User dynamically definable centralized notification between portable devices

• US 20030191807A1
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing user dynamically definable centralized notification between portable devices. A system for providing centralized notification of receipt of data over networks may include a plurality of electronic devices suitable for communicating data directly between the plurality of portable devices utilizing a first network connection. At least one of the plurality of electronic devices is suitable for communicating over additional network connections for receiving data. In which, a device of the plurality of devices is specified to receive notifications over the first network connection of data received by the at least one of the plurality of portable electronic devices, so that notifications indicating data received by the plurality of portable electronic devices are sent to the specified portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for centralized notification of receipt of data over networks, comprising:

a first electronic device suitable for communicating over a first network and a second network; and

notification control means in said first electronic device for determining whether a centralized notification device has been selected, and, if so, sending a notification over said first network.

2. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is portable.

3. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the first network is a wireless local area network and includes at least one of Bluetooth, infrared (IR) and IEEE 802.11 protocols.

4. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the notification is suitable for representing which device of a plurality of devices originated the notification.

5. The system as described in claim 1, wherein notification includes utilizing at least one of tactile, audible and visual output.

6. The system as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of devices are provided, each of the plurality of devices suitable of communicating over the first network, wherein at least one device of the plurality of devices is incapable of communicating over the second network.

7. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the devices include at least one of a wireless phone, personal digital assistant and portable information handling system.

8. A method of centralized user notification from a plurality of electronic devices connectable by a first network, comprising the steps of:

specifying one of the plurality of devices as a notification device to receive notifications from other of said devices;

receiving data by a first device over a second network;

determining whether a notification device has been specified; and

if so, transmitting a notification of receipt of data by the first device to the notification device over the first network.

9. The method as described in claim 8, further comprising changing to a new specified device for receiving notifications from the previously specified device.

12. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the first network is a wireless local area network and includes at least one of Bluetooth, infrared (IR) and IEEE 802.11 protocols.

13. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the notification is suitable for representing which device of a plurality of devices originated the notification.

14. The method as described in claim 8, wherein notification includes utilizing at least one of tactile, audible and visual output.

15. The method as described in claim 8, wherein at least one device of the plurality of devices is capable of communicating over a third network and is incapable of communicating over the second network.

16. The method as described in claim 8, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is specified to receive notifications.

17. A system for providing centralized notification of receipt of data over networks, comprising:

a plurality of electronic devices suitable for communicating data directly between the plurality of portable devices utilizing a first network connection, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic devices is suitable for communicating over additional network connections for receiving data;

wherein a device of the plurality of devices is specified to receive notifications over the first network connection of data received by the at least one of the plurality of portable electronic devices, so that notifications indicating data received by the plurality of portable electronic devices are sent to the specified portable electronic device.

10. The method as described in claim 18 wherein the first electronic device is portable.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein the portable device includes at least one of a wireless phone, personal digital assistant and portable information handling system.

18. The system as described in claim 17, further comprising changing the specification of the portable device to a new portable device of the plurality of devices.

19. The system as described in claim 17, wherein the first network connection is a local network connection.

20. The system as described in claim 19, wherein the local network connection is wireless and includes at least one of Bluetooth, infrared (IR) and IEEE 802.11.

21. The system as described in claim 17, wherein the notification is suitable for representing which device of the plurality of devices originated the notification.

22. The system as described in claim 17, wherein notification includes utilizing at least one of tactile, audible and visual, the notification suitable for indicating portable device origination of the notification.

23. The system as described in claim 17, wherein the additional network connections are not compatible with the first network connection.

24. The system as described in claim 17, wherein the portable devices include at least one of a wireless phone, personal digital assistant and portable information handling system.

25. The system as described in claim 17, wherein each device of the plurality of devices is specified to receive notifications.