Selective alert processing

• US 9,055,422 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elliott, Doron M., Hernandez, Ivette
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US14/313,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20140308936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/67.11, 340/439, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a vehicle computing system, a notification that an incoming communication is being sent to a wireless device in communication with the vehicle computing system. The method also includes determining that a do not disturb function is active in the vehicle computing system and blocking a notification to a driver regarding the incoming communication. Finally, this method includes sending a command from the vehicle computing system to the wireless device to silence any notification that the wireless device provides in conjunction with the incoming communication.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

engage a do-not-disturb (DND) state;

block an incoming call while the DND state is active;

determine that a blocked call corresponds to a phone approved to bypass the DND state; and

facilitate communication with the phone after blocking the call by automatically calling back the phone after blocking the phone and determining that the phone is approved to bypass the DND state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DND state is engaged upon driver request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the phone is approved based on a presence on a DND bypass list.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate communication by informing a driver that an approved phone has been blocked.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to engage the DND state when one or more DND criteria are met.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

engaging a do-not-disturb (DND) state;

block an incoming call while the DND state is active;

determine that a blocked call corresponds to a phone approved to bypass the DND state; and

facilitate communication with the phone after blocking the call by automatically calling back the phone after blocking the phone and determining that the phone is approved to bypass the DND state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the DND state is engaged upon driver request.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the phone is approved based on a presence on a DND bypass list.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate communication by informing a driver that an approved phone has been blocked.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the DND state is engaged when one or more DND criteria are met.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

engaging a do-not-disturb (DND) state;

block an incoming call while the DND state is active;

determine that a blocked call corresponds to a phone approved to bypass the DND state; and

facilitate communication with the phone after blocking the call by automatically calling back the phone after blocking the phone and determining that the phone is approved to bypass the DND state.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the DND state is engaged upon driver request.

13. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the phone is approved based on a presence on a DND bypass list.

14. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate communication by informing a driver that an approved phone has been blocked.

15. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the DND state is engaged when one or more DND criteria are met.