System and method for alerting a user on an external device of notifications or alerts originating from a network-connected device

• US 9,560,631 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Migicovsky, Eric B., Bennett, Jonathan V., Snider, Cory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US14/850,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20150382322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Users are experiencing an increasing number of alerts and notifications on their mobile devices. When it is inconvenient or not possible to view the network-connected device, an accessory can be used to save time and avoid missing notifications. A system comprising a network-connected device and an accessory are provided to address these problems. The accessory is capable of notifying the user of alerts from the network-connected device, allowing the user to quickly be advised of alerts without needing to first interact with the network-connected device. The system includes a method to selectively filter alerts so as to avoid unnecessarily interrupting the user in cases where the network device is inaccessible. The system is also capable of pushing new interface designs and themes from the network device to the accessory to alter the appearance and configuration of its display.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a smart watch comprising;

a wireless interface configured to receive a notification included in a first data transmission directly from a mobile end-user device via a short-range wireless protocol,

wherein the first data transmission is generated by the mobile end-user device and addressed to the smart watch by the mobile end-user device, wherein contents of the notification of the first data transmission are a duplication of contents of a notification contained in a second data transmission received by the mobile end-user device from a network, and where a final destination address of the second data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device, where the first data transmission and the second data transmission are not transmissions of advertisements;

memory coupled to the wireless interface and configured to store a first plurality of notifications;

an output device to provide information to a user;

an input device for receiving inputs from a user; and

a processor coupled to the wireless interface, the memory, the output device, and the input device, wherein the processor is configured to review the notification of the first data transmission and notify a user of the smart watch by using the output device that the notification of the first data transmission has been received, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically delete the notification of the first data transmission from the memory without user intervention such that fewer than all notifications received from the mobile-end user device are stored in the memory and to allow the first plurality of notifications to be reviewed by a user; and

a mobile end-user device comprising

a wireless interface for transmitting the first data transmission directly to the smart watch and receiving the second data transmission from the network;

memory configured to store a second plurality of notifications transmitted to the smart watch by the mobile end-user device, the first plurality of notifications being a most recent subset of the second plurality of notifications;

an output device to provide information to a user;

an input device for receiving inputs from a user; and

a processor coupled to the wireless interface, the memory, the output device, and the input device of the mobile end-user device, wherein the processor is configured to allow the second plurality of notifications to be reviewed by a user;

where the smart watch is configured to obtain a new operating system (OS) from a network connected device to enable the smart watch to install the new OS, where the wireless interface of the smart watch is configured to receive new data from the network connected device, where the new data includes data for obtaining or directly installing the new OS; and

the smart watch is then configured to store the new data in the memory; and

where the smart watch is then configured to install the new OS using the new data from the memory, and

where the output device on the smart watch is a graphic display and the smart watch has a vibrating motor, where the smart watch is configured to display the notification on its graphic display while optionally activating the vibrating motor.

2. The system claim 1, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification of the first data transmission is automatically deleted after a period of time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device of the smart watch is configured to allow the user to navigate through notifications received from the mobile end-user device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device of the smart watch consists of a single button.

6. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a smart watch, a first data transmission containing a notification sent from the mobile end-user device via a short-range wireless communication protocol, where the first data transmission was generated by the mobile end-user device and addressed to the smart watch by the mobile end-user device, wherein contents of the notification of the first data transmission are a duplication of contents of a notification contained in a second data transmission received by the mobile end-user device from the network, and where a final destination address of the second data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device, where the first data transmission and the second data transmission are not transmissions of advertisements;

storing a first plurality of notifications in memory, including the notification of the first data transmission;

notifying the user of the smart watch that the notification has been received;

automatically deleting the notification of the first data transmission without user intervention such that fewer than all notifications received from the mobile-end user device are stored in memory,

wherein the first plurality of notifications is a most recent subset of a second plurality of notifications stored in memory of the mobile end-user device that are viewable on the mobile end-user device; and

obtaining a new operating system (OS) for the smart watch from a network connected device to enable the smart watch to install the new OS, where the wireless interface of the smart watch is configured to receive new data from the network connected device, where the new data includes data for obtaining or directly installing the new OS; and

the smart watch is then configured to store the new data in the memory; and

installing the new OS using the new data from the memory,

where the output device on the smart watch is a graphic display and the smart watch has a vibrating motor, where the smart watch is configured to display the notification on its graphic display while optionally activating the vibrating motor.

7. The method claim 6, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification of the first data transmission is automatically deleted after a period of time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of notifications is navigable by a user using an input device of the smart watch.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the input device consists of a single button.

11. A smart watch, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to receive a notification included in a first data transmission directly from a mobile end-user device via a short-range wireless protocol,

wherein, the first data transmission is generated by the mobile end-user device and addressed to the smart watch by the mobile end-user device, wherein contents of the notification of the first data transmission are a duplication of contents of a notification contained in a second data transmission received by the mobile end-user device from a network, and where a final destination address of the second data transmission is the address of the mobile end-user device, where the first data transmission and the second data transmission are not transmissions of advertisements;

memory coupled to the wireless interface and configured to store a first plurality of notifications, including the notification of the first data transmission, wherein the first plurality of notifications is a most recent subset of a second plurality of notifications that are stored on the mobile-end user device and viewable by a user on the mobile-end user device;

an output device to provide information to a user;

an input device for receiving inputs from a user; and

a processor coupled to the wireless interface, the memory, the output device, and the input device, wherein the processor is configured to review the notification of the first data transmission stored in memory and notify a user of the smart watch by using the output device that the notification of the first data transmission has been received, wherein the processor is further configured to;

(1) automatically delete the at least one notification from the memory without user intervention such that fewer than all notifications received from the mobile-end user device are stored in the memory;

(2) allow the first plurality of notifications to be reviewed by a user;

where the smart watch is configured to obtain a new operating system (OS) from a network connected device to enable the smart watch to install the new OS, where the wireless interface of the smart watch is configured to receive new data from the network connected device, where the new data includes data for obtaining or directly installing the new OS; and

the smart watch is then configured to store the new data in the memory; and

where the smart watch is then configured to install the new OS using the new data from the memory, and

where the output device on the smart watch is a graphic display and the smart watch has a vibrating motor, where the smart watch is configured to display the notification on its graphic display while optionally activating the vibrating motor.

12. The smart watch of claim 11, wherein the mobile end-user device is a cellular phone.

13. The smart watch of claim 11, wherein the notification of the first data transmission is automatically deleted after a period of time.

14. The smart watch of claim 11, wherein the input device of the smart watch is configured to allow the user to navigate through notifications received from the mobile end-user device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the input device of the smart watch consists of a single button.