Multi-State Alarm Indicator for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile device alarm systems use binary visual indicators that fail to clearly distinguish between an alarm being active and active but suppressed for a specific time period, leading to user confusion about whether the alarm will go off on a particular day without checking internal settings.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system for a mobile device to display distinct graphical indicators for three alarm states: off, active, and active but suppressed for a predetermined time, allowing users to visually differentiate between these states on the device's display outside of the alarm application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a binary alarm indicator is used to show alarm status, then the indicator is simple and conveniently viewable at first glance, but the user cannot determine whether the alarm will actually go off on a particular day without checking internal settings
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm indicator is segmented into multiple visual states: a first visual state indicates the alarm is active and will go off, while a second visual state indicates the alarm is active but suppressed for a specific time period. This segmentation allows the single indicator to convey multiple pieces of information about alarm status without requiring the user to check internal settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator uses different visual appearances (color changes or visual distinctions) to represent different alarm states. The first visual state and second visual state are distinguishable from each other, enabling users to quickly understand whether the alarm will actually go off based on the current visual state displayed.
2Reliability
If the alarm indicator always displays when the alarm is set to 'on' or set to 'go off' at some point in time, then the indicator provides consistent visibility, but it fails to distinguish between alarm being active and active but suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm indicator dynamically changes its visual state based on the current alarm condition. When the alarm is active and will go off, the first visual state is displayed; when the alarm is active but suppressed, the second visual state is displayed. This dynamic adaptation allows the indicator to maintain simplicity while accurately representing complex alarm states.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator's visual parameters (appearance, color, or display state) are changed based on the alarm's operational parameters. By linking the visual state to the suppression status, the system maintains reliable visibility while encoding additional information about the alarm's actual behavior without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A graphical indicator, menu and method for modifying and displaying more than two states for the indicator is provided. An alarm indicator algorithm modifies and displays the indicator according to user-selectable options that enables a user to determine at first glance the nature of the next alarm and in particular when an alarm is not set to go off on a particular day to avoid accessing the alarm menu every time this knowledge is desired or whenever the user is uncertain of the settings. Various visual cues such as colour, graphical and textual elements can be used and the algorithm can associate these cues with appropriate alarm states. When the number of settings for the multi-state alarm is relatively large, a desktop web-based application program interface (API) may be used to facilitate setting and updating the alarm functions.