Verbal warning systems and other audible warning systems for use with various types of devices, containers, products and other things

• US 8,508,381 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vesstech Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, Josiah N., Olson, Marty
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/830,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/568.1, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/545.6, 340/540, 340/686.6, 340/531, 340/384.1, 340/545.3, 340/815.4, 381/104, 206/216, 283/79, 283/81, 368/89
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/028 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/003 Indicating devices, e.g. user warnings or inclinators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Verbal warning labels and other audible warning systems for use with different devices, containers, products and other things in various environments are disclosed herein. An audible warning system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith, and a sound playback system operably coupled to the device. The sound playback device can be configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning. The verbal warning can be provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and the verbal warning can supplement or replace the standardized textual warning.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic device, the device comprising:

a volume control to control a volume level of audio content played by the device;

a computer readable storage medium containing instructions that cause the device to play audio content;

wherein the instructions further cause the device to play a standardized verbal warning prior to an event associated with the warning;

wherein the instructions further cause the device to play the verbal warning in response to receiving an indication from the volume control associated with a predetermined volume level; and

wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is a portable music player and the audio content includes music.

3. A consumer electronic device, the device comprising:

video content including information associated with operating the device;

a display to present the video content; and

a computer readable storage medium containing instructions that cause the device to play audio content;

wherein the instructions further cause the device to play a standardized verbal warning prior to an event associated with the warning;

wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device; and

wherein the verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the video content.

4. A consumer electronic device, the device comprising:

a computer readable storage medium containing instructions that cause the device to play audio content;

wherein the instructions further cause the device to play a standardized verbal warning prior to an event associated with the warning;

wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device; and

wherein the device is a global positioning navigational unit.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device senses movement and upon input from the user, the device plays a verbal warning.

6. A communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an activation control;

a processor operably coupled to the activation control;

a recording medium operably coupled to the processor, the recording medium containing a verbal warning relating to use of the communication apparatus;

an antenna operably coupled to the processor and configured to receive an audio signal; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processor, the processor causing the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning in response to a notification from the activation control associated with an event to which the warning is directed, and wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the audio signal after the verbal warning.

7. The communication apparatus of claim 6 wherein the verbal warning is a safety message relating to use of the apparatus for a predetermined amount of time.

8. The communication apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning and the recording medium contains a second verbal warning in a language different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast the first and second verbal warnings.

9. The communication apparatus of claim 6 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded verbal warning that is unalterable by an end user of the communication apparatus.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning, the recording medium containing a second verbal warning relating to a use of the apparatus different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the processor causes the speaker to broadcast one of the first and second verbal warnings in response to the notification from the activation control.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a disable control operably coupled to the processor, the disable control being configured to allow a user to disable the broadcasting of the verbal warning.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the recording medium contains video content including at least one of a textual or graphical warning; and

the apparatus further comprises;

a display operably coupled to the processor to present the video content in response to an indication from the processor, wherein verbal warning corresponds to the graphical warning and is broadcast simultaneously when presenting the textual or graphical warning.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the apparatus includes a body having an exterior surface displaying a warning label including textual information relating to use of the apparatus; and

wherein the recording medium contains audio content corresponding to at least a portion of the textual information.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 13 wherein the audio content includes information not presented by the textual information.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 6:

wherein the apparatus includes a body having an exterior surface displaying a warning label including graphical information relating to use of the apparatus; and

wherein the recording medium contains audio content corresponding to at least a portion of the textual information.

16. A multimedia electronic device, the device comprising:

a body;

an on-off control attached to the body;

a controller contained within the body and operably coupled to the on-off control;

a memory contained within the body and operably coupled to the controller, the memory containing video content and audio content, the audio content including a verbal warning relating to the device;

a display attached to the body and operably coupled to the controller, the controller causing the display to present at least a portion of the video content in response to a signal from the on-off control associated with activation of the device; and

a speaker operably coupled to the controller, the controller causing the speaker to broadcast the verbal warning prior to an event to which the verbal warning is directed.

17. The electronic device of claim 16:

wherein the memory includes video content having textual information relating to use of the device;

wherein the controller causes the display to present the textual information before displaying other video content on the memory; and

wherein the verbal warning corresponds to at least a portion of the textual information while the textual information is being displayed.

18. The electronic device of claim 16:

wherein the memory includes video content having graphical information relating to use of the device; and

wherein the controller causes the display to present the graphical information while the verbal warning is being announced.

19. The electronic device of claim 16:

wherein the memory includes audio content having a second verbal warning relating to use of the device different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein the controller causes the speaker to alternate between broadcasting the first and second verbal warnings.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the verbal warning is a prerecorded message that is unalterable by an end user.

21. A method of providing audio content to a user of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user for the audio content contained on a data storage medium of the electronic device;

in response to the request, audibly outputting a verbal warning contained on the data storage medium relating to use of the electronic device; and

after audibly outputting the verbal warning, providing the audio content.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the data storage medium further includes video content presented on a display of the device and corresponding to at least a portion of the verbal warning, the method further comprising presenting the video content in response to the request.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising disabling the verbal warning after a predetermined number of requests for the audio content.

24. The method of claim 21:

wherein the verbal warning is a first verbal warning and the data storage medium contains a second verbal warning including information different from the first verbal warning; and

wherein audibly outputting the verbal warning in response to the request includes audibly outputting one of the first and second verbal warnings.

25. A system for providing audio content to a user of an electronic device, the system comprising:

means for receiving an indication requesting the audio content contained on the electronic device;

means for storing a verbal warning relating to use of the device; and

means for audibly outputting the verbal warning prior to an event to which the warning is directed.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for audibly outputting the verbal warning includes a computer readable medium containing instructions that cause the device to audibly output the verbal warning.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the verbal warning is a standardized safety warning related to use of the device, wherein the verbal warning is supplied by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device.