Systems and methods for providing remote incoming call notification for cellular phones

• US 8,165,640 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/797,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,968 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/567, 455/66.1, 455/88, 455/575.3, 455/557, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• 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 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote notification to a user of a cellular, or mobile, phone as the result of a particular activity or any activity at all (e.g., an incoming call from a particular person, group, or just an incoming call). In one embodiment, a sensing device is provided on the cellular phone that communicates/routes an alert to a remote notification device. In one economical embodiment, the notification device may have a short wire-based communication channel (e.g., roughly 1 foot to 5 feet) and only have a single output device (e.g., a light-emitting device). Thus, a woman may be able to quietly receive notifications of a cell phone event when her cell phone is stored in her purse.

Claims

1. A system for use with a cellular phone that provides notification of an incoming call, said system comprising:

a sensing device that provides communication signals indicative of an incoming call, wherein said sensing device is an autonomous sensing device that senses a vibrational signal, operable to be directly perceived by a user, from said cellular phone; and

a remote communication device configured to receive said communication signals, wherein said communication device is configured to provide notification signals dependent upon said received communication signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication device includes an amplifier and a speaker, wherein said notification signals are audible notifications.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication device includes a vibrating device and a source of electrical energy, wherein said notification signals are vibrational notifications.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication device includes a light emitting device and a source of electrical energy, wherein said notification signals are light-emitted notifications.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote communication device includes a display device and a source of electrical energy, wherein said notification signals are text notifications.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing device and said remote communication device wirelessly communicate.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said wireless communication is a one-way communication from said sensing device to said remote communication device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said wireless communication is a two-way communication between said sensing device and said remote communication device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing device and said remote communication device communicate through a wire-based extension.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said wire-based communication is a one-way communication from said sensing device to said remote communication device.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said wire-based communication is a two-way communication between said sensing device and said remote communication device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, and said notification signals are light-based.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, and said notification signals are audible.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, and said notification signals are tactile.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, and said vibrational sensor is operable to determine different types of vibrations of said cellular phone.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, said vibrational sensor is operable to determine different types of vibrations of said cellular phone, and said vibrational sensor is operable to provide a different communication signals for each one of said different types of determined vibrations.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a vibrational sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said vibrational sensor sensing vibrations of said cellular phone, said vibrational sensor is operable to determine different types of vibrations of said cellular phone, and said vibrational sensor is operable to provide a different communication signals for each one of said different types of determined vibrations.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a sensor.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a sensor and said communication signals are provided based on said sensor.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said autonomous sensing device includes a sensor, said communication signals are provided based on said sensor sensing, and said sensor is operable to determine different types of vibrational signals emitted from said cellular phone.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal is a vibrational signal.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal is a light-based signal.

24. A system for use with a device that provides notification of an incoming call, said system comprising:

a sensing device that is operable to be attached to said device that provides communication signals indicative of an incoming call, wherein said sensing device is an autonomous sensing device that senses a vibrational signal, operable to be directly perceived by a user, from said device; and

a remote communication device configured to receive said communication signals, wherein said communication device is configured to provide notification signals and said notification signals are dependent upon said received communication signals.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensing device includes a battery.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said remote communication device includes a battery.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said remote communication device includes a first battery and said sensing device includes a second battery.

28. A system comprising:

an autonomous sensing device for sensing a vibrational signal, operable to be directly perceived by a user, from a telephonic device, wherein said autonomous sensing device provides a communication signal indicative of said signal; and

a remote communication device for receiving said communication signal from said autonomous sensing device, wherein said remote communication device is operable to provide a notification, dependent on said communication signal.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said remote communication device receives said communication signal via a wire.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said notification that is light based is provided by an LED.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said remote communication device includes a battery.

32. A method comprising:

physically sensing, by a first device, that a portable electronic device is vibrating;

communicating, from said first device, a first communications signal indicative of said sensed vibrating;

receiving, at a second device, said first communications signal; and

providing a notification to a user indicative of said first communication signal.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said device comprises a wireless phone.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said notification is light-based.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said notification is sound-based.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said notification is vibrational-based.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein said first communication signal is communicated from said first device to said second device and said first communication signal is communicated from said first device to said second device via a wire.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said first communication signal is communicated from said first device to said second device and said first communication signal is communicated from said first device to said second device wirelessly.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein said second device includes a battery.