User-based signal indicator for telecommunications device and method of remotely notifying a user of an incoming communications signal incorporating the same

• US 7,130,664 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel P Williams
• Original Assignee: Daniel P Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/250,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.2, 455/421, 455/41.2, 340/539.16, 340/384.6, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/693.2, 379/102.03, 379/40, 709/206, 709/224
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote notification device in electronic communication with a user'"'"'s personal communication device that alerts the user that the personal communication device is receiving an incoming telecommunications signal. A user who is not in operable contact with the communication device is alerted to the incoming call, message, or page by the remote notification device, which is in operable contact with the user, and alerts the user with a suitable indication (e.g., visual, audible, and/or tactile). The remote notification device preferably permits the user to not alter his or her desired appearance in social situations. The remote notification device is easily concealable or integral to an article of clothing, piece of jewelry, piercing, or accessory that the user desires to wear or carry independent of the desire to be notified of incoming calls, messages, or pages.

Claims

1. A personal communications system comprising:

a telecommunications device capable of both receiving a first incoming communication signal and generating a second indicator signal representative of the presence of the first incoming communication signal; and

a remote notification device, separate and distinct from the telecommunications device, associated with a user of the telecommunications device and operably interconnected thereto for detecting the second indicator signal and providing a sensory indication to the user upon detection of the second indicator signal,

wherein, when the user is located out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device, the user can receive the sensory indication from the remote notification device in response to the telecommunications device receiving the first incoming communication signal, and wherein the remote notification device is configured to be worn by the user in at least one of a concealed manner and a manner integral to a conventional bodily-worn accessory.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the operable communication between the telecommunications device and the remote notification device is a wireless link.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first incoming communication signal comprises at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first incoming communication signal is received via a first telecommunications protocol and the second indicator signal is generated via a second telecommunications protocol, the second telecommunications protocol being different than the first telecommunications protocol.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to the skin of a user.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote notification device is worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote notification device is configured to have a decorative appearance.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a watch.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a bracelet.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is an anklet.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a ring.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is an accessory received in a body piercing.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is eyeglasses.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote notification device is worn with a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote notification device is clipped to a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to a bodily-carried accessory of a user.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is at least one of a carry bag and a purse.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

28. A remote notification device for a user of a telecommunications device, the telecommunications device capable of both receiving a first incoming communication signal and generating a second indicator signal representative of the presence of the first incoming communication signal, the remote notification device comprising:

a remote notification device, separate and distinct from the telecommunications device, associated with the user of the telecommunications device and adapted to be operably interconnected thereto for detecting the second indicator signal and providing a sensory indication to the user in response to detection of the second indicator signal;

wherein a user located out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device receives the sensory indication from the remote notification device in response to the telecommunications device receiving the first incoming communication signal, and wherein the remote notification device is configured to be worn by the user in at least one of a concealed manner and a manner integral to a conventional bodily-worn accessory.

29. The remote notification device of claim 28 wherein the remote notification device is adapted to be operably interconnected to the telecommunications device by a wireless link.

30. The remote notification device of claim 29 wherein the first incoming communication signal comprises at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device.

31. The remote notification device of claim 30 wherein the first incoming communication signal is received via a first telecommunications protocol and the second indicator signal is generated via a second telecommunications protocol, the second telecommunications protocol being different than the first telecommunications protocol.

32. The remote notification device of claim 28 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to the skin of a user.

33. The remote notification device of claim 32 wherein the remote notification device is worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user.

34. The remote notification device of claim 32 wherein the remote notification device is configured to have a decorative appearance.

35. The remote notification device of claim 28 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user.

36. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a watch.

37. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a bracelet.

38. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is an anklet.

39. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is a ring.

40. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is an accessory received in a body piercing.

41. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is eyeglasses.

42. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

43. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

44. The remote notification device of claim 35 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

45. The remote notification device of claim 28 wherein the remote notification device is worn with a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

46. The remote notification device of claim 45 wherein the remote notification device is clipped to a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

47. The remote notification device of claim 45 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

48. The remote notification device of claim 45 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

49. The remote notification device of claim 45 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

50. The remote notification device of claim 28 wherein the remote notification device is worn integral to a bodily-carried accessory of a user.

51. The remote notification device of claim 50 wherein the bodily-worn accessory is at least one of a carry bag and a purse.

52. The remote notification device of claim 50 wherein the sensory indication is visual.

53. The remote notification device of claim 50 wherein the sensory indication is audible.

54. The remote notification device of claim 50 wherein the sensory indication is tactile.

55. A method of remotely notifying a user of the presence of an incoming signal originated from a telecommunications transmitter to a telecommunications device associated with the user when the user is out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a remote notification device, separate and distinct from the telecommunications device, in sensory contact with the user, wherein the remote notification device is configured to be worn by the user in at least one of a concealed manner and a manner integral to a conventional bodily-worn accessory;

generating a notification signal to the remote notification device representative of the incoming signal between the telecommunications transmitter and the telecommunications device; and

detecting, at the remote notification device, the presence of the signal representative of the incoming signal.

56. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of notifying the user by providing, from the remote notification device, a sensory indication of the presence of the signal representative of the incoming signal.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the sensory indication comprises a visual sensory indication.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the sensory indication comprises an audible sensory indication.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the sensory indication comprises a tactile sensory indication.

60. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of operably coupling the telecommunications device and the remote notification device by a wireless link.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein the first incoming signal comprises at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device.

62. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of wearing the remote notification device integral to the skin of the user.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the remote notification device is worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the remote notification device is configured to have a decorative appearance.

65. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of wearing the remote notification device integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user.

66. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of wearing the remote notification device with a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

67. The method of claim 55 and further comprising the step of wearing the remote notification device integral with a bodily-carried accessory of a user.

68. The method of claim 55 wherein the notification signal originates with the telecommunications transmitter.

69. The method of claim 55 wherein the notification signal originates with the telecommunications device.