IP Library Granted Patent US 9,065,932
Granted Patent B2
US 9,065,932 · App. 13/891,420 · Granted Jun 23, 2015

Device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case

Inventors: Ahmed Abdelsamie (Nepean, CA); Alan James Deciantis (Kitchener, CA); Omar George Joseph Barake (Waterloo, CA); Steven Anthony Lill (Waterloo, CA); Marc Elis Meunier (Kitchener, CA); Kevin Howard Orr (Elmira, CA); Craig Eric Ranta (Kitchener, CA)
Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
H04M19/048H04M1/0283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,065,932
App. No.
13/891,420
Granted
Jun 23, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.

Claims (32)

1. A device comprising:

an indicator;

a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration;

a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and,

a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to place the indicator in one or more of a sleep mode and a carrying case mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the closed configuration.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a light configured to at least turn on in the given notification mode when notifications are pending at the device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the processor is further configured to control at least a portion of the display to turn on in the given notification mode.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the processor is further configured to control a portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising an orientation sensor for detecting an orientation of the device, and the processor is further configured to provide notifications in the portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration based on the orientation of the device.

7. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a third detector configured to detect a type of the carrying case and the processor is further configured to control at least the portion of the indicator that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode, based on the type of the carrying case.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second indicator, and the processor is further configured to control the second indicator to provide notifications regardless of a configuration of the carrying case.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the processor is further configured to control a portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a mobile device, a mobile electronic device, a mobile computing device, and a tablet device.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first detector comprises a microphone and the processor is further configured to detect when the device is mated with the carrying case by receiving a sound pattern detected by the microphone produced by actuator bumps on the interior of the carrying case interacting with the device as the device is received in the carrying case.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a type of carrying case based on the sound pattern produced by the actuator bumps.

13. A method comprising:

at a device comprising: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor:

placing, using the processor, the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising placing, using the processor, the indicator in one or more of a sleep mode and a carrying case mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the closed configuration.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indicator comprises a light configured to at least turn on in the given notification mode when notifications are pending at the device.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the method further comprising controlling, using the processor, at least a portion of the display to turn on in the given notification mode.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the method further comprising controlling, using the processor, a portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the device further comprises an orientation sensor for detecting an orientation of the device, and the method further comprises providing, using the processor, notifications in the portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration based on the orientation of the device.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the device further comprises a third detector configured to detect a type of the carrying case, and the method further comprises controlling, using the processor, at least the portion of the indicator that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode, based on the type of the carrying case.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the device further comprises a second indicator, and the method further comprises controlling, using the processor, the second indicator to provide notifications regardless of a configuration of the carrying case.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the indicator comprises a display, and the method further comprises controlling, using the processor, a portion of the display that is at least partially exposed in the open configuration to turn on in the given notification mode.

22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first detector comprises a microphone and the method further comprises detecting when the device is mated with the carrying case by receiving a sound pattern detected by the microphone produced by actuator bumps on the interior of the carrying case interacting with the device as the device is received in the carrying case.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a type of carrying case based on the sound pattern produced by the actuator bumps.

24. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

at a device comprising: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor:

placing, using the processor, the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064271/0199 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 035021/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2013
From: ABDELSAMIE, AHMED; DECIANTIS, ALAN JAMES; BARAKE, OMAR GEORGE JOSEPH; LILL, STEVEN ANTHONY; MEUNIER, MARC ELIS; ORR, KEVIN HOWARD; RANTA, CRAIG ERIC
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031015/0746 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140333431A1 · Nov 13, 2014