Portable alerter for wireless device

• US 7,305,257 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T., Ladouceur, Norman M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/825,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/42, 455/426, 455/569.1, 455/41.2, 455/415, 370/351, 345/156, 320/107, 379/446
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

The present invention is a remove-able portable alerter for a portable wireless communication host device. The alerter provides a method to receive un-obtrusive alerts from the host device informing the user of incoming notifications. Users are informed of alerts without having to wear, hold, carry or listen to alerts from the host device. The invention provides an alternative to carrying a larger, bulkier host communication device. The alerter provided greater control and manageability of incoming notification enabling them to respond to alerts at their convenience.

Claims

1. A mobile alerter for a mobile communication device, said mobile alerter comprising:

a processor;

a power supply;

a wireless receiver to communicate with said mobile communication device;

notification hardware for triggering a notification of an incoming alert; and

a connection interface for removably connecting said mobile alerter to a host connection interface of a cavity of said mobile communication device;

said mobile alerter forming the notification unit of said mobile communication device such that

when said mobile communication device determines that said mobile alerter is in a tethered mode in which said alerter is inserted into said cavity of said mobile communication device such that said connection interface is coupled with said host connection interface, said mobile alerter outputs notification alerts for said mobile communication device triggered when a notification message is received from said mobile communication device by said mobile alerter via said connection interface, and

when said mobile communication device determines that said mobile alerter is in an un-tethered mode in which said alerter is not inserted into a cavity of said mobile communication device, said mobile alerter outputs notification alerts for said mobile communication device triggered when a notification message is received from said mobile communication device by said mobile alerter via said wireless receiver.

2. The mobile alerter of claim 1, wherein said notification hardware comprises at least one type of hardware selected from the following group:

a speaker, a vibrator, and a light.

3. The mobile alerter of claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises a battery.

4. A system for receiving notifications on a mobile alerter comprising:

a mobile alerter as claimed in claim 1, and

a mobile communication device comprising a processor;

a wireless communication means to communicate with a wireless network;

a wireless transmitter for communication with a wireless network;

a wireless receiver for communication with a wireless network;

a wireless transmitter for communication with said mobile alerter;

a housing with a cavity for receiving said mobile alerter; and

a host connection interface for receiving said mobile alerter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said wireless communication means comprises at least one form of communication means selected from the following group:

a voice communication means, and a data communication means.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said host connection interface comprises at least one form of interface selected from the following group:

a serial interface, a parallel interface, a USB interface, a Firewire interface, and a wireless interface.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the connection interface of the mobile device is located within the cavity of the housing of the mobile device, the cavity being adapted to slidably receive the mobile alerter.

8. A method for receiving notifications on a mobile alerter, said mobile alerter removably connectable to a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first notification message on a mobile communication device from a wireless network;

said mobile communication device determining if said mobile alerter is in a tethered mode in which said alerter is inserted into a cavity of said mobile communication device such that a connection interface of said mobile alerter is coupled to a host connection interface of said cavity of said mobile communication device, or in an un-tethered mode in which said alerter is not inserted into a cavity of said mobile communication device; and

sending out a second notification message from said mobile communication device to said mobile alerter, said mobile alerter forming the notification unit of said mobile communication device such that

when said mobile communication device determines that said mobile alerter is in a tethered mode, said mobile alerter outputs notification alerts for said mobile communication device triggered when a second notification message is received from said mobile communication device by said mobile alerter via said connection interface, and

when said mobile communication device determines that said mobile alerter is in an un-tethered mode, said mobile alerter outputs notification alerts for said mobile communication device triggered when a second notification message is received from said mobile communication device by said mobile alerter via a wireless receiver;

receiving said second notification message on said mobile alerter; and

triggering notification hardware to alert a user of said second notification message received by said mobile alerter of said mobile communication device.