System and method for controlling a wireless device notification alert

• US 20030003965A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gough, Corey D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,823,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

Wireless device audible alert control signal generating systems and methods are presented. The control signal may be used to either enable or disable the audible alert of a wireless device. The signal may be generated as a function of the motion of an object entering or exiting a quiet zone. An embodiment for a system in accordance with the invention includes a transmitter to transmit a control signal to either disable or enable an audible alert of a wireless device. An antenna may be operatively coupled to the transmitter. A motion sensor to detect objects passing through a field of detection may be used to trigger the emission of the control signal. A controller operatively coupled to both the motion sensor and transmitter may command the transmitter to transmit the control signal as a function of a direction of motion detected by the motion sensor. An embodiment for a method in accordance with the invention includes detecting an object in an object detection area. A direction of motion of the object with respect to a reference point may be determined. A wireless device audible alert control signal may then be generated as a function of the direction of motion of the object.

Claims

1. A wireless device audible alert control signal generating system, comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a control signal indicative of a command to one of disable and enable an audible alert of a wireless device;

an antenna, operatively coupled to the transmitter;

a motion sensor; and

a controller operatively coupled to the motion sensor and transmitter, the controller commanding the transmitter to transmit the control signal as a function of a direction of motion detected by the motion sensor.

2. The control signal generating system of claim 1, wherein the control signal does not interfere with reception of other signals intended to be received by the wireless device.

3. The control signal generating system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is one of infrared, radio frequency, sonoacoustic, and pressure sensitive.

4. The control signal generating system of claim 1, further comprising a frame having an opening through which the object must pass in order to one of gain entry to and exit from a quiet zone.

5. The control signal generating system of claim 4, wherein the motion sensor detects the direction of motion of an object substantially within the frame.

6. The control signal generating system of claim 5, wherein the controller commands the transmitter to transmit a control signal to:

disable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object indicates entry to the quiet zone, and

enable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object indicates exit from the quiet zone.

7. A wireless device audible alert control signal generating system comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a control signal indicative of a command to one of disable and enable an audible alert of a wireless device;

a switch matrix operatively coupled to the transmitter to distribute the control signal;

a plurality of antennas operatively coupled to the switch matrix to radiate the control signal to respective spatial areas;

a sensor to determine a direction of motion of an object substantially within a first spatial area; and

a controller operatively coupled to the transmitter, the switch matrix, and the sensor, the controller;

commanding the switch matrix to operatively couple a first antenna illuminating the first spatial area to the transmitter if the sensor detects a direction of motion of the object in the first spatial area, and

commanding the transmitter to emit a control signal as a function of the determined direction of motion of the object.

8. The control signal generating system of claim 7, wherein the control signal does interfere with reception of other signals intended to be received by the wireless device.

9. The control signal generating system of claim 7, wherein the switch matrix is a multiplexer.

10. The wireless device sound control system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is one of infrared, radio frequency, sonoacoustic, and pressure sensitive.

11. The control signal generating system of claim 7, further comprising a frame having an opening through which the object must pass in order to one of gain entry to and exit from a quiet zone.

12. The control signal generating system of claim 11, the frame substantially transects the first spatial area.

13. The control signal generating system of claim 11, wherein the sensor detects the direction of motion of the object substantially within the frame.

14. The control signal generating system of claim 7, wherein the control signal control which is a function of the determined direction of motion of the object is a control signal to:

disable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object is in a first direction, and

enable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object is in a second direction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the object detection area lies both proximally to and distally from an opening defined by a frame separating a quiet zone and an area where audible alerts of wireless devices are permitted.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the direction of motion is one of entering a quiet zone and exiting a quiet zone.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated wireless device audible alert signal is one of an enable signal if the direction of motion indicates the object will exit a quiet zone, and one of a disable signal if the direction of motion indicates the object will enter a quiet zone.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting an antenna from a plurality of antennas, the antenna directing the wireless device audible alert control signal to the object detection area; and

emitting the wireless device audible alert control signal as a function of the detected direction of motion from the selected antenna.

15. A method of generating a wireless device audible alert control signal, comprising:

detecting an object in an object detection area;

determining a direction of motion of an object with respect to a reference point; and

generating a wireless device audible alert control signal as a function of the direction of motion of the object.

20. A method of controlling an audible alert of a wireless device, comprising:

detecting an object substantially within a frame, the frame having an opening through which an object will one of enter and exit;

determining a direction of motion of the object with respect to the frame;

generating a signal to one of;

disable the audible alert of the wireless device if the determined direction of motion of the object is in the first direction, and

enable the audible alert of the wireless device if the determined direction of motion of the object is in the second direction; and

transmitting the signal substantially within the frame.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the frame separates a quiet zone from an area where audible alerts of wireless devices are permitted.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the signal does not interfere with reception of other signals intended to be received by the wireless device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the signal does not interfere with reception of other signals intended to be received by the wireless device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the motion sensor is one of infrared, radio frequency, sonoacoustic, and pressure sensitive.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the signal transmitted as a function of the detected direction of motion of the object is a signal to one of:

disable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object is into the room, and

enable the audible alert of the wireless device if the direction of motion of the object is out of the room.

23. A system to control audible alerts of wireless devices within a bounded area, comprising:

a room having a plurality of walls and at least one portal penetrating one of said plurality of walls;

an antenna illuminating the at least one portal to emit a signal to control audible alerts of the wireless device;

a transmitter coupled to the antenna;

a motion sensor to detect motion of an object passing through the portal; and

a controller operatively coupled to the motion sensor and transmitter, the controller commanding the transmitter to transmit the signal as a function of the detected direction of motion of the object.

27. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions, the plurality of instructions comprising instruction to:

detect an object in an object detection area;

determine a direction of motion of an object with respect to a reference point; and

generate a wireless device audible alert control signal as a function of the direction of motion of the object.

28. The machine-readable medium 27, further comprising instruction to:

select an antenna from a plurality of antennas, the antenna directing the wireless device audible alert control signal to the object detection area; and

emit the wireless device audible alert control signal as a function of the detected direction of motion from the selected antenna.