Programmable audio alert system and method

• US 7,013,006 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Briney, III, Walter F
• Application Number:
  US10/051,194
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 379/373.03, 379/373.02, 379/110.01, 379/418, 379/910, 379/911, 379/912, 379/2, 455/456.7, 455/418
• US Class Current: 379/373.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A user-programmable audio alert system, device, and method includes an audio alert created by a user and programmed into a device, such as a wireless telephone. A user programs and stores in the device a data structure relating an audio alert triggering event to the audio alert. When the device detects an occurrence of the particular audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event. As such, users are able to customize audio alerts that are easily recognizable and that are associated with a particular event, or signal. Audio alerts can be programmed using different devices and in various formats and can be transmitted to other devices. An audio alert triggering event can modulate an audio alert according to an external variable.

Claims

1. A user-programmable audio alert system, comprising:

a plurality of audio alerts created by a user;

a plurality of data structures, each data structure programmed by a user to detect an occurrence of one of a plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and relate the one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts;

a device having storage for storing data, the plurality of data structures stored in the device; and

the device further comprising an emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts;

the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts to another device having storage for storing data and the emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts and wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of data structures to the another device;

wherein when a particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events occurs, the data structure so programmed detects the occurrence of the particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and causes the device to emit the audio alert related to the particular distinct triggering event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is programmable to modulate a selected one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable associated with the distinct audio alert triggering event related to the selected one of the plurality of audio alerts.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the external variable comprises global positioning information.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the external variable comprises relative distance information.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the external variable comprises directional information.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the external variable comprises retail information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the retail information comprises product information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the retail information comprises price information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events comprise a ringing signal and an electronic mail message.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio alerts comprises a sequence of numbers and wherein each number further comprises a distinct musical tone.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio alerts comprises an audio alert programmed with a personal computer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio alerts comprises an audio alert programmed with a keypad.

14. A user-programmable device for emitting an audio alert, comprising:

storage for storing data;

a plurality of audio alerts created by a user;

a plurality of arrays, each array programmed by a user to detect an occurrence of one of a plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and relate the one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts;

a device having storage for storing data, the plurality of arrays stored in the device; and

the device further comprising an emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts;

the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts to another device having storage for storing data and the emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts and wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of arrays to the another device;

wherein when a particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events occurs, the array so programmed detects the occurrence of the particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and causes the device to emit the audio alert related to the particular distinct triggering event.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is programmable to modulate a selected one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable associated with the distinct audio alert triggering event related to the selected one of the plurality of audio alerts.

17. A method of customizing audio alerts in a device, comprising:

storing a plurality of audio alerts created by a user in the device;

receiving programming in the device of a plurality of lists, each list programmed by a user to detect an occurrence of one of a plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and relate the one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts;

wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts to another device having storage for storing data and an emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts and wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of lists to the another device; and

wherein when a particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events occurs, the data structure so programmed detects the occurrence of the particular one of the plurality of distinct audio alert triggering events and causes the device to emit the audio alert related to the particular distinct triggering event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is programmable to modulate a selected one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable associated with the distinct audio alert triggering event related to the selected one of the plurality of audio alerts.