Patent ID: 8477566

Claim:
A method of switching an electronic device between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the electronic device comprising a display, the method comprising: operating the electronic device in the first mode of operation that comprises outputting a current time on the display; and responsive to a detection of the electronic device being connected to one or more of a plurality of other devices, switching the electronic device from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation by executing a routine that initiates: determining whether the electronic device is connected to a first of the plurality of other devices or a second of the plurality of other devices, and if the electronic device is connected to the second of the plurality of other devices, the routine further initiates: suspending output of at least one type of alert that would otherwise be output during the first mode of operation as one or more of an audio alert, a visual alert, or a tactile alert in response to an occurrence subsequent to the detection; and if the electronic device is determined to be connected to the first of the plurality of devices, the routine does not further initiate the suspending.