Situationally-Aware Alerts

Abstract

An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts determines to provide an alert output (such as haptic, audio, visual, and so on) via an output device, determines a movement pattern based on one or more signals from one or more sensors indicating information relating at least to movement of the electronic device, and adjusts the alert output to account for the movement pattern. In some implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by delaying the alert output. In other implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by altering the alert output to be discernible despite the movement pattern based on a cadence of the movement pattern. In still other implementations, the electronic device may determine to provide the alert output in response to receiving an incoming communication and may adjust the alert output differently based on a priority associated with the incoming communication.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:
 an output device;   a sensor operable to produce a signal indicating information regarding a user's state; and   a processing unit, connected to the output device and the sensor, that is configured to:
 provide a notification via the output device; 
 determine to escalate the notification; and 
 escalate the notification in a manner based on the signal indicating the information regarding the user's state. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processing unit escalates the notification:
 in a first manner if the user's state is a first state; and   in a second manner if the user's state is a second state.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the notification is at least one of:
 stronger in the first manner than in the second manner;   longer in the first manner than in the second manner; or   louder in the first manner than in the second manner.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processing unit escalates the notification multiple times. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the notification relates to a reminder or a received communication. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the user's state is an environment the user is in. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the notification is an audio notification or a haptic notification. 
     
     
         28 . An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:
 an output device;   a motion sensor; and   a processing unit, connected to the output device and the motion sensor, that is configured to:
 determine to escalate a notification provided via the output device; and 
 escalate the notification in a first way or a second way based on motion information received from the motion sensor. 
   
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the processing unit escalates the notification:
 in the first way if the motion information indicates a first kind of detected motion; and   in the second way if the motion information indicates a second kind of detected motion.   
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the processing unit escalates the notification:
 in the first way if the motion information indicates detected motion; and   in the second way if the motion information indicates lack of detected motion.   
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the first way is stronger than the second way;   the first way is longer than the second way; or   the first way is louder than the second way.   
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the first way is more salient than the second way. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the motion information indicates whether or not the electronic device is moving. 
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the motion information indicates whether or not a user is moving. 
     
     
         35 . An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts, comprising:
 an output device;   a processing unit, connected to the output device, that is configured to:
 provide a notification via the output device; and 
 escalate the notification: 
 in a first way if the notification is associated with a first priority; and 
 in a second way if the notification is associated with a second priority. 
   
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the notification is associated with the first priority or the second priority based on a setting assigned to the notification. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the setting is assigned to the notification by a user of the electronic device or a sender of a communication corresponding to the notification. 
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the notification is associated with the first priority or the second priority based on a content of a communication corresponding to the notification. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the notification is associated with the first priority or the second priority based on a content of a communication corresponding to the notification. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the notification is associated with:
 the first priority if a sender of a communication corresponding to the notification is in a first group of senders; and   the second priority if the sender is in a second group of senders.