Animated Icon Overlay for Mobile Message Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing visual alert methods for new messages on mobile stations are often inefficient, power-intensive, and easily overlooked, particularly when users are not actively using the message data application, and existing solutions may be too distracting or not effectively noticeable.

Innovation Solution

An animated icon, such as a pulsing icon, is displayed on the mobile station's screen, overlaid on the message data application icon, to provide a noticeable visual alert that is power-efficient and only displayed when the user views the screen, allowing the user to associate the alert with the message data application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a static icon is displayed on the display screen to alert users of new messages, then power consumption is reduced, but the alert becomes easily overlooked and less noticeable to users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidalert effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static alert icon into an animated icon that changes its appearance over time. The animated icon alternates between different visual states (such as pulsing, changing opacity, or changing size) to create a noticeable alert effect while only activating when the display screen is already on and being viewed by the user, thus avoiding continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If an animated icon is displayed continuously to ensure users notice new messages, then alert effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by implementing an animated icon that performs its alert function in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The animated icon activates only during periods when the display screen is on and being viewed by the user, and remains inactive during periods when the screen is off or not being viewed, thus achieving effective alerts while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If visual alerts are displayed only when users are actively using the message data application, then power consumption is reduced, but users cannot be alerted of new messages when they are not using the application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidalert delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies another dimension by extending the alert functionality beyond the message data application interface to the display screen level. The animated icon is displayed directly on the display screen in response to detecting new messages, independent of whether the message data application is currently active, thus ensuring reliable alert delivery while maintaining power efficiency by only activating when the screen is already on.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP1926296B1Apparatus, and associated method, for alerting a user of a mobile station of a received message

Publication Date: 2009.11.18 BLACKBERRY LTD

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AI summary

Apparatus, and an associated method, for visually alerting a user of a newly-received data message at a mobile station. A detector detects delivery of the message at the mobile station. And, in response to the detection of the delivery, a display driver causes display on a display device of an animated icon to alert the user of the newly-received message.