Display of information through auxiliary user interface

1. A method comprising:

(a) defining a user interface of a provided electronic device, the user interface including:

(i) an auxiliary interface for receiving input from a user and providing output to the user; and

(ii) a distinct primary access interface separate from the auxiliary interface; and

(b) providing, using the auxiliary interface, a message to the user wherein the message is provided without requiring the user to be authenticated through the primary access interface; and

wherein: content in the message is stored in a database; and

the selected message is chosen from the database based on at least one of:

a random selection;

the current date;

the current time; and

the current location of the electronic device.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message comprises one or more of:

an alarm;

an audio message;

a music performance; a video message;

a graphical image;

a reminder to purchase items low in inventory;

a television program currently available for viewing;

instructions describing how a found device may be returned to its rightful owner;

a current date;

a current time; and

a prompt soliciting the user to enter a response to a request.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein content in the message was received by an account owned by the user within a predetermined period of time.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message indicates that the current time is a preferred time to begin a communication.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 , further comprising providing a prompt to the user with instructions regarding how to initiate the communication.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message comprises a message digest, the message digest comprising at least one of:

a summary regarding email messages waiting to be viewed;

a summary regarding number of calls received but not answered;

a summary regarding text messages received;

a summary regarding access attempts to the provided electronic device;

a summary regarding an urgent news flash;

a summary regarding weather conditions in a pre-defined location;

a summary regarding a status of a sports game for a predefined contest;

a summary regarding a score of a sports game for a predefined contest;

a summary regarding a status of a predefined sports team;

a summary regarding a status of predefined athlete;

a summary regarding upcoming meeting times;

a summary regarding closure of an educational school facility;

a summary regarding availability of an urgent warning message;

a summary regarding tasks needing attention;

a summary regarding upcoming bills that require payment;

a summary regarding bills that have been recently paid;

a summary regarding availability of a commercial offer; and

a summary regarding location of the provided electronic device.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the summary regarding text messages received includes at least one of a number of messages received and at least part of the content of a text message.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the summary regarding status of the provided electronic device includes at least one of:

an accessibility mode of the provided electronic device;

a battery status of the provided electronic device;

a status of software updates being made to the electronic device;

results of a self-test of the provided electronic device;

a notice indicating that the provided electronic device requires service; and

a notice that a companion device was detected or not detected by the provided electronic device.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the accessibility mode comprises at least one of: a locked down status; a normal status; a restricted use status; and a lost status.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message comprises a time-sensitive alert message, the time-sensitive alert message comprising one or more of:

an urgent communication request from an authorized third party;

an urgent notice from an authorized security authority;

notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that is providing a special commercial offer; and

notice of an impending dangerous event.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that is providing a special commercial offer further comprises instructions to provide input to receive additional information regarding the special commercial offer.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein notice that the provided electronic device is in the vicinity of a business that s providing a special commercial offer further comprises display of nap of the business and a current location of the provided electronic device.

13. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the time-sensitive alert message comprises notice of an impending dangerous event including at least one of:

a notice of a weather emergency;

a notice of a school lockdown condition;

a notice of a police emergency;

a notice of traffic emergency;

a notice of an Amber Alert;

a notice to urgently return to a designated location;

a notice of an armed intruder in the vicinity of a designated location;

a. notice of an armed intruder in the vicinity of the mobile device;

a notice by an employer of a dangerous condition in a facility operated by the employer;

a notice of attempted unauthorized access to a computer system;

a notice of attempted unauthorized access to an account belonging to the user;

a notice of an attempted unauthorized access to the provided electronic device;

a notice of compromise of an area protected by a security system; and

a notice of theft of property owned by the user.

14. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message comprises a map showing a current location of the provided electronic device.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the map further shows a desired destination in relation to the current location of the provided electronic device.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein desired destination is received by the provided electronic device from a third party.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein desired destination is the location of a person that requires assistance from the user.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the person that requires assistance includes at least one of:

a patient requiring assistance;

a motorist whose conveyance has failed to continue operating;

a child, wherein the user is the child's guardian;

a guardian, wherein the user is the guardian's child;

an injured soldier;

a pilot who ejected from an aircraft;

a pilot who executed an emergency landing from an aircraft; and

a motorist whose vehicle communicated an airbag deployment alert.

19. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the map further displays a route between a desired destination in relation to the current location of the provided electronic device.

20. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message comprises an advertising message.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the advertising message further comprises a special offer.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the advertising message further comprises a location of a business advertised in the advertising message.

23. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising:

determining a current location of the provided electronic device;

obtaining from an participating advertiser database one or more locations of businesses within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying one or more advertisements for the businesses within the predetermined distance.

24. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising:

establishing, by the user, a pre-specified advertisement filter criterion; and

suppressing the one or more advertisements that do not satisfy the pre-specified advertising criterion.

25. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising:

retrieving a list of products frequently purchased by the user from a purchase history database;

determining that a product frequently purchased by the user is for sale by a business within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying a message indicating that the product frequently purchased by the user is available for purchase at the business within a predetermined distance.

26. The method as defined in claim 25 further comprising displaying a map indicating a location of the business within a predetermined distance.

27. The method as defined in claim 26 further comprising displaying a map indicating a current location of the provided electronic device with respect to the business within a predetermined distance.

28. The method as defined in claim 26 further comprising displaying a map indicating an iconic representation of the product frequently purchased by the user that is available for purchase at the respective business within a predetermined distance.

29. The method as defined in claim 20 further comprising:

retrieving a list of services frequently purchased by the user from a purchase history database;

determining that a service frequently purchased by the user is for sale by a business within a predetermined distance of the provided electronic device; and

displaying a message indicating that the service frequently purchased by the user is available for purchase at the business within a predetermined distance.

30. The method as defined in claim 29 further comprising:

determining from the purchase history database a time of day range that the service frequently purchased is most likely to be purchased;

determining that the current time of day is within the time of day range; and

displaying a message the present time is a preferred time to purchase the service.

31. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the advertising message further comprises a prompt to provide data entry to obtain more information regarding the advertising message.

32. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the advertising message further comprises a prompt to provide data entry to:

suppress future displays of messages from the business advertised in the advertising message; and

suppress messages from advertisers similar to the business advertised in the advertising message.