SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING ACCESSORY LOSS

• US 20090295573A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: LEE, KUAN-HSUEH
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A system includes several functional modules to alert a user that the accessory has not been placed back into a bay of an electronic device after a predetermined time period. A sensor is configured for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay after the time period has expired. The sensor is further configured for generating a notification if the accessory has not been received in the bay after the time period has expired. The audio module is configured for receiving the notification, and transmitting an audio alarm via a speaker indicating that the accessory has not been received in the bay after the time period has expired. The display module is configured for receiving the notification, and displaying a graphic alarm on a display panel of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for preventing accessory loss for an electronic device comprising a bay configured to receive and hold an accessory, the system comprising:

a setting module configured for setting a time period for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay after the time period has expired;

a detection module comprising a timer and a sensor, the timer configured for timing the time period upon the condition that the accessory has been removed from the bay, the sensor configured for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay after the time period has expired, the sensor further configured for generating a notification if the accessory has not been received in the bay after the time period has expired;

an audio module configured for receiving the notification, and transmitting an audio alarm alert via a speaker indicating that the accessory has not been received in the bay after the time period has expired;

a display module configured for receiving the notification, and displaying a graphic alarm alert on a display panel of the electronic device; and

a processor that executes the setting module, the detection module, the audio module, and the display module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting module is further configured for setting an interval for the sensor to continue determining if the accessory has been received in the bay upon the condition that the accessory has not been received after the time period has expired.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor is further configured for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay for every interval upon the condition that the accessory has not been received in the bay.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor is further configured for generating a stop-notification to the audio module and the display module upon determining that the accessory has been received in the bay.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the audio module is further configured for terminating transmission of the audio alarm upon receiving the stop-notification from the sensor.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display module is further configured for terminating display of the graphic alarm upon receiving the stop-notification from the sensor.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting module is further configured for setting a default value of the time period, and modifying the default value of the time period.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory is a stylus for use with at least one of a device consisting of a touch panel or tablet component, wireless earpiece-microphone unit, swappable SIM card, storage card or stick;

and

wherein the bay is integrally configured on the electronic device to receive and hold the respective accessory.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio and graphic alarms may comprise vibration of the electronic device and electronic transmission of the alerts.

10. A computer-implemented method for preventing accessory loss for an electronic device comprising a bay configured to receive and hold an accessory, the method comprising:

setting a time period for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay;

activating a timer upon the condition that the accessory has been removed from the bay;

determining if the time period has expired;

determining if the accessory has been received in the bay upon the condition that the period has expired;

generating a notification if the accessory has not been received in the bay;

receiving the notification and transmitting an audio alarm alert via a speaker of the electronic device; and

receiving the notification and displaying a graphic alarm alert via a display panel on the electronic device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising setting an interval for determining if the accessory has been received in the bay, after the generating step.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising determining if the accessory has been received in the bay for every interval upon the condition that the accessory has not been received in the bay.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising generating a stop-notification upon determining that the accessory has not been received in the bay.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising terminating transmission of the audio alarm upon receiving the stop-notification.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising terminating display of the graphic alarm upon receiving the stop-notification.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising setting a default value of the time period.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising modifying the default value of the time period.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the accessory is a stylus for use with at least one of a device consisting of a touch panel or tablet component, wireless earpiece-microphone unit, swappable SIM card, storage card or stick;

and

wherein the bay is integrally configured on the device to receive and hold the respective accessory.

19. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the audio and graphic alarms may comprise vibration of the electronic device and electronic transmission of the alerts.