Selective interaction between networked smart devices

This application is the National Phase of PCT/KR2010/006012 filed on Sep. 3, 2010 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/365,790 filed on Jul. 20, 2010, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of electronics. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to interaction of smart devices in a network.

Smart devices are devices that are digital, active, and computer networked. The smart devices are also user configurable and can operate to some extent autonomously. Appliances are devices that are task specific and under control of some embedded system or application specific operating system. One distinctive difference between the smart devices and the appliances may lie in the ability of the smart devices in supporting multiple tasks, whereas the appliances may be configured to perform a single task.

Some of the examples of the smart devices may include a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart TV, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, etc. Some of the examples of the appliances may include a home appliance, which further include major appliances (e.g., an air-conditioner, a dishwasher, a clothes dryer, a freezer, a kitchen stove, a water heater, a washing machine, a trash compactor, a microwave oven, etc.) as well as small appliances (e.g., a CD/DVD player, camcorder, a camera, a clock, a telephone, etc.). Recently, the smart devices and the appliances are being connected through a network as an effort for automating home or office.

Solution to Problem

One embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to a method of a smart device interacting with associated smart devices via a network. The method comprises identifying one or more associated smart devices upon activation of a smart device in a network, where the smart device and the associated smart devices are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or more commands. The method also comprises determining a mode of the smart device upon receiving data from the associated smart devices, where the mode of the smart device is set through configuring a user experience environment of the smart device. The method further comprises selectively processing the data from the associated smart devices based on the mode of the smart device.

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network view of a smart device selectively interacting with associated smart devices or smart appliances, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary view of the smart device in FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary method of a smart device selectively interacting with one or more associated smart devices, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process for configuring a mode of the smart device in FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate exemplary processes of the smart device in FIG. 1 selectively interacting with an associated smart device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process flow chart of another exemplary method of a smart device selectively interacting with one or more associated smart devices, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary view of the smart device in FIG. 1 interacting with a smart appliance, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates another exemplary view of the smart device in FIG. 1 interacting with a smart appliance, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

A method, device and/or system are disclosed that selectively interact data based on the mode of the device. According to embodiments of this disclosure, a number of smart devices and/or smart appliances may be connected through a network (e.g., a home network). If a user is currently using a particular device, the user may want to be notified of any developments with the remaining smart devices or smart appliances that the user cannot attend to. However, the user may choose to block unnecessary messages of low importance or priority to concentrate on or enjoy the user's current task.

As a solution, the user may selectively process data (e.g., notification data, command data, etc.) from the associated device(s) with respect to the current mode of the smart device currently operated by the user. For example, if the user is using a tablet PC, the user may configure the mode of the tablet PC to set up the communication mode of the tablet PC, first. For example, if the user is currently free to receive any message or notification, then the user may configure the threshold level of the data received and to be processed by the tablet PC to be the lowest. Accordingly, any message or notification from the associated device(s) may be processed and displayed on a display unit of the tablet PC. Alternatively, if the user is fully occupied by the current task on the tablet PC, the user may set the threshold level of the received data to be processed by the tablet PC to be the highest or choose to block any message addressed to the tablet PC.

In another embodiment, the user may configure the user experience (UX) environment (e.g., a home screen) of the smart device currently operated by the user such that the mode of the smart device automatically changes on a temporal basis. For example, the mode of the smart device (e.g., a mobile phone) may be set to put the mode of the mobile phone in an organize mode (e.g., which put forwards apps such as Outlook® calendar, etc. on the home screen of the smart device) between 6 am and 9 am, in a work mode (e.g., which put forwards apps such as MS Word®, Power Point®, etc.) between 9 am and 6 pm, in a connect mode (e.g., which put forwards widgets such as Hotmail®, Gmail®, Gtalk®, etc.), and a relax mode between 9 pm and 6 am (e.g., which put forwards apps and/or widgets such as YouTube®, games, etc.). Once the mode of the mobile phone is set on the temporal basis, then the mode of the mobile phone may be determined by referring to the time upon the receipt of data from an associated smart device. Then, the data may be processed based on the mode of the mobile phone. As discussed above, if the priority of the data from the associated device is lower than the threshold level of data to be processed by the mobile phone under the current mode, then the data may be ignored by the mobile phone.

As described above, the selective interaction of the smart devices sharing a network may enable the user of the smart devices to automatically filter the amount of data that need to be processed by the user. More particularly, by selectively screening messages or notifications from associated devices with respect to the current mode of the smart device, the user may be able to enjoy more of the UX environment afforded by the smart device, while freeing the user from attending to needless tasks.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the disclosure will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, in the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure. Further, throughout this document, the smart devices may be used to include any devices or appliances that can communicate with one or more other smart devices or appliances through a network.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network view of a smart device 104 A selectively interacting with associated smart devices 104 B-N and/or smart appliances 106 A-N, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1 , the smart device 104 A is connected with the smart devices 104 B-N and the smart appliances 106 A-N through a network 102 . In one embodiment, the network 102 is a short range network (e.g., a personal area network (PAN)). In an alternative embodiment, the network 102 may be any combination of the short range network, a local area network (LAN), a home area network, a campus network, a global area network, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network, an internetwork, an Internet, an intranet and extranet, an overlay network, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the smart device 104 A is an apparatus or device (e.g., a smart device) which comprises a memory 108 and a processor 110 coupled to the memory 108 . In one embodiment, the processor 110 , when executed, is configured to identify the associated smart appliances 106 A-N and/or the smart devices 104 B-N upon activation of the smart device 104 A in the network 102 , where the smart device 104 A and the associated smart appliances 106 A-N and/or the smart devices 104 B-N are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or more commands. For example, as the smart device 104 A is turned on within the network 102 or enters the network 102 , the smart device 104 A may poll the associated smart devices 104 B-N and/or the smart appliances 106 A-N periodically or continuously to track or monitor the existing or currently active associated smart devices 104 B-N and/or appliances 106 A-N.

In one example implementation, the smart devices 104 A-N include a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart TV, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, etc. Further, the smart appliances 106 A-N include a home appliance, such as an air-conditioner, a dishwasher, a clothes dryer, a freezer, a kitchen stove, a water heater, a washing machine, a trash compactor, a microwave oven, a CD/DVD player, camcorder, a camera, a clock, a telephone, etc.

In addition, the processor 110 is configured to determine a mode of the smart device 104 A upon receiving data from one or more of the associated smart appliances 106 A-N and/or the smart devices 104 B-N, where the mode of the smart device 104 A is set through configuring a user experience (UX) environment of the smart device 104 A, as will be illustrated in details in FIG. 4 . The data from the associated smart appliances 106 A-N and/or the smart devices 104 B-N may be notification data for notifying the smart device 104 A or command data for causing the smart device 104 A to execute one or more commands. For example, a smart TV, which is currently operated by the user, may be notified of an alert event (e.g., an incoming call to a mobile phone associated with the smart TV) or instructed to record a particular TV program. Further, the processor 110 is configured to selectively process the data from the associated smart appliances 106 A-N and/or the smart devices 104 B-N based on the mode of the smart device 104 A.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary view of the smart device 104 A (e.g., a tablet PC) in FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2 , a display unit of the smart device 104 A displays a network view 204 on the top half of the smart device 104 A and an application view 206 on the bottom half. In one embodiment, the network view 204 is generated upon activation of the smart device 104 A in the network 102 . In FIG. 2 , as the user presses a button 202 at the top of the smart device 104 A, representative images (e.g., icons, avatars, etc.) of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and/or the smart appliances 106 A-N are displayed on a display unit of the smart device 104 A.

For example, the network view 204 is displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 A to inform the user that the smart device 104 B (e.g., a mobile phone), the smart device 104 N (e.g., a smart TV), the smart appliance 106 A (e.g., an air conditioner), the smart appliance 106 B (e.g., a CD player), and the smart appliance 106 C (e.g., a washing machine) are currently connected to the smart device 104 A through the network 102 . It is appreciated that the button 202 may be realized through a soft button on a touch panel or through voice recognition technology instead. The application view 206 may process one or more applications (e.g., web application(s) and/or application software implemented on the smart device 104 A), such as Face Book®.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary method of a smart device selectively interacting with one or more associated smart devices, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In keeping with the previous examples, particular components described with respect to FIG. 1 are referenced as performing the process in FIG. 3 . It should be noted that the components that are referred to as performing the process are for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, other components, or a different combination of components within a system, may instead perform the process in FIG. 3 .

In operation 302 , one or more of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N are identified upon activation of the smart device 104 A in the network 102 , where the smart device 104 A and the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or more commands. In operation 304 , a mode of the smart device 104 A is determined upon receiving data from one of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N, where the mode of the smart device 104 A is set through configuring a UX environment of the smart device 104 A. For example, the data from the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N is notification data for notifying the smart device 104 A or command data for causing the smart device 104 A execute one or more commands.

In operation 306 , the data from one of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N is selectively processed based on the mode of the smart device 104 A, as will be illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4-6 . In operation 308 , data, such as notification data or command data, from the smart device 104 A is forwarded to the associated devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N. In an alternative embodiment, operation 308 may be performed directly subsequent to operation 302 .

It is appreciated that the methods disclosed in FIG. 3 may be implemented in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process for configuring a mode of the smart device in FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 4 , a mode of the smart device 104 A is set through configuring a UX environment 402 of the smart device 104 A. In one example implementation, the UX environment 402 is a home screen of the smart device 104 A. In one embodiment, the mode of the UX environment 402 is configured by setting the mode of the smart device 104 A on a temporal basis 412 or a regional basis 414 . For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the mode of the UX environment 402 comprises an organize mode 404 , a work mode 406 , a connect mode 408 , and a relax mode 410 .

More particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the mode of the smart device 104 A is set according to the temporal basis 412 , where the smart device 104 A is set to be in the organize mode 404 between 6 am and 9 am, in the work mode 406 between 9 am and 6 pm, in the connect mode 408 between 6 pm and 9 pm, and in the relax mode 410 between 9 pm and 6 am. Further, using the configuration page of the UX environment 402 , the modes may be modified by adding, deleting, moving, etc. one or more applications, contents (not shown), widgets (not shown), etc. In the example embodiment, initially, the organize mode 404 includes apps 416 A, B and D-N, the work mode 406 includes apps 418 A-N, the connect mode 408 includes apps 420 A-K, and the relax mode 410 includes apps 422 A-N. Once the mode of the smart device 104 A is set according to the temporal basis 412 , the step (e.g., step 304 ) of determining the mode of the smart device 104 A in the method described in FIG. 3 may be performed by determining the current time recognized by the smart device 104 A. For example, if the time maintained by the smart device 104 A is 11:14 am, then the mode of the smart device 104 A is determined to be in the work mode 406 according to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 .

In an alternative embodiment, the mode of the smart device 104 A is set based on the regional basis 414 . Although it is not shown, the mode of the smart device 104 A or the UX environment 402 may be set based on the global positioning system (GPS) information associated with the smart device 104 A. For example, the mode of the smart device 104 A may be configured to be in the organize mode 404 when the user is in route to the work from home, to be in the work mode 406 when the user is at work, to be in the connect mode 408 when the user is in route to home from work, and to be in the relax mode 410 when the user is at home.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the mode of the smart device 104 A is set based on a primary task currently executed on the UX environment 402 . That is, the mode of the smart device 104 A may be set based on the user's choosing of a particular application as the primary task of the smart device 104 A. For example, the mode of the smart device 104 A may be put to the organize mode 404 if the user is currently executing a calendar program as the primary task, to the work mode 406 if the user is currently executing a word processing program as the primary task, to the connect mode 408 if the user is currently running an email program as the primary task, or to the relax mode 410 if the user is currently executing an online game program as the primary task.

In FIG. 4 , a particular mode of the UX environment 402 may be modified by adding, deleting or moving one or more icons from a group of application associated with the mode of the UX environment 402 . For example, the app 416 C (e.g., short for application 416 C) is added to the group of applications for the organize mode 404 . The app 416 N is moved from the organize mode 404 to become the app 420 L in the connect mode 408 . Further, the app 422 M is deleted from the relax mode 410 of the UX environment 402 . If the mode of the smart device 104 A is set according to the regional basis 414 , the step (e.g., step 304 ) of determining the mode of the smart device 104 A in the method described in FIG. 3 may be performed by determining the current location recognized by the smart device 104 A. For example, if the GPS information processed by the smart device 104 A indicates the user to be at work, then the mode of the smart device 104 A is determined to be in the work mode 406 according to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate exemplary processes of the smart device in FIG. 1 selectively interacting with an associated smart device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates the UX environment 402 (e.g., a home screen) of the smart device 104 A executing the organize mode 404 . In FIG. 5 , the center of the home screen is occupied by the app 416 C, which is the currently active application, and other applications (e.g., the apps 416 A-B and apps 416 D-N in FIG. 4 ) which correspond to the organize mode 404 are displayed and/or enabled on one side of the screen.

While the smart device 104 A is in the organize mode 404 , data from the associated devices 104 B-N and/or the associated appliances 106 A-N in FIG. 1 may be selectively processed based on the mode of the smart device 104 A. In one embodiment, a message notifying a receipt of the data is displayed on a display unit of the smart device 104 A when the mode of the smart device 104 A is configured to process the data from the associated smart device 104 B-N and/or the associated smart appliances 106 A-N. In one exemplary implementation of the embodiment, the priority level of data from an associated smart device (e.g., the smart device 104 B) is identified first. Then, a processing value is set to ‘true’ if the priority level of the data is equal to or higher than the threshold level of data to be processed by the smart device 104 A in the organize mode 404 . For example, if the priority level of the data being ‘1’ is higher than the threshold level being ‘3,’ then the processing value is set to ‘true.’ Accordingly, a message (e.g., an alert message) which notifies the receipt of the data from the associated smart device is displayed on a display unit of the smart device 104 A.

However, in an alternative embodiment, a message notifying a receipt of the data is masked when the mode of the smart device 104 A is configured to cease the processing of the data from the associated smart device 104 B-N and/or the associated smart appliances 106 A-N. In one exemplary implementation of the alternative embodiment, a processing value is set to ‘false’ if the priority level of the data is lower than the threshold level. Accordingly, the UX environment 402 may not display any message indicating arrival of the data from the associated smart device. This way, notification of events with minimal importance with respect to the current mode of the user device may be avoided.

FIG. 6 illustrates the UX environment 402 (e.g., a home screen) of the smart device 104 A executing the work mode 406 . In FIG. 6 , the center of the home screen is occupied by the app 418 D, which is the currently active application, and other applications (e.g., the apps 418 A-C and apps 418 E-N in FIG. 4 ) which correspond to the work mode 406 are displayed and/or enabled on one side of the screen.

While the smart device 104 A is in the work mode 406 , data from the associated devices 104 B-N and the associated appliances 106 A-N in FIG. 1 may be selectively processed based on the mode of the smart device 104 A. In one exemplary implementation, a priority level of data from an associated smart device (e.g., the smart device 104 B) or a smart appliance (e.g., the smart appliance 106 C) is identified first. Then, a processing value for the data is set to ‘true’ if the priority level of the data from the associated smart device is equal to or higher than the threshold level of data to be processed by the smart device 104 A in the work mode 408 .

For example, the threshold level may be set to ‘1’ for the work mode 406 of the smart device 104 A, so that the data from any smart device or appliance may be processed to be displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 only if the priority level of the data is equal to ‘1.’ In this example, only the priority level of the data from the smart device 104 B (e.g., the mobile phone) may be set to equal to ‘1’ to allow its processing by the smart device 104 A. Accordingly, only an alert message which notifies a receipt of the data from the smart device 104 B is displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 A. However, data from the remaining smart devices or smart appliances may be ignored or queued for processing until the mode of the smart device 104 A is changed to a lower priority.

FIG. 7 illustrates the UX environment 402 (e.g., a home screen) of the smart device 104 A executing the connect mode 408 . In FIG. 7 , the center of the home screen is occupied by the app 420 B, which is the currently active application, and other applications (e.g., the apps 420 A and 420 C-L in FIG. 4 ) which correspond to the connect mode 408 are displayed and/or enabled on one side of the screen.

While the smart device 104 A is in the connect mode 408 , data from the associated devices 104 B-N and the associated appliances 106 A-N in FIG. 1 may be selectively processed based on the mode of the smart device 104 A. In one exemplary implementation, the priority level of data from an associated smart device (e.g., the smart device 104 B) or a smart appliance (e.g., the smart appliance 106 C) is identified first. Then, the processing value for the data is set to ‘true’ if the priority level of the data from the smart device 104 B (e.g., the priority level of ‘1’) or smart appliance 106 C (e.g., the priority level of ‘3’) is equal to or higher than the threshold level of data to be processed by the mode of the smart device 104 A. For example, the threshold level may be set to ‘2,’ thus allowing the data from other device(s) with the priority level equal to or higher than ‘2’ to be processed by the smart device 104 A. Accordingly, a message which notifies a receipt of the data from the smart device 104 B may be displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 A since the processing value is ‘true.’ However, the UX environment 402 may not display any message forwarded by the smart appliance 106 C.

FIG. 8 illustrates the UX environment 402 (e.g., a home screen) of the smart device 104 A executing the relax mode 410 . In FIG. 8 , the center of the home screen is occupied by the app 422 A, which is the currently active application, and other applications (e.g., the apps 422 B-N in FIG. 4 ) which correspond to the relax mode 410 are displayed and/or enabled on one side of the screen.

While the smart device 104 A is in the relax mode 410 , data from the associated devices 104 B-N and the associated appliances 106 A-N in FIG. 1 may be selectively processed based on the mode of the smart device 104 A. In one exemplary implementation, the priority level of data from an associated smart device (e.g., the smart device 104 B) or a smart appliance (e.g., the smart appliance 106 C) is identified first. Then, the processing value for the data is set to ‘true’ if the priority level of the data from the associated smart device is equal to or higher than the threshold level of data to be processed by the mode of the smart device 104 A. For example, the threshold level may be set to ‘4’ or to the lowest priority for the smart device 104 A in the relax mode 410 , so that the data from any smart device or appliance may be processed to be displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 A. Accordingly, a message which notifies a receipt of the data from the smart device 104 B as wells as the smart appliance 106 C is displayed on the display unit of the smart device 104 A.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process flow chart of another exemplary method of the smart device in FIG. 1 selectively interacting with one or more associated smart devices, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In keeping with the previous examples, particular components described with respect to FIG. 1 are referenced as performing the process in FIG. 9 . It should be noted that the components that are referred to as performing the process are for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, other components, or a different combination of components within a system, may instead perform the process in FIG. 9 .

In operation 902 , one or more associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N are identified upon activation of the smart device 104 A in the network 102 , where the smart device 104 A and the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or more commands. In operation 904 , a mode of the smart device 104 A is determined upon receiving data from one of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N, where the mode of the smart device 104 A is set through configuring the UX environment 402 of the smart device 104 A.

In operation 906 , a priority level of the data from the one of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N is identified. In operation 908 , it is determined whether the priority level of the data is valid for processing. That is, a processing value of the data is set to ‘true’ or ‘valid’ if the priority level of the data from the one of the associated smart devices 104 B-N and 106 A-N is equal to or higher than the threshold level of data to be processed by the mode of the smart device 104 A. Otherwise, the processing value of the data is set to ‘false’ or ‘invalid.’ If the priority level of the data is valid for processing, in operation 910 , a notification message or an alert message which notifies a receipt of the data is displayed on a display unit of the smart device 104 A. However, if the priority level of the data is not valid for processing, in operation 912 , the display unit of the smart device 104 A won't notify the user of the arrival of the data from the associated smart device.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary view of the smart device 104 A in FIG. 1 interacting with the smart appliance 106 C, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 10 , the smart device 104 A is in a work mode, where the user of the smart device 104 A may not want to be interrupted by extracurricular activities (e.g., notification, alert, etc.) of any associated smart device(s) or appliance(s) connected via the network 102 . For example, the smart device 104 A may be set to be in the work mode when a primary task such as an MS Office® type of application is performed. In such an instance, when the smart appliance, such as the smart appliance 106 C, forwards a certain notification, the smart device 104 A may not display the notification at all or choose to display it inconspicuously, thus refraining from interruption of the ongoing task of the smart device 104 A.

For example, in FIG. 10 , the smart device 104 A is connected to the smart appliance 106 C via a network (e.g., a short range network such as a personal area network), where the smart appliance 106 C is configured to forward its status, such as the completion of washing as indicated in a display unit 1002 of the smart appliance 106 C, to the smart device 104 A and/or other smart devices. The smart device 104 A, upon receiving a notification message of “washing completed” from the smart appliance 106 C, may choose not to noticeably display the notification. In one example implementation, the smart device 104 A is configured to ignore the notification so that the user of the smart device 104 A won't know any notification from the smart appliance 106 C reaching the smart device 104 A. In an alternative example implementation, the smart device 104 A is configured to display an inconspicuous notification 1004 , such as a small icon showing the number of notification in waiting to be viewed appearing on the top right corner of the smart device 104 A, upon receiving the notification from the smart appliance 106 C.

FIG. 11 illustrates another exemplary view of the smart device 104 A in FIG. 1 interacting with the smart appliance 106 C, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 11 , the smart device 104 A is in a relax mode, where the user of the smart device 104 A wants to be notified of every extracurricular activity (e.g., via a notification, alert, etc.) experienced by other smart devices or smart appliances connected with the smart device 104 A through the network 102 . For example, the smart device 104 A may be set to be in the relax mode when a primary task such as an online game or online movie is performed. In such an instance, when the smart appliance, such as the smart appliance 106 C, forwards a certain notification, the smart device 104 A may display the notification in a manner drawing attention of the user of the smart device 104 A.

For example, in FIG. 11 , the smart device 104 A, upon receiving a notification of “washing completed” from the smart appliance 106 C, may choose to display the notification in such a way to alert the user of the smart device 104 A. As in FIG. 11 , the smart device 104 A is configured to display a conspicuous notification 1102 , such as an icon representing the smart appliance 106 C (e.g., the washing machine) and/or text of “washing completed” (not shown) on the top right corner of the smart device 104 A, upon receiving the notification from the smart appliance 106 C.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.