Wristwatch device with time management function for displaying a schedule in the wristwatch device

Abstract

A wristwatch device with a time management function for displaying a schedule in the wristwatch device comprising a data communication device for receiving time management data from an outer device comprising database of time management data. The wristwatch device comprises also a display device having indication means, e.g. segments for indicating periods of time or timely arranged events, like calendar bookings. Further the wristwatch device comprises also a data controlling unit configured to read said received time management data and thereby manipulate said indication means of the display device in order to indicate events of time based on said received time management data.

Claims

1. A wristwatch device with a time management function for displaying a schedule in the wristwatch device, wherein the wristwatch device comprises: a data communication device for receiving time management data from an outer device comprising data storage of time management data; a display device comprising indication means for indicating schedule, periods of time or timely arranged events; and a data controlling unit configured to read said received time management data and thereby manipulate said indication means of the display device in order to indicate the schedule, periods of time or timely arranged events based on said received time management data.

2. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the outer device is one of the following: a mobile terminal, such as mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, computer, wireless router, server or cloud based server, and wherein the calendar is an electronic or online calendar or task list holding computer program, which is configured to be manipulated via a browser, certain program or application.

3. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the data communication device comprises Bluetooth, WIFI, 3G/4G, NFC, infra-red, data modulated visible light or wired data communication device configured to establish a single or bi-directional data communication link between said wristwatch device and the outer device.

4. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a user interface coupled with a pre-programmed function, whereupon the wristwatch device is configured to perform said pre-programmed function when the user interface is manipulated, and wherein said pre-programmed function comprises a pre-programmed message, comprising an Accept or Decline message, or changing the period to be displayed.

5. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprise a touch screen or tapping detecting device to detect tapping of the display or the wristwatch.

6. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a control wheel around the display, whereupon a period of time is configured to be booked via manipulating said control wheel, and wherein the start of the period of time is configured to be selected by said wheel and marked by pressing a button, and the extent of the period and stop of the period is configured to be selected by turning said wheel and marked by pressing said button.

7. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a control wheel around the display, whereupon a starting point of a period to be displayed is configured to be selected by manipulating said control wheel.

8. The wristwatch device of claim 4, wherein the wristwatch is configured to send data related to the selected pre-programmed function or period of time booked.

9. The wristwatch device of claim 7, wherein the wristwatch comprises an angle sensor configured to determine the angle of the wheel turned, whereupon the data controlling unit is configured to determine the selected period of time and indicate it via the display device.

10. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises an electrophoretic ink paper display, monochromatic display, grey-scale display, full colour, a reflective, transflective or transmissive TFT display (Thin-Film-Transistor display), OLED display (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), MEMS display, or a reflective display device comprising microscopic mirrors in each pixel of the display configured to change a size of an air gap inside the pixel and thereby interferometrically modulate white light to reflect back as different colours depending on the size of said air gap.

11. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises an integrated or a separate capacitive touch screen whereupon a period of time for a calendar or task is configured to be booked via manipulating said capacitive touch screen.

12. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a quartz or mechanical movement and an axis for the movement is arranged through the hole in said display device, where the first end of the pin axis is connected to the quartz or mechanical movement and the second free end is provided for hands of the wristwatch device.

13. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the data controlling unit is configured to manipulate said indication means, comprising segments of the display device differently for different levels of booking, comprising working bookings, timely tasks assignment, leisure-time bookings or priority bookings, in order to indicate different booked periods differently.

14. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises an energy source.

15. The wristwatch device of any of previous claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a chargeable battery supercapacitor and induction device configured to be coupled with an induction coil energy charging system, whereupon the wristwatch device is configured to charge said battery via induction.

16. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a re-chargeable battery supercapacitor and energy harvesting device configured to harvest energy from the light, temperature difference or motion, whereupon the wristwatch device is configured to charge said battery via such harvesting device or their combination.

17. The wristwatch device of claims 1, wherein the wristwatch device is configured to display the next 12 hours or 24 hours bookings at a time.

18. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device is configured to display different events with higher priorities in the different colours or different grey-scale level pre-defined by the user.

19. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device is configured to be synchronized with the outer device so that at least one day or one week data is synchronized at a time, and wherein synchronization is configured to happened only if the calendar data at the database for the period in question has changed after previous synchronization.

20. The wristwatch device of claim 1, wherein the wristwatch device comprises a vibration device for providing a tactile feedback, comprising a vibrational alarm on an upcoming event or other booked time.

21. A method for providing a wristwatch device with a time management function for displaying a schedule in the wristwatch device, wherein the method comprises: receiving time management data by a data communication device of the wristwatch device from an outer device comprising data storage of time management data, indicating schedule, periods of time or timely arranged tasks by a display device comprising indication means; and reading said received time management data and thereby manipulating said indication means of the display device by a data controlling unit in order to indicate the schedule, periods of time or timely arranged events of time based on said received time management data.

22. (canceled)

23. The wristwatch device of claim 5, wherein the tapping detecting device comprises an accelerometer or microphone to detect tapping of the display or the wristwatch.

24. A wristwatch device of claim 14, wherein the energy source comprises a primary non-rechargeable battery.

25. A wristwatch device of claim 16, wherein the energy harvesting device comprises a solar cell, thermal element or induction device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a principle of an exemplary wristwatch device and arrangement with a time management function according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wristwatch device with a time management function according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary wristwatch devices with a time management function according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

[0032] FIGS. 4A, 4B illustrate exemplary embodiment of selecting a period to be displayed in the wristwatch device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary embodiment of display segmentation of the wristwatch device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary synchronization of the wristwatch device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a principle of an exemplary wristwatch device 101 and arrangement 100 with a time management function according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, where the wristwatch device 101 comprises a data communication device 102 for receiving 108 time management data from an outer device 103 comprising database or data storage 104 of time management data, advantageously for example schedule or calendar data in electronic form, and suitable program, network browser or application for controlling said data, such as adding or deleting events. The outer device 103, 109 may be for example a mobile terminal, such as mobile phone, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, computer, wireless router, server or cloud based server provided with an Outlook, Google or Yahoo calendars, for example. The data communication link 108 may be a single or bi-directional data communication link 108 and is advantageously established between the wristwatch device and the first near outer device, such as device bring by the user, for example a smart phone 103 running the application. Additionally the smart phone 103 may establish additional data communication link 108 with another outer device, such as network cloud server 109. It is to be noted that the wristwatch device 101 may also establish (optionally) direct data communication link 108 via the router to the server 109, but in an advantageous embodiment the data link is one way from the outer device (from the application) to the wristwatch. By this e.g. energy can be saved, because the wristwatch is not sending data, only receiving, and in addition especially because the receiving is continuous.

[0036] The wristwatch device 101 comprises also a display device 105 having indication means 106, such as segments 106a, 106b, 106c, for indicating periods of time or timely arranged tasks of calendar bookings for example. The wristwatch device 101 comprises also a data controlling unit 107 configured to read the received 108 time management data so events in time and thereby control the indication means, such as segments of the display device in order to indicate said events in time, such as booked periods of time based on said received time management data.

[0037] The wristwatch device comprises advantageously also a user interface, such as a button 110, wheel or rotating bezel 111, touch sensor 112 or other types of sensors, such as acceleration 115, temperature, illumination, speed, altitude, position or the like sensor, where a certain pre-programmed function can be coupled so that when the user interface is manipulated or the measured parameter exceeds or deseeds a predetermined range, said pre-programmed function is performed. The pre-programmed function may be e.g. a message to be launched or sent, or changing the period to be displayed or skipping the alarm or reminder.

[0038] One option of the user interface is a control wheel 111, which can be arranged around the display 105, which can be coupled with an angle sensor for determining the angle of the wheel turned.

[0039] The wristwatch device may also comprise a quartz or mechanical movement and an axis 113 for the movement, and where the first end of the pin axis is advantageously connected to the quartz or mechanical movement and the second free end is provided for hands 114 of the wristwatch device for indicating time, as an example.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary wristwatch devices 101 with a time management function according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, where the devices 101 have different view 101a, 101b, 101c in their displays 105. The data controlling unit of the wristwatch devices can be configured to manipulate and control the indication means, like segments of the display device differently for different levels of booking or other events. For example working bookings, timely tasks assignment, leisure-time bookings or priority bookings can be displayed in different manner, e.g. by different gray scale 106a, 106b, 106c in order to indicate different booked periods or natures of different events differently.

[0041] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary embodiment of selecting a period to be displayed in the wristwatch device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The rotating wheel 111 has advantageously a clear position indicator e.g. with a tactile feedback, such as a snap feedback in every single segment when the when is turned. The wheel may click e.g. into a position every full hour, or the like. By rotating the wheel a period to be displayed can be selected, such as the next 12 hours.

[0042] For example in FIG. 4A the position indicator 401 points to 12 (400A), whereupon the schedule from 12 to 12 is displayed. When the wheel 111 is rotated so that the position indicator 401 points e.g. to 7 (400B), the schedule from 7 to 7 is displayed.

[0043] Another example is illustrated in FIG. 4B, where in 400C the position indicator 401 points to 12 and the scheduled events 106a, 106b, 106c can be seen for the next 12 hours starting from 12. Now when the wheel 111 is rotated (400D) so that the position indicator 401 points e.g. to 3, the scheduled events 106b, 106c for the next 12 hours starting from 3 is displayed. It is to be noted that only the remaining portion of the scheduled event 106b is displayed so the portion starting from the point indicated by the position indicator 401.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary embodiment of display segmentation of the wristwatch device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, where the wristwatch device comprises 4 segments (501) per hour (each 15 minutes), which corresponds the standard calendar periods (502) managed e.g. by the typical outer device 103. Thus the display device 105 comprises totally 48 segments. However, it is to be noted that this is only example and should not be understood as a limiting example.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary synchronization of the wristwatch device 101 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, where the user may manage his/her schedule e.g. by using typical calendar software or application in the mobile outer device 103. According to an example the method (application) of the invention is run background (103A), which constantly or after a certain time period (e.g. once in every 15 minutes) determines for the calendar application of the outer device 103. When it 103A determines any changes in the calendar, it advantageously pushes or otherwise transmits 601 the changes as said time management data to the wristwatch device 101. The wristwatch device 101 receives said data and update the display showing as disclosed elsewhere in this document so e.g. if a change has been detected the events will be added (or deleted) from the watch face (display). In addition advantageously the period starting from the selected point (selected by the indicator 401) is shown.

[0046] It is to be noted that the wristwatch device can automatically change for example the next day as long as the user has schedules in the calendar or other event when it is synced up. For example the website may be one of the most convenient places where users can sync their wristwatch devices with their calendars. If the users have their schedule set up for a week for example, they won't have to re-sync the wristwatch device for a week. Again it is to be noted that the whole day can be seen according to the invention as a graphical schedule pi-chart thereby providing own personal schedule as a custom face everyday design.

[0047] The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims.