Method and apparatus to indicate communication is wanted or waiting

• US 20070178851A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification

Abstract

An integrated communication system comprises a first communication device connected to a second communication device using a data link. When the first communication device is out of network, a dispatch center can indicate to the use a communication is waiting or wanted by sending a communication request signal to the second communication device. The second communication device transmits the communication request signal to the first communication device over the data link alerting the user of the first communication device to the requested communication.

Claims

1. A system to provide an indication to a user of a first wireless communication device that a communication is waiting or wanted, the system comprising:

a first wireless communication device comprising a display indicator;

a second wireless communication device;

a dispatch center;

a data link connecting the first communication device and the second communication device;

a first wireless communication network connecting the first wireless communication device to the dispatch center; and

a second wireless communication network connecting the second wireless communication device to the dispatch center, wherein when the first wireless communication device is outside of the first wireless communication network, the dispatcher can alert the user of the first wireless communication device that the communication is waiting or wanted by causing the second wireless communication device to send a signal to the first wireless communication device causing the display indicator to indicate said alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device is a digital wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second wireless communication device is a combination digital and analog wireless communication device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication device comprises at least a satellite communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network are identical.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication network encompasses the first wireless communication network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device is coupled to the second wireless communication device by a data link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data link is a wired link.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display indicator is selected from the group of indicators consisting of:

a light, a vibration, a text display, or a ring tone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device and the wireless second communication device are mounted in a vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group of vehicles consisting of:

a car, a truck, a train, a plane, or a boat.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication unit is portable.

13. A method for alerting a user of a first wireless communication device that a dispatcher wishes to communication with the user, comprising:

sending a communication request to a second wireless communication device;

receiving the communication request at the second wireless communication device;

generating a display signal at the second wireless communication device based on the communication request;

transmitting the display signal to a first wireless communication device over a data link between the second wireless communication device and the first wireless communication device;

receiving the display signal at the first wireless communication device; and

causing a display indicator on the first wireless communication device to indicate said alert based on the display signal, wherein the user is alerted that the dispatcher wishes to communicate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of causing the display indicator to indicate causes the display indicator to at least one of illuminate, vibrate, ring, or display a text message.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first communication device is portable.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

supplying a communication request confirmation signal to the dispatcher to confirm the communication request signal was received by the second wireless communication device.

17. A wireless communication apparatus to alert a user when out of network that a communication is desired, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a first wireless communication device;

a second wireless communication device;

a second wireless communication device network to transmit data signals between a dispatch center and the second wireless communication device; and

a data link coupling the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device can send a communication request signal to the first wireless communication device over the data link.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a first wireless communication device network connectable to the first wireless communication device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the data link is wired.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the data link is wireless.