APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OUTPUTTING MESSAGE ALERTS

• US 20140310360A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SONG, Myeong-Seok, HWANG, Mi-A
• Granted Patent: US 10,171,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

An apparatus for outputting a message alert is provided, comprising a processor configured to: receive a message; determine whether the message includes an attachment file; and responsive to determining that the message includes the attachment file, output sound contained in the attachment file as a message alert for the message.

Claims

1. An apparatus for outputting a message alert, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a message;

determine whether the message includes an attachment file; and

responsive to determining that the message includes the attachment file, output sound contained in the attachment file as a message alert for the message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to output a default message alert when it is determined that the message does not include the attachment file.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the message contains an indication that sound contained in the attachment file is to be used as a message alert;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when the message contains the indication.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a first identifier that is associated with the message; and

compare the first identifier to a second identifier that is stored in the memory;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the first identifier matches the second identifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a first keyword in the sound by using speech-to-text recognition; and

compare the first keyword to a second keyword that is stored in the memory;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the first keyword does not match the second keyword.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a current location of the apparatus; and

determine whether the current location is within a threshold distance from a predetermined location that is stored in the memory;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the current location is within the threshold distance from the predetermined location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when the message is received within a predetermined time period.

8. An apparatus for transmitting messages, comprising:

an input device; and

a processor, coupled to the input device, configured to;

receive, via the input device, a message;

output a prompt requesting a user to specify whether the user wishes to use media contained in a file that is attached to the message as a message alert for the message;

insert, into the message, an indication of whether the media is to be used as a message alert, the indication being based on a response to the prompt; and

transmit the message to a recipient device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the prompt is output responsive to detecting that the file is attached to the message.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein using the media contained in the file as a message alert includes outputting the media at the recipient device in place of a default message alert that is stored at the recipient device.

11. A method for outputting a message alert, comprising:

receiving a message;

determining, by a processor, whether the message includes an attachment file; and

responsive to determining that the message includes the attachment file, outputting sound contained in the attachment file as a message alert for the message.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting a default message alert when it is determined that the message does not include the attachment file.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether the message contains an indication that sound contained in the attachment file is to be used as a message alert;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when the message contains the indication.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a first identifier that is associated with the message; and

comparing the first identifier to a second identifier;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the first identifier matches the second identifier.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a first keyword in the sound by using speech-to-text recognition; and

comparing the first keyword to a second keyword;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the first keyword does not match the second keyword.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a current location of the apparatus; and

determining whether the current location is within a threshold distance from a predetermined location;

wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when it is determined that the current location is within the threshold distance from the predetermined location.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sound contained in the attachment file is output only when the message is received within a predetermined time period.

18. A method for transmitting messages, comprising:

receiving, via an input device, a message;

outputting, by a processor, a prompt requesting a user to specify whether the user wishes to use media contained in a file that is attached to the message as a message alert for the message;

inserting, into the message, an indication of whether the media is to be used as a message alert, the indication being based on a response to the prompt; and

transmitting the message to a recipient device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the prompt is output responsive to detecting that the file is attached to the message.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein using the media contained in the file as a message alert includes outputting the media at the recipient device in place of a default message alert that is stored at the recipient device.