Message notification device

• US 20070026798A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hoogstra, Corrie
• Application Number:
  US11/192,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A device and method for notifying a user of a mobile communication device that a communication has been received from a wireless macro network are provided. The message notification device communicates with the mobile communication device through a short-range wireless communication link, and can be worn on the body of the user as, for example, a bracelet worn around the wrist, or a pendant worn around the neck. The message notification device contains a mechanism, such as vibration device, to alert the user of an incoming communication, and may contain a display on which information associated with the incoming communication can be shown.

Claims

1. A message notification device for a wireless communication device, comprising:

a transceiver which is coupleable to the wireless communication device by a short-range wireless communication link;

a processor, coupled to the transceiver, that receives a message from the short-range wireless communications link; and

an output device, coupled to the processor, which indicates that the wireless communication device is receiving an incoming communication from a wireless macro network.

2. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the output device is a vibration device.

3. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the output device is a display device that displays at least a portion of the message.

4. The message notification device of claim 3, wherein the display device comprises an LCD display, an LED display or an OLED display.

5. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the received message indicates that the incoming communication is a voice call.

6. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the received message indicates that the incoming communication is a short message service (SMS) message.

7. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the received message includes text of a short message service (SMS) message that was contained in the incoming communication.

8. The message notification device of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure that contains the transceiver, the processor, and the output device;

wherein the enclosure is configured to be secured to a user.

9. The message notification device of claim 8, further comprising a strap, coupled to the enclosure, that fastens the enclosure to a user'"'"'s wrist.

10. The message notification device of claim 8, wherein the enclosure has one or more water resistant seals.

11. The message notification device of claim 8, further comprising a necklace, coupled to the enclosure, that is worn around the user'"'"'s neck.

12. The message notification device of claim 11, wherein the enclosure has a one or more water resistant seals.

13. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication link is a radio frequency short-range communication link.

14. The message notification device of claim 13, wherein the short-range radio frequency communication link comprises an 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or a Bluetooth communication link.

15. The message notification device of claim 1, further comprising an audio alert device coupled to the processor.

16. The message notification device of claim 1, wherein the output device indicates when the message notification device cannot communicate with the wireless communication device.

17. A method for notifying a user of the reception of a message, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a message from a wireless communication device over a short-range wireless communication link; and

outputting an alert when the message is received,

wherein the message indicates that the wireless communication device is receiving an incoming communication from a wireless macro network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the short-range wireless communication link is a radio frequency communication link.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the short-range communication link comprises an 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or a Bluetooth communication link.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising an audio alert device coupled to the processor.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the output device indicates when the message notification device cannot communicate with the wireless communication device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the alert activates a vibrating device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the alert is output to a display.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the display device comprises an LCD display, an LED display or an OLED display.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the received message indicates that the incoming communication is a voice call.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the received message indicates that the incoming communication is a short message service (SMS) message.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the received message includes text of a short message service (SMS) message that was contained in the incoming communication.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the alert activates an audio alert device.