Synchronization of alarms between devices

• US 9,141,944 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinberg, Jonathan Adam, Feltenberger, David Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): POWELL, MATTHEW T
• Application Number:
  US13/748,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140204718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 368/4, 368/11, 368/12, 368/13, 368/14, 368/47, 368/73, 368/244, 368/250, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 701/412
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/025 acting only at one preselected time
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/026 acting at a number of different times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/02 by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method for synchronizing a first device with a second device may include receiving an alarm activation time from the first device. An alarm may be set on the second device to be the same as the alarm activation time. An indication that the alarm is set on the second device may be sent to the first device. Immediately prior to the alarm activation time, it may be determined that the first device is proximate to the second device, and upon determining that the first device is proximate to the second device, the alarm may be activated on the second device at the alarm activation time. The devices may be considered proximate based on a connection protocol, such as when the first device is able to communicate with the second device over a wired or wireless communication protocol.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a first device with a second device, comprising:

receiving, from the first device when the first device is proximate to the second device, an alarm activation time set on the first device,

setting an alarm on the second device to be the same as the alarm activation time,

sending to the first device, an indication that the alarm is set on the second device,

determining immediately prior to the alarm activation time that the first device is proximate to the second device,

upon determining that the first device is proximate to the second device, activating the alarm on the second device at the alarm activation time and deactivating the alarm on the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first device is proximate to the second device is based on a connection between the first device and the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a connection-type selected from the group consisting of a wire, near field communications, Bluetooth, location service, or other wireless connection protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first device and second device is independently selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, PDA, handheld device, handheld computer, wearable computer, tablet, laptop, PC, clock, appliance, and a mobile phone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first device is a smartphone.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the second device is a clock.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm activation time is based on an alarm-type selected from the group consisting of an alarm clock, calendar event, reminder notification, application notification, program notification, and a timer.

8. A method for synchronizing a first device with a second device, comprising:

receiving an alarm activation time on the first device,

setting the alarm on the first device to match the alarm activation time,

providing the alarm activation time to the second device when the first device is proximate to the second device,

receiving from the second device, an indication that the alarm is set on the second device,

determining immediately prior to the alarm activation time that the first device is proximate to the second device,

upon determining that the first device is proximate to the second device, deactivating the alarm on the first device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination that the first device is proximate to the second device is based on a connection between the first device and the second device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the connection is a connection-type selected from the group consisting of a wire, near field communications, Bluetooth, location service, or other wireless connection protocol.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the first device and the second device is independently selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, PDA, handheld device, handheld computer, wearable computer, tablet, laptop, PC, clock, appliance, and a mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device is a smartphone.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second device is a clock.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the alarm activation time is based on an alarm-type selected from the group consisting of an alarm clock, calendar event, reminder notification, application notification, program notification, and a timer.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, from a first device when the first device is proximate to a second device, an alarm activation time set on the first device,

set an alarm on a second device to be the same as the alarm activation time,

send to the first device, an indication that the alarm is set on the second device,

determine immediately prior to the alarm activation time that the first device is proximate to the second device, and

activate the alarm on the second device at the alarm activation time and deactivate the alarm on the first device upon determination that the first device is proximate to the second device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the determination that the first device is proximate to the second device is based on a connection between the first device and the second device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the connection is a connection-type selected from the group consisting of a wire, near field communications, Bluetooth, location service, or other wireless connection protocol.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the first device and second device is independently selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, PDA, handheld device, handheld computer, wearable computer, tablet, laptop, PC, clock, appliance, and a mobile phone.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first device is a smartphone.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second device is a clock.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the alarm activation time is based on an alarm-type selected from the group consisting of an alarm clock, calendar event, reminder notification, application notification, program notification, and a timer.

22. A system, comprising:

a computer-readable medium storing an alarm activation time;

a processor configured to;

set an alarm to match the alarm activation time on a first device,

provide the alarm activation time to a second device when the first device is proximate to the second device,

receive from the second device, an indication that the alarm is set on the second device,

determine immediately prior to the alarm activation time that the first device is proximate to the second device, and

deactivate the alarm upon determination that the first device is proximate to the second device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the determination that the first device is proximate to the second device is based on a connection between the first device and the second device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the connection is a connection-type selected from the group consisting of a wire, near field communications, Bluetooth, location service, or other wireless connection protocol.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the first device and second device is independently selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, PDA, handheld device, handheld computer, wearable computer, tablet, laptop, PC, clock, appliance, and a mobile phone.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first device is a smartphone.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the second device is a clock.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the alarm activation time is based on an alarm-type selected from the group consisting of an alarm clock, calendar event, reminder notification, application notification, program notification, and a timer.