Scheduling with distractions disabled

• US 10,819,843 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2019
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emma Michaela Siritzky
• Original Assignee: Emma Michaela Siritzky
• Inventors: Siritzky, Emma Michaela
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mahendra R
• Application Number:
  US16/516,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20200120201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 455418, 4554261, 1 1, 702142
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A communication device comprising: one or more processors and one or more memories supporting communication, the device comprising a plurality of modes, including at least a normal mode and at least one focused mode, wherein the normal mode is distinct from the focused mode, and wherein, when the device is in the focused mode one or more features of the device are at least partially disabled, and wherein the one or more features of the device that are at least partially disabled in the focused mode include one or more features relating to communication supported by the device, wherein the device is configured to: support a user interface (UI) for setting one or more focused time periods, and wherein the device is further configured to switch to the at least one focused mode during the focused time periods.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one processor and one or more memories; and

at least one non-transient computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to implement;

a planner application defining one or more events, at least some of said one or more events having (i) a corresponding start time and an end time or duration, and (ii) a corresponding mode, wherein said corresponding mode is selected from a plurality of modes, and wherein,

when it is determined that a current time is during a particular event of said one or more events, said particular event having a corresponding particular mode of said plurality of modes, operating said device in said particular mode,

wherein said plurality of modes includes at least a focused mode, and,

when said device is in said focused mode, one or more features of said device are modified or at least partially disabled,

wherein the device is associated with a user, and wherein information about said one or more events is shared with at least one other device associated with said user, said information including a corresponding mode for at least one of said one or more events, and

wherein one or more aspects of said planner application are integrated with and/or implemented, at least in part, by an operating system of said device,

wherein said at least one other device associated with said user operates in said particular mode during said particular event.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising operating said device in said particular mode until the particular event ends,

wherein the particular event ends when:

(i) the current time reaches an end time of the particular event, and/or (ii) when another event starts, and/or (iii) when a user interrupts.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said particular event has a particular duration, further comprising operating said device in said particular mode for the particular duration.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more features of said device that are modified or at least partially disabled in the focused mode include one or more features relating to communication.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more features of said device that are modified or at least partially disabled in the focused mode include one or more features from a group comprising:

(A) notifications of incoming calls;

(B) notifications of incoming messages;

(C) outgoing calls;

(D) one or more applications on said device; and

(E) one or more features relating to cellular communications.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more applications on the device comprise one or more applications selected from a group comprising:

one or more social networking applications;

one or more texting applications;

one or more browser applications;

one or more messaging applications;

one or more conferencing applications; and

one or more photography applications.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of modes include a normal mode, and wherein the one or more features of the device that are modified or at least partially disabled in said focused mode are not normally disabled in said normal mode.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the device and/or (ii) the at least one other device, comprises a mobile phone.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said planner application provides a user interface for setting said one or more events.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said user interface supports a user selectively setting a focused mode.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said user interface supports setting, for each of one or more events, an event start time and an event mode, wherein said event mode for each event is selected from said plurality of modes.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said user interface supports setting, for an event, an event end time and/or duration.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least some information about which mode or modes said device is in is reported by sending said at least some of said information to another computer.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said at least some information includes information about which mode or modes said device is in by time and/or location.

15. A computer implemented method comprising:

(A) obtaining information about one or more events, at least some of said events having a corresponding time period and a corresponding device status, wherein said device status is selected from a plurality of modes, including one or more focused modes;

(B) determining whether a current time corresponds to a time during an event having a focused device status; and

(C) based on said determining in (B), when the current time is during an event having a focused device status, operating multiple devices in a focused mode of said one or more focused modes, wherein, when a particular device of said multiple devices is in said focused mode, one or more features of said particular device are modified or at least partially disabled, and wherein information about said one or more events is shared with at least some of said multiple devices, said information including a corresponding mode for at least one of said one or more events, and wherein one or more aspects of said method are implemented, at least in part, by an operating system of said multiple devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more features of said device that are modified or at least partially disabled in the focused mode include one or more features relating to communication supported by the particular device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(D) sending, to at least one other computer, at least some information about which mode or modes said device is in.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with one or more computer programs stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform at least the operations of:

(A) obtaining information about one or more events, at least some of said events having a corresponding time period and a corresponding device status, wherein said device status is selected from a plurality of modes, including one or more focused modes;

(B) determining whether a current time corresponds to a time during an event having a focused device status; and

(C) based on said determining in (B), when the current time is during an event having a focused device status, operating multiple devices in a focused mode of said one or more focused modes, wherein, when a particular device of said multiple devices is in said focused mode, one or more features of said particular device are modified or at least partially disabled, and wherein information about said one or more events is shared with at least some of said multiple devices, said information including a corresponding mode for at least one of said one or more events, and wherein one or more aspects of said method are implemented, at least in part, by an operating system of said multiple devices.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more features of said device that are modified or at least partially disabled in the focused mode include one or more features relating to communication supported by the particular device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

(D) reporting, to at least another computer, at least some information about which mode or modes said device is in.