Electronic device with enhanced method of displaying notifications

• US 9,310,874 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunn, Michael E, Connell, Nathan M, Flowers, Christian L, Wells, Andrew K, Ling, Long
• Primary Examiner(s): Buttram, Todd
• Application Number:
  US14/051,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/10 Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while an electronic device operates in a higher-power mode of operation;

controlling, by at least one application processor of the electronic device, and while consuming a first amount of power, a display of the electronic device to present an image of a notification; and

transitioning, by the at least one application processor of the electronic device, from operating the electronic device in a higher-power mode of operation to operating the electronic device in a lower-power mode of operation;

while the electronic device operates in the lower-power mode of operation;

controlling, by a sensor hub of the electronic device, independent of the at least one application processor and while consuming a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power, the display to present a portion of the image of the notification;

responsive to determining that a condition of the electronic device is met, transitioning, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, from operating the electronic device in the lower-power mode of operation to operating the electronic device in an off-mode of operation;

while the electronic device operates in the off-mode of operation;

controlling, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor and while consuming a third amount of power that is less than the second amount of power, the display so as to cease presenting the portion of the image of the notification;

responsive to determining that the condition of the electronic device is no longer met, transitioning, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, from operating the electronic device in the off-mode to operating the electronic device in the lower-power mode to resume controlling, independent of the at least one application processor, the display to present the portion of the image of the notification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, that the condition is met in response to determining that the electronic device has been stowed within a confined region.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the confined region is selected from the group consisting of a pocket, a purse, a backpack, and a drawer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, that the condition is met in response to determining that the electronic device is face down on a surface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the display to present the portion of the image of the notification comprises:

actuating, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, the display using the at least one control signal provided by the sensor hub, so that the portion of the image of the notification is displayed in a periodic manner in which portion of the image of the notification alternates between having a higher level of brightness and a lower level of brightness.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the higher level of brightness include a plurality of plateaus during which there is the maximum intensity displaying of the portion of the image of the notification.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the electronic device operates in the lower-power mode of operation;

receiving, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, a signal indicative of a user input corresponding to the portion of the image of the notification; and

responsive to receiving the signal, taking, by the sensor hub, independent of the at least one application processor, at least one action.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a display configured to present information;

an application processor in communication with the display, the application processor being configured to;

while the electronic device operates in a higher-power mode of operation;

control, while consuming a first amount of power, the display to present a notification; and

transition, from operating the electronic device in a higher-power mode of operation to operating the electronic device in a lower-power mode of operation; and

a sensor hub in communication with the display, the sensor hub being configured to;

while the electronic device operates in the lower-power mode of operation;

control, by the sensor hub, independent of the application processor and while consuming a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power, the display to present an image portion of the notification;

responsive to determining that a condition of the electronic device is met, transition, by the sensor hub, independent of the application processor, from operating the electronic device in the lower-power mode of operation to operating the electronic device in an off-mode of operation;

while the electronic device operates in the off-mode of operation;

control, by the sensor hub, independent of the application processor and while consuming a third amount of power that is less than the second amount of power, the display so as to cease presenting the image portion of the notification;

responsive to determining that the condition of the electronic device is no longer met, transition, by the sensor hub, independent of the application processor, from operating the electronic device in the off-mode to operating the electronic device in the lower-power mode to resume controlling, by the sensor hub, independent of the application processor, the display to present the image portion of the notification.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is a mobile device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a sensor configured to detect that the electronic device is stowed within a confined region, and the sensor hub is further configured to determine, independent of the application processor and using the sensor, that the condition is met in response to determining that the electronic device has been stowed within the confined region.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the confined region is a pocket.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a sensor configured to detect that the electronic device is face down in relation to a surface, and the sensor hub is further configured to determine, independent of the application processor and using the sensor, that the condition is met in response to determining that the electronic device is face down in relation to the surface.