CELL PHONE BASED ANIMAL SOUND IMITATION

• US 20080171574A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fauna Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Sceery, Richard Krukar
• Inventors: Sceery, Edward J., Krukar, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/004 Game callers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

A cell phone based sound producing device is a sound producing device that takes advantage of the likelihood that a user is already carrying a cell phone and does not need to also carry an electronic sound producing device. Another advantage is that cell phones are designed to communicate across a communications network. As such, the cell phone based sound producing device can download call sounds from a server, store them, and play them. Electronic payment systems for ring tones and games that are played on a cell phone already exist. These electronic payment systems can be easily adapted for payment of sound producing device modules and sound producing device sounds. Recovery information can be used to restore modules and sounds that are lost due to cell phone breakage or upgrades.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cell phone comprising a keypad, a display, a cellular radio, and an internal speaker;

a non-volatile memory storing at least one stored call sound;

a user interface comprising the display and the keypad wherein a presentation is displayed on the display, wherein the presentation offers at least one available call sound comprising the at least one stored call sound, and wherein a user uses the user interface to select a selected call sound;

a call sound retrieval module that obtains at least one served call sound wherein a server serves the at least one served call sound and wherein the call sound retrieval module produces at least one of the at least one stored call sounds;

an animal and bird simulating module that accesses the at least one stored call sound and plays the at least one stored call sound on at least one speaker wherein the internal speaker is one of the at least one speaker; and

wherein the cell phone contains at least two modules comprising the call retrieval module and the animal and bird simulating module.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an external speaker that is one of the at least one speaker and wherein the animal and bird simulating module plays the at least one stored call sound on the external speaker.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cell phone control module that can disable the cellular radio such that power is conserved.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected call is one of the at least one served call sound, wherein the selected call sound is not one of the at least one stored call sound, and wherein the call sound retrieval module automatically obtains the selected call sound from the server.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising recovery information corresponding to the at least one stored call sound.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a payment module, a payment processing module, and a fulfillment module wherein the user uses the payment module to tender a payment, and wherein the fulfillment module allows the user to access a served call sound if the user has paid for the access.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a remote actuator wherein the remote actuator sends a remote actuation signal to the cell phone and wherein the cell phone reacts to the actuation signal by playing the selected call sound.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a timing module that produces a timed actuation signal wherein the cell phone reacts to the timed actuation signal by playing the selected call sound.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a timing module that produces a timed actuation signal wherein the cell phone responds to the timed actuation signal by playing the selected call sound;

a remote actuator wherein the remote actuator produces a remote actuation signal wherein the cell phone reacts to the actuation signal by playing the selected call sound.

an external speaker that is one of the at least one speaker and wherein the animal and bird simulating module plays the at least one stored call sound on the external speaker;

a cell phone control module that can disable the cellular radio such that power is conserved;

a payment module, a payment processing module, and a fulfillment module wherein the user uses the payment module to tender a payment, and wherein the fulfillment module allows the user to access a served call sound if the user has paid for the access;

recovery information corresponding to the at least one stored call; and

wherein the selected call sound is one of the at least one served call sound, wherein the selected call sound is not one of the at least one stored call sound, and wherein the call sound retrieval module automatically obtains the selected call sound from the server.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pitch shifting module.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a tempo shifting module.

12. A system comprising:

an electronic sound producing device comprising a keypad, a display;

a communications module that the electronic device uses to communicate with a server that serves at least one served call sound;

a non-volatile memory storing at least one stored call sound;

a user interface comprising a presentation and the keypad wherein the presentation is displayed on the display, wherein the presentation offers at least one available call sound comprising the at least one stored call sound, and wherein a user uses the user interface to select a selected call sound;

a call sound retrieval module that obtains at least one of the at least one served call sound for use in producing another one of the at least one stored call sound; and

a sound producing module that accesses the at least one stored call sound and plays the at least one stored call sound on at least one speaker.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the selected call sound is one of the at least one served call sound, wherein the selected call sound is not one of the at least one stored call sound, and wherein the call sound retrieval module automatically obtains the selected call sound from the server.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising recovery information corresponding to the at least one stored call sound wherein the user can use the recovery information to recover the at least one stored call sound from a remote back module.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a payment module, a payment processing module, and a fulfillment module wherein the user uses the payment module to tender a payment, and wherein the fulfillment module allows the user to access a served call sound if the user has paid for access to the served call sound.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a remote actuator wherein the remote actuator sends a remote actuation signal to the electronic sound producing device and wherein the electronic sound producing device responds to the actuation signal by playing the selected call sound.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a timing module that produces a timed actuation signal wherein the electronic sound producing device responds to the timed actuation signal by playing the selected call sound.

18. A method comprising:

accessing a server from an electronic sound producing device wherein the electronic sound producing device comprises a communications module that interfaces with the communications network and wherein the server serves at least one served call sound;

producing at least one stored call sound wherein one of the at least one served call sound is obtained from the server and stored in the electronic sound producing device;

presenting a user with at least one call sound option wherein each of the at least one call sound option specifies one of at least one available call sound comprising the at least one stored call;

obtaining a call selection from the user wherein the call selection specifies a selected call sound; and

playing the selected call sound.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising automatically obtaining the selected call sound from the server when the selected call is not one of the at least one stored call.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising creating recovery information corresponding to the at least one stored call sound.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising generating a remote actuation signal wherein the electronic sound producing device reacts to the remote actuation signal by playing the selected call sound;

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising generating a timed actuation signal wherein the electronic sound producing device reacts to the timed actuation signal by playing the selected call sound;

23. A system comprising:

a means for accessing at least one stored call sound wherein the stored call sound is stored in an inactivated cell phone;

a means for selecting one of the at least one stored call sound to produce a selected call sound; and

a means for playing the selected call sound on a speaker.