Device and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals

• US 7,200,425 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/101,630
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455572-573, 455/575.1, 455/401, 4555561-5562, 455557-559, 455/567, 455/566.1, 455/566.2, 37937301-37302, 37937303-37304, 37937401-37402, 340/7.2, 340/7.53, 340/7.62, 340/636.1, 340/636.16, 340/7.32
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A system and method is described for augmenting cellular telephone signals for a cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, a cellular battery is equipped with a sound generating device that stores one or more audio signals that are activated upon receipt of a telephone call. Optionally, the battery may store a library of audio signals that may be programmable and edited. The system and method of the present invention enables a user to choose audio alert sounds beyond the scope of those provided by the manufacturer of a cellular telephone. A removable memory device containing at least one accessible sound file is attachable to the battery or telephone body, and provides increased selection of audio signal choices.

Claims

1. A battery assembly system for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a first battery for providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone;

a first sound generating device attached to the first battery and comprising memory for storing a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with the first sound file when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second battery for providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone;

a second sound generating device attached to the second battery and comprising memory for storing a second sound file downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with the second sound file when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of the telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the first and second sound generating devices store a plurality of sound files where at least some of the plurality of sounds files of the first generating device are different than the plurality of sound files of the second generating device.

3. The battery of claim 2, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the battery in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating device.

4. The battery of claim 2, further comprising:

a selector device on the first and second batteries battery for scrolling through the plurality of sound files of the first or second battery and designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

5. A battery assembly system for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a first battery for providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone;

a first sound generating device attached to the first battery, comprising memory for storing at least a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with the at least the first sound file when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming communication;

a second battery for providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone;

a second sound generating device attached to the second battery, comprising memory for storing at least a second sound file downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with the at least the second sound file when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of the telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the second sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming communication;

an external connector socket on each of the first and second batteries in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the first or second plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices for adding and deleting a sound file; and

a selector device on each of the first and second batteries for designating a sound file from the first plurality or from the second plurality to use as an audio alert signal.

6. A battery assembly system for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a first battery providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals;

a first sound generating device attached to the first battery and comprising memory for storing a first plurality of sound files downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play a sound alert associated with one of the first plurality of sound files when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second battery providing power to the cellular telephone and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone;

a second sound generating device attached to the second battery and comprising memory for storing a second plurality of sound files downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second plurality of sound files are different than the first plurality of sound files, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play a sound associated with one of the second plurality of sound files when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the second sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

accessing means in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices for providing external access to the first or second plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices for adding and deleting a sound file; and

selecting means on each of the first and second batteries for designating a sound file of the first or second plurality to use as an audio alert signal.

7. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide a signal; and

a first cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone body to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a first sound generating device comprising memory for storing a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play sound alerts associated with the first sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play sound alerts associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone body to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play sound alerts associated with the second sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play sound alerts associated with the second sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second sound generating devices store a plurality of sound files that are capable of being edited.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an external connector socket on each of the first and second batteries in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the first or second sound generating devices through the connector socket, for editing the plurality of sound files to add and delete sound files from the first or second sound generating device.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a selector device on each of the first and second batteries for scrolling through the plurality of sound files and designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

12. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide a signal;

a first cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a first sound generating device comprising memory for storing a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to play a sound alert associated with a designated sound file of the first plurality when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play sound alerts associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call; and

a second cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the first sound generating device stores a second plurality of sound files different from the first plurality and is triggered to play a sound alert associated with a designated sound file of the second plurality when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second cellular telephone battery upon detection of the telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the second sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an external connector socket on each of the first and second batteries in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the first or second plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the first or second sound generating devices through the connector socket, for editing the first or second plurality of sound files by adding or deleting from the first or second sound generating devices.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a selector device on each of the first and second batteries for scrolling through the first or second plurality of sound files and designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

16. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide a signal;

a first cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a first sound generating device;

a first removable memory device including at least one first sound file, the first memory device being attachable to the first battery, and allowing access to the first sound file from the first sound generating device and wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play an alert associated with the first sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a second sound generating device;

a second removable memory device including at least one second sound file, the second memory device being attachable to the second battery, and allowing access to the second sound file from the second sound generating device and wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play an alert associated with the second sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to detection of an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.

17. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide a signal;

a first cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a first sound generating device comprising memory for storing a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to play a sound alert associated with a designated sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the sound generating device stores a second plurality of sound files different from the first plurality and is triggered to play a sound alert associated with a designated sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

an external connector socket on each of the first and second batteries in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the first or second plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices;

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the first or second sound generating devices through the connector socket, for editing the first or second plurality of sound files by adding, deleting and editing sound files from the first or second sound generating devices; and

a selector device on each of the first and second batteries for designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

18. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide a signal;

a first cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a first sound generating device comprising memory for storing a first sound file downloaded from a removable memory device attachable to the first battery, wherein the first sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to play a sound associated with a designated sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the first sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the first sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

a second cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body and having terminals for establishing an electrical connection with the terminals of the cellular telephone to provide power to the cellular telephone and to receive a signal from the cellular telephone through the same terminals and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file downloaded from the removable memory device attachable to the second battery where the second sound file is different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device stores a second plurality of sound files different from the first plurality and is triggered to play a sound associated with a designated sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second cellular telephone battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and wherein further, the second sound generating device is triggered to also play a sound alert associated with the second sound file upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

accessing means on each of the first and second batteries and in electrical communication with the first or second sound generating devices to provide external access to the first or second plurality of sound files in the first or second sound generating devices;

programming means, electrically connected to the first or second sound generating devices through the accessing means, for editing the first or second plurality of sound files by adding, deleting and editing a sound file from the first or second sound generating devices; and

selecting means on each of the first and second batteries for designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

19. A method of programming designated audio alert signals on a cellular telephone, the method comprising:

providing a first battery for a cellular telephone, the first battery including a first sound generating device and a memory device receiving slot located on an outside surface and having terminals for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone;

providing a second battery for a cellular telephone, the second battery including a second programmable sound generating device and a memory device receiving slot located on an outside surface and having terminals for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone;

providing a removable memory device having at least a first and a second sound file;

inserting the memory device into the memory device receiving slot of the first battery;

accessing the first sound file by the first sound generating device;

selecting the first sound file and designating it as the audio alert signal for the telephone when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone such that the first sound file alert of the first sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and such that the first sound file alert of the first sound generating devise is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call;

inserting the memory device into the memory device receiving slot of the second battery;

accessing the second sound file by the second sound generating device; and

selecting the second sound file and designating it as the audio alert signal for the telephone when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone such that the second sound file alert of the second sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and such that the second sound file alert of the second sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.

20. A method of selecting a designated audio alert signal on a cellular telephone, the method comprising:

providing a first battery for a cellular telephone and having terminals for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone, the first battery including a first programmable sound generating device and a selector located on an outside surface, wherein the first sound generating device includes a first plurality of sound files downloaded from a removable memory device connectable to the first battery;

providing a second battery for the cellular telephone and having terminals for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone, the second battery including a second programmable sound generating device and a selector located on an outside surface, wherein the second sound generating device includes a second plurality of sound files downloaded from the removable memory device connectable to the second battery;

for each of the first and second batteries, scrolling through the first and second plurality of sound files with the selector to hear the first and second plurality of sound files;

listening to exemplary sounds of the first and second plurality of sound files;

selecting a selected sound from the first and the second plurality of sound files;

when desiring to hear the selected sound alert from the first plurality during cellular telephone operation, then installing the first battery into the cellular telephone such that the sound file alert of the first sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the first battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and such that the first sound file alert of the first sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the first battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call; and

when desiring to hear the selected sound alert from the second plurality during cellular telephone operation, then installing the second battery into the cellular telephone such that the sound file alert of the second sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the second battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals of the second battery upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and such that the second sound file alert of the second sound generating device is activated upon sensing an electrical signal to the battery produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals due to an event at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call.