Device, system and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals

• US 7,277,734 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/964,389
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.01, 455/90.03, 455/572, 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/401, 455/566.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/558, 455/559, 455/567, 379/373.01, 379/373.03, 379/373.04, 379/374.01, 379/374.02, 379/90.1, 379/90.3, 379/572, 379/573, 379/575.1, 379/401, 379/566.1, 379/566.2, 379/557, 379/558, 379/559, 379/567, 340/636.1, 340/636.16, 340/7.2, 340/7.32
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A device, system and method is described for augmenting cellular telephone signals for a cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, an audio signal device cellular is provided with a sound generating device that stores one or more audio signals that are activated upon receipt of a telephone call. Optionally, the audio signal device may store a library of audio signals that may be programmable and edited. The device, 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.

Claims

1. A device that plays alerts and is used with a wireless communication device, the device comprising:

a substantially rectangular planar shell having electrical terminals on one side of the planar shell that are also electrically connectable to electrical terminals on a wireless communication device;

a battery powering the wireless communication device;

an alert generating device, located inside the shell and electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the planar shell, comprising memory for storing an alert file, wherein the alert generating device is triggered to play an alert associated with the file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an incoming communication by the wireless communication device and wherein further, the alert generating device is also triggered to play the alert associated with the file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication; and

a selector device on the rectangular planar shell for scrolling through a plurality of sound files and designating a sound file to use as the alert file.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the alert generating device is a sound generating device, wherein the alert file is a sound file, wherein the alert is an audio alert, and wherein the sound generating device stores a plurality of sound files, and wherein each sound file can be designated as an audio alert signal for the telephone.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the shell in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device.

4. A device for a wireless communication device that plays alerts, the device comprising:

a shell attachable between a wireless communication device body and a wireless communication device battery;

an alert generating device inside the shell and comprising memory for storing a plurality of alert files, wherein the alert generating device is triggered by a signal from the wireless communication device body to the battery to play an alert associated with an alert file upon detection of an incoming communication by the wireless communication device and wherein further, the alert generating device is also triggered to play the alert associated with the alert file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device body to the battery to play an alert associated with an alert file upon detection of an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication;

an external connector socket on the shell in electrical communication with the alert generating device to provide external access for adding alert files, deleting alert files and editing alert files in the alert generating device; and

a selector device on the shell for designating a file to use as an audio alert signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, the alert signal is a sound, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.

10. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the audio signal device in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device.

11. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the sound generating device through the connector socket, for adding deleting and editing the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device.

6. A device for a wireless communication device that plays alerts, the device comprising:

a shell attachable between a wireless communication device body and a wireless communication device battery;

an alert generating device inside the shell and comprising memory for storing a plurality of alert files, wherein the alert generating device is triggered by a signal from the wireless communication device body to the battery to play an alert associated with an alert file upon detection of an incoming communication by the wireless communication device and wherein further, the alert generating device is also triggered by a signal from the wireless communication device body to the battery to play the alert associated with the alert file upon detection of an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication;

accessing means on the shell in electrical communication with the alert generating device for providing external access to the plurality of alert files in the alert generating device; and

selecting means on the shell for designating an alert file to use as an alert signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, the alert signal is a sound, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.

8. A wireless communication device system having changeable alert signals, the system comprising:

a wireless communication device body;

a wireless communication device battery for powering the wireless communication device body;

an alert signal device, connectable with the wireless communication device body and the wireless communication device battery, including an alert generating device comprising memory for storing an alert file, wherein the alert generating device is triggered to play an alert associated with the alert file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an incoming communication by to the wireless communication device and wherein further, the alert generating device is also triggered by a signal from the wireless communication device body to the battery to play the alert upon detection of an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication; and

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

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the alert generating device is a sound generating device, wherein the alert file is a sound file, wherein the alert is a sound, and wherein the sound generating device stores the plurality of sound files that are capable of being added, deleted and edited.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the alert generating device is a sound generating device, wherein the alert file is a sound file, wherein the alert is a sound, and wherein the sound generating device stores a plurality of sound files and is triggered to play a sound associated with a designated sound file upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the audio signal device in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

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

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the audio signal device in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device;

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the sound generating device through the external connector socket, for modifying the plurality of sound files by adding or deleting from the sound generating device.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing means on the audio signal device and in electrical communication with the sound generating device for providing external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device;

programming means, electrically connected to the sound generating device through the accessing means, for editing the plurality of sound files by adding and deleting sound files from the sound generating device; and

selecting means on the audio signal device for designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, the alert signal is a sound, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.

18. A method of programming designated alert signals on a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

providing an alert signal device for use with a wireless communication device, the alert signal device including a programmable alert generating device, an external socket located on an outside surface and a selector device on the alert signal device located on the outside surface for scrolling through a plurality of alert files and designating at least a sound file to use as an alert signal;

connecting a computer system containing software that can access the alert generating device to the external socket of the alert signal device;

accessing the alert generating device;

adding or deleting an alert file via the computer onto or from the alert generating device, respectively;

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to a battery generated by an incoming call at the wireless communication device; and

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to a battery generated by an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computer system is a personal data assistant.

20. A method of selecting a designated alert signal for a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

providing an alert signal device for use with a wireless communication device, the alert signal device including a programmable alert generating device and a selector located on an outside surface of the alert signal device, wherein the alert generating device includes a plurality of alert files;

scrolling through the plurality of alert files with the selector to experience the plurality of alert files;

experiencing exemplary alerts;

selecting a selected alert from the plurality of alert files when a designated alert file is reached;

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to a battery generated by an incoming call at the wireless communication device; and

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

21. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor of a wireless device perform acts comprising:

storing a plurality of sound files in a memory within a body of the wireless device;

receiving input from a selector device located on an audio signal device connected to the body of the wireless device and to a battery, wherein the battery powers electronic circuitry within the body of the wireless device, the memory and a sound generating device within the audio signal device;

designating a file of the plurality to use as an alert signal by the sound generating device by manipulating the selector on the audio signal device;

generating a first electric signal from the electronic circuitry within the body of the wireless device to the battery in response to an incoming communication and also generating a second electric signal from the electronic circuitry within body of the wireless device to the battery in response to an event at the wireless device other than an incoming communication; and

alerting a user with the alert signal of the designated file in response to one of the first and second electric signals generated by the electronic circuitry within the body of the wireless device.

22. A device that plays alerts and is used with a wireless communication device, the device comprising:

a planar shell having electrical terminals on one side that are electrically connectable to electrical terminals on a wireless communication device;

an alert generating device, located inside the shell and electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the planar shell, comprising memory for storing an alert file, wherein the alert generating device is triggered to play an alert associated with the alert file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to a battery powering the wireless communication device upon receiving an incoming communication by the wireless communication device and to also play the alert upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery upon detecting an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication, and wherein the alert generating device further comprises a memory receiving slot for adding new alert signals from a second memory positioned within the memory receiving slot; and

a selector device on the outside surface of the shell for scrolling through the plurality of sound files and designating a sound file to use as an audio alert signal.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, the alert signal is a sound, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.

24. A method of providing an alert with a wireless communication device that includes a body, a battery, and a planar shell that includes a selector device on the outside surface of the shell for scrolling through a plurality of alert files and designating an alert file to use as an alert signal and an alert generating device with a first memory and a memory receiving slot that receives a second memory, comprising:

storing a plurality of alert files in the first memory;

receiving the second memory into the memory receiving slot, the second memory storing a plurality of alert files different than those of the first memory;

receiving input from the selector device;

designating a file of the plurality of alert files of the first and second memory to use as an alert signal; and

alerting a user with the alert signal of the designated file in response to a signal from the body of the wireless communication device to the battery upon detecting an incoming communication and alerting the user with the alert signal of the designated file in response to a signal from the body of the wireless communication device to the battery upon detecting an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, the alert signal is a sound, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.