Apparatus, method and computer program to control notification based on distance

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

transceiver circuitry configured to receive a notification for a user of the information processing apparatus;

sensing circuitry configured to determine a position of the information processing apparatus relative to the user;

storage configured to store a plurality of notification mechanisms in association with particular positions of the information processing apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of notification mechanisms is configured to notify the user via a different sensory medium; and

control circuitry configured to:

select one of the plurality of notification mechanisms based on the position of the information processing apparatus,

control notification circuitry to perform the selected notification mechanism based on the position of the information processing apparatus,

select a different one of the plurality of notification mechanisms when a relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than a threshold distance, and

control the transceiver circuitry to generate a notification signal to send to a second device when the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than the threshold distance, the notification signal indicating to the second device a receipt of the notification at the information processing apparatus by controlling the second device to perform one of the plurality of notification mechanisms so as to notify the user,

wherein at least a rate of the one of the plurality of notification mechanisms performed by the second device varies in real time based on a movement of the user with respect to the information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control a speaker to perform an audio notification mechanism of the plurality of notification mechanisms, whereby the volume of the speaker is proportional to the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control a display to perform only a visual notification mechanism of the plurality of notification mechanisms on a screen when the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is less than the threshold distance.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver circuitry is further configured to receive a transfer signal from the second device, and in response to the receipt of the transfer signal, the transceiver circuitry is configured to be an intermediary between the second device and a wireless network.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver circuitry is further configured to receive the notification over a wireless network.

6. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a notification for a user of the information processing apparatus;

determining a position of the information processing apparatus relative to the user;

storing a plurality of notification mechanisms in association with particular positions of the information processing apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of notification mechanisms is configured to notify the user via a different sensory medium;

selecting one of the plurality of notification mechanisms based on the position of the information processing apparatus;

performing the selected notification mechanism based on the position of the information processing apparatus;

selecting a different one of the plurality of notification mechanisms when a relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than a threshold distance; and

generating a notification signal to send to a second device when the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than the threshold distance, the notification signal indicating to the second device a receipt of the notification at the information processing apparatus by controlling the second device to perform one of the plurality of notification mechanisms so as to notify the user,

wherein at least a rate of the one of the plurality of notification mechanisms performed by the second device varies in real time based on a movement of the user with respect to the information processing apparatus.

7. The information processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising controlling a speaker to perform an audio notification mechanism of the plurality of notification mechanisms, whereby the volume of the speaker is proportional to the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus.

8. The information processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising controlling a display to perform only a visual notification mechanism of the plurality of notification mechanisms on a screen when the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is less than the threshold distance.

9. The information processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising receiving a transfer signal from the second device, and in response to the receipt of the transfer signal, the information processing apparatus is configured to be an intermediary between the second device and a wireless network.

10. The information processing method according to claim 6 , further comprising receiving the notification over a wireless network.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an information processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to:

receive a notification for a user of the information processing apparatus;

determine a position of the information processing apparatus relative to the user;

store a plurality of notification mechanisms in association with particular positions of the information processing apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of notification mechanisms is configured to notify the user via a different sensory medium;

select one of the plurality of notification mechanisms based on the position of the information processing apparatus;

perform the selected notification mechanism based on the position of the information processing apparatus;

select a different one of the plurality of notification mechanisms when a relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than a threshold distance; and

generate a notification signal to send to a second device when the relative distance between the user and the information processing apparatus is greater than the threshold distance, the notification signal indicating to the second device a receipt of the notification at the information processing apparatus by controlling the second device to perform one of the plurality of notification mechanisms so as to notify the user,

wherein at least a rate of the one of the plurality of notification mechanisms performed by the second device varies in real time based on a movement of the user with respect to the information processing apparatus.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification signal controls the second device to vibrate or generate an audible indication.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control the transceiver circuitry to transmit a polling signal to the second device, derive a timing difference based on the polling signal, and determine the relative distance between the information processing apparatus and the second device based on the timing difference.