MOBILE DEVICE DOG WHISTLE

• US 20090205582A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kitchens, Stephen Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/031,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/719
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/18 using ultrasonic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 5/02 Ultrasonic whistles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A mobile device, upon user selection and actuation, transmits an ultrasonic frequency signal into the area surrounding the mobile device, at a signal intensity capable of being heard by animals present in such area, whereby the transmitted ultrasonic signal is suitable for use as a defense measure and, alternately, as a training measure for animals present in the transmission area.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a user interface, having a keypad and an information display, the keypad being responsive to entries by a user that command operation of the functional applications that the mobile device is programmed to perform;

computer signal processing means, for executing computer program instructions to provide machine commanded instructions that perform the user commanded functional applications, including a wireless communications function, the computer signal processing means having memory means for storing signals, including the computer program instruction signals that are executed by the computer signal processing means to provide the machine commanded instructions;

a voice speaker and a load speaker, each capable of providing human audible sounds in response to sonic frequency electrical signals presented thereto, the load speaker providing such human audible sounds at an intensity level to be heard by humans in the mobile device surrounding area; and

signal amplification means responsive to the machine commanded instructions from the computer signal processing means to present the sonic frequency electrical signals to the voice speaker;

as characterized by;

the functional applications performed by the mobile device including transmission of an ultrasonic frequency sound that is controllably actuated by the user to function as a defense measure and, alternately, as a training measure in respect of animals present in the mobile device area, the computer signal processing means providing in response to user actuation of the ultrasonic function, machine commanded instructions to the signal amplification means to generate an ultrasonic frequency electrical signal and, in response thereto, transmit an ultrasonic frequency sound; and

wherein

the loud speaker is capable of further providing, addition to human audible sounds, the transmission of ultrasonic frequency sounds in response to ultrasonic frequency electrical signals presented thereto by the signal amplification means, the loud speaker transmitting such ultrasonic frequency sounds at an intensity level to be heard by animals in the mobile device surrounding area.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the computer signal processing means, upon user selection of the ultrasonic frequency sound function, activates one or more control keys on the user interface to provide the user with the ability to select the defense measure and, alternately, the training measure, and to control the duration of the ultrasonic frequency sound transmission.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the computer signal processing means requires user selection of the ultrasonic frequency sound function and either the defense measure or the training measure before commanding the transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the computer signal processing means provides the user, upon user selection of the defense measure, with the ability to command transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound using control keys on the user interface in a toggle-on and toggle-off mode, wherein the ultrasonic frequency sound will, when toggled on, continuously transmit until toggled off.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the computer signal processing means provides the user, upon user selection of the training measure, with the ability to command transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound using control keys on the user interface in a push and hold mode, wherein the ultrasonic frequency sound will transmit only for so long as the user pushes and holds the control key.

6. The mobile device of claim 4, further comprising:

a global position system (GPS) receiver which presents the computer signal processing means with the real time GPS coordinates of the mobile device; and

wherein

the computer signal processing means has stored in memory means the telephone number of a rescue agency and, upon user commanded transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound, presents the user with the election to have the mobile device place an automated telephone call to a rescue agency.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the computer signal processing means, in response to the user election to call a rescue agency, places an automated call to the rescue agency and upon establishing a connection provides the rescue agency with a voice message request for assistance together with a voice message reporting the current GPS coordinates of the mobile device.

8. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the computer signal processing means, upon user press and hold of the control key in the training measure, transmits the ultrasonic frequency sound in a pulsed format.

9. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the computer signal processing means provides the user the ability, with user selection of the training measure, to alter the frequency and, alternately, the pitch of the ultrasonic frequency sound transmission to thereby affect a greater measure of response from a broader specie of animals.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the computer signal processing means, in response to user selection of the training measure, transmits the ultrasonic frequency sound at an intensity and pitch to affect a greater measure of response from a dog that is in the mobile device surrounding area.

11. A computer program product for enabling a mobile device to generate an ultrasonic frequency sound that suitable for use by a mobile device user to perform defense measures and, alternately, training measures for animals within the mobile device surrounding area, the mobile device of a type having:

signal processing means that executes computer program instructions to provide the machine commanded instructions that perform the various mobile device functional applications, including a wireless communications function, the mobile device further including memory means for storing signals, including computer program instruction signals that are executed by the computer signal processing means to provide the machine commanded instructions, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a user interface with a keypad and a display, signal amplification means responsive to the machine commanded instructions from the signal processing means, and a loud speaker capable of transmitting ultrasonic frequency sounds to the mobile device surrounding area in response to ultrasonic frequency electrical signals that it receives, the computer program product comprising;

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable medium comprising;

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means present menu options, viewable on the user display and accessible by user manipulation of the keypad, which allow user actuation of the ultrasonic frequency sound application; and

computer usable program code configured to cause the mobile device signal processing means to provide, in response to user actuation of the ultrasonic function, machine commanded instructions to the signal amplification means to present an ultrasonic frequency electrical signal to the loud speaker which, in response, transmits an ultrasonic frequency sound to the mobile device surrounding area.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means, upon user selection of the ultrasonic frequency sound function, activates one or more control keys on the user interface to provide the user with the ability to select the defense measure and, alternately, the training measure, and to control the duration of the ultrasonic frequency sound transmission.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means require user selection of the defense measure or the training measure in addition to the user selection of the ultrasonic frequency sound function before commanding the transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means provide the user, upon user selection of the defense measure, with the ability to command transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound using control keys on the user interface in a toggle-on and toggle-off mode, wherein the ultrasonic frequency sound will, when toggled on, continuously transmit until toggled off.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means to provide the user, upon user selection of the training measure, with the ability to command transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound using control keys on the user interface in a push and hold mode, wherein the ultrasonic frequency sound will transmit only for so long as the user pushes and holds the control key.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means store in the memory means the telephone number of a rescue agency and, upon user commanded transmission of the ultrasonic frequency sound, presents the user with the election to have the mobile device place an automated telephone call to a rescue agency.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means, in response to the user election to call a rescue agency, places an automated call to the rescue agency and upon establishing a connection provides the rescue agency with a voice message request for assistance together with a voice message reporting the current GPS coordinates of the mobile device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means, upon user press and hold of the control key in the training measure, transmits the ultrasonic frequency sound in a pulsed format.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means provide the user the ability, with user selection of the training measure, to alter the frequency and, alternately, the pitch of the ultrasonic frequency sound transmission to thereby affect a greater measure of response from a broader specie of animals

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer usable medium further comprises:

computer usable program code configured to have the mobile device signal processing means, in response to user selection of the training measure, transmits the ultrasonic frequency sound at an intensity and pitch to affect a greater measure of response from a dog that is in the mobile device surrounding area.