Communication device providing diverse audio signals to indicate receipt of a call or message

• US 7,483,721 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vesikivi, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US10/051,021
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/567, 455/3.06, 455/401, 455/426.1, 455/75, 455/77, 455/3.04, 455/414.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/93, 455/150.1, 455/179.1, 455/178.1
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A communication device including a caller identification feature. Radio frequencies are associated with preferred calling numbers. When a telephone call is received from a preferred calling number, a radio is tuned to the associated frequency. When an SMS message or an MMS message is received, the radio is tuned to an associated frequency. The person receiving the telephone call or message may be able to identify the calling number by the particular radio station. Further, the invention is a method of indicating the telephone number of a calling telephone or receipt of an SMS message or MMS message by tuning a radio to an associated frequency. The invention also includes a storage medium having instructions which control a communication device to indicate a telephone number identifying a telephone from which a telephone call originated or to indicate receipt of an SMS or a MMS message.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first signal indicative of presence of an incoming telephone call;

means for receiving a second signal indicative of a number identifying a telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

means for determining the indicated number;

means for associating the determined number with a radio frequency; and

means for tuning a radio to the associated radio frequency.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a telephone circuit configured to receive a first incoming signal indicative of a first identifying number identifying said apparatus, to indicate presence of an incoming call intended for the apparatus; and

a radio section configured to receive radio signals of various radio frequencies, said radio section configured to respond to receipt of the first incoming signal by the telephone circuit to select a radio signal of one of the radio frequencies and to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said telephone circuit is further configured to receive a second incoming signal indicative of a second identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a data receiver configured to store selected telephone identifying numbers and associate the stored telephone identifying numbers with particular ones of the radio frequencies, said data receiver configured to respond to receipt by said telephone circuit of a second incoming signal indicative of a stored telephone identifying number to cause said radio section to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the particular radio signal frequency associated with the indicated stored telephone identifying number.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said apparatus of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to tune the radio to a default radio frequency.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data receiver comprises a processing system.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a ringing circuit configured to provide a ringing signal indicating receipt of the first incoming signal, and wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said telephone circuit of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to enable said ringing circuit to provide the ringing signal.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus comprises a cellular telephone.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus comprises a land-line telephone.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus is configured to respond to receipt of a short message service message by the apparatus to select a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with short message service messages and to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said apparatus is configured to respond to receipt of a multimedia message service message by the apparatus to select a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages and to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

57. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said radio section comprises a one-way radio receiver configured to receive and amplify audio signals transmitted from a radio transmitter.

58. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said radio section comprises one of an amplitude modulation (AM) radio receiver and a frequency modulation (FM) radio receiver.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a telephone circuit configured to receive a first incoming signal indicative of a first identifying number identifying said apparatus, to indicate presence of an incoming call intended for the apparatus, and configured to receive a second incoming signal indicative of a second identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated; and

a data receiver configured to store selected telephone identifying numbers and to associate each stored telephone identifying number with a particular radio frequency, said data receiver configured to respond to receipt by said apparatus of a second incoming signal indicative of a stored telephone identifying number and to tune a radio to the particular radio frequency associated with the indicated stored telephone number so as to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the tuned radio signal frequency.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said apparatus of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to tune the radio to a default radio frequency.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a ringing circuit configured to provide a ringing signal indicating receipt of the first incoming signal, and wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said apparatus of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to enable said ringing circuit to provide the ringing signal.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said apparatus comprises a cellular telephone.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said apparatus comprises a land-line telephone.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a radio configured to be tuned by said data receiver.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said data receiver comprises a processing system.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said apparatus is configured to respond to receipt of a short message service message and to tune the radio to a radio frequency associated with short message service messages.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said apparatus is configured to respond to receipt of a multimedia message service message and to tune the radio to a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio section configured to receive radio signals of various radio frequencies, to select a radio signal of one of the radio frequencies, and to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal;

a telephone section having a first identifying number and including;

a telephone circuit configured to receive a first incoming signal indicative of the first identifying number, to indicate presence of an incoming call intended for the telephone section, and configured to receive a second incoming signal indicative of a second identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated; and

a data receiver configured to store selected telephone identifying numbers and to associate the stored telephone identifying numbers with particular ones of the radio frequencies, said data receiver configured to respond to receipt by said telephone circuit of a second incoming signal indicative of a stored telephone identifying number and to cause said radio section to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from the particular radio signal frequency associated with the indicated stored telephone identifying number.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said telephone circuit of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to cause said radio section to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from a default radio signal frequency.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a ringing circuit configured to provide a ringing signal indicating receipt of the first incoming signal, and wherein said data receiver is further configured to respond to receipt by said telephone circuit of a second incoming signal indicative of an unstored telephone identifying number and to enable said ringing circuit to provide the ringing signal.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said telephone section comprises a cellular telephone.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said telephone section comprises a land-line telephone.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein each of said telephone section and said radio section comprises a discrete component.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said data receiver comprises a processing system.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said telephone section is configured to respond to receipt of a short message service message and to cause said radio section to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from a radio signal frequency associated with short message service messages.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said telephone section is configured to respond to receipt of a multimedia message service message and to cause said radio section to provide an audio output of an audio signal derived from a radio signal frequency associated with multimedia message service messages.

30. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal indicative of presence of an incoming telephone call;

receiving a second signal indicative of a number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated;

determining the indicated number;

associating the determined number with a radio frequency; and

tuning a radio to the associated radio frequency.

31. A method, comprising:

receiving an incoming signal indicative of an incoming call; and

in response to receipt of the incoming signal, selecting a radio signal of a particular radio frequency, and providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

receiving a short message service message;

selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with short message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio frequency.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

receiving a multimedia message service message;

selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio frequency.

34. A method, comprising:

associating a plurality of telephone identifying numbers with particular radio frequencies;

receiving a first incoming signal indicative of an incoming call;

receiving a second incoming signal indicative of a telephone identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated;

upon receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of a telephone identifying number associated with one of the particular radio frequencies, selecting a radio signal of the particular radio frequency associated with the indicated telephone identifying number; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

upon receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of a telephone identifying number not associated with any of the plurality of radio frequencies, selecting a radio signal of a default radio frequency; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising upon receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of a telephone identifying number not associated with any of the plurality of radio frequencies, providing a ringing signal.

37. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a short message service message;

selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with short message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio frequency.

38. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a multimedia message service message;

selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio frequency.

59. The method of claim 34, wherein providing said audio output comprises receiving radio waves corresponding to audio signals at a radio receiver received from a radio transmitter, and amplifying said audio signals.

60. The method of claim 34, wherein providing said audio output comprises receiving radio signals with one of an AM radio receiver and an FM radio receiver.

39. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal indicative of presence of a telephone call directed to the receiving telephone;

determining whether a second signal has been received indicating a number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

if the second signal was not received, determining a default radio frequency;

if the second signal was received, determining the number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

determining whether a radio frequency is associated with the determined number;

if a radio frequency is not associated with the determined number, determining a default radio frequency;

if a radio frequency is associated with the determined number, determining the associated radio frequency; and

tuning a radio to the determined radio frequency.

40. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal indicative of presence of a telephone call directed to the receiving telephone;

disabling the ringing circuit of the receiving telephone from responding to the first signal;

determining whether a second signal has been received indicating a number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

if the second signal was not received, enabling the ringing circuit of the receiving telephone to respond to the first signal so as to indicate the presence of the telephone call;

if the second signal was received, determining the number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

determining whether a radio frequency is associated with the determined number;

if a radio frequency is not associated with the determined number, enabling the ringing circuit of the receiving telephone to respond to the first signal so as to indicate the presence of the telephone call; and

if a radio frequency is associated with the determined number, tuning a radio to the associated radio frequency.

41. A method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of presence of an incoming short message service message; and

tuning a radio to a radio frequency associated with short message service messages.

42. A method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of presence of an incoming multimedia message service message; and

tuning a radio to a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages.

43. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating a telephone number identifying a telephone from which an incoming telephone call is originating by responding to receipt of a first signal indicative of presence of an incoming telephone call and receipt of a second signal indicative of a number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated by determining the indicated number;

associating the determined number with a radio frequency; and

tuning a radio to the associated radio frequency.

44. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instruction stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating presence of an incoming call by responding to receipt of an incoming signal indicative of the incoming call by selecting a radio signal of a particular radio frequency; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a short message service message by selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with short message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a multimedia message service message by selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

47. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating presence of an incoming call by responding to receipt of a first incoming signal indicative of the incoming call and receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated by selecting a radio signal associated with the indicated identifying number; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal; and

wherein the instructions when executed further respond to receipt of a short message service message by selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with short message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone for which there is not an associated radio signal by selecting a default radio signal; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the default radio signal.

49. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone for which there is not an associated radio signal by providing a ringing signal.

50. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating presence of an incoming call by responding to receipt of a first incoming signal indicative of the incoming call and receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone from which the incoming call originated by selecting a radio signal associated with the indicated identifying number; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal; and

wherein the insturctions when executed further respond to receipt of a multimedia message service message by selecting a radio signal of a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the selected radio signal.

55. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone for which there is not an associated radio signal by selecting a default radio signal; and

providing an audio output of an audio signal derived from the default radio signal.

56. An apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

responding to receipt of a second incoming signal indicative of an identifying number identifying a telephone for which there is not an associated radio signal by providing a ringing signal.

51. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating a telephone number identifying a telephone from which has originated a telephone call directed to a receiving telephone by responding to receipt of a first signal indicative of presence of a telephone call directed to the receiving telephone by determining whether a second signal has been received indicating a number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

if the second signal was not received, determining a default radio frequency;

if the second signal was received, determining the number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

determining whether a radio frequency is associated with the determined number;

if a radio frequency is not associated with the determined number, determining a default radio frequency;

if a radio frequency is associated with the determined number, determining the associated radio frequency; and

tuning a radio to the determined radio frequency.

52. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating a telephone number identifying a telephone from which originated a telephone call directed to a receiving telephone having a ringing circuit for indicating receipt of a telephone call directed to the receiving telephone by responding to receipt of a first signal indicative of presence of a telephone call directed to the receiving telephone by disabling the ringing circuit from responding to the first signal;

determining whether a second signal has been received indicating a number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

if the second signal was not received, enabling the ringing circuit to respond to the first signal so as to indicate the presence of the telephone call;

if the second signal was received, determining the number identifying the telephone from which the incoming telephone call originated;

determining whether a radio frequency is associated with the determined number;

if a radio frequency is not associated with the determined number, enabling the ringing circuit to respond to the first signal so as to indicate the presence of the telephone call; and

if a radio frequency is associated with the determined number, tuning a radio to the associated radio frequency.

53. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating receipt of a signal indicative of presence of an incoming short message service message by tuning a radio to a radio frequency associated with short message service messages.

54. An apparatus, comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed perform a method comprising:

indicating receipt of a signal indicative of presence of an incoming multimedia message service message by tuning a radio to a radio frequency associated with multimedia message service messages.