Portable message waiting indicator

• US 7,130,388 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bell, Ian Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/759,116
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.15, 379/88.04, 379/88.11, 379/88.17, 379/211.03, 455/413
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for easily indicating to a user that a communication has been received for him or her. A portable message waiting indication device (MWID) includes a power source (e.g., battery), signal receiver and a visual and/or audible indicator. The indicator is activated in response to receipt of a first wireless signal at the receiver. In response to a second signal the indicator is deactivated. A MWID may also include a user-actuable switch or sensor to deactivate the indicator. In one method of using a MWID to inform a user that a communication has been received, the user registers the MWID and may identify when the MWID indicator should be activated (e.g., for certain types of messages (e.g., voice-mail, electronic mail), certain senders, a category of senders, time of day, message priority). Multiple MWIDs may be configured and employed by a user, and each may be configured similarly or differently.

Claims

1. A method of indicating receipt of a communication, comprising:

registering a first message-indicating device for a user, said first device comprising an indicator;

registering a second message-indicating device for said user, said second device comprising an alarm;

registering said second message-indicating device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications;

receiving notification of receipt of a first communication directed to a communication device associated with the user;

initiating a first wireless signal to said first message-indicating device;

initiating said first wireless signal to said second message-indicating device;

wherein in response to said first signal, said indicator of said first device and said alarm of said second device activate to alert the user;

wherein said first message-indicating device and said communication device are separate devices; and

deactivating said indicator upon acknowledgement of said receipt of said communication by said user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a second wireless signal to said first message-indicating device;

wherein in response to said second signal said indicator deactivates.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second wireless signal is initiated after the user accesses said first communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicator deactivates in response to manipulation of the first message-indicating device by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said registering comprises:

receiving an identification code of said first message-indicating device from the user; and

associating said identification code with one or more types of communications.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first communication is a voice-mail message.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said first communication is an electronic mail message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating said first signal to said second device when said first signal is initiated to said first device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating said first signal to said second device when notification of receipt of a second communication directed to the user is received, but not when said notification of said first communication is received.

10. A method of using a message-waiting device to notify a user of receipt of a communication for the user, the method comprising:

receiving a communication directed to a communication device associated with said user;

registering a second message-indicating device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications;

initiating a first electronic signal to a first message-waiting device associated with the user, wherein said first message-waiting device includes an indicator and said first electronic signal is configured to activate said indicator;

initiating said first electronic signal to a second message-waiting device associated with the user, wherein said second message-waiting device includes an alarm and said first electronic signal is configured to activate said alarm;

providing said communication to said user; and

after said providing, automatically initiating a second electronic signal to said first message-waiting device, wherein said second electronic signal is configured to deactivate said indicator upon acknowledgement of said receipt of said communication by said user;

wherein said first message-waiting device and said communication device are separate devices.

11. A method of indicating receipt of a communication, comprising:

receiving a first wireless signal at a first message-indicating device, wherein said first device includes a first alarm;

receiving said first wireless signal at a second message-indicating device immediately after said receipt of said first wireless signal at said first device, wherein said second device includes a second alarm;

registering said second message-indicating device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications;

activating said first alarm and said second alarm in response to said first wireless signal; and

deactivating said first alarm upon acknowledgement of said receipt of said communication by said user;

wherein receipt of said first wireless signal indicates that a first communication was directed to a communication device associated with a user of said first device; and

wherein said first message-indicating device and said communication device are separate devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein deactivating said first alarm comprises deactivating said first alarm in response to a second wireless signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second signal is received after the user accesses said first communication.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein deactivating said first alarm comprises deactivating said first alarm in response to manipulation of the first device by the user.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising registering said first device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications including said first communication.

16. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of indicating receipt of a communication, the method comprising:

registering a first message-indicating device for a user, said first device comprising an indicator;

registering a second message-indicating device for said user, said second device comprising an alarm;

registering said second message-indicating device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications;

receiving notification of receipt of a first communication directed to a communication device associated with the user;

initiating a first wireless signal to said first message-indicating device;

initiating said first wireless signal to said second message-indicating device;

wherein in response to said first signal, said indicator of said first device and said alarm of said second device activate to alert the user;

wherein said first message-indicating device and said communication device are separate devices; and

deactivating said indicator upon acknowledgement of said receipt of said communication by said user.

17. A portable apparatus for indicating receipt of a communication, comprising:

a first message-indicating device further comprising a signal receiver configured to receive a first wireless signal generated after receipt of a communication directed to a communication device associated with a user and

an indicator configured to activate in response to receipt of said first signal;

a second message-indicating device further comprising another signal receiver configured to receive said first wireless signal and an alarm configured to activate in response to receipt of said first signal; and

registering said second message-indicating device for activation in response to receipt of one of multiple types of communications;

wherein said indicator is configured to deactivate in response to a second signal upon acknowledgement of said receipt of said communication by said user; and

wherein said apparatus and said communication device are separate devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second signal is a wireless signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a switch configured to issue said second signal in response to user manipulation.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises said switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said indicator is a visual indicator.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said indicator is an audible indicator.

23. A communication waiting indication system comprising:

a first communication waiting indication device associated with a first user, said first device comprising a first alarm;

a second communication waiting indication device associated with said first user, said second device comprising a second alarm; and

a notification server configured to issue a first wireless signal toward said first device and said second device in response to receipt of a first communication directed to a communication device associated with the first user;

wherein in response to said first wireless signal, said second message-indicating device is registered for activation in response to receipt of one of said multiple types of communications;

wherein in response to said first wireless signal, said first alarm is activated;

wherein said notification server initiates a second wireless signal toward said first device after the first user acknowledges said first communication and wherein, in response to said second wireless signal, said first alarm is deactivated; and

wherein said first waiting indication device and said communication device are separate devices.

24. The system of claim 23,

wherein said second alarm of said second device is also activated in response to said first wireless signal.

25. The system of claim 23,

wherein said second alarm of said second device is not activated in response to said first wireless signal.