Notifying stations for portable electronic devices and methods

• US 7,751,852 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gregory T. Kavounas
• Inventors: Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary; Erika A
• Application Number:
  US11/682,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Generally, the present invention provides stations for one or more portable electronic devices (PEDs) and methods for such stations. A station can support a PED, and sense when the PED would be notifying its user about a wireless signal that is received from a remote transmitter. When the station so senses, it further generates a human-perceptible indication to help notify the user, who might have walked away. The human-perceptible indication can include, a call sound, a light signal, etc. This way, for example, when the PED is only vibrating, the call sound can be such that the station rings like a regular home telephone, and/or the light signal can be such that the station lights up without distracting coworkers as much. As such, the user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode.

Claims

1. A station for use with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED including an antenna operable to receive a wireless signal from a remote transmitter at least 500 feet away from the PED, the PED further including a PED mechanism to operate for generating a human-perceptible first call signal to notify a user about the received wireless signal, the station comprising:

a body for supporting the PED;

a sensor;

a circuit for outputting a notifier signal responsive to the sensor sensing the human-perceptible first call signal while the PED is supported by the body;

a station notifier for generating a human-perceptible indication responsive to the notifier signal; and

a station notifier testing actuator for causing the station notifier to generate the human-perceptible indication when the human-perceptible first call signal is not being generated.

2. The station of claim 1, in which

the station notifier testing actuator simulates the notifier signal for causing the station notifier to generate the human-perceptible indication.

3. The station of claim 1, in which

the station notifier testing actuator duplicates the notifier signal for causing the station notifier to generate the human-perceptible indication.

4. The station of claim 1, in which the PED mechanism includes a vibration mechanism for causing a mechanical vibration as the human-perceptible first call signal, and the sensor includes a vibration sensor for perceiving the mechanical vibration.

5. The station of claim 1, in which the PED mechanism includes a PED speaker for emitting a ring tone as the human-perceptible first call signal, and the sensor includes a microphone for perceiving the ring tone.

6. The station of claim 1, in which the body includes a cavity for supporting therein the PED, the cavity including a rubber surface for supporting thereon the PED.

7. The station of claim 1, in which the station notifier includes a speaker.

8. The station of claim 7, In which the human-perceptible indication is a call sound generated from the speaker, and further comprising a volume controller for adjusting a volume of the call sound.

9. The station of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter for filtering what the sensor senses as the human-perceptible first call signal,

in which the notifier signal is output responsive to the filtered first call signal but not responsive to any filtered first call signal.

10. The station of claim 9, in which the filter is mechanical.

11. The station of claim 9, in which the filter is electrical.