NOTIFYING STATIONS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20080220823A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gregory T. Kavounas
• Inventors: Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Generally, the present invention provides stations for one or more portable electronic devices (PEDs) and methods for such stations. A station can support a PED, and sense when the PED would be notifying its user about a wireless signal that is received from a remote transmitter. When the station so senses, it further generates a human-perceptible indication to help notify the user, who might have walked away. The human-perceptible indication can include, a call sound, a light signal, etc. This way, for example, when the PED is only vibrating, the call sound can be such that the station rings like a regular home telephone, and/or the light signal can be such that the station lights up without distracting coworkers as much. As such, the user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode.

Claims

1. A station for use with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED including an antenna operable to receive a wireless signal from a remote transmitter at least 500 ft away from the PED, the PED further including a PED mechanism to operate for generating a human-perceptible first call signal to notify a user about the received wireless signal, the station comprising:

a body for supporting the PED;

a sensor for sensing when the PED mechanism is operating to generate the human-perceptible first call signal while the PED is supported by the body, and for outputting a second call signal responsive to so sensing; and

a station notifier for generating a human-perceptible indication responsive to the second call signal.

2. The station of claim 1, in which the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a telephone call.

3. The station of claim 1, in which the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a text message.

4. The station of claim 1, in which the PED mechanism includes a vibration mechanism for causing a mechanical vibration as the human-perceptible first call signal, and the sensor includes a vibration sensor for perceiving the mechanical vibration.

5. The station of claim 1, in which the PED mechanism includes a PED speaker for emitting a ring tone as the human-perceptible first call signal, and the sensor includes a microphone for perceiving the ring tone.

6. The station of claim 5, in which the PED mechanism further includes a vibration mechanism for causing a mechanical vibration as the human-perceptible first call signal, and the sensor further includes a vibration sensor for perceiving the mechanical vibration.

7. The station of claim 1, in which the sensor is incorporated within the body.

8. The station of claim 1, in which the body includes an underside having a substantially flat portion.

9. The station of claim 8, further comprising:

feet at the underside.

10. The station of claim 1, in which the body includes a feature for hanging the base on a wall.

11. The station of claim 1, in which the body includes a rubber surface for supporting thereon the PED.

12. The station of claim 1, in which the body includes a cavity for supporting therein the PED.

13. The station of claim 12, in which the cavity includes a rubber surface for supporting thereon the PED.

14. The station of claim 1, in which the station includes a base and a receptacle for supporting the PED, and the vibration sensor is operable to sense a vibration between the base and the receptacle.

15. The station of claim 14, in which the receptacle includes a cavity for supporting therein the PED.

16. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery for powering an operation of the station notifier.

17. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer for converting electrical power to power an operation of the station notifier.

18. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a local wireless powering transmitter for powering the PED.

19. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter for filtering what the sensor senses for the human-perceptible indication to be generated when the PED mechanism is operating, but not be generated when another event is sensed by the sensor.

20. The station of claim 19, in which the filter is mechanical.

21. The station of claim 19, in which the filter is electrical.

22. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a station notifier testing actuator for causing the human-perceptible indication to be generated while the PED is supported by the body but the PED mechanism is not sensed as operating.

23. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a station notifier testing actuator for causing the human-perceptible indication to be generated even while the PED is not supported by the body.

24. The station of claim 1, in which the station notifier includes a station speaker, and the human-perceptible indication includes a third call sound.

25. The station of claim 24, in which the station speaker is incorporated within the body.

26. The station of claim 24, further comprising:

a volume controller for adjusting a volume of the second call sound.

27. The station of claim 24, further comprising:

a disable switch for the station speaker.

28. The station of claim 1, in which the station notifier includes a station light, and the human-perceptible indication includes a light signal.

29. The station of claim 28, in which the station notifier further includes a station speaker, and the human-perceptible indication further includes a call sound.

30. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a docking detector operable to detect that the PED is supported by the body, and in which the station notifier cannot generate the human-perceptible indication unless the docking detector detects that the PED is supported by the body.

31. The station of claim 30, further comprising:

a docking indicator operable to be actuated responsive to the docking detector detecting that the PED is supported by the body.

32. The station of claim 30, further comprising:

a local wireless powering transmitter for powering the PED, and in which the local wireless powering transmitter operates responsive to the docking detector detecting that the PED is supported by the body.

33. A method for a station, comprising:

sensing that a Portable Electronic Device (PED) is operating a PED mechanism for generating a human-perceptible first call signal notifying a user about a wireless signal that the PED is receiving from a remote transmitter at least 500 ft away from the station, and outputting a second call signal responsive to so sensing; and

generating a human-perceptible indication responsive to the second call signal.

34. The method of claim 33, in which the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a telephone call.

35. The method of claim 33, in which the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a text message.

36. The method of claim 33, in which sensing includes sensing a mechanical vibration of the PED mechanism as the human-perceptible first call signal.

37. The method of claim 33, in which sensing includes sensing a ring tone emitted by the PED mechanism as the human-perceptible first call signal.

38. The method of claim 33, in which the station includes a base and a receptacle for supporting the PED, and sensing includes sensing a vibration between the base and the receptacle.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

transmitting a wireless powering signal to power the PED.

40. The method of claim 33, in which the human-perceptible indication is a call sound.

41. The method of claim 33, in which the human-perceptible indication is a light signal.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

detecting that the PED is supported by the station, and in which the human-perceptible indication is generated only while the PED is detected as supported by the station.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

actuating a docking indicator responsive to detecting that the PED is supported by the station.

44. The method of claim 43, in which the docking indicator is audible when actuated.

45. The method of claim 43, in which the docking indicator is visible when actuated.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting a wireless powering signal to power the PED responsive to detecting that the PED is supported by the station.

47. A charger for charging a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the charger, the PED including an antenna operable to receive a wireless signal from a remote transmitter at least 500 ft away from the PED, the PED further including a PED mechanism to operate for generating a human-perceptible first call signal to notify a user about the received wireless signal, the charger comprising:

a body for supporting the PED;

a mechanism for transferring energy to a battery of the PED;

a sensor for sensing when the PED mechanism is operating to generate the human-perceptible first call signal while the PED is supported by the body, and for outputting a second call signal responsive to so sensing; and

a station notifier for generating a human-perceptible indication responsive to the second call signal.