Sending smart alerts on a device at opportune moments using sensors

• US 10,051,109 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jackson, Stephen P., Kandangath, Anil K., Huang, Ronald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US15/461,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 455418, 4555501, 455458, 4554122, 600301
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Measurements can be obtained from sensors to determine a state of a device. The state can be used to determine whether to provide an alert. For example, after a first alert is provided, it can be determined that the device is not accessible to the user based on the determined state, and a second alert can be suppressed at a specified time after providing the first alert. The sensor measurements can be monitored after suppressing the second alert, and a state engine can detect a change in a state based on subsequent sensor measurements. If the state change indicates that the device is accessible to the user the second alert can be provided to the user. Alerts can be dismissed based on a change in state. A first device can coordinate alerts sent to or to be provided by a second device by suppressing or dismissing such alerts.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing alerts using a device, the computer-implemented method comprising, at the device:

receiving an input from a user to enable suppression of a first alert;

receiving a list of states for which suppression of the first alert is to occur;

determining, by one or more sensors, a current state of the device;

storing the current state of the device;

receiving a notification;

in response to receiving the notification, retrieving the current state of the device that is stored; and

determining whether to suppress the first alert in response to the current state of the device that is stored being on the list of states.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether to not suppress the first alert in response to the current state of the device not being on the list of states;

and

in response to determining to not suppress the first alert, outputting the first alert.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of states for which suppression of the first alert is to occur comprises a state in which the user is operating a vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining an updated current state of the device, wherein the updated current state of the device is based on a change in a classification of the current state.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the classification comprises one of a type of motion, a noise category, and an enclosure storage category.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the enclosure storage category is determined by a pressure sensor that detects whether the device is inside an enclosed space.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein in response to determining the updated current state of the device, determining whether to suppress the first alert in response to the updated current state of the device being on a second list of states.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein in response to determining the updated current state of the device, determining whether to suppress the first alert in response to the updated current state of the device being on the list of states.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of states comprises a transition state comprising a pair of states.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pair of states comprises a previous state of the device paired with a subsequent state of the device.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining that there is an updated current state of the device based on a probability value of an occurrence of the updated current state.

12. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed control a device including one or more processors, the instructions comprising:

receiving an input from a user to enable suppression of a first alert;

receiving a list of states for which suppression of the first alert is to occur;

determining, by one or more sensors, a current state of the device;

storing the current state of the device;

receiving a notification;

in response to receiving the notification, retrieving the current state of the device that is stored; and

determining whether to suppress the first alert in response to the current state of the device that is stored being on the list of states.

13. The computer product according to claim 12, further comprising determining whether to not suppress the first alert in response to the current state of the device not being on the list of states;

and

in response to determining to not suppress the first alert, outputting the first alert.

14. The computer product according to claim 12, further comprising determining an updated current state of the device, wherein the updated current state of the device is based on a change in a classification of the current state.

15. The computer product according to claim 14, wherein the classification comprises one of a type of motion, a noise category, and an enclosure storage category.

16. The computer product according to claim 15, wherein the enclosure storage category is determined by a pressure sensor that detects whether the device is inside an enclosed space.

17. A device comprising:

a storage for storing suppressed alerts;

one or more sensors; and

one or more processors configured to;

receive an input from a user to enable suppression of a first alert;

receive a list of states for which suppression of the first alert is to occur;

determine, by one or more sensors, a current state of the device;

store the current state of the device;

receive a notification;

in response to receiving the notification, retrieve the current state of the device that is stored; and

determine whether to suppress the first alert in response to the current state of the device that is stored being on the list of states.

18. The device according to claim 17, further comprising determining an updated current state of the device, wherein the updated current state of the device is based on a change in a classification of the current state.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the classification comprises one of a type of motion, a noise category, and an enclosure storage category.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the enclosure storage category is determined by a pressure sensor that detects whether the device is inside an enclosed space.