WO2011141624A1

WO2011141624A1 - Apparatus and method for providing notifications

Info

Publication number: WO2011141624A1
Application number: PCT/FI2011/050411
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sudhindra Nandan Raghavendra
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2010-05-12
Filing date: 2011-05-04
Publication date: 2011-11-17

Abstract

An apparatus comprising means for determining that an event has occurred in a first application; means for determining a current operating status of said apparatus; means for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and means for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDNG NOTIFICATIONS

FIELD The present application relates to an apparatus and a method for improved notifications.

BACKGROUND More and more electronic apparatuses such as mobile phones, MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are becoming smaller and smaller while having more and more information stored and/or accessible through them. Users are relying on these devices and becoming all the more dependant on them and often execute or run multiple applications simultaneously.

However, as the available display space is still rather limited only one or a few applications are clearly visible at any given point in time.

Should an event take place in an application that is not currently active or displayed a notification is output to inform the user of this event. Examples of such notifications are pop-up windows that are displayed to inform the user that for example a message has been received .

Such notifications often interrupt the user from his current activity and requires that an action to be handled, either to close it or to take other action on the notification and the application it relates to. To avoid being interrupted a user may choose to switch of such notifications. In some systems only a discrete notification is then given, such as a small icon in a status bar. However, these small and discrete icons have then disadvantage of not always being detected and the user may thus not be aware that the event has taken place .

An apparatus that does not interrupt a user while still conveying all necessary information would thus be useful in modern day society.

SUMMARY On this background, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus, a computer program stored on a storage medium and a method that overcomes or at least reduces the drawbacks indicated above by providing an apparatus that detects the current operating status and outputs the notification accordingly.

The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus comprising at least one memory and at least one processor also referred to herein as a controller configured to: determine that an event has occurred in a first application; determine a current operating status of said apparatus; generate a main notification based on said current operating status; and output said main notification based on said current operating status.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are also directed to providing a method for execution on an apparatus comprising a processor wherein said processor is configured to execute said method, said method comprising: determining that an event has occurred in a first application; determining a current operating status of said apparatus; generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are also directed to providing a computer readable medium including at least computer program code for controlling a user interface, said computer readable medium comprising: software code for determining that an event has occurred in a first application; software code for determining a current operating status of said apparatus; software code for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and software code for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are also directed to providing a computer program product for execution on an apparatus, said computer program comprising software code for determining that an event has occurred in a first application; software code for determining a current operating status of said apparatus; software code for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and software code for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are also directed to providing an apparatus comprising: means for determining that an event has occurred in a first application; means for determining a current operating status of said apparatus; means for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and means for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status. Further objects, features, advantages and properties of device, method and computer readable medium according to the present application will become apparent from the detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present description, the teachings of the present application will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 are plane front views of an apparatus according to an embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the general architecture of a device of Fig. 2 in accordance with the present application,

Figs. 3 are plane front views of an apparatus according to an embodiment,

Figs. 4 are plane front views of an apparatus according to an embodiment, and

Figs. 5 are flow charts each describing a method according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, the apparatus, the method and the software product according to the teachings for this application in the form of a c e 11 u 1 a r / mo b i 1 e phone will be described by the embodiments. It should be noted that although only a mobile phone is described the teachings of this application can also be used in any electronic device such as in portable electronic devices such as media players, game consoles, laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) , mobile communication terminals, electronic books and notepads and other electronic devices offering access to information. An embodiment of a mobile terminal 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The mobile terminal 100 comprises a speaker or earphone 102, a microphone 106, a main or first display 103 and a set of keys 104 which may include a keypad 104a of common ITU-T type (alpha-numerical keypad representing characters "0"-"9", "*" and "#") and certain other keys such as soft keys 104b, 104c and a joystick 105 or other type of navigational input device (fig la) .

In one embodiment (fig lb) the mobile terminal has a touch display 103 which is capable of receiving touch input from a user. In such an embodiment some or all of the keys of the keypad 104 are implemented as virtual keys being displayed on the touch display 103. In one embodiment a controller (shown in fig 2) is configured to receive hand writing input.

The internal component, software and protocol structure of the mobile terminal 100 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. The mobile terminal has a processor or controller 200 which is responsible for the overall operation of the mobile terminal and may be implemented by any commercially available CPU ("Central Processing Unit"), DSP ("Digital Signal Processor") or any other electronic programmable logic device. The controller 200 has associated electronic memory 202 such as Random Access Memory (RAM) memory, Read Only memory (ROM) memory, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) memory, flash memory, or any combination thereof. The memory 202 is used for various purposes by the controller 200, one of them being for storing data used by and program instructions for various software in the mobile terminal. The software includes a real-time operating system 220, drivers for a man-machine interface (MMI) 234, an application handler 232 as well as various applications. The applications can include a message text editor 250, a notepad application 260, as well as various other applications 270, such as applications for voice calling, video calling, sending and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages, Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages or email, web browsing, an instant messaging application, a phone book application, a calendar application, a control panel application, a camera application, one or more video games, a notepad application, etc. It should be noted that two or more of the applications listed above may be executed as the same application

The MMI 234 also includes one or more hardware controllers, which together with the MMI drivers cooperate with the first display 236/103, and the keypad 238/104 as well as various other Input/Output devices such as microphone, speaker, vibrator, ringtone generator, LED indicator, etc. As is commonly known, the user may operate the mobile terminal through the man- machine interface thus formed.

The software also includes various modules, protocol stacks, drivers, etc., which are commonly designated as 230 and which provide communication services (such as transport, network and connectivity) for an RF interface 206, and optionally a Bluetooth interface 208 and/or an IrDA interface 210 for local connectivity. The RF interface 206 comprises an internal or external antenna as well as appropriate radio circuitry for establishing and maintaining a wireless link to a base station. As is well known to a man skilled in the art, the radio circuitry comprises a series of analogue and digital electronic components, together forming a radio receiver and transmitter. These components include, band pass filters, amplifiers, mixers, local oscillators, low pass filters, Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog (AD/DA) converters, etc.

The mobile terminal also has a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 204 and an associated reader. As is commonly known, the SIM card 204 comprises a processor as well as local work and data memory.

Fig 3 illustrates a plane front view of an apparatus according to the teachings of this application.

At least one processor or controller comprised in said apparatus is configured to execute a first application 320. In one example embodiment such first application is a message handling application.

As is known the controller is configured to create a notification as the apparatus receives an incoming message and provide a user with said notification.

According to the teachings of the present application the controller is also configured to execute a second application 310. In this example the second application 310 is active and displayed (fully visible) on the display 303. In order to not interrupt a user who is engaged with the second application 310 when an event takes place in the first application 320 the controller is configured to determine a current operating status of the apparatus 300 and based on this current operating status generate a notification 330, 335 and determine the manner in which to output the notification 330, 335.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to determine whether another application, such as the second application 310 is currently active.

In one embodiment, see figure 3b, the second application 310 is a video playback application which is currently showing a video file 315 and the controller determines that the notification 330 should be output as a small (discrete) icon in a status bar 340.

In one embodiment the controller is further configured to not play a sound when the notification is out put if the second application 310 is currently showing a video file.

In this manner a user is notified that an event has taken place in another application 320 than the one currently active 310 without being interrupted. The small icon does not interrupt the viewing of the video file 315 and the sound is also not disturbed.

In one embodiment the second application is a music playback application 310 which is currently playing a music file 317. In this example embodiment the controller is configured to output the notification 330 audibly. The audible notification 330 is a simple beep in one embodiment, a synthesized voice conveying information on the event in one embodiment or a music file in one embodiment .

As a user is most likely not looking at the apparatus while listening to music the user would not be able to see a displayed notification and by outputting an audible notification the user is made aware of the event.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to output the notification audibly irrespective of the current user settings or profile chosen. This is to avoid that a notification goes unnoticed even if a silent profile is used. As the user is listening to music it can be safely assumed that there is no risk in playing an additional sound .

In one embodiment the second application 310 is an application that is configured for receiving user input. One example of such an application is a text edit application which is configured to receive text input form a user.

The controller is configured to determine whether the second application 310 is currently in active use by determining whether user input is currently being received. In one embodiment the controller is configured to determine that the second application is in active use if user input has been received within a lapsed time period . If it is determined that the second application 310 is in active use the controller is configured to create a main notification 330 which is displayed when it is determined that the second application is no longer in active use. In one embodiment the second application 310 is no longer in active use when it does not receive user input. In one embodiment the second application 310 is no longer in active use when it has not received user input within a time period. In one embodiment the second application 310 is no longer in active use when an action in the application 310 is completed. In one embodiment the second application 310 is no longer in active use when the application 310 is terminated, see fig 3d and e. In figure 3d the second application 310 is a text editor and which is currently receiving user input in the form of text 313 ("Hello") from a user using a stylus 308 on the touch display 303. The controller thus determines that the second application 310 is currently in active use.

As the second application 310 no longer receives user input (which is indicated in figure 3e by the absence of the stylus and the finished text "Hello!") the controller is configured to determine that the apparatus is no longer in active use whereby the current operating status has changed and display a (main) notification 330. In this example the notification is in the form of a popup window having an informative text ("You have mail!") .

In one embodiment the notification is output as the second application is closed. In one embodiment the notification is output as the second application is minimized.

The user is thus not interrupted while actively using the second application.

In one embodiment the controller is further configured to display a small or discrete second notification 335 that does not interrupt the use of the second application. In figure 3d a small icon 335 is displayed in the status bar 340.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to only output a discrete notification, in the example above the controller is configured to display the small icon 335 if the second application is in active use. And to output a notification that is easy to recognize if the second application 310 is not in active use. In the example above the controller is configured to output the popup window 330.

An apparatus according to the teachings of this application comprises a controller that is thus configured to determine whether a second application is in active use or not and depending on this either output a discrete non-disruptive notification, if any at all, and if the second application is not in active use to display a disruptive notification. In one embodiment the controller is also configured to postpone the output of the disruptive notification.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to estimate the time left for completing a currently ongoing task and to determine whether the urgency of the event and the notification is lower than the time needed to finish or complete the task and if so postpone the output of the notification until the task is completed. In other words, if the time needed to complete the task is shorter than a time limit for the event then the output of the notification is postponed.

An example of such an embodiment is when the event is that a battery has reached a level where only 15 minutes of operating time is left. If the current operating status is that a user is typing a short text message (Short Message Service, SMS, type message) the output of the battery level indication notification is postponed until the text message has been completed. Such short messages are usually completed in seconds and rarely take more than a minute or two to complete. In this case the time available for the notification (15 minutes) is higher than the time estimated for completing the task (up to 2 minutes) . Whereas if the current operating status is that a user is typing a text document the output of the battery level indication notification is not postponed until the text document has been completed. In this case the time available for the notification (15 minutes) is lower than the time estimated for completing the task of inputting the text document, a task that may take hours or even days .

This has the benefit that a user is not interrupted while doing short tasks with notifications that are not urgent. This also prevents a user from having to start all over with a task if he chooses to cancel the ongoing task to handle the notification. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of an apparatus according to the teachings of this application. A mobile phone 400 is currently executing a first application 420 and a second application 410.

As is known some apparatuses such as mobile phone are capable of operating at different modes, where each mode specifies how alerts should be given, that is what tone should be used, what volume level, should a tactile alert be given, etc. A common name for such modes is profiles.

In one embodiment the current profile is visually indicated on the display 403 with an icon 450 in the status bar 440.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to determine whether a profile that specifies a silent or discrete environment such as silent or office is currently active. In figure 4a this is indicated by the profile icon 450 in the status bar 440 being a crossed over note (indicating a silent profile) .

As an event occurs (such as receiving an email in another application) the controller is configured to determine whether a discrete profile is currently active and if so postpone the major notification until the profile is changed .

This allows a user to not be disturbed while the discrete profile is active while still being served with the notification so that no information is lost. This is highly beneficial in situations where the user has selected the discrete profile so as not to disturb others or himself, for example as when a meeting profile has been selected and the user is currently in a meeting.

As the profile changes to normal operating mode, which is indicated in fig 4b by the absence of the crossed over tone icon 450 the controller is configured to output the notification. In this example a popup window 435 is displayed informing the user that he has received mail. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 4a controller is thus configured to determine the current operating status of the apparatus, which in this example is that a certain profile is active, generate a notification and output said notification as the current operating status changes, that is when the profile changes.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to output the notification when the profile changes to a profile that is not intended to be discrete.

In one embodiment the controller is configured to also output a small or discrete second notification while the apparatus is operating in the discrete profile. In figure 4a this is indicated by a small icon 435 in the status bar 440. This ensures that the user is not interrupted by the notification, neither visually nor audibly, but is able to receive the information of the notification if he actively looks at the apparatus. In one embodiment the apparatus is configured to change the profile at a scheduled time and the controller is configured to output the main or first notification when the scheduled profile change takes place. This ensures that the notification is given at a time when the user has indicated that he may be disturbed again.

In one embodiment the second application is a video game and the controller is configured to output the notification at a point in the game when the user is not actively playing. Such moments may be when a new game section is loaded, as an information statement or sequence is presented.

In one embodiment the event is that the battery level has reached a certain (low) threshold level indicating that the battery is soon (for example within 10 to 15 minutes) discharged. Such events are often not of critical importance and a notification may be postponed until a later time shortly after when the user is not interrupted .

In one embodiment the controller is configured to determine a priority level for an event and output the notification based on the priority level.

In such an embodiment more urgent or important events are outputted in a more distinctive or noticeable manner than a less urgent or important notification.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the teachings of this application. In a first step 510 a controller determines that an event has taken place and then the controller determines what the current operating status of the apparatus is 520. A notification is generated 530 based on the current operating status and output according to the current operating status 540.

Figure 5b shows an alternative method where the notification is output as a change is detected 535 in the current operating status of the apparatus.

An apparatus according to the teachings of this application comprises a controller configured to determine the current operating status of the apparatus and generate and output a notification accordingly.

This enables the apparatus to provide notifications in a manner that does not interrupt a user while still making sure that the notification reaches the user.

The various aspects of what is described above can be used alone or in various combinations. The teaching of this application may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software, but can also be implemented in hardware or software.

The teaching of this application can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable storage medium. Such storage mediums may be a random access memory, a read-only memory, a compact disc, a digital video disc, an EEPROM memory or other computer readable storage mediums. It should be noted that the teaching of this application is not limited to the use in mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones, but can be equally well applied in PDAs, game consoles, MP3 players, personal organizers or any other device designed for providing notifications on events.

The teaching of the present application has numerous advantages. Different embodiments or implementations may yield one or more of the following advantages. It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other advantages which are not described herein. For example, one advantage of the teaching of this application is that a user is not interrupted during a context when interruptions are not wanted while still being provided with the necessary information.

Another exemplary advantage of the teaching of the present application is that a notification is output a time when the user is most susceptible to its content thereby ensuring that the notification gets the user' s attention and is not cancelled by mistake key press or by a distracted user intending to read it later but not doing so.

Although the teaching of the present application has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the teaching of this application.

It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the teachings of the present application. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality. A unit or other means may fulfill the functions of several units or means recited in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, wherein said at least one processor is configured to:

determine that an event has occurred in a first application;

determine a current operating status of said apparatus; generate a main notification based on said current operating status; and

output said main notification based on said current operating status.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is configured to detect a change in current operating status and to output said main notification as a change in current operating status is detected .

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to execute a second application wherein said first application is a background application and said second application is an active application and wherein said current operating status corresponds to an activity level in said second application .

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said current operating status corresponds to receiving user input in said second application and wherein said at least one processor is configured to output said main notification when the second application no longer receives user input.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said current operating status corresponds to playback of a video in said second application wherein said at least one processor is configured to output said main notification as the playback stops or pauses.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said current operating status corresponds to a specific profile being active and wherein said at least one processor is configured to output said notification as a change of profile is effected.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said current operating status corresponds to an activity level in said second application and said second application is a video game.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one processor is configured to determine a time frame available for said event and to determine a time period until said current operating status is estimated to change and to determine whether the time period is lower than the time frame and if so output the main notification as the current operating status changes and if the time period is not lower than the time frame to output the main notification before the time frame expires .

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is configured to generate a second notification and to output said second notification when said event is determined to have occurred.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said main notification is a pop-up window and wherein said second notification is an icon.

11. A method for execution on an apparatus comprising a processor wherein said processor is configured to execute said method, said method comprising:

determining that an event has occurred in a first application;

determining a current operating status of said apparatus; generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and

outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting a change in current operating status and outputting said main notification as a change in current operating status is detected.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising executing a second application wherein said first application is a background application and said second application is an active application and wherein said current operating status corresponds to an activity level in said second application.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said current operating status corresponds to receiving user input in said second application and wherein said method further comprises outputting said main notification when the second application no longer receives user input.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said current operating status corresponds to playback of a video in said second application wherein said method further comprises outputting said main notification as the playback stops or pauses.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said current operating status corresponds to a specific profile being active and wherein said method further comprises outputting said notification as a change of profile is effected .

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein said current operating status corresponds to an activity level in said second application and said second application is a video game .

18. A method according to claim 12, further comprising determining a time frame available for said event, determining a time period until said current operating status is estimated to change and

determining whether the time period is lower than the time frame and if so output the main notification as the current operating status changes and if the time period is not lower than the time frame outputting the main notification before the time frame expires.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising generate a second notification and to output said second notification when said event is determined to have occurred .

20. A method according to claim 21, wherein said main notification is a pop-up window and wherein said second notification is an icon.

21. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for controlling a user interface, said computer readable medium comprising:

software code for determining that an event has occurred in a first application;

software code for determining a current operating status of said apparatus;

software code for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and

software code for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.

22. An apparatus incorporating and implementing a computer readable medium according to claim 21.

23. A computer program product for execution on an apparatus, said computer program comprising

software code for determining a current operating status of said apparatus;

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining that an event has occurred in a first application; means for determining a current operating status of said apparatus ;

means for generating a main notification based on said current operating status; and

means for outputting said main notification based on said current operating status.