MESSAGING DEVICE

• US 20100151830A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayes S. Raffle
• Original Assignee: Hayes S. Raffle
• Inventors: Raffle, Hayes S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/651 with speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a picture, a sensor that is configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor, and a power module.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing that is arranged and configured to support a picture;

a sensor that is arranged and configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture;

a communication module that includes an interface and that is arranged and configured to retrieve audio messages from a remote device using the interface;

a speaker that is arranged and configured to play the audio messages;

an electronics control module that is operably coupled to the sensor, the speaker and the communication module, the electronics control module comprising;

a mailbox that associates the audio messages designated for the mailbox with the sensor, and

wherein the electronics control module is arranged and configured to;

control playing of the audio messages associated with the mailbox in response to selection of the sensor; and

a power module that is operably coupled to the electronics control module and that is configured to provide power to the electronics control module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a book that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a soft fabric photo album that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is selected from a group consisting of a single frame, a single board and a single page that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor includes a button that is arranged and configured to receive the input and that is associated with the picture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor includes a touch sensor that is arranged and configured to receive the input and that is activated when the picture is touched.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the remote device includes a telephone; and

the interface of the communication module includes a telephone interface that is arranged and configured to retrieve the audio messages from the telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronics control module includes an answering machine processor that is arranged and configured to include the first mailbox, the second mailbox and memory for storing the audio messages.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronics control module is further arranged and configured to:

control playing the audio messages associated with the mailbox by playing new audio messages first, if any, and then by randomly playing previously played audio messages in response to selection of the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a light emitting diode that is associated with the mailbox and that is arranged and configured to illuminate when the mailbox receives a new audio message.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power module includes a battery.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing that is arranged and configured to support a picture;

a sensor that is arranged and configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture;

a radio module that is arranged and configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device;

a speaker that is arranged and configured to play the audio messages;

an electronics control module that is operably coupled to the sensor, the speaker and the radio module and that is arranged and configured to;

control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor, and

a power module that is operably coupled to the electronics control module and that is configured to provide power to the electronics control module.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the housing includes a book that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the housing includes a soft fabric photo album that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the housing is selected from a group consisting of a single frame, a single board, and a single page that is arranged and configured to support the picture.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the sensor includes a button that is arranged and configured to receive the input and that is associated with the picture.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the sensor includes a touch sensor that is arranged and configured to receive the input and that is activated when the picture is touched.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the radio module includes a Bluetooth module that is arranged and configured to communicate with the remote device and to retrieve the audio messages from the remote device.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the remote device includes a network server; and

the radio module is arranged and configured to communicate with the network server and to retrieve the audio messages from the network server.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the remote device includes an answering machine processor; and

the radio module is arranged and configured to communicate with the answering machine processor and to retrieve the audio messages from the answering machine processor.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a light emitting diode that is associated with the picture and that is arranged and configured to illuminate when the radio module retrieves a new audio message that is associated with the picture.

22. A system, comprising:

a messaging device; and

a remote device, wherein the messaging device includes;

a housing that is arranged and configured to support a picture;

a sensor that is arranged and configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture;

a radio module that is arranged and configured to communicate with the remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device;

a speaker that is arranged and configured to play the audio messages;

an electronics control module that is operably coupled to the sensor, the speaker and the radio module and that is arranged and configured to;

control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor; and

a power module that is operably coupled to the electronics control module and that is configured to provide power to the electronics control module.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the remote device includes:

a radio module that is arranged and configured to communicate with the messaging device; and

an answering machine processor that is arranged and configured to receive the audio messages and to separate the audio messages into one or more mailboxes that are each associated with a sender of the audio messages.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the remote device includes:

a radio module that is arranged and configured to communicate with the messaging device; and

a network server that is arranged and configured to receive the audio messages and to separate the audio message into one or more mailboxes that are each associated with a sender of the audio messages.