Developing a notification framework for electronic device events

• US 9,357,052 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ullrich, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US12/135,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20090305744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,913 Days
• Field of Search: 715/745, 715/864
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for developing a notification framework for presenting notification information to a user of an electronic device. One embodiment of a method, among others, includes receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device and receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device. The method further comprises assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input. A notification framework is then determined from the assessed context. The method also includes notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device. Notifying the user includes notifying the user within the notification framework.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processing device configured to develop a notification framework for defining how notifications are presented to a user of the electronic device when a specific event associated with the electronic device occurs;

one or more physical sensors configured to sense physical parameters;

a plurality of output devices each configured to present notification information to the user in one or more sensory modes, the sensory modes comprising at least one of audible, visual, or tactile;

wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context of the electronic device by processing the sensed physical parameters and by processing information retrieved from one or more software programs either running on the electronic device or running on a network with which the electronic device communicates;

wherein the processing device is further configured to determine a notification framework from the assessed context;

wherein the processing device is further configured to determine whether the specific event associated with the electronic device occurs and to notify the user within the notification framework when the specific event occurs; and

a short range communication device configured to sense notification framework information from other nearby electronic devices, wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context by analyzing the predominate notification settings of a plurality of nearby electronic devices;

wherein the processing device is further configured to monitor one or more responses to a notification by the user, and automatically adjust the assessment of the context and the determination of the notification framework based on the one or more monitored responses;

wherein the information retrieved from the one or more software programs comprises current schedule information retrieved from a calendar program, the current schedule information being associated with the user;

wherein the information retrieved from the calendar program further includes current schedule information that is associated with one or more other people associated with the user whose contact information is stored in the electronic device, and that is received from the one or more other people;

wherein the processing device is further configured to delay notification of the specific event to the user based on the assessed context, wherein the assessed context comprises determining whether the electronic device is located in an elevator.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical sensors are selected from the group consisting of microphones, cameras, accelerometers, surface contact sensors, thermometers, and global positioning system (“

GPS”

) devices.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a cellular telephone.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with another cellular device via a cellular network.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine the strength or bandwidth of cellular signals, and wherein the processing device is further configured to assess the context of the electronic device using the strength or bandwidth of the cellular signals.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the specific event comprises one of an incoming telephone call, an incoming cellular phone call, an incoming text message, an incoming e-mail message, and a calendar reminder.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to automatically adjust the assessment of the context and the determination of the notification framework based on data that is input by a user using an input device.

8. A notification developing program stored in memory and executed by a processing device, the notification developing program comprising:

logic adapted to receive physically sensed parameters;

logic adapted to receive virtually sensed parameters;

logic adapted to assess a context of an electronic device by processing the physically sensed parameters and the virtually sensed parameters;

logic adapted to determine a notification framework from the assessed context, the notification framework defining how notification information is presented to the user of the electronic device;

logic adapted to detect when a notification event associated with the electronic device occurs;

logic adapted to receive parameters associated with wireless communication activities of the electronic device with other electronic devices, wherein the logic adapted to assess the context of the electronic device further processes the parameters associated with the wireless communication activities to assess the context;

wherein the parameters associated with wireless communication activity comprises shared notification settings from the other electronic devices, and wherein the logic adapted to assess the context determines a predominate notification setting of the shared notification settings for assessing the context; and

logic adapted to monitor one or more responses to a notification by the user, and automatically adjust the assessment of the context and the determination of the notification framework based on the one or more monitored responses;

wherein the virtually sensed parameters comprise current schedule information retrieved from a calendar program, the current schedule information being associated with the user;

wherein the information retrieved from the calendar program further includes current schedule information that is associated with one or more other people associated with the user whose contact information is stored in the electronic device, and that is received from the one or more other people;

wherein the logic adapted to determine a notification framework is further adapted to delay notification of the detected event to the user based on the assessed context, wherein the assessed context comprises determining whether the electronic device is located in an elevator.

9. The notification developing program of claim 8, wherein the notification developing program is stored on a computer-readable medium.

10. The notification developing program of claim 8, wherein, when a notification event is detected, the logic adapted to determine the notification framework is further adapted to notify the user within the notification framework of the notification event.

11. The notification developing program of claim 8, wherein the logic adapted to receive physically sensed parameters receives sound, images, force information, physiological information of the user, temperature readings, and location information.

12. The notification developing program of claim 8, wherein the delay is based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of the detection of pauses in a conversation, and the detection of a location of the electronic device in an elevator.

13. A method comprising:

receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device;

receiving input from one or more software programs;

receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device;

assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input;

determining a notification framework from the assessed context;

notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device;

wherein notifying the user includes notifying the user within said notification framework;

wherein the input from the one or more other electronic devices includes information regarding notification framework settings of the other electronic devices; and

monitoring one or more responses to a notification by the user, and automatically adjusting the assessment of the context and the determination of the notification framework based on the one or more monitored responses;

wherein the input from the one or more software programs comprises current schedule information retrieved from a calendar program, the current schedule information being associated with the user;

wherein the information retrieved from the calendar program further includes current schedule information that is associated with one or more other people associated with the user whose contact information is stored in the electronic device, and that is received from the one or more other people; and

delaying notification of the detected event to the user based on the assessed context, wherein the assessed context comprises determining whether the electronic device is located in an elevator.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving input from virtual sensors within the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the input received from the virtual sensors includes schedule information of the user.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the physical sensors are integrated with the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the detected event includes one of an incoming telephone call, an incoming cellular phone call, an incoming text message, an incoming e-mail message, and an incoming calendar reminder.