Quiet hours for notifications

• US 9,348,607 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A., Novick, Gregory, Forstall, Scott, Grainger, Morgan, Dicker, George R., Hawkins, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Dung
• Application Number:
  US13/842,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/569.2, 455/570, 455/404.2, 4554141-4142, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 4554564-4565, 379/179, 379/252, 37937301-37304, 379/374.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal

Abstract

In some implementations, a computing device can be configured to automatically turn off notifications when generating a notification would cause a disturbance or be unwanted by a user. The device can be configured with quiet hours during which notifications that would otherwise be generated by the computing device can be suppressed. In some implementations, quiet hours can be configured as a time period with a start time and an end time. In some implementations, quiet hours can be derived from application data. For example, calendar data, alarm clock data, map data, etc. can be used to determine when quiet hours should be enforced. In some implementations, the device can be configured with exceptions to quiet hour notification suppression. In some implementations, the user can identify contacts to which the quiet hours notification suppression should not be applied.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first time, an input defining a specified time period on a mobile device, wherein;

the specified time period comprises a start time and an end time,

the first time is before the start time,

the mobile device is configured to generate a notification in response to detecting a notification event, the notification comprising sound, light, movement or a combination thereof,

the specified time period is associated with a restricted-notification mode in which the generation of notifications at the mobile device in response to detected notification events is restricted, and

the restricted-notification mode is associated with a location;

while a plurality of restricted-notification mode criteria are met, including a criterion that is met when a current time at the mobile device is within the specified time period, and a criterion that is met when the mobile device is at the location associated with the restricted notification mode, such that the mobile device is in the restricted notification mode, detecting a notification event on the mobile device;

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device;

determining whether, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, the mobile device initiated a communication with a person associated with the notification event;

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, did not initiate the communication with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, initiated the communication with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the communication with the person associated with the notification event comprises a phone call, a text message or an email initiated by the mobile device to the person.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the notification event comprises a reply communication, from the person associated with the communication event, to the communication initiated from the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was detected within a time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was not detected within the time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

the time threshold is user-specified.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the method further comprising:

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device, in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met and that the mobile device was in use when the notification event was detected, exiting the restricted-notification mode and generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the restricted-notification mode criteria at least partially automatically determined based on mobile device use patterns detected by the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the restricted-notification mode criteria are not met such that the mobile device is not in the restricted notification mode, detecting a second notification event on the mobile device; and

in response to detecting the second notification event on the mobile device, generating the notification on the mobile device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at a first time, an input defining a specified time period on a mobile device, wherein;

the specified time period comprises a start time and an end time,

the first time is before the start time,

the mobile device is configured to generate a notification in response to detecting a notification event, the notification comprising sound, light, movement or a combination thereof,

the specified time period is associated with a restricted-notification mode in which the generation of notifications at the mobile device in response to detected notification events is restricted, and

the restricted-notification mode is associated with a location;

while a plurality of restricted-notification mode criteria are met, including a criterion that is met when a current time at the mobile device is within the specified time period, and a criterion that is met when the mobile device is at the location associated with the restricted notification mode, such that the mobile device is in the restricted notification mode, detecting a notification event on the mobile device;

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device;

determining whether, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, the mobile device initiated a communication with a person associated with the notification event;

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, did not initiate the communication with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, initiated the communication with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein

the communication with the person associated with the notification event comprises a phone call, a text message or an email initiated by the mobile device to the person.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein

the notification event comprises a reply communication, from the person associated with the communication event, to the communication initiated from the mobile device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was detected within a time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was not detected within the time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the time threshold is user-specified.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the method further comprising:

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device, in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met and that the mobile device was in use when the notification event was detected, exiting the restricted-notification mode and generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein

the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the restricted-notification mode criteria at least partially automatically determined based on mobile device use patterns detected by the mobile device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

while the restricted-notification mode criteria are not met such that the mobile device is not in the restricted notification mode, detecting a second notification event on the mobile device; and

in response to detecting the second notification event on the mobile device, generating the notification on the mobile device.

17. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising;

receiving, at a first time, an input defining a specified time period on a mobile device, wherein;

the specified time period comprises a start time and an end time,

the first time is before the start time,

the mobile device is configured to generate a notification in response to detecting a notification event, the notification comprising sound, light, movement or a combination thereof,

the specified time period is associated with a restricted-notification mode in which the generation of notifications at the mobile device in response to detected notification events is restricted, and

the restricted-notification mode is associated with a location;

while a plurality of restricted-notification mode criteria are met, including a criterion that is met when a current time at the mobile device is within the specified time period, and a criterion that is met when the mobile device is at the location associated with the restricted notification mode, such that the mobile device is in the restricted notification mode, detecting a notification event on the mobile device;

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device;

determining whether, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, the mobile device initiated a communication with a person associated with the notification event;

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, did not initiate the communication with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the mobile device, during the restricted-notification mode and before detecting the notification event, initiated the communication with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein

the communication with the person associated with the notification event comprises a phone call, a text message or an email initiated by the mobile device to the person.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein

the notification event comprises a reply communication, from the person associated with the communication event, to the communication initiated from the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was detected within a time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event; and

in accordance with a determination that the notification event was not detected within the time threshold of the communication initiated with the person associated with the notification event, preventing the mobile device from generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein

the time threshold is user-specified.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the method further comprising:

in response to detecting the notification event on the mobile device, in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met and that the mobile device was in use when the notification event was detected, exiting the restricted-notification mode and generating the notification in response to detecting the notification event.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile device is in the restricted-notification mode in accordance with a determination that the restricted-notification mode criteria are met, the restricted-notification mode criteria at least partially automatically determined based on mobile device use patterns detected by the mobile device.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

while the restricted-notification mode criteria are not met such that the mobile device is not in the restricted notification mode, detecting a second notification event on the mobile device; and

in response to detecting the second notification event on the mobile device, generating the notification on the mobile device.