Method and apparatus for receiving and selectively announcing time-activated messages
First Claim
1. A method, in a data communication receiver, for selectively alerting a user at specified times, wherein the data communication receiver includes an interface for transmitting data to a host computer and an annunciator for generating a sensible alert, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a message, wherein the message comprises at least information indicating a reminder time;
storing the reminder time;
providing the message, including the reminder time, to the host computer;
determining, subsequent to the providing step, that a real time is equivalent to the reminder time indicated by the message that has been provided to the host computer;
determining, in response to determining that the real time is equivalent to the reminder time, whether the interface is coupled to or detached from the host computer; and
activating the annunciator in response to determining that the interface is detached from the host computer when the real time is equivalent to the reminder time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, in a data communication receiver, for selectively alerting a user at specified times, wherein the data communication receiver includes an interface for transmitting data to a host computer and an annunciator for generating a sensible alert, comprises the steps of receiving (505) an alarm message, wherein the alarm message comprises information indicating a time, and storing (505) the time. The method further comprises the steps of determining (510) an interface status as being coupled to the host computer or detached from the host computer and selectively activating (520) the annunciator at the time in response to determining (510) the interface status.
44 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, in a data communication receiver, for selectively alerting a user at specified times, wherein the data communication receiver includes an interface for transmitting data to a host computer and an annunciator for generating a sensible alert, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message, wherein the message comprises at least information indicating a reminder time; storing the reminder time; providing the message, including the reminder time, to the host computer; determining, subsequent to the providing step, that a real time is equivalent to the reminder time indicated by the message that has been provided to the host computer; determining, in response to determining that the real time is equivalent to the reminder time, whether the interface is coupled to or detached from the host computer; and activating the annunciator in response to determining that the interface is detached from the host computer when the real time is equivalent to the reminder time.
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2. A method, in a data system, for alerting a user at specified times, the data system including a data communication receiver for receiving and storing messages, the data communication receiver having an interface for transmitting data and a first annunciator for generating a first sensible alert, wherein the data system further includes a host computer for receiving and storing the data transmitted by the data communication receiver, the host computer having a second annunciator for generating a second sensible alert, the method comprising, in the data communication receiver, the steps of:
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receiving a message comprising information indicating a reminder time; providing the message to the host computer; continuing to operate on the message that has been provided to the host computer by determining when a real time is equivalent to the reminder time indicated by the message; determining, in response to determining that the real time is equivalent to the reminder time, whether the interface is coupled to or detached from the host computer; selectively activating the annunciator in response to the determining step when the real time is equivalent to the reminder time, wherein the selective activation step comprises the steps of; not activating the first annunciator in response to determining that the interface is coupled to the host computer; activating the first annunciator in response to determining that the interface is detached from the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. An electronic device for selectively alerting a user at specified times and for coupling to an external host device, the electronic device comprising:
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receiving means for receiving and decoding a message to recover information contained therein, wherein the information comprises at least a reminder time; a memory coupled to the receiving means for storing the reminder time indicated by the message; an interface coupled to the memory for transmitting the message, including the reminder time, to the external host device when the interface is coupled to the external host device; interface monitoring means coupled to the interface for determining whether the interface is coupled to or detached from the external host device; a real time clock coupled to the interface monitoring means for generating real time values; determining means for determining when a real time indicated by the real time values is equivalent to the reminder time irrespective of whether the message has been previously provided to the external host device; and an annunciator coupled to the interface monitoring means and the determining means for generating a sensible alert, wherein the annunciator is activated by the interface monitoring means at the reminder time indicated by the message in response to the determination that the interface is detached from the external host device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A data system for alerting a user at specified times, comprising:
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a data communication receiver for receiving a message and recovering therefrom a reminder time and for selectively alerting the user at the reminder time indicated by the message irrespective of whether the message, including the reminder time, has been transmitted from the data communication receiver to another device; and a host computer for coupling to the data communication receiver to receive the reminder time indicated by the message from the data communication receiver, wherein the host computer automatically alerts the user at the reminder time indicated by the message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification