DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING USER NOTIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TASKS THAT ARE PENDING COMPLETION

• US 20110294471A1
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., Kirkup, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A device and method for generating user notifications associated with tasks that are pending completion on a mobile device. When additional input is required from a user of the mobile device to complete performance of a task and is not being received from the user within a predefined time period, at least one form of user notification is generated. The particular form or forms of user notification are defined by a user profile associated with the user. User notifications may comprise visual, audible, and/or vibratory alerts, and different forms of these user notifications may be generated in a sequence. The volume of audible alerts or the period between periodic user notifications may vary over time.

Claims

1. A method of generating user notifications on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving user input to initiate searching of text in one or more messages on the mobile device;

determining if a processor of the mobile device is awaiting user input of a password, the password for decrypting encrypted data of at least one of the one or more messages;

prompting for the user input of the password;

determining if the user input of the password is not received within a predefined time period; and

generating at least one form of user notification if the user input of the password is not received within the predefined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the processor of the mobile device is awaiting user input of the password, the processor suspends the searching of text in the one or more messages until the password is provided as user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating is repeated until the user input is received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated periodically.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the period at which the at least one form of user notification is generated varies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated until a second predefined time period has elapsed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated in accordance with a user profile.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user profile defines the at least one form of user notification that is to be generated based on a state of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the state of the mobile device is a state selected from the following group:

the mobile device is in a cradle;

the mobile device is in a holster; and

the mobile device is neither in a cradle nor in a holster.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the user profile defines a plurality of forms of user notification that is to be generated in a sequence.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification consists of at least one of the following:

a visual alert, an audible alert, and a vibratory alert.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one form of user notification varies over time.

13. A computer-readable storage medium upon which a plurality of instructions are stored, the instructions, which when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to:

receive user input to initiate searching of text in one or more messages on the mobile device;

determine if the processor is awaiting user input of a password, the password for decrypting encrypted data of at least one of the one or more messages;

prompt for the user input of the password;

determine if the user input of the password is not received within a predefined time period; and

generate at least one form of user notification if the user input of the password is not received within the predefined time period.

14. A mobile device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive user input to initiate searching of text in one or more messages on the mobile device;

determine if the processor of the mobile device is awaiting user input of a password, the password for decrypting encrypted data of at least one of the one or more messages;

prompt for the user input of the password;

determine if the user input of the password is not received within a predefined time period; and

generate at least one form of user notification if the user input of the password is not received within the predefined time period.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein if the processor of the mobile device is awaiting user input of the password, the processor suspends the searching of text in the one or more messages until the password is provided as user input.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein generation of the at least one form of user notification is repeated until the user input is received.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated periodically.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the period at which the at least one form of user notification is generated varies.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated until a second predefined time period has elapsed.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one form of user notification is generated in accordance with a user profile.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the user profile defines the at least one form of user notification that is to be generated based on a state of the mobile device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the state of the mobile device is a state selected from the following group:

the mobile device is in a cradle;

the mobile device is in a holster; and

the mobile device is neither in a cradle nor in a holster.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the user profile defines a plurality of forms of user notification that is to be generated in a sequence.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one form of user notification consists of at least one of the following:

a visual alert, an audible alert, and a vibratory alert.

25. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one form of user notification varies over time.