Informative vibrate mode

• US 20060003812A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan, Moody, Taryn
• Application Number:
  US10/881,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for vibrating a telecommunications terminal that receives a call or message in accordance with a sequence of pulses that is based on one or more attributes of the associated incoming call or message. In particular, the illustrative embodiment varies at least one of: the number of pulses in the sequence, the durations of pulses, the intensity of pulses, and the tempo with which the sequence occurs. Attributes of the incoming call or message include who the caller is, a message priority, a message subject, and the location from which the call was placed. The present invention thus enables a telecommunications terminal in vibrate mode to impart information about the nature of an incoming call or message to the terminal'"'"'s user without the user having to view the terminal'"'"'s display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a call at a telecommunications terminal; and

(b) vibrating said telecommunications terminal in accordance with a sequence of pulses that is based on an attribute of said call to notify the user of said telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the intensity of said vibrating is based on an attribute of said call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tempo of said sequence of pulses is based on an attribute of said call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said pulses has a respective duration.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said sequence of pulses is in accordance with Morse Code.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said call is the caller.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said call is a user category associated with the caller.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said call is a priority.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said call is a subject.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said call is the location from which said call was placed.

11. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a message at a telecommunications terminal; and

(b) vibrating said telecommunications termina, in accordance with a sequence of pulses that is based on an attribute of said message, to notify the user of said telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message;

wherein said sequence of pulses is independent of the contents of said message.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the intensity of said vibrating is based on an attribute of said message.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the speed of said sequence of pulses is based on an attribute of said message.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said pulses has a respective duration.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of said sequence of pulses is in accordance with Morse Code.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said attribute of said message is the sender of said message.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said attribute of said message is a user category associated with the sender of said message.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said attribute of said message is a priority.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said attribute of said message is a subject.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said attribute of said message is the location from which said message was sent.