Method and apparatus for pre-programmed call-back-number-determined alert

• US 5,394,140 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burke, William J., Weidler, Allen J., Wong, Poh-T'in
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/980,047
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/825.46, 340/825.48, 340/311.1, 340/825.22, 364/705.05, 364/715.11, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/38.5
• US Class Current: 340/7.39
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1025 Paging receivers with audible signalling details

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a communication receiver (110) for controlling an alert in response to a received call-back number (233) include receiving (402) the call-back number (233). A processor (208) in the communication receiver (110) compares (406) the received call-back number (233) with a list of pre-programmed call-back numbers (226, 228, 230) stored in a memory (210). If the received call-back number (233) matches (408) one of the pre-programmed call-back numbers (226, 228, 230), the processor (208) selects (410) a pre-programmed alert (236, 238, 240) corresponding to the matched pre-programmed call-back number (233), and instructs (414) an alert generator (212) to generate the selected pre-programmed alert (236, 238, 240).

Claims

1. A communication receiver comprising:

receiver means for receiving a message comprising at least a received call-back number;

storage means for storing at least one user-programmed call-back number along with data defining at least one corresponding user-programmed special audible alert, and further for storing data defining a user-programmed default audible alert;

processor means coupled to the receiver means for processing the message to derive the received call-back number and coupled to the storage means for comparing the received call-back number with the at least one user-programmed call-back number; and

audible alert generation means coupled to the processor means for generating, in response to the received call-back number being found equal to a call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call-back number, the corresponding user-programmed special audible alert in accordance with the data defining said alert,

wherein the processor means comprises a first processor element for controlling the audible alert generation means to generate the user-programmed default audible alert in response to the received call-back number being found not equal to any call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call back number.

2. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 1, further comprising user control means coupled to the processor means and to the storage means for allowing a user to add or delete a user-programmed call-back number and a corresponding user-programmed special audible alert.

3. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a non-volatile memory.

4. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 1, further comprising user control means coupled to the processor means for allowing a user to modify the user-programmed default audible alert.

5. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a second processor element coupled to the processor means and responsive to the user control means for controlling the generation of the user-programmed default audible alert,

wherein the second processor element disallows generation of the user-programmed default audible alert but allows generation of the user-programmed special audible alert in response to user selection of a first alert mode, and

wherein the second processor element allows generation of both the user-programmed default audible alert and the user-programmed special audible alert in response to user selection of a second alert mode.

6. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 2, wherein the user control means comprises:

means for a user to select a cadence for a new user-programmed special audible alert; and

means for a user to select a tone frequency for the new user-programmed special audible alert, and

wherein the audible alert generation means generates the new user-programmed special audible alert in accordance with the selected cadence and tone frequency.

7. The communication receiver in accordance with claim 4, wherein the user control means comprises:

means for a user to select a cadence for the user-programmed default audible alert; and

means for a user to select a tone frequency for the user-programmed default audible alert, and

wherein the audible alert generation means generates the user-programmed default audible alert in accordance with the selected cadence and tone frequency.

8. (Amended) A selective call receiver comprising:

a receiver for receiving information comprising an address and a message containing at least a received call-back number;

a decoder coupled to the receiver for decoding the received address;

a memory element for storing at least one user-programmed call-back number and data defining at least one corresponding user-programmed special audible alert, and further for storing data defining a user-programmed default audible alert;

a processor responsive to the decoder and coupled to the receiver for processing the received message to derive the received call-back number, the processor also coupled to the memory element for comparing the received call-back number with the at least one user-programmed call-back number;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying the received message; and

an audible alert generator coupled to the processor for generating, in response to the received call-back number being found equal to a call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call-back number, the corresponding user-programmed special audible alert in accordance with the data defining said alert,

wherein the processor comprises a first processor element for controlling the audible alert generator to generate the user-programmed default audible alert in response to the received call-back number being found not equal to any call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call back number.

9. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 8, further comprising user controls coupled to the processor and to the memory element for allowing a user to add or delete a user-programmed call-back number and a corresponding user-programmed special audible alert.

10. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 8, wherein the memory element comprises a non-volatile memory.

11. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 8, further comprising user controls coupled to the processor for allowing a user to modify the user-programmed default audible alert.

12. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a second processor element coupled to the processor and responsive to the user controls for controlling the generation of the user-programmed default audible alert,

wherein the second processor element disallows generation of the user-programmed default audible alert but allows generation of the user-programmed special audible alert in response to user selection of a first alert mode, and

wherein the second processor element allows generation of both the user-programmed default audible alert and the user-programmed special audible alert in response to user selection of a second alert mode.

13. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 9, wherein the user controls comprise:

first elements that allow a user to select a cadence for a new user-programmed special audible alert; and

second elements that allow a user to select a tone frequency for the new user-programmed special audible alert, and

wherein the audible alert generator generates the new user-programmed special audible alert in accordance with the selected cadence and tone frequency.

14. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 11, wherein the user controls comprise:

first elements that allow a user to select a cadence for the user-programmed default audible alert; and

second elements that allow a user to select a tone frequency for the user-programmed default audible alert, and

wherein the audible alert generator generates the user-programmed default audible alert in accordance with the selected cadence and tone frequency.

15. A method in a communication receiver for controlling an audible alert in response to a received call-back number, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a message comprising at least the received call-back number;

(b) comparing the received call-back number with at least one user-programmed call-back number;

(c) selecting a user-programmed special audible alert corresponding to the received call-back number in response to determining in step (b) that the received call-back number is equal to a call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call-back number;

(d) selecting a user-programmed default audible alert in response to determining in step (b) that the received call-back number is not equal to any call-back number included in the at least one user-programmed call-back number; and

(e) generating the user-programmed audible alert selected in accordance with steps (c) and (d).

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of adding a new user-programmed call-back number and a corresponding new user-programmed special audible alert in response to a user control sequence.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of deleting an existing user-programmed call-back number and a corresponding user-programmed special audible alert in response to a user control sequence.

18. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of modifying the user-programmed default audible alert in response to a user control sequence.

19. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of de-selecting the user-programmed default audible alert to prevent the generation thereof, a user of the communication receiver having selected a silent alert mode.

20. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the step of adding the new user-programmed call-back number and the corresponding new user-programmed special audible alert comprises the steps of:

selecting a user-programmable cadence for the new user-programmed special audible alert; and

selecting a user-programmable tone frequency for the new user-programmed special audible alert, and

wherein the new user-programmed special audible alert is generated in accordance with the selected cadence and tone frequency.