System for announcing electronic messages

• US 20060067487A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yip W. Ho
• Original Assignee: Yip W. Ho
• Inventors: Ho, Yip W.
• Application Number:
  US11/237,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20060067487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/82 Line monitoring circuits for call progress or status discrimination for detecting caller identity H04M1/573

Abstract

A system for visually and/or audibly announcing electronic messages, such as email messages, text messages and instant messages is described.

Claims

1. A system for announcing receipt of electronic messages, the system comprising:

a communication device for receiving the electronic messages;

an animated device; and

circuitry coupled to the communication device and the animated device for causing the animated device to announce receipt of the electronic message.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the animated device moves to visually announce receipt of the electronic message.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the animated device creates an audible sound to audibly announce receipt of the electronic message.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the announcement is specific to certain senders of the electronic message.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a personal computer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic messages comprise e-mail messages.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic messages comprise text messages.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is substantially disposed in the animated device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a microprocessor.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is coupled to the communication device by a USB connection.

13. A system for announcing receipt of electronic messages, the system comprising:

a personal computer for receiving the electronic messages;

an animated device having apparatus for causing animated motion of the animated device; and

microprocessor based circuitry for activating the animated device upon receipt of a message.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor based circuitry is substantially disposed in the animated device.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor based circuitry is substantially disposed in the personal computer.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the animated device moves to visually announce receipt of the electronic messages.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the animated device creates an audible sound to audibly announce receipt of the electronic messages.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the announcement is specific to certain senders of the electronic message.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the electronic messages comprise e-mail messages.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the electronic messages comprise text messages.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.