Apparatus, method, and system for desynchronizing notifications across multiple devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices are provided. The method includes receiving, by a primary electronic device, a notification, transmitting, by the primary electronic device, the notification to a companion electronic device with which the primary electronic device is synchronized, and desynchronizing a providing of the notification at the companion electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a primary electronic device, a notification; 
 displaying the notification; 
 transmitting, by the primary electronic device, the notification to a companion electronic device to display a first subset of the notification for a first time period, display a second subset of the notification during a second time period, and display a subsequent subset of the notification after the second time period; 
 determining that the notification has not been viewed by a user at the primary electronic device during the first time period; 
 determining that the notification has been viewed by the user at the primary electronic device during the second time period while the second subset of the notification is displayed at the companion electronic device; and 
 if aafter determining that the user has viewed the notification at the primary electronic device during the second time period, transmitting, by the primary electronic device, a command to the companion electronic device to stop the displayingof the second or subsequent subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the notification has been viewed by the user.   
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 if the primary electronic device determines that the notification has been viewed, transmitting the command to another companion electronic device.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim  2  1, wherein if, after the other companion electronic device receives the command, the other companion electronic device removes display of the second or subsequent subset of the notification. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining whether the primary electronic device is being moved. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining whether the notification has been dismissed on the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining whether the user is using the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining whether the primary electronic device is in an active state. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining whether the user is viewing a screen of the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       10. The A method of  claim 1  for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, further the method comprising:
 receiving, by a primary electronic device, a notification; 
 displaying the notification;  
 determining, by the primary electronic device, whether that the primary electronic device is in not being used by a user contemporaneously with reception of the notification , wherein, if the primary electronic device is determined to be in use contemporaneously with reception of the notification, omitting the transmitting of the notification to the companion electronic device;  
 in response to determining that the primary electronic device is not being used by the user contemporaneously with reception of the notification, transmitting, by the primary electronic device, the notification to a companion electronic device for display, based on a timer iteratively-started at the companion electronic device, of a first subset of the notification until a first expiration of the timer and subsequently of a second subset of the notification prior to a second expiration of the timer; 
 determining that the notification has been viewed by the user at the primary electronic device prior to the second expiration of the timer; and 
 after determining that the user has viewed the notification at the primary electronic device prior to the second expiration of the timer, transmitting, by the primary electronic device, a command to the companion electronic device to stop the display of the second subset of the notification prior to the second expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delaying, by the companion electronic device, the displaying of any subset of the notification from a time at which the companion electronic device receives the respective subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of claim  1  10, further comprising:
 incrementally providing displaying, by the companion electronic device, a all subsets of the notification. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of claim  12  1, further comprising:
 iteratively starting a timer and providing a displaying one subset of the notification upon until expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of claim  13  10, further comprising:
 receiving an input for interrupting the iterative starting of the timer and providing of the subset of the notification; and 
 in response to receiving the input for interrupting the iterative starting of the timer and providing of the subset of the notification, interrupting the timer and providing a next subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein further comprising:
 in response to interrupting the timer and providing the next subset of the notification, continuing to iteratively start the timer and providing the display a subsequent subset of the notification upon expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of claim  13  10, further comprising:
 receiving an input for interrupting the iterative starting of the timer and providing of the subset of the notification; and 
 in response to receiving the input for interrupting the iterative starting of the timer and providing of the subset of the notification, interrupting the timer and providing a remainder of the notification. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 incrementally providing a subset of the notification until an earlier of the entire notification being provided and the notification being cancelled.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17  1, wherein the notification being cancelled corresponds to the companion electronic device receivinges an interrupt from one or more of a the primary electronic device and another companion electronic device. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  17  1, wherein the notification being cancelled corresponds to the companion electronic device receivinges a user input requesting cancellation of the notification. 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a primary electronic device to perform the method of  claim 1 :
 receive a notification; 
 instruct display of the notification; 
 transmit, by the primary electronic device, the notification to a companion electronic device for display of a first subset of the notification for a first time period, display of a second subset of the notification during a second time period, and display of a subsequent subset of the notification after the second time period; 
 determine that the notification has not been viewed by a user at the primary electronic device during the first time period; 
 determine that the notification has been viewed by the user at the primary electronic device during the second time period; and 
 transmit, after determining that the user has viewed the second subset of the notification at the primary electronic device during the second time period, a command to the companion electronic device to stop the display of the second or subsequent subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       21. A primary electronic device for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, the apparatus primary electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver; and 
 a processor configured to:
 receive a notification using the transceiver, 
 display the notification, 
 transmit the notification to a companion electronic device to for display of a first subset of the notification for a first time period, display of a second subset of the notification during a second time period, and display of a subsequent subset of the notification after the second time period, 
 determine that the notification has not been viewed by a user at the primary electronic device during the first time period, 
 determine that the notification has been viewed by the user at the primary electronic device during the second time period, and 
 if aafter determining that the user has viewed the notification, transmit a command to the companion electronic device to stop the display of the notification. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the notification has been viewed by the user. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 if the notification has been viewed, transmit the command to another companion electronic device.   
     
     
       24. The primary electronic device of claim  22  21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the primary electronic device is being moved. 
     
     
       25. The primary electronic device of claim  22  21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the notification has been dismissed. 
     
     
       26. The primary electronic device of claim  22  21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the user is using the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       27. The primary electronic device of claim  22  21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the primary electronic device is in an active state. 
     
     
       28. The primary electronic device of claim  22  21, further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect contextual information relating to a context of the primary electronic device, 
 wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the user is viewing a screen of the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       29. The A primary electronic device of  claim 21  for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, the primary electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver; and  
 wherein thea processor is further configured to:
 receive a notification using the transceiver, 
 display the notification,  
 determine whether that the primary electronic device is in not being used by a user contemporaneously with reception of the notification, and 
 if the processor determines that the primary electronic device is not being used by the user contemporaneously with reception of the notification, transmit the notification to a companion electronic device for display, based on a timer iteratively-started at the companion electronic device, of a first subset of the notification until a first expiration of the timer and subsequently of a second subset of the notification prior to a second expiration of the timer,  
 if the processor determines that the primary electronic device is in use contemporaneously with reception of the notification, omit transmission of the notification to the companion electronic device, and 
 after determining that the user has viewed the notification at the primary electronic device prior to the second expiration of the timer, transmit a command to the companion electronic device to stop the display of the second subset of the notification prior to the second expiration of the timer. 
 
 
     
     
       30. A companion electronic device for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, the apparatus companion electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a display; and 
 a processor configured to:
 receive a notification from a primary electronic device using the transceiver, 
 display a first subset of the notification for a first time period, 
 display a second subset of the notification during a second time period until a command is received from the primary electronic device, after a determination at the primary electronic device that a user has viewed the notification at the primary electronic device, to stop the display of the second subset of the notification, and 
 
 in response to receiving a the command indicating the user has viewed the notification from the primary electronic device while the second subset of the notification is displayed during the second time period, stopping the display of the second subset of the notification and not display a subsequent subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       31. The companion electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein, when the user views the notification on the primary electronic device, the primary electronic device is configured to transmit the command to the companion electronic device. 
     
     
       32. The device of  claim 31 , when the user views the notification on another companion device, the primary device is configured to transmit the command to the companion electronic device. 
     
     
       33. The companion electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to delay the display of the notification from a time at which the companion electronic device receives the notification. 
     
     
       34. The companion electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to incrementally provide a display subsets of the notification. 
     
     
       35. The A companion electronic device of  claim 34  for desynchronizing notifications across multiple electronic devices, the companion electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a display; and  
 wherein thea processor is further configured to provide:
 receive a notification from a primary electronic device using the transceiver, 
 display a first subset of the notification for a first time period and a second subset of the notification during a second time period, 
 in response to receiving a command indicating a user has viewed the notification at the primary electronic device during the second time period, stop the display of the second subset of the notification, and 
 display the first subset, the second subset, and at least one subsequent each subset of the notification upon expiration of a respective preset time threshold corresponding in duration to the first time period and the second time period. 
 
 
     
     
       36. The companion electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an input for interrupting the respective preset time threshold, and 
 in response to receiving the input for interrupting the respective preset time threshold, provide display a next subset of the notification. 
 
     
     
       37. The companion electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to interrupting the respective preset time threshold, continuinge to incrementally provide display a subset of the notification by providing displaying each subset of the notification upon expiration of a respective preset time threshold. 
     
     
       38. The companion electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an input for interrupting the respective preset time threshold, and 
 interrupt the respective preset time threshold and provide a remainder of the notification. 
 
     
     
       39. The companion electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an input for canceling the notification, and 
 in response to receiving the input for canceling the notification, control the transceiver to discontinue receiving display of the notification. 
 
     
     
       40. The companion electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is further configured to incrementally provide a display the subsets of the notification until all subsets of the entire notification is provided are displayed. 
     
     
       41. A method for managing notifications for a first electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the first electronic device, data;   generating, by the first electronic device, a first notification based on the received data;   displaying the first notification, by the first electronic device;   transmitting, by the first electronic device, first information related to the received data to a second electronic device for display of a first subset of a second notification for a first time period and display of a second subset of the second notification during a second time period until second information relating to the first notification to stop display of the second subset of the second notification is received; and   after determining that the first notification has been checked by a user at the first electronic device, transmitting, by the first electronic device, the second information related to the first notification to the second electronic device,   wherein the first information is to be used for display of the second notification at the second electronic device and the second information is to be used for stopping display of the second subset of the second notification before expiration of the second time period.    
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein receiving the data comprises receiving a message from an external device.  
     
     
       43. The method of claim 41, further comprising determining whether the first notification has been checked at one or more of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.  
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:
 detecting contextual information related to the first electronic device,   wherein determining whether the first notification has been checked comprises determining whether the first notification has been checked based on the detected contextual information.    
     
     
       45. The method of claim 43, wherein determining whether the first notification has been checked comprises determining at least one of whether the first electronic device is in use, whether the first electronic device is in an active state, whether the user is viewing a screen of the first electronic device, or whether the first electronic device is in motion.  
     
     
       46. The method of claim 43, wherein the second information comprises information indicating that the first notification has been checked.  
     
     
       47. The method of claim 41, wherein the second notification includes a plurality of subsets of information related to the first notification.  
     
     
       48. A first electronic device for managing notifications, the first electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive data;   a processor configured to generate a first notification based on the received data; and   a display configured to display the first notification,   wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit first information related to the received data to a second electronic device for display of a first subset of a second notification during a first time period and display of a second subset of the second notification during a second time period until second information relating to the first notification to stop display of the second subset of the second notification is received,   wherein, after determining that the first notification has been checked by a user at the first electronic device, the processor is configured to control the transceiver to transmit the second information related to the first notification to the second electronic device, and   wherein the first information is to be used for display of the second notification at the second electronic device and the second information is to be used for stopping display of the second subset of the second notification before expiration of the second time period.    
     
     
       49. The first electronic device of claim 48, wherein the received data comprises a message received from an external device.  
     
     
       50. The first electronic device of claim 48, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first notification has been checked at one or more of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.  
     
     
       51. The first electronic device of claim 50, further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect contextual information related to the first electronic device,   wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the first notification has been checked based on the detected contextual information.    
     
     
       52. The first electronic device of claim 50, wherein, to determine whether the first notification has been checked, the processor is further configured to determine at least one of whether the first electronic device is in use, whether the first electronic device is in an active state, whether the user is viewing a screen of the first electronic device, or whether the first electronic device is in motion.  
     
     
       53. The first electronic device of claim 50, wherein the second information comprises information indicating that the first notification has been checked.  
     
     
       54. The first electronic device of claim 48, wherein the second notification includes a plurality of subsets of information related to the first notification.  
     
     
       55. A first electronic device for managing notifications, the first electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive, from a second electronic device, first information related to data for a first notification, which is used for generating display of the first notification in a first subset of the first information at the first electronic device for a first time period and display of a second subset of the first information during a second time period until second information is received, after a determination at the second electronic device that a user has checked a corresponding notification, corresponding to the first notification, at the second electronic device, to stop the display of the second subset of the notification;   a display configured to display the first subset, the second subset, and subsequent subsets of the first notification based on the first information; and   a processor configured to stop display of the second subset and not display the subsequent subsets of the first notification in response to receiving, during the second time period while the second subset of the first information is displayed, the second information indicating that the corresponding notification has been checked at the second electronic device.    
     
     
       56. The first electronic device of claim 55, wherein the first notification includes a plurality of subsets of the first information.  
     
     
       57. A first electronic device for managing notifications, the first electronic device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive, from a second electronic device, first information related to data for a first notification, which is used for generating display at the first electronic device of a first subset of the first notification for a first time period and a second subset of the first notification during a second time period until second information is received, after a determination at the second electronic device that a user has checked a corresponding notification, corresponding to the first notification, at the second electronic device, to stop the display of the second subset of the notification;   a display configured to display the first subset and the second subset of the first notification based on the first information; and   a processor configured to stop display of the second subset of the first notification in response to receiving, during the second time period while the second subset of the first information is displayed, the second information indicating that the corresponding notification has been checked at the second electronic device,   wherein the first notification includes a plurality of subsets of the first information, and   wherein the processor is further configured to control the display to incrementally include additional information related to the first information in the displayed first notification.