Control of an alert mechanism by communication of an event-associated command

• US 6,999,731 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cronin, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HUY Q
• Application Number:
  US09/996,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20030100336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/567, 455/88, 455/404, 329/201, 340/7.58, 340/825.36, 340/7.55, 340/7.57, 340/7.6, 340/7.61, 340/7.62
• US Class Current: 455/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus for associating a command with an event at a first device, communicating the command to a second device when the event occurs and causing an action at the second device depending on the command.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a command with a scheduled event on a stored schedule that is accessible by a personal digital assistant, wherein associating the command further comprises constructing the command depending on one or more of a clock time and the scheduled event;

communicating the command to a cellular telephone when the scheduled event occurs, wherein determining when the event has occurred further comprises

determining a clock time from a clock,

accessing the stored schedule,

determining from the stored schedule whether the scheduled event is associated with the clock time;

causing an action at the second device depending on the command, the action comprising at least one of;

disabling an alert mechanism of the cellular telephone;

enabling the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone; and

modifying a setting of the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone; and

if the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone is enabled, activating the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone in response to an alert being required, wherein the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone comprises a ringer, wherein disabling the alert mechanism of the cellular telephone comprises muting the ringer, wherein communicating the command comprises transmitting the command from the personal digital assistant to the cellular telephone, over a wireless network.

2. A machine accessible medium on which is stored data that when accessed by a machine causes it to perform the method of claim 1.

3. A method comprising:

associating a command with an event at a first device;

communicating the command to a second device when the event occurs;

causing an action at the second device depending on the command, the action comprising at least one of;

disabling an alert mechanism of the second device;

enabling the alert mechanism of the second device; and

modifying a setting of the alert mechanism of the second device; and

if the alert mechanism of the second device is enabled, activating the alert mechanism of the second device in response to an alert being required, wherein communicating with the second device further comprises;

sending a polling message from the second device to the first device;

receiving the polling message at the first device; and

in response to the polling message, receiving a message comprising the command from the first device.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a first device to associate a command with an event and to transmit a message comprising the command, wherein the first device is a personal digital assistant;

a second device to receive the message and to perform an action depending on the command, wherein the second device is a cellular telephone;

an alert mechanism of the second device with one or more of

a capability to be enabled in response to the command;

a capability to be disabled in response to the command; and

a setting, modifiable in response to the command,

wherein the alert mechanism, if the alert mechanism is enabled, is capable of being activated in response to an alert being required, wherein the alert mechanism is a ringer of the cellular telephone;

a storage component accessible by the first device, to store a schedule, wherein the event further comprises a scheduled event stored in the schedule; and

a clock to provide a clock time to one or more of the first device and the second device.