Device and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals

• US 7,415,291 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/964,385
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455572-573, 455/575.1, 455/401, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455557-559, 455/567, 455/90.01, 455/93.03, 379/373.01, 379/373.03, 379/373.04, 379/374.01, 379/374.02, 340/636.1, 340/636.16, 340/7.2, 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.

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, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the first sound file when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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; and

a second sound generating device attached to the second battery and comprising memory for storing a second sound file different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the second sound file when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of the telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by of 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, and wherein the first and the second sound files can be being designated as audio alert signals for the telephone.

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 a first plurality of sound files, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to playa sound associated with one of the first plurality of sound files when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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, comprising memory for storing a second plurality of sound files, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to playa sound associated with one of the second plurality of sound files when the second battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of the telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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; 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, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to playa sound associated with one of the first plurality of sound files when the first battery is installed in the cellular telephone upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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, 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 receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone through the terminals upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone and to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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; 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, wherein the first sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the first sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving 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 to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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 and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file different from the first sound file, wherein the second sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the second sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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 by adding or deleting from the first or second sound generating devices.

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, wherein the first sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to playa sound associated with a designated sound file of the first plurality when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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 and including a second sound generating device comprising memory for storing a second sound file that 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 playa sound associated with a designated sound file of the second plurality when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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 comprising memory for storing a first sound file, wherein the sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to playa sound associated with a designated sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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, wherein the sound generating device stores a second plurality of sound files different from the first plurality and is triggered to playa sound associated with a designated sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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 or deleting 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.

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, wherein the first sound generating device stores a first plurality of sound files and is triggered to playa sound associated with a designated sound file when the first cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the first sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the first battery generated by 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, wherein the second sound generating device stores a second plurality of sound files different from the first plurality and is triggered to playa sound associated with a designated sound file when the second cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body upon receiving an electrical signal 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 to play sound associated with the second sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the second battery generated by 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 for 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 or deleting 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.

18. 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 programmable sound generating device and an external socket 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 an external socket located on an outside surface and having terminals for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone;

connecting a computer system containing software that can access the first or second sound generating devices to the external socket of either the first or the second battery;

accessing either the first or the second sound generating device;

adding or deleting a sound file via the computer onto or from either the first or the second sound generating device, respectively;

when desiring to hear the sound file of the first sound generating device, installing the first battery onto the cellular telephone such that a sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal 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 sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone the terminals of to the first battery upon detection of an event other than a telephone call by the cellular telephone; and

when desiring to hear the sound file of the second sound generating device, installing the second battery onto the cellular telephone such that a sound file of the second sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal 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 sound file of the second sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone to the second battery upon detection of an event other than a telephone call by the cellular telephone.

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

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;

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;

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 from the first plurality during cellular telephone operation, then installing the first battery into the cellular telephone such that the sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal 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 sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone to the first battery upon detection of an event other than a telephone call by the cellular telephone; and

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

21. A method of selecting an audio alert signal for 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 having at least one sound file;

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 having at least one sound file different from the at least one sound file of the first programmable sound generating device;

when desiring to hear the at least one sound file of the first sound generating device, then installing the first battery in the cellular telephone such that a sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal 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 sound file of the first sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone to the first battery upon detection of an event other than a telephone call by the cellular telephone; and

when desiring to hear the at least one sound file of the second sound generating device, then installing the second battery in the cellular telephone such that that sound file of the second sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal 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 sound file of the second sound generating device is activated upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone to the second battery upon detection of an event other than a telephone call by the cellular telephone.