Remote phone manager

• US 10,354,518 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prunolo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Prunolo Incorporated
• Inventors: Brunolli, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seyedvosoghi, Farid
• Application Number:
  US15/482,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20170213452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

According to certain aspects, the invention allows a person to manage some of the functions of a cell phone without having to actually have the phone in her hands. For example, the invention allows the user to know of the incoming call and further allows the user to send a user-specified message to the caller and/or otherwise manage how the call should be handled through a remote device. In certain embodiments, the invention is comprised of: a decorative watch-like or bracelet-like case; a decorative wrist band; a vibrating incoming call indicator; a partial or full face display; touch screen input capability, accelerometer for wrist flick input capability, and/or side buttons for user inputs; a Bluetooth antenna; a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver; a rechargeable battery; a connector or wireless charging element; a display/general purpose control unit with firmware; and standard Bluetooth link and application software on an associated cellular phone.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a device package that is separate and remote from an associated cellular phone, and is configured to be worn on a wrist;

a controller provided within the device package for interacting with the associated cellular phone to allow a user to manage an event on the associated cellular phone, the event comprising one of an incoming call and an incoming text message to the cellular phone;

a touchscreen provided within the device package, wherein the controller is adapted to cause an icon to be displayed on the touchscreen, the icon representing an action for managing the event; and

an accelerometer provided within the device package, wherein the controller is further adapted to process a predetermined wrist movement signature detected by the accelerometer as user input associated with the action, and

wherein the controller is further adapted to identify the predetermined wrist movement signature by discriminating between at least a predetermined wrist flick signature and a predetermined wrist shake signature.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to cause the action to be taken in response to the icon displayed on the touchscreen being tapped.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to display another icon on the touchscreen representing another action to be taken in response to the icon displayed on the touchscreen being swiped.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein when the event is an incoming call, the action and the another action are different ways to handle the incoming call.

5. The device of claim 4, the action is to play a pre-recorded message to a caller of the incoming call and the another action is to automatically send the incoming call to voicemail.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein when the event is an incoming call, the action and the another action are different pre-recorded messages to play back to a caller of the incoming call.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to display another icon on the touchscreen representing another action to be taken in response to the predetermined wrist movement signature detected by the accelerometer.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein when the event is an incoming call, the action and the another action are different ways to handle the incoming call.

9. The device of claim 8, the action is to play a pre-recorded message to a caller of the incoming call and the another action is to automatically send the incoming call to voicemail.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein when the event is an incoming call, the action and the another action are different pre-recorded messages to play back to a caller of the incoming call.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to use input from the accelerometer to cause a display on the touchscreen to have a parallax appearance.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to wake up a display or exit a sleep state in response to the detection of the predetermined wrist movement signature.

13. A device comprising:

a device package that is separate and remote from an associated cellular phone, and is configured to be worn on a wrist;

a controller provided within the device package for interacting with the associated cellular phone to allow a user to manage one of an incoming call and an incoming text message to the cellular phone via a touchscreen;

a vibrating element provided within the device package, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the vibrating element to vibrate to warn the user about an operational status of one or both of the cellular phone and the device package; and

an accelerometer provided within the device package, wherein the controller is further adapted to display an icon on the touchscreen representing an action to be taken for performing the management of the one of the incoming call and the incoming text message in response to a predetermined wrist movement signature detected by the accelerometer, and

wherein the controller is further adapted to identify the predetermined wrist movement signature by discriminating between at least a predetermined wrist flick signature and a predetermined wrist shake signature.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the operational status is a strength of a wireless signal between the cellular phone and the device package falling below a threshold.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is a Bluetooth signal.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the operational status is a distance between the cellular phone and the device package exceeding a threshold.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the operational status is low battery in the cellular phone.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the operational status is low battery in the device package.