System and method of modifying a user experience based on physical environment

Abstract

In an example embodiment, a first aspect of a physical environment, other than location or current time, of the electronic device is determined. Then a mode of a notification function within the electronic device is dynamically modified such that the mode changes from a first mode in which a notification does not activate a vibration motor in the electronic device to a second mode in which the notification does activate the vibration motor, based on the determined first aspect of the physical environment.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a processor,   a vibration motor configured to cause a physical vibration in the electronic device upon activation of the vibration motor; and   a physical environment tracking module configured to determine a first aspect of a physical environment, other than location or current time, of the electronic device and to dynamically alter a mode of a notification function within the electronic device such that the mode changes from a first mode in which a notification does not activate the vibration motor to a second mode in which the notification does activate the vibration motor, based on the determined first aspect of the physical environment.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a microphone and wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is ambient noise levels recorded by the microphone. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is an incoming phone call. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is an incoming text message. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermometer and wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is temperature recorded by the thermometer. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein intensity of the physical vibration caused by the vibration motor is varied based on a second aspect of the physical environment. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is acceleration of the electronic device as detected by an accelerometer. 
     
     
         8 . A method of dynamically altering a user interface on an electronic device, comprising:
 determining a first aspect of a physical environment, other than location or current time, of the electronic device; and   dynamically altering a mode of a notification function within the electronic device such that the mode changes from a first mode in which a notification does not activate a vibration motor in the electronic device to a second mode in which the notification does activate the vibration motor, based on the determined first aspect of the physical environment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is ambient noise levels recorded by a microphone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the notification is an incoming phone call. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the notification is an incoming text message. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is temperature recorded by a thermometer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein intensity of the physical vibration caused by the vibration motor is varied based on a second aspect of the physical environment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is acceleration of the electronic device as detected by an accelerometer. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:
 determining a first aspect of a physical environment, other than location or current time, of an electronic device; and   dynamically altering a mode of a notification function within the electronic device such that the mode changes from a first mode in which a notification does not activate a vibration motor in the electronic device to a second mode in which the notification does activate the vibration motor, based on the determined first aspect of the physical environment.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is ambient noise levels recorded by a microphone. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the notification is an incoming phone call. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the notification is an incoming text message. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first aspect of the physical environment is temperature recorded by a thermometer. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein intensity of the physical vibration caused by the vibration motor is varied based on a second aspect of the physical environment.