Advisory alert of low signal strength for cell phone user

• US 20060068731A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seier, Albert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/226.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72516 with means for out-of-range alerting

Abstract

The invention provides an advisory alert indicating conditions are such that an ongoing telephone call involving a cellular telephone may be dropped due to insufficient signal strength. A decrease in signal strength over time that exceeds a specified percentage decrease provides the primary basis for triggering the advisory alert. This advisory alert warns one or more participants of the call of the possibility of the call ending due to low signal strength. The advisory alert provides for conclusion of the call before the call is lost, and/or lowers the frustration level associated with a call lost for an unknown reason. In operation, signal strength is assessed during a series of time intervals. Signal strength of consecutive time intervals is compared. If the percentage drop in signal strength exceeds a specified percentage, an advisory alert is effectuated. The criteria that trigger an advisory alert may be non-programmable, or is modifiable in programmable embodiments.

Claims

1. In a cellular telephone having a keypad, a method of alerting a user to possible loss of a call due to low signal strength comprising:

a. measuring incoming signal strength;

b. calculating changes in incoming signal strength;

c. comparing changes in incoming signal strength; and

d. providing an advisory alert to said user that indicates the possible loss of a call due to low signal strength when, during a designated time interval, the incoming signal strength decreased by a designated percentage.

2. The method of claim 1 and including the step of selecting the designated percentage.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of selecting the designated percentage comprises pressing by strokes a sequence of keys on the keypad.

4. The method of claim 1 and including the steps of selecting the designated percentage related to a first range of initial signal strength, and selecting an additional designated percentage related to a second range of initial signal strength, said initial signal strength comprising a starting value of the designated time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, additionally providing at least one continuous function by which a decrease in the designated percentage to trigger providing an advisory alert is related to initial signal strength of designated time interval.

6. The method of claim 5 and including the step of selecting one of the at least one continuous function.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of selecting the one of the at least one continuous function comprises pressing by strokes a sequence of keys on the keypad.

8. The method of claim 1 and including the step of selecting a designated time interval.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of selecting the designated time interval comprises pressing by strokes a sequence of keys on the keypad.

10. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising selecting recipients of said advisory alert from the group consisting of the user, a party participating in the call with the user, and both the user and the party.

11. The method of claim 1 and including the step of selecting a type of advisory alert output selected from the group consisting of a sound signal, a vibrational signal, and a light signal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing comprises sending an electronic signal to generate an audible sound at a speaker other than an earpiece speaker of the cellular telephone.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing comprises sending an electronic signal to generate an audible sound at an earpiece speaker of the cellular telephone.

14. A system for providing an advisory alert that a telephone call involving a cellular telephone may be dropped due to low signal strength, comprising:

a. a measurement component adapted to measure signal strength for each of a specified series of time intervals;

b. a calculation component adapted to calculate a percentage change in signal strength between two or more of said time intervals; and

c. a comparison component adapted to compare said percentage change to a percentage change criterion, operatively linked to an advisory alert generator to provide an advisory alert when said percentage change exceeds said percentage change criterion.

15. The system of claim 14 additionally comprising a data storage component.

16. A system for providing an advisory alert that a telephone call involving a cellular telephone may be dropped due to low signal strength, comprising:

a. a means for measuring signal strength for each of a specified series of time intervals;

b. a means for calculating a percentage change in signal strength between two or more of said time intervals; and

c. a means for comparing said percentage change to a percentage change criterion, operatively linked to an advisory alert generator to provide an advisory alert when said percentage change exceeds said percentage change criterion.

17. The system of claim 16 additionally comprising data storage.

18. A cellular telephone comprising an advisory alert system for potential lost calls due to low signal strength, comprising

a. a receiver comprising an earpiece, an earpiece speech processor, an earpiece demodulator, a filter, and a duplexer and an antenna shared with a transmitter;

b. said transmitter comprising a mouthpiece, a mouthpiece speech processor, a mouthpiece modulator, an amplifier, and said duplexer and said antenna;

c. a user control interface comprising a display and a keypad comprising a number of separate keys;

d. a battery; and

e. a central processing unit comprising means for measuring signal strength for each of a specified series of time intervals, means for calculating a percentage change in signal strength between two or more of said time intervals, and means for comparing said percentage change to a percentage change criterion, operatively linked to an advisory alert generator to provide an advisory alert when said percentage change exceeds said percentage change criterion.

19. The telephone of claim 18 additionally comprising a data storage component.