Radio with silent and audible alerts

• US 6,252,516 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Albert, Mike M., Kiem, Joshua P., Mottier, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/220,949
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.46, 340/825.48, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 455/38.5
• US Class Current: 340/7.58
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

An alerting device, such as a radio (10), activates, responsive to the times when an information signal (12) is received, a silent alert, via a vibrator (24), during a first predetermined time period, and an audible alert, via a loudspeaker (22), during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period. A radio user can configure the priority and the duration of the silent and audible alerts. The radio (10) also detects the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory 51 to the radio 10. Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio (10) activates the audible alert. Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that the radio (10) will activate the proper alert in situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio relative to the user'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A radio capable of being coupled to an accessory, the radio comprising:

a receiver for receiving a valid information signal;

a silent alert generator for indicating the reception of the valid information signal when the silent alert generator is enabled and activated;

an audible alert generator for indicating the reception of the valid information signal when the audible alert generator is enabled and activated; and

a processor for;

determining whether or not the radio is coupled to the accessory,

when the radio is determined not to be coupled to the accessory,

activating one of the silent alert generator and the audible alert generator during a first predetermined time period responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the one of the silent alert and the audible alert generator being enabled, and

automatically activating the other one of the silent alert generator and the audible alert generator during a second predetermined time period exclusive of the first predetermined time period responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the other one of the silent alert and the audible alert generator being enabled , and

when the radio is determined to be coupled to the accessory,

enabling the audible alert generator, when disabled, and

activating the audible alert generator during both the first and the second predetermined time periods responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the audible alert generator being enabled.

2. A radio in accordance with claim 1 wherein the accessory further comprises an external power supply.

3. A method of operating a radio capable of being coupled to an accessory, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a valid information signal;

determining whether or not the radio is coupled to the accessory,

when the radio is determined not to be coupled to the accessory,

activating one of a silent alert generator and an audible alert generator during a first predetermined time period responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the one of the silent alert and the audible alert generator being enabled, and

automatically activating the other one of the silent alert generator and the audible alert generator during a second predetermined time period exclusive of the first predetermined time period responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the other one of the silent alert and the audible alert generator being enabled, and

when the radio is determined to be coupled to the accessory,

enabling the audible alert generator, when disabled, and

activating the audible alert during both the first and the second predetermined time periods responsive to the reception of the valid information signal and responsive to the audible alert generator being enabled.

4. A radio for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals comprising:

an antenna for receiving an RF signal;

a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving the RF signal;

a first generator for generating a silent alert when the first generator is enabled and activated;

a second generator for generating a audible alert when the second generator is enabled and activated; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver, for;

determining whether or not the radio is coupled to the accessory,

when the radio is determined not to be coupled to the accessory,

activating the first generator for a first period of time when the RF signal is received and when the first generator is enabled, and

activating the second generator for a second period of time after expiration of the first period of time when the RF signal is received and when the second generator is enabled, and

when the radio is determined to be coupled to the accessory,

enabling the second generator, when disabled, and

activating the second generator when the RF signal is received and when the second generator is enabled.

5. A radio for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals comprising:

an antenna for receiving an RF signal;

a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving the RF signal;

a first generator for generating a vibrating alert when the first generator is enabled and activated;

a second generator for generating a ringing alert when the second generator is enabled and activated; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver, for;

determining whether or not the radio is coupled to the accessory,

when the radio is determined not to be coupled to the accessory,

activating the first generator for a first period of time when the RF signal is received and when the first generator is enabled, and

activating the second generator for a second period of time after expiration of the first period of time when the RF signal is received and when the second generator is enabled, and

when the radio is determined to be coupled to the accessory

enabling the audible alert generator, if disabled, and

activating the second generator when the RF signal is received and when the second generator is enabled.

6. A radio for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals comprising:

an antenna for receiving an RF signal;

a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving the RF signal;

a first generator for generating a vibrating alert when the first generator is enabled and activated;

a second generator for generating an audible ringing alert when the second generator is enabled and activated; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver, for;

determining whether or not the radio is coupled to the accessory,

when the radio is determined not to be coupled to the accessory,

activating at least one of the first and second generators when the RF signal is received and when the one of the first and second generators is enabled, and

when the radio is determined to be coupled to the accessory,

enabling the second generator, when disabled, and

activating the second generator when the RF signal is received and when the second generator is enabled.