Local and remote email alert apparatus and methods

• US 20020032020A1
• Filed: 05/12/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bonnie L. Brown, Craig L. Linden
• Original Assignee: Bonnie L. Brown, Craig L. Linden
• Inventors: Brown, Bonnie L., Linden, Craig L.
• Application Number:
  US09/854,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

New or improved apparatus, systems, services and business methods relating to alerting persons of information, events, etc., for instance such as incoming email, messages, reminders, etc. For example, when a local computer (1) or other connected device receives an email or other information from source (4) related information is transmitted via (5) to one or more display capable devices (2) thereby, for instance, alerting and/or providing such information to, for instance, a remotely located person. These devices, methods, systems and/or services can optionally be programmed or be instructed to prioritize the level, frequency and/or type of sound, light, color and/or tactile stimulation, for instance, according to the level of email importance, etc. One or a plural of methods, services and/or devices may optionally be used concurrently to maximize the success of timely notification, etc. The disclosed devices, methods and/or services may be applied and/or integrated into various devices and communication systems, such as home/office computers, mobile computers, PDAs, phones, pagers, MP3s, SmartPhones, Web enabled TVs, iTVs, eTVs, iRadios, combination devices and other devices, etc.

Claims

1. Email alert devices comprised of:

(a) an energy source means, local or remote;

(b) communication means to a local or remote message source;

(c) one or more sensible means to alert a person that a message has arrived,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new email arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, an appropriate signal is transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) as generally represented by FIG. 1.

2. Email alert devices as recited in claim 1, further comprised of sensible means to provide one additional piece of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new email arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provide one additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by fig 1.

3. Email alert devices as recited in claim 1, further comprised of sensible means to provide two additional pieces of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new email arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides two additional pieces of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

4. Email alert devices as recited in claim 1, further comprised of sensible means to provide three or more additional pieces of information associated with the message, whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new email arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides three or more additional pieces of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

5. Email alert devices as recited in claim 1, further comprised of one or more means to display messages and any attachments or a portion of the messages,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new email arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also displays (visually, print, and/or by voice, etc.) the message, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

19. Alert devices, or functional portions necessary thereof, as recited in claims 1 through 18, for integration into common devices, such as mobile phones, wired phones, wireless phones, PDAs, various mobile devices, MP3s, laptops, radios, TVs, Web TVs, computers, etc.,

whereby for example only, such integrated devices may better alert persons to messages and/or better display such messages.

20. Business method means and service means to provide services and establish Internet and other related businesses related to the devices and related message services claimed in claims 1 through 19.

6. Message alert devices comprised of:

(a) an energy source means, local or remote;

(b) communication means to a local or remote message source;

(c) one or more sensible means to alert a person that a message has arrived,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new message arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, an appropriate signal is transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) as generally represented by FIG. 1.

7. Message alert devices as recited in claim 6, further comprised of sensible means to provide one additional piece of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new message arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provide one additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

8. Message alert devices as recited in claim 6, further comprised of sensible means to provide two additional pieces of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new message arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides two additional pieces of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

9. Message alert devices as recited in claim 6, further comprised of sensible means to provide three or more additional pieces of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new message arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides three or more additional pieces of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

10. Message alert devices as recited in claim 6, further comprised of one or more means to display messages and any attachments or a portion of the messages,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may be placed in various locations, and when a new message arrives to a connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also displays (visually, print, and/or by voice, etc.) the message, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 1.

11. Non PC-based mobile devices for alerting users of PC-based messages comprised of:

(a) an energy source means;

(b) a wireless communication means to a local or remote server or other source;

(c) one or more sensible means to alert a person that a message has arrived;

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a new PC-based message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) as generally represented by FIG. 2.

12. Non PC-based mobile alert devices as recited in claim 11, further comprised of sensible means to provide one additional piece of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a new PC-based message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides an additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

13. Non PC-based mobile alert devices as recited in claim 11, further comprised of sensible means to provide two or more additional pieces of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a new PC-based message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides two or more additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

14. Non PC-based mobile alert devices as recited in claim 11, further comprised of sensible means to display the message and any attachments or a portion of the messages,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a new PC-based message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also displays (visually, print, and/or by voice, etc.) the message, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

16. Mobile alert devices as recited in claim 15, further comprised of sensible means to provide one additional piece of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides an additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

17. Mobile alert devices as recited in claim 15, further comprised of sensible means to provide two or more additional pieces of information associated with the message,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also provides two or more additional piece of information, such as the sender'"'"'s identification, type of message, priority, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

18. Mobile alert devices as recited in claim 15, further comprised of sensible means to display the message and any attachments or a portion of the messages,

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) and also displays (visually, print, and/or by voice, etc.) the message, etc. as generally represented by FIG. 2.

15. Mobile devices for alerting users of arriving messages comprised of:

(a) an energy source means;

(b) a wireless communication means to a local or remote server or other source;

(c) one or more sensible means to alert a person that a message has arrived;

whereby for example only, one or a plural of such devices may carried or worn or be placed in various locations, and when a message arrives to a remote server, connected computer or other message receiving apparatus, appropriate signals are transmitted to the alert device(s), which then outputs one or more sensible alert(s) as generally represented by FIG. 2.