MOBILE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH LIGHTS TO INDICATE RECEIVED MESSAGES

• US 20110124367A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: HULL, ERIC J., MAGER, GARY N., NELSON, JONATHAN O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits

Abstract

A mobile electronic communication device includes a processor unit, a transceiver, a keypad and a light unit. Each key of the keypad is associated with a contact of a contact list. The light unit can perform light functions to notify a user of the reception and/or status of messages received via the transceiver. The light functions include providing an indication of the age of a received message that was sent by a contact in the contacts list. The age of the message is indicated by a modulation of the illuminating light. In one embodiment, the age of a message is indicated as one of a set of predetermined age ranges, with each age range being represented by a unique color.

Claims

1-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A mobile electronic communication device comprising:

a transceiver;

a light unit having a plurality of light sources; and

a processor unit coupled to the transceiver and light unit, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output light from a selected one of the light sources to indicate a source of a received message.

61. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 60, wherein the mobile electronic communication device is configured to receive messages of two or more types, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output the light with modulation that depends on the received message'"'"'s type.

62. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 60, wherein the selected one of the light sources being lit is associated with a contact, and the message is received from the associated contact.

63. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 62, wherein the light unit can simultaneously illuminate another light source to indicate that a message has been received from a contact associated with the other light source.

64. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 60, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output light with modulation that depends on an age of a message received by the mobile electronic communication device.

65. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 64, wherein the modulated light has a color that depends on the relative age of a received message.

66. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 64, wherein the modulated light has a blinking rate that indicates a number of unread messages received from a contact.

67. The mobile electronic communication device in claim 64, wherein the message is a most recent message received from a contact.

68. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 67, wherein the message is an unread message received from the contact.

69. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 64, wherein the relative age is indicated using a plurality of predetermined age categories.

70. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 69, wherein each age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined color of light that can be outputted by the light unit.

71. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 70, wherein each age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined number of light flashes within a cycle.

72. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 61, wherein the message is a SMS message.

73. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 60, wherein the mobile electronic communication device further comprises a touch-screen display in addition to or in lieu of the light unit, and the processor emulates said causing of the light unit to light a selected one of a plurality of light sources to indicate receipt of a message from a source by rendering a virtual light unit having a plurality of virtual light sources on the touch-screen display, with a selected one of the virtual light sources manifesting an appearance of being illuminated.

74. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 60, wherein the light unit comprises an LED circuit having a plurality of LEDs configured to selectively output light having a color selected from a set of a plurality of preselected colors.

75. A mobile electronic communication device comprising:

a transceiver; and

means coupled to the transceiver to output light to indicate a source of a received message.

76. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 75, wherein the mobile electronic communication device is configured to receive messages of two or more types, wherein said means is configured to output light with modulation that depends on the received message'"'"'s type.

77. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 75, wherein said means is configured to output light with modulation that depends on an age of a message received by the mobile electronic communication device.

78. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 75, wherein the output light is associated with a contact, and the message is received from the associated contact.

79. The mobile electronic communication device of claim 75, wherein the mobile electronic communication device is configured to receive messages of two or more types, wherein said means is configured to output light with modulation that depends on the received message'"'"'s type and an age of the message received.