Abstract:
A method for reminding a user to take a weather-related object with him or her when going outside, applied to an electronic device, includes obtaining weather information at the present time or for one or more predetermined future time points or periods. A reminder is given to the user according to the obtained weather information, wherein the reminder includes a weather-related object relevant to the obtained weather information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610388288.3 filed on Jun. 2, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter herein generally relates to managing technology, and particularly to an electronic device and a reminder method. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally, people do not take an umbrella if the weather is just cloudy while he or she plans to go outdoors. Such people may get wet if the weather changes, e.g. suddenly rain, after they had already stepped outdoors. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary example of installation of wireless communication devices in an area. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of modules of a reminder system included in the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a first reminder method. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a second reminder method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” exemplary embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same exemplary embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the term “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, JAVA, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules can be embedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. The modules described herein can be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and can be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device. Depending on the exemplary embodiment, an electronic device  1  can include a reminder system  10 . The reminder system  10  can automatically remind a user  3  of the electronic device to bring a weather-related object according to weather information. For example, when the weather is rainy, the reminder system  10  can remind the user  3  to take rain gear such as an umbrella. The electronic device  1  can further include, but is not limited to, a first wireless communication device  11 , a storage device  12 , and at least one processor  13 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the electronic device  1  can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other suitable device such as a wearable device. 
         [0014]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, when the user  3  is going out, the reminder system  10  can transmit a reminder relevant to the weather information. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can determine whether the user  3  is in a process of going out using communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and other wireless communication devices. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can determine whether the user  3  is going out according to a signal intensity of the communication signal. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in at least one exemplary embodiment, two or more wireless communication devices such as a second wireless communication device  22  and a third wireless communication device  23  can be installed in or around a house  2 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, installation positions for the two or more wireless communication devices can be positions located inside the house  2  and having different distances from a gate  21  of the house  2 . In other exemplary embodiments, the installation positions can include a first position located inside the gate  21  and a second position located outside the gate  21 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the house  2  can be a home of the user  3 , or any other location such as an office. The reminder system  10  can determine whether the user  3  is the house  2  according to first changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 , and second changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can determine the first changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of first communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 . The reminder system  10  can similarly determine the second changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of second communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . It should be noted that the first changes in distance can also be treated as changes in distance between the electronic device  1  and the second wireless communication device  22 . Similarily, the second changes in distance can be treated as changes in distance between the electronic device  1  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0016]    For example, when the user  3  is carrying the electronic device  1  and is going out, because the electronic device  1  is moving farther and farther away from the second wireless communication device  22 , the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  gradually decreases. At the same time, because the electronic device  1  is moving closer and closer to the third communication device  23 , the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  gradually increases. After the user  3  passes by the third communication device  23 , the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  reaches a max signal intensity, the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  gradually decreases as the electronic device  1  moves farther and farther away from the third communication device  23 . That is, the reminder system  10  can determine whether the user  3  is going out according the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  and the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0017]    For another example, it is assumed that the electronic device  1  is initially located near the second wireless communication device  22 . When the user  3  takes the electronic device  1  and is going out, the distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22  gradually increases, thus, the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  gradually decreases. Then the reminder system  10  can determine whether the user  3  is going out according the signal intensity of the first communication signal. 
         [0018]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the first wireless communication device  11 , the second wireless communication device  22 , and the third wireless communication device  23  can be beacon transmitting devices. 
         [0019]    In other exemplary embodiments, the first wireless communication device  11 , the second wireless communication device  22 , and the third wireless communication device  23  can be WIFI devices or other kinds of communication devices such as BLUETOOTH or ZIGBEE devices. 
         [0020]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can calculate a first distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22  according to a signal intensity of a communication signal that is received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22 . The reminder system  10  can calculate a second distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23  according to a signal intensity of a communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0021]    In other exemplary embodiments, a camera  24  can be installed outside the gate  21  and can be used to capture images of the user  3 . The reminder system  10  can determine whether the user is going out according to the captured images. For example, when a predetermined number of continuously captured images are determined to be images of the back of the user  3 , the reminder system  10  can determine that the user is going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can compare each of the captured images with a pre-stored image template to determine whether the captured images show the back of the user  3 . When the predetermined number of continuously captured images match the pre-stored image template, the reminder system  10  can determine that the user is going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the pre-stored image template is an image of the back of the user  3 . The predetermined number can be three or more. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the camera  24  can be a wireless camera that can be wirelessly connected with the electronic device  1 . 
         [0022]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can further determine whether the user  3  has taken the weather-related object relevant to the weather information (hereinafter “related object”). 
         [0023]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the related object may be, but are not limited to rain gear or sun glasses. In at least one exemplary embodiment, each related object is installed with a wireless communication device such as the Beacon transmitting device. The reminder system  10  can calculate a distance value between the electronic device  1  and each related object using a signal intensity of a communication signal between the first wireless communication device  11  and the wireless communication device installed on each related object. For example, the reminder system  10  can determine that the user  3  takes the rain gear when the distance value between the electronic device  1  and the rain gear is less than a predetermined value such as 0.3 meter. 
         [0024]    The storage device  12  can be used to store all kinds of data such as codes of program instructions of the reminder system  10 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the storage device  12  can be an internal storage device such as a memory of the electronic device  1 . In other exemplary embodiments, the storage device  12  can be external storage device of the electronic device  1 . For example, the storage device  12  can be a secure digital card, a smart media card, or a flash card. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of modules of the reminder system  10 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the reminder system  10  can include a determining module  101 , a weather predicting module  102 , and a reminder module  103 . The modules  101 - 103  include computer instructions or codes in the form of one or more programs that may be executed by the at least one processor  13 . 
         [0026]    The determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  is going out. 
         [0027]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  is going out according to the first changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 , and second changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine the first changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of the first communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 . The determining module  101  can determine the second changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of the second communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0028]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, when a first distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22  gradually increases and the second distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23  gradually decreases at the same time, and after the first distance value becomes greater than a preset distance value, the second distance value gradually becomes greater, the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  is going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the preset distance value can be a distance value between the second wireless communication device  22  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0029]    In other exemplary embodiments, when the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  gradually decreases, the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  gradually increases at the same time, and after the signal intensity of the second communication signal reaches a max signal intensity as the user  3  bringing the electronic device  1  passes by the third wireless communication device  23 , the signal intensity of the second communication signal gradually decreases because the user  3  is gradually leaving away from the third communication device  23 , the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  is going out. 
         [0030]    The weather predicting module  102  can obtain weather information for a predetermined period of time in the future when the user  3  is determined to be going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined period of time in the future can be next three hours, next five hours, or other periods of time. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined period of time in the future can be set by the user  3 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the weather predicting module  102  can obtain the weather information from the internet, or any predetermined weather predicting and reporting software. 
         [0031]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the weather predicting module  101  can obtain the weather information of the predetermined period of time in the future at predetermined time points. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined time points can include, but are not limited to, wake up time of the user  3 , the time the user  3  leaves work, or other predetermined time points. 
         [0032]    The determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information. 
         [0033]    For example, when the obtained weather information indicates that it may rain in the next three hours, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the rain gear. For another example, when the obtained weather information indicates that an outdoor temperature value may becomes greater than a predetermined temperature value, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes a pair of sun glasses. 
         [0034]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the related object according to the signal intensity of the communication signal between the first wireless communication device  11  and the wireless communication device installed on the related object. For example, when the signal intensity of the communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the wireless communication device installed on the rain gear is greater than a preset signal intensity value, the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  takes the rain gear. 
         [0035]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the corresponding related object according to a distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the wireless communication device installed on the related object. For example, when the distance value is less than a preset value such as 0.3 meter, the determining module  101  can determine that the user  3  has taken the corresponding related object. 
         [0036]    The reminder module  103  can transmit a reminder when the user  3  does not take the related object. 
         [0037]    For example, if the user  3  does not take the rain gear when the obtained weather information indicates that rain will fall in the next three hours, the reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the rain gear by a predetermined method. For example, the reminder module  103  can display on a screen of the electronic device  1  a message that reminds the user  3  to take the rain gear, or can control the electronic device  1  to play a voice message advising the user to take the rain gear. 
         [0038]    In other exemplary embodiments, the predetermined period of time in the future can include two different preset time points. The reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the relevant related object according to a result of comparing weather information at two different preset time points. For example, the two different preset time points includes a first time point of the user  3  going to work, and a second time point of the user  3  leaving work. If the obtained weather information indicates cloudy weather at the first time point, and raining occurs at the second time point, this is shown by the comparison between the two different preset time points. Accordingly, the determining module  101  can determine different related object relevant to the different weather. Then the reminder module  103  can remind the user to take different related object. For example, if the determining module  101  determines that the user  3  does not take the sun glasses, the reminder module  103  not only reminds the user  3  to take the sun glasses, but also can reminds the user  3  to take the rain gear. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a flowchart of a first reminder method. The example method  400  is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  400  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example method  400 . Each block shown in  FIG. 4  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the example method  400 . Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can be changed according to the present disclosure. The example method  400  can begin at block  41 . Depending on the exemplary embodiment, additional steps can be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps can be changed. 
         [0040]    At block  41 , the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  is going out. When the user  3  is determined to be going out, the process goes to block  42 . 
         [0041]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  is going out according to the first changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 , and the second changes in distance between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0042]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine the first changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of the first communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22 . The determining module  101  can determine the second changes in distance according to changes in the signal intensity of the second communication signals between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0043]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, when a first distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the second wireless communication device  22  gradually increases and the second distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the third wireless communication device  23  gradually decreases at the same time, and after the first distance value becomes greater than a preset distance value, the second distance value gradually increases, the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  is going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the preset distance value can be a distance value between the second wireless communication device  22  and the third wireless communication device  23 . 
         [0044]    In other exemplary embodiments, when the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  gradually decreases, the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  gradually increases at the same time, and after the signal intensity of the second communication signal reaches the max signal intensity as the user  3  bringing the electronic device  1  passes by the third wireless communication device  23 , the signal intensity of the second communication signal gradually decreases because the user  3  is gradually moving away from the third communication device  23 , and then the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  is going out. 
         [0045]    At block  42 , the weather predicting module  102  can obtain weather information for a predetermined period of time in the future when the user  3  is determined to be going out. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined period of time in the future can be next three hours, next five hours, or other period. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined period of time in the future can be set by the user  3 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the weather predicting module  102  can obtain the weather information from the internet, or any predetermined weather predicting and reporting software. 
         [0046]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the weather predicting module  101  can obtain the weather information of the predetermined period of time in the future at predetermined time points. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined time points can include, but are not limited to, waking up time of the user  3 , the time the user  3  leaves work, or other predetermined time point. 
         [0047]    At block  43 , the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information. When the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information, the process is ended. When the user  3  does not take the related object relevant to the obtained weather information, the process goes to block  44 . 
         [0048]    For one example, when the obtained weather information indicates that it may rain in the next three hours, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the rain gear. For another example, when the obtained weather information indicates that an outdoor temperature value may become greater than a predetermined temperature value, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes a pair of sun glasses. 
         [0049]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the corresponding related object according to the signal intensity of the communication signal between the first wireless communication device  11  and the wireless communication device installed on the related object. For example, when the signal intensity of the communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the wireless communication device installed on the rain gear is greater than a preset signal intensity value, the determining module  101  can determine the user  3  has taken the rain gear. 
         [0050]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the corresponding related object according to a distance value between the first wireless communication device  11  and the wireless communication device installed on the related object. For example, when the distance value is less than a preset value such as 0.3 meter, the determining module  101  can determine that the user  3  takes the corresponding related object. 
         [0051]    At block  44 , the reminder module  103  can transmit a reminder to the user  3  when the user  3  does not take the related object. 
         [0052]    For example, if the user  3  does not take the rain gear when the obtained weather information indicates that rain will occur in the next three hours, the reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the rain gear by a predetermined method. For example, the reminder module  103  can display on a screen of the electronic device  1  a message that reminds the user  3  to take the rain gear, or can control the electronic device  1  to play a voice message advising the user to take the rain gear. 
         [0053]    In other exemplary embodiments, the predetermined period of time in the future can include two different preset time points. The reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the relevant related object according to a result of comparing weather information at two different preset time points. For example, the two different preset time points includes a first time point of the user  3  going to work, and a second time point of the user  3  leaving work. If the obtained weather information indicates cloudy weather at the first time point, and rain at the second time point, this is shown by the comparison between the two different preset time points. Accordingly, the determining module  101  can determine different related object relevant to the different weather. Then the reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the different related object. For example, if the determining module  101  determines that the user  3  does not take the sun glasses, the reminder module  103  can not only remind the user  3  to take the pair of sun glasses, but also can remind the user  3  to take the rain gear. 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a flowchart of a second reminder method. The example method  500  is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  500  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example method  500 . Each block shown in  FIG. 5  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the example method  500 . Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can be changed according to the present disclosure. The example method  500  can begin at block  51 . Depending on the exemplary embodiment, additional steps can be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps can be changed. 
         [0055]    At block  51 , the determining module  101  can determine whether current time equals to one or the predetermined time points. When the current time equals to one of the predetermined time points, the process goes to block  52 . In at least one exemplary embodiment, the predetermined time points can include, but are not limited to, waking up time of the user  3 , the time the user  3  leaves work, or other predetermined time point. 
         [0056]    At block  52 , the weather predicting module  102  can obtain weather information of a predetermined period of time in the future. For example, the weather predicting module  102  can obtain the weather information of the next three hours. 
         [0057]    At block  53 , the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information. When the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information, the process is ended. When the user  3  does not take the related object relevant to the obtained weather information, the process goes to block  54 . 
         [0058]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, when the signal intensity of the first communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the second wireless communication device  22  gradually decreases, the signal intensity of the second communication signal received by the first wireless communication device  11  from the third wireless communication device  23  gradually increases at the same time, and after the signal intensity of the second communication signal reaches a max signal intensity, the signal intensity of the second communication signal gradually decreases, then the determining module  101  can determine whether the user  3  takes the related object relevant to the obtained weather information. 
         [0059]    At block  54 , the reminder module  103  can transmit a reminder when the user  3  does not take the related object. 
         [0060]    For example, if the user  3  does not take the rain gear when the obtained weather information indicates rain in the next three hours, the reminder module  103  can remind the user to take the rain gear by a predetermined method. For example, the reminder module  103  can display on a screen of the electronic device  1  a message that reminds the user  3  to take the rain gear, or can control the electronic device  1  to play a voice message advising the user to take the rain gear. 
         [0061]    It should be noted that, in other exemplary embodiments, the reminder module  103  can directly transmit the reminder when the weather predicting module  102  obtains the weather information. In other words, after the block  52  is executed, the process can directly goes to block  54 . 
         [0062]    It should be emphasized that the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, including any particular exemplary embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the above-described exemplary embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.