Method and apparatus for intelligently signaling a battery charge condition in a wireless telephone

• US 6,236,326 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/430,143
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 340/539, 340/661, 340/691, 340/635, 340/825.25, 455/425, 455/572, 455/127, 455/567, 455/573, 455/38.2, 455/38.4
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for intelligent low battery response by a wireless telephone is provided. When the wireless telephone'"'"'s rechargeable battery nears depletion of energy, and a call is in progress, the party conversing with the wireless telephone user is provided with a voice notification that termination of the call due to battery depletion is imminent. When the wireless telephone'"'"'s rechargeable battery pack nears depletion of energy and a call is not in progress, the wireless telephone automatically initiates call forwarding with the wireless telephone network such that calls directed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number while the battery is depleted are redirected to a different telephone number. After replacing or recharging a depleted battery pack, and repowering on the wireless telephone, call forwarding is automatically deactivated such that the subscriber can resume receiving calls at the wireless telephone number.

Claims

1. An apparatus for intelligently signaling a low battery charge condition in a wireless telephone, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless telephone device engaged in communications with at least one party;

a battery for supplying electrical power to the wireless telephone;

a control circuit for transmitting a predetermined message to the at least one party, with whom the wireless telephone device is communicating upon detecting, after engaging in the communications, that the energy level remaining in the battery has reached a level such that the wireless telephone will no longer have sufficient electrical power to operate shortly after having transmitted the predetermined message.

2. A rechargeable battery powered wireless telephone which provides a voice notification to at least a first party engaged in a telephone call with the wireless telephone user when the energy remaining in the battery reaches a specified level, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless telephone handset engaged in communications;

a rechargeable battery for providing electrical power to the wireless telephone handset;

a battery monitor circuit electrically connected to the battery which generates a low battery signal when the energy level remaining in the battery reaches a specified level while the wireless telephone is engaged in communications;

nonvolatile memory for storing a voice notification message;

control circuit electrically connected to the battery monitor circuit, which control circuit following detection of a low battery signal from the battery monitor circuit causes the wireless telephone handset to transmit the voice notification message stored in the nonvolatile memory to a party with whom the wireless telephone device is communicating;

whereby when the battery pack reaches a specified energy level, the wireless telephone sends a voice notification to warn the first party that the telephone call will be terminated due to the depletion of the wireless telephone battery.

3. The wireless telephone of claim 2, further including

an audio signal digitizer which converts analog audio signals into a coded digital representation of the audio signals; and

means for recording a notification message by storing the output of the audio signal digitizer into the nonvolatile memory;

whereby a wireless telephone user can record a personal notification message to warn the first party when a telephone call will be terminated due to the depletion of the wireless telephone battery.

4. A rechargeable battery powered wireless telephone which automatically enables the forwarding of telephone calls directed to the wireless telephone number, such that calls directed to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are redirected to a different telephone number, upon detection of a specified energy level remaining in the rechargeable battery when a wireless telephone call is not in progress and the wireless telephone is in a powered-on state, such an apparatus comprising a wireless telephone including:

a rechargeable battery which provides electrical power to the wireless telephone handset;

a battery monitor circuit operatively connected to the battery which generates a low battery signal when the level of energy remaining in the battery falls below a first specified level while the wireless telephone is in a powered-on state;

a control circuit electrically connected to the battery monitor circuit which upon detection of the low battery signal causes the telephone to enable call forwarding by initiating a connection to the wireless telephone network, communicating to the wireless telephone network a previously programmed forwarding telephone number, and disconnecting from the wireless telephone network;

whereby thereafter calls directed to the user'"'"'s wireless telephone number are automatically redirected to a different telephone number.

5. A rechargeable battery powered wireless telephone which automatically enables the forwarding of telephone calls directed to the wireless telephone number, such that calls directed to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are redirected to a different telephone number, upon detection of a specified energy level remaining in the rechargeable battery when a wireless telephone call is not in progress, such an apparatus comprising a wireless telephone including:

a rechargeable battery which provides electrical power to the wireless telephone handset;

a battery monitor circuit operatively connected to the battery which generates a first low battery signal when the level of energy remaining in the battery falls below a first specified level, and generates a second signal when the level of energy remaining in the battery exceeds a second specified level greater than or equal to the first specified level;

a control circuit electrically connected to the battery monitor circuit which upon detection of the first low battery signal causes the telephone to enable call forwarding by initiating a connection to the wireless telephone network, communicating to the wireless telephone network a previously programmed forwarding telephone number, and disconnecting from the wireless telephone network, and which upon detecting the second signal from the battery monitor circuit and after having previously enabled call forwarding due to a low battery condition, initiates a connection to the wireless telephone network and communicates to the wireless telephone network the cancellation of call forwarding such that calls placed to the wireless telephone number are no longer redirected.

6. A rechargeable battery powered wireless telephone which automatically enables the forwarding of telephone calls directed to the wireless telephone number, such that calls directed to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are redirected to a different telephone number, upon detection of a specified energy level remaining in the rechargeable battery when a wireless telephone call is not in progress, such an apparatus comprising a wireless telephone including:

a rechargeable battery which provides electrical power to the wireless telephone handset;

a battery monitor circuit operatively connected to the battery which generates a low battery signal when the level of energy remaining in the battery falls below a first specified level;

control circuit electrically connected to the battery monitor circuit which upon detection of the low battery signal causes the telephone to enable call forwarding by initiating a connection to the wireless telephone network, communicating to the wireless telephone network a previously programmed forwarding telephone number, and disconnecting from the wireless telephone network, and which upon detection that call forwarding has been enabled due to a low battery condition further initiates a connection to the wireless telephone network and communicates to the wireless telephone network the cancellation of call forwarding upon subsequent activation of the wireless telephone.

7. A method of causing a telephone call placed to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number while the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone battery has been depleted of energy to be redirected to a telephone number other than that which is assigned to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone, which method comprises the following:

detecting that the level of energy remaining in the wireless telephone battery has reached or fallen below a specified energy level;

connecting the wireless telephone to the wireless telephone network;

communicating to the wireless telephone network a forwarding telephone number; and

disconnecting the wireless telephone from the wireless telephone network;

whereby thereafter calls which are placed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are automatically redirected to the forwarding telephone number.

8. The method according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

detecting upon power up of the wireless telephone that call forwarding has been enabled due to detection of a low battery energy level during prior use;

connecting the wireless telephone to the wireless network;

communicating to the wireless network the cancellation of call forwarding such that calls placed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are no longer redirected;

disconnecting the wireless telephone from the wireless network;

whereby calls which are thereafter placed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are received at the wireless telephone.

9. A method of causing a telephone call placed to a subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number while the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone battery has been depleted of energy to be redirected to a telephone number other than that which is assigned to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone, which method comprises the following:

detecting that the level of energy remaining in the wireless telephone battery has reached or fallen below a specified energy level;

connecting the wireless telephone to the wireless telephone network;

communicating to the wireless telephone network a forwarding telephone number;

setting a flag in nonvolatile memory after communicating to the wireless telephone network the forwarding telephone number to indicate that call forwarding has been enabled;

disconnecting the wireless telephone from the wireless telephone network;

detecting upon power up of the wireless telephone that call forwarding has been enabled due to detection of a low battery energy level during prior use by checking said flag;

connecting wireless telephone to the wireless network if said flag indicates that call forwarding had been enabled;

communicating to the wireless network the cancellation of call forwarding such that calls placed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are no longer redirected;

resetting said flag to indicate that call forwarding has been disabled;

disconnecting the wireless telephone from the wireless network;

whereby calls which are thereafter placed to the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone number are received by the wireless telephone.