Abstract:
A countdown timer application (computer program) that runs on programmable personal digital devices (“devices”) such as smartphones, tablet computers, and mobile Internet devices. The application is able to run several timers at once with different end times, the same end time and different beginning times, and one timer after another such that the end of one countdown triggers the beginning of another. Timers can repeat, such that when timer reaches zero it alerts user and begins to count down again indefinitely. 
     A plurality of methods of alerting the user that the timer has reached zero are speaking a recording; displaying a photo or a video, playing music, and displaying text. 
     Further, timers can be triggered based on awareness of the device&#39;s various sensors&#39; states. 
     Further, a version of the application uses synchronized devices, wherein the acknowledgment or non-acknowledgment of an alert on one device triggers notification on another device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is based upon application No. 61/345,126 (provisional) filed May 16, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to computer software and more especially to a software application that is downloaded to a personal digital device and installs one, or more, user controlled timers on the device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    At the present time personal digital devices (“devices”) are becoming increasingly popular. These devices are portable, hand-held, and battery operated. They include a digital display screen, a built-in microphone, a built-in keyboard (either actual or virtual), and are controlled by digital software programs. Such devices include smartphones, e-readers, tablet computers, and mobile internet devices including the “iPad” (™ Apple Computer). 
         [0004]    The present invention, using this software application, permits the user to program one, or more, timers to count down to zero. At zero the device will provide an “alert”—which may be a text message on the device&#39;s screen, broadcast the user&#39;s own voice message (not a computer generated voice), or music, or show a video or photo on the device&#39;s screen. This permits a user to set up a schedule as to when to perform an action, for example to take a medicine or perform steps in cooking. 
         [0005]    At the present time many timers are available such as separate electric and mechanical kitchen timers, as well as timers on microwave and other stoves. The U.S. Patent prior art includes the following patents:
   1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,440 to Brenner et al. discloses a kitchen device that displays cooking time of a recipe and sets a timer for that time.   2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,961 to Stihler discloses an alarm device which records a user&#39;s voice and projects the recorded sound as an alarm.   3. Application 20090140855 to Shemesh et al. discloses a number of devices including a timer of a personal device which outputs a computer generated voice message as a reminder.   
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A countdown timer application (software computer program) runs on programmable personal digital devices (“devices”) such as smartphones, tablet computers, e-readers, and mobile internet devices. The term “personal digital device” means a hand held device which is battery operated, portable, has a digital display screen, has computer memory, and is controlled by digital software programs. It generally has a camera, a speaker, and a microphone. 
         [0010]    The application runs several timers at once with different end times, several timers at once with the same end time but different beginning times, and one timer after another (the end of one countdown triggers the beginning of another). The application runs repeating timers. When a timer reaches zero it alerts the user and also can be configured to begin to count down again, with indefinite repetition. 
         [0011]    The application has various methods of alerting the users that the time has ended (timer has reached zero). Such alerting methods are broadcasting a message that the user has spoken into the device, displaying a picture (photo or video), playing music, displaying a text message, and sending a text message (SMS) to another party. For example, the user sets the timer at three minutes and the device announces a message recorded by the user when he sets the timer, i.e. “take eggs out of the boiling water”. 
         [0012]    The application allows the user to create various types of alerts during setup of a given timer, beforehand (saved into the device&#39;s memory), or by downloading alerts, or pre-set timers complete with times and alerts, from an online Internet service. 
         [0013]    The application may be set to share alerts via email. For example, a parent may set an alert that his/her child has a piano lesson on Tuesday at 3 pm. That alert, along with a picture of a piano and voice message saying “piano lesson” may be sent from the parent to the child by email. The child would then enter the alert onto the child&#39;s personal digital device. The child need only open his/her email and the application of the present invention, on the child&#39;s personal digital device, will automatically enter the alert on his/her personal digital device. When child clicks on the attachment, the application will automatically import the file and create the timer with whatever voice message, time, and photo was sent. The timer will be ready to go within the child&#39;s application. Child simply needs to click (or actually “press” or “select” on touch screen devices) the attachment, and the application will do the rest. 
         [0014]    The application also provides a weekly alarm and a calendar alarm. The weekly alarm provides an alert, when set by the user, for one week. The calendar alarm provides an alert for as long as desired, for example for an entire year. For example, the weekly alarm may be set to provide an audio alert for 3 pm on Tuesday and Saturday one week in advance. The calendar alarm, for example may be set to provide an audio alert every Tuesday and Saturday, at 3 pm, for an entire year. The weekly alarm can be set to give alerts within a one week time frame, but they can repeat. For example, every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 pm. But the calendar alarm can be any time in the future, for example next January 15 at 3 pm and July 24 at 7 am, as well as repeating next October 12 at 1 pm for the next 3 years. 
         [0015]    A timer or series of timers are triggered to start based on awareness of device&#39;s various sensors&#39; states if the device has such sensors. For example, a device that has built in GPS (global positioning system) or A-GPS (assisted-global positioning system) could trigger a timer to count down when user visits the beach such that after half an hour timer tells user to apply more sun block. 
         [0016]    An expanded version of the timer that works across several devices and a synchronizing server lets the acknowledgment of a timer alert, or lack of acknowledgment, to act as an alert from one device to another. For example, a timer tells a user to take his medicine and if that alert is unacknowledged a caregiver&#39;s device is alerted that the medicine was not taken. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0017]    The enclosed drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of a general method and means for the software application of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  are flow diagrams of specific embodiments of the method and means shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram in which the application is expanded to several devices and users to form a system in the healthcare field to improve compliance with taking medicines; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram in which the application sends an alert or alerts via email to another personal digital device; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram in which the application sends an alert or alerts via bluetooth transmission to another personal digital device; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a diagram in which the application is set for a weekly and a yearly series of alarm alerts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-8  the “application” is installed on a personal digital device  1 . Such a device  1 , as defined herein, is a battery operated, hand-held, portable device having a digital display screen and is controlled by digital software programs. Examples of such personal digital devices are smartphones, tablet computers, e-readers, and mobile internet devices.  FIG. 5  shows a flow diagram of the application working across several devices, computers, and the Internet in a healthcare environment to improve compliance with taking medicines. 
         [0025]    The digital device (“device”) has a keyboard  10  which may be an actual or a virtual (screen) keyboard which is finger operated to generate a text message  11 , the device also has a microphone to input the user&#39;s voice  12  and circuitry to generate an audio file  13  from the user&#39;s voice. The device has digital memory which is used by the application in a number of ways. These uses of the device&#39;s memory include:
   1. As a single timer and as a plurality of timers, for example three, to store the selected countdown time. The user sets a timer for the chosen number of seconds, minutes, or hours. The timer counts down to zero and generates an alert signal (to be described later).   2. The user sets the timer to a specific date and time to reach zero. For example, “Friday April 30 at 3:00 PM”. When the timer reaches zero it generates an alert signal at the selected date and time.   3. The user employs keyboard  10  to generate a text message  11  which is stored in the device memory i.e. store text message  13 . In this embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , the user sets the timer “set timer”  14 . At the “zero point of timer”  15  the device generates an alert signal. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  the alert signal is a display of the stored text message (“display text message  16 ”) on the screen of the device. Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the text message is not erased from storage after being displayed but rather is held in device storage (“retain text message”  17 ) for re-use.   
 
         [0029]    A general flowsheet is shown in  FIG. 1 . The user downloads and installs the application in his device. To use it he sets one, or more timers, using the keyboard of the device (“set timer”  20 ). In the future, using voice recognition software and the microphone of the device, the timer or timers may be set by voice command. 
         [0030]    The user sets the time  21  and the alert  22 . For example the alert may be audio (music, bell, or voice) or visual (display of photo taken using the device or other stored photo on display). The user then starts the timer (“start timer”  23 ). When the timer counts down to zero  24  it generates an alert signal and the selected alert is activated (“alert activated”  25 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates a specific embodiment of the method of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2  the user records a voice message, such as “take the peas of the stove” for example with the user&#39;s voice  12 . That message is spoken into the device  14  microphone and recorded in device memory as an audio file  13 . The user sets the timer and when the timer reaches zero  16  it generates an alert signal. That alert signal causes the recorded voice message to be broadcast by the device (“speaker broadcasts user&#39;s voice of audio file”  17 ). 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates a specific embodiment of the method of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 4  the user takes a photograph using the device&#39;s built-in camera  30 . That photograph is displayed on the device screen  31  for user&#39;s approval. The user sets the timer  20  and when the timer reaches zero  24  it generates an alert signal. That signal alert causes the photograph  31  to be displayed on the device. 
         [0033]    The device is programmed to use one or a variety of alerts. The alerts which are generated by the user and which are retained in device memory include text messages entered from the device keyboard, voice or music entered from the device microphone, and photo and/or video entered from the device camera. In addition stock photos, video and/or music may be downloaded into device memory by logging the device onto the Internet. More alerts include actions that the device is programmed to take, including snapping a photo or video clip and emailing it or uploading it to an Internet site, sending an SMS text message, calling a phone number and speaking a pre-recorded message, mute/un-mute the device&#39;s speaker, record an audio clip, turn off the device, or launch another application. 
         [0034]    The use of plural timers and date/time sets is especially useful to set a schedule of medicines. The voice message alert is, for example, “This is Tuesday at 3:00 PM, time to take your blood pressure pill.” The timers will be re-set automatically so the message (alerts) will be repeated each day, week, or month. 
         [0035]    The timers are programmed as follows: (1) pre-set to run in parallel with varying start times and a common end (reach zero) time; (2) pre-set to run serially so that the end of one triggers the start of another and/or (3) the timers are set to repeat their timing alerts until re-set. 
         [0036]    A timer may be set to begin its count down to zero by a trigger signal from a sensor built into the device. A sensor may be a thermometer, an accelerometer, or a location awareness sensor (GPS or AGPS). 
         [0037]    The device microphone may be used as a sensor to detect noise level. In one embodiment a timer is set to trigger sending a text message (SMS) as an alert if certain conditions are met. For example, if device&#39;s microphone detects a high noise level over a period of time, thus triggering a count down, the device sends a text message to the user&#39;s employer stating that user has been in a high noise environment for a long time. Thus employer should take action to preserve his employee&#39;s hearing. 
         [0038]    A text message (SMS) could also be sent to a caregiver in the example of a user who did not turn off his timer that had told him to take his medicine. Caregiver would be alerted that timer&#39;s alert was ignored ( FIG. 5 ). A timer could be triggered, and a text message (SMS) sent to a caregiver upon reaching zero, if the device&#39;s accelerometer registers a sudden fall and vibration. The application would ask user if he fell and needs help, and user does not answer by the time the timer has counted to zero, the text message (SMS) alert would be sent. 
         [0039]    A timer&#39;s alert can be turned off by voice command or by shaking the device, but preferably it is turned off by pushing a button, for example a button labeled “off” on the touch sensitive screen of a mobile phone. 
         [0040]    The timers&#39; zero point is retained in the device&#39;s memory even when device is turned off, such that when device is restarted, any timers that would have reached zero when the phone was off will trigger their alerts. On devices that do not fully turn off, such as some Nokia smartphones, alerts will be triggered when they are supposed to. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates an instance where application is expanded into a larger system that helps compliance with taking medicines. In  FIG. 5  a server component  31  synchronizes the user&#39;s schedule (within application of user&#39;s personal digital device  32 ) with a caregiver&#39;s device or computer  39 . The synchronization can be set so that the caregiver creates the schedule, the user creates or edit it, or both. The server is accessed via existing Internet protocols. When the user&#39;s device  32  gives off an alert, either the user will acknowledge the alert (turn it off)  33  or not  34 . Alternatively, the user&#39;s device will be off  36  and the alert will not be triggered at the correct time. When user acknowledges the alert  33  the application will automatically send a signal to the caregiver&#39;s device  39  that the alert was acknowledged. If the user does not acknowledge the alert within a pre-set amount of time, and the user&#39;s device is on  35 , the application will look up its current GPS coordinates  37  and then will send a “not acknowledged” signal to the caregiver&#39;s device along with the GPS information. Caregiver&#39;s device  39  will initiate a series of steps  38  in order to find the user and tell him to take his medicine. If the user&#39;s device is off  36  the caregiver&#39;s device will know that it did not receive any type of signal from the user&#39;s device (due to the synchronization  31 ) and it will initiate a series of steps  38  in order to find the user and tell him to take his medicine. For example the caregiver&#39;s device  39  is a computer which automatically generates a voice message to the user&#39;s land-line telephone or an email to his computer as an advice to take his medicine when the user does not push the button on his cell phone to stop the timer&#39;s alert to take his medicine. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a user can click on the ‘share alarm’ button in the app and it will package and then send the alarm/alerts to anyone in his/her email contact list. For example, if one sets a weekly piano lesson for his/her child, one can create the alarm for every Tuesday at 3 PM and add a photo of a piano, and record the users voice saying “piano lesson”. Then the user clicks on the share button and sends it via email to the child, who will open it on his/her device and import the alarm (time, photo, voice recording) into his/her copy of the application. By sharing via email, the application can be used and alarms/alerts can be shared by multiple people without the intervention of a central online service. The process, as shown in  FIG. 6 , would be that the user sets timer  20 , including setting the time  21  and the alert  22 . The user then selects timer  30  and presses the share button. Then the application, automatically will combine the time and alert components into one file  32 . The application launches the device&#39;s built in email function, the user selects the email recipients and pushes the send button to send the email  34 . The recipient receives the email  35  with the attachment. Then the recipient, if he/she wants the alert, will click on the attachment  36  and the recipient&#39;s application will automatically enter the time and alert on the recipient&#39;s personal digital device. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a user can click on the ‘share alarm’ button in the app and it will package and then send the alarm/alerts to anyone within bluetooth proximity. For example, if one sets a weekly piano lesson for his/her child, one can create the alarm for every Tuesday at 3 PM and add a photo of a piano, and record the users voice saying “piano lesson”. Then the user clicks on the share button and transmits it to the child&#39;s device, which will open it and import the alarm (time, photo, voice recording) into his/her copy of the application. By sharing via bluetooth, the application can be used and alarms/alerts can be shared by people who are in close proximity to one another, for example business people arranging a meeting time, and without the intervention of a central online service or the need to go online to use email. The process, as shown in  FIG. 7 , would be that the user sets timer  20 , including setting the time  21  and the alert  22 . The user then selects timer  30  and presses the share button. Then the application will automatically combine the time and alert components into one file  32 . The application launches the device&#39;s built-in bluetooth transmitter  40  and the device transmits the file  41 . The recipient simultaneously activates the bluetooth function on his device  42  and recieves the file  43 . Recipient then clicks on file  44 , which is automatically imported into the application. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , a weekly alarm  50  is important to the countdown timer. A calendar function  51 , is also important and is included in the application. A weekly alarm is good for events up one one week from now, but the calendar function extends to the indefinite future. For example, the weekly alarm may be set to set off an alarm on Tuesday and Saturday at 3 pm. The calender alarm may be set to activate an alarm on May 14 at 3 pm.