Method and Apparatus for Automatically Repeating Alarms and Notifications in Response to Device Motion

Abstract

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user's activity may be inferred. When one or more alarms on the device are temporarily disabled or ignored, they may be automatically restored when sensor data indicates a change in the user's activity. The restoration of alarm functionality may be accompanied by a repeat of notifications missed or not responded to during a certain period prior to the sensed change in user activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:
 receive a telecommunications message in a wireless communications device while the device is in a first physical activity state;   detect a change to a second physical activity state; and,   provide a notification of message receipt subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.   
     
     
         2 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein detecting a change to a second physical activity state comprises receiving data from at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, orientation sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors. 
     
     
         3 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first physical activity state is substantially no motion. 
     
     
         4 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first physical activity state is substantially repetitive motion. 
     
     
         5 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion. 
     
     
         6 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 5  wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion in a substantially upward direction. 
     
     
         7 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises an audible alarm. 
     
     
         8 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises a tactile alarm. 
     
     
         9 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises displaying a message on a display. 
     
     
         10 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 8  wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device within a preselected period of time. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:
 provide a first notification of a time dependent event in a personal electronic device while the device is in a first physical activity state;   detect a change to a second physical activity state; and,   provide a second notification of the time dependent event subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory program storage device comprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processors to:
 suppress alarms in a personal electronic device for a certain period of time selected by a user of the device;   determine a first physical activity state of the device;   detect a change to a second physical activity state;   time the duration of the second physical activity state; and,   reactivate alarms in the personal electronic device if the duration of the second physical activity state exceeds a preselected length.   
     
     
         14 . A program storage device as recited in  claim 13  further comprising instructions to provide at least one notification of an alarm event that occurred prior to the detection of a change to a second physical activity state subsequent to the detection of a change to a second physical activity state. 
     
     
         15 . A processor-based system comprising:
 a processor;   at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and,   a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to
 receive a telecommunications message in the device while the device is in a first physical activity state; 
 detect a change to a second physical activity state; and, 
 provide a notification of message receipt subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state. 
   
     
     
         16 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein detecting a change to a second physical activity state comprises receiving data from at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, orientation sensors, proximity sensors and location sensors. 
     
     
         17 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the first physical activity state is substantially no motion. 
     
     
         18 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the first physical activity state is substantially repetitive motion. 
     
     
         19 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion. 
     
     
         20 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion in a substantially upward direction. 
     
     
         21 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises an audible alarm. 
     
     
         22 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises a tactile alarm. 
     
     
         23 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises displaying a message on a display. 
     
     
         24 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device. 
     
     
         25 . A processor-based system as recited in  claim 24  wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a user of the device within a preselected period of time. 
     
     
         26 . A processor-based system comprising:
 a processor;   at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a personal electronic device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and,   a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to
 provide a first notification of a time dependent event in the personal electronic device while the device is in a first physical activity state; 
 detect a change to a second physical activity state; and, 
 provide a second notification of the time dependent event subsequent to detection of the change to the second physical activity state. 
   
     
     
         27 . A processor-based system comprising:
 a processor;   at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a personal electronic device containing the processor and in data communication with the processor; and,   a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to
 suppress alarms in the personal electronic device for a certain period of time selected by a user of the device; 
 determine a first physical activity state of the device; 
 detect a change to a second physical activity state; 
 time the duration of the second physical activity state; and, 
 reactivate alarms in the personal electronic device if the duration of the second physical activity state exceeds a preselected length.