DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF AUGMENTING CELLULAR TELEPHONE AUDIO SIGNALS

• US 20080020805A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A device, system and method is described for augmenting cellular telephone signals for a cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, an audio signal device cellular is provided with a sound generating device that stores one or more audio signals that are activated upon receipt of a telephone call. Optionally, the audio signal device may store a library of audio signals that may be programmable and edited. The device, system and method of the present invention enables a user to choose audio alert sounds beyond the scope of those provided by the manufacturer of a cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A device that plays sounds and is used with a cellular telephone, the device comprising:

a substantially rectangular planar shell having electric terminals on one side that are electrically connectable to electric terminals on a cellular telephone; and

a sound generating device, located inside the shell and electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the planar shell, comprising memory for storing a sound file, wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone.