Vibrating wireless headset for wireless communication devices

• US 7,986,976 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Osann, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US11/803,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.7, 455/156.1, 455/415, 455/461, 455566-567
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• 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 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal

Abstract

A remote controller/communicator device is described that aids in answering and processing incoming calls in a manner courteous to those in close proximity to the receiving party. These devices provide a silent, vibrating ring indication in a small wireless device that can be kept close to the user'"'"'s body. Some embodiments also include bi-directional voice communications with a mobile phone thereby also implementing a wireless headset function. Additional embodiments further include a delayed “courtesy answer mode”, where the receiving party manually activates a recorded or automatically constructed message to be played for the caller, indicating that the receiving party will take their call shortly, and/or is relocating to a location where they will be better able to receive the call.

Claims

1. A wireless remote controller configured to answer a call from a caller to a mobile phone and being configured for bi-directional communications with the mobile phone, the wireless remote controller comprising:

a display configured to display caller ID information transmitted from the mobile phone;

numerical buttons configured for entering user selectable command information;

a function key configured for entering a type of action to be taken;

a vibrating ring indicator responsive to information transmitted from the mobile phone, and

the wireless remote controller being configured to send the user selectable command information to the mobile phone to initiate a courtesy mode, wherein a courtesy message is determined based on the user selectable command information and the function key and wherein the courtesy message indicates a courtesy period to the caller, the courtesy period being defined by the user selectable command information.

2. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, wherein the function key is one of a plurality of function keys.

3. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, further comprising the function key configured to answer the call in a conventional manner.

4. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, wherein the user selectable command information includes a command that indicates to the mobile phone that the call should be sent to voicemail.

5. The wireless remote controller of claim 4, wherein the user selectable command information sent to the mobile phone indicating that the call should be sent to voicemail causes a voicemail greeting to be played.

6. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, further comprising a visible courtesy mode indicator.

7. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, wherein the user selectable command information includes a command indicating that any audible ring indication emitted from the mobile phone should terminate and be replaced by a vibrating ring indication on the mobile phone.

8. The wireless remote controller of claim 1, wherein the user selectable command information includes a command indicating that any audible ring indication emitted from the mobile phone should terminate and be replaced by a flashing icon ring indication on the mobile phone.

9. A wireless remote headset configured to answer a mobile phone call from a caller, the wireless remote headset comprising:

a communications capability for bi-directional voice and data communications with a mobile phone;

a display configured to display caller ID information transmitted from the mobile phone;

numerical buttons configured for entering user selectable command information;

a function key configured for entering a type of action to be taken;

a vibrating ring indicator responsive to information transmitted from the mobile phone; and

the wireless remote headset being configured to send to the mobile phone the user selectable command information to initiate a courtesy mode, wherein a courtesy message is determined based on the user selectable command information and the function key and wherein the courtesy message indicates a courtesy period to the caller, the courtesy period being defined by the user selectable command information.

10. The wireless remote headset of claim 9, wherein the user selectable command information sent to the mobile phone includes a command configured to cause an alteration of a ring mode of the mobile phone.

11. The wireless remote headset of claim 10, wherein the command configured to cause an alteration of the ring mode also causes any audible ring indication to be terminated.

12. The wireless remote headset of claim 9, further comprising a visible courtesy mode indicator.

13. The wireless remote headset of claim 9, wherein the user selectable command information includes a command that causes the call to be sent to voicemail.

14. The wireless remote headset of claim 9, further comprising a first function key configured to answer the call in a conventional manner.

15. A wireless remote controller configured for bidirectional communication with a mobile phone, the wireless remote controller being configured to selectively enable delayed establishment of an incoming call from a caller, the wireless remote controller comprising:

a display configured to show caller ID information for the incoming call;

numerical buttons configured for entering user selectable command information;

a courtesy mode function key configured to activate a courtesy mode of operation by sending the user selectable command information to the mobile phone and triggering dispatch of a courtesy message from the mobile phone to the caller, the courtesy message indicating a courtesy period to the caller, the courtesy period being defined by the user selectable command information; and

a silencing function key that sends a signal to the mobile phone to automatically cease any audio call arrival indication generated by the mobile phone.

16. The wireless remote controller of claim 15, further comprising a function key configured to answer the call in a conventional manner.

17. The wireless remote controller of claim 15, further comprising a send-to-voicemail function key configured to invoke a voicemail function.

18. The wireless remote controller of claim 15, further comprising a visible courtesy mode indicator.