein the presentation of the reminder occurs at the random time.