Apple patents system that moves notifications to head-mounted devices
This filing describes a method for an electronic device to detect if its screen is being watched by multiple people using built-in sensors. If multiple viewers are detected, the device sends a signal to a separate head-mounted device to display the notification privately instead.
In the filing’s own words
A head-mounted device may be used with an external electronic device. One or more sensors on the head-mounted device may obtain sensor data that is used to determine whether the external electronic device is actively being viewed. When the external electronic device is actively being viewed, a notification may be presented on a display of the external electronic device. When the external electronic device is not actively being viewed, a notification may be presented on a display of the head-mounted device. An electronic device may determine whether a display in the electronic device is being viewed by one or more viewers. When the display is being viewed by more than one viewer, the electronic device may send an instruction to a head-mounted device to cause the head-mounted device to present a notification.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device comprising: one or more sensors; one or more displays; communication circuitry configured to communicate with an external electronic device; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the instructions for: obtaining, using the one or more sensors, sensor data; using at least the sensor data, determining whether the one or more displays is being viewed by multiple viewers; and in accordance with receiving a notification that is to be presented and determining that the one or more displays is being viewed by multiple viewers: sending, using the communication circuitry, an instruction to the external electronic device to cause the external electronic device to present the notification.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Presenting Notifications in a System with Electronic Devices
- Publication number
- US20260329376A1
- Application number
- 19720484
- Filed
- Jun 25, 2026
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 24
Classified under
G06F 3/013 Physics & computingG06F 3/012 Physics & computingG06F 3/1423 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Wearables
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.