Notification Preview on Secondary Display for Wireless Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication devices with secondary displays face challenges in managing notifications efficiently, leading to unnecessary device openings and potential unintentional activations due to jostling, which can result in missed important events or unintended actions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for navigating notifications on a wireless device with a primary and secondary user interface, allowing users to preview and manage notifications on the secondary display without opening the device, using a notification handling module to generate, detect, and display notifications, and provide a preview mode for events, maintaining notifications until explicitly acknowledged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the user opens the device to view notifications, then the user can see whether the event requires immediate attention, but this results in unnecessary device openings and waste of battery power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification handling reliabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system is segmented into two distinct display modes: a secondary display for quick notification previews and a primary display for detailed event viewing. This segmentation allows users to handle notifications efficiently on the secondary display without fully opening the device, thereby reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliable notification handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by displaying notification previews on the secondary display before the user opens the device. This preliminary view provides sufficient information for users to determine whether immediate attention is needed, preventing unnecessary device openings and preserving battery power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the user interacts with notifications on the closed device, then the user can manage notifications without opening the device, but jostling may cause unintentional activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification management convenienceVSAvoidunintentional activation prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts interaction requirements based on the device state. When the device is closed, a press-and-hold gesture is required to activate notifications, providing ease of operation while preventing accidental triggers. When the device is open, simpler tap gestures suffice, as the deliberate action of opening the device already indicates user intent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The activation threshold parameter changes based on device state. In the closed state, the system requires a longer press duration or greater force to activate notifications, whereas in the open state, the threshold is lowered to allow quick tap interactions. This parameter adjustment balances ease of operation with prevention of unintentional activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the secondary display shows detailed event information, then the user can make informed decisions, but the display requires more resources and reduces battery life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent information completenessVSAvoidbattery energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Information display is segmented into two levels: the secondary display shows condensed notification previews with essential information, while the primary display provides comprehensive event details. This segmentation reduces the information load on the secondary display, minimizing its power consumption while ensuring users receive complete information when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by displaying only the most critical event information on the secondary display rather than full event details. This partial information presentation is sufficient for users to make quick decisions about notification priority, thereby reducing the secondary display's energy consumption while maintaining effective notification management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2437475B1System and method of navigating through notifications
Publication Date: 2015.10.21 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2437475B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2437475B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2437475B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of navigating through notifications on a wireless device having a primary user interface shown on a primary display and a secondary user interface shown on a secondary display. The method comprises generating a notification associated with an event at the wireless device, detecting whether the secondary user interface is shown, indicating the notification on the secondary user interface when the secondary user interface is shown on the secondary display, indicating the notification on the primary user interface when the secondary user interface is not shown on the secondary display, displaying a preview of the event on the secondary user interface in a preview mode in response to a selection of the notification and closing the preview of the event on the secondary user interface in response to a deselection of the notification.