I-bed for cooperating personal electronic device

• US 8,583,144 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Semi Gate LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US13/302,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20120064950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• 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

An accessory for use with a cooperating portable electronic device (PED) is provided. The accessory includes a station that can support a PED, and also charge it in some embodiments. A cooperating PED transmits an action signal when it receives an incoming call or text. When the station senses the action signal, 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 or a light signal. This way, when the PED is only vibrating, the call sound can be such that the station rings like a regular home telephone. As such, the user can keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode continuously, confident that they will learn about a call, even if they do not have it on their person.

Claims

1. A station configured to cooperate 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 able to generate internally an action signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

a body configured to support the PED;

a sensor configured to sense the generation of the action signal; and

a station notifier configured to generate responsive to the action signal a human-perceptible indication when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

wherein the station does not provide a communication pathway between the PED and any and all networks.

2. The station of claim 1, in which

the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a telephone call.

3. The station of claim 1, in which

the wireless signal is received in conjunction with receiving a text message.

7. The station of claim 1, further comprising the station in combination with the PED.

17. The station of claim 1, wherein the PED generates internally an action signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal when the PED is set to a non-audio ringing mode.

4. A station configured to cooperate 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 able to generate internally an action signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

a body configured to support the PED;

a sensor configured to sense the generation of the action signal; and

a station notifier configured to generate responsive to the action signal a human-perceptible indication when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

a mechanism for transferring energy to the battery of the PED when the PED is supported on the body;

wherein;

the energy is transferred to the battery of the PED wirelessly,

the battery of the PED is configured to present an input impedance when the energy is thus being transferred to it, and

the action signal is configured to cause a modulation to the input impedance.

5. The station of claim 4, in which

the energy is transferred to the battery of the PED via conductors.

6. The station of claim 5, in which

the battery of the PED is configured to present an input impedance when the energy is thus being transferred to it, and

the action signal is configured to cause a modulation to the input impedance.

8. A station configured to cooperate with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED further able to generate internally a wireless action signal responsive to receiving a wireless signal from a network, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

a receiver configured to sense the wireless action signal; and

a signaling device configured to generate an alert signal including sound and/or a light responsive to the receiver when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

wherein the station does not provide a communication pathway between the PED and any and all networks.

9. The station of claim 8, wherein the preset criterion is a format and/or content of the encoded message.

10. The station of claim 8, wherein the encoded message is one of a plurality of possible messages, and the alert signal is different for at least some of the possible messages.

12. The station of claim 8, further comprising the station in combination with the PED.

18. The station of claim 8, wherein the PED generates internally an action signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal when the PED is set to a non-audio ringing mode.

11. A station configured to cooperate with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED further able to generate internally a wireless action signal responsive to receiving a wireless signal from a network, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

a receiver configured to sense the wireless action signal; and

a signaling device configured to generate an alert signal including sound and/or a light responsive to the receiver when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

the receiver being configured to receive another encoded message representing at least in part that the PED needs to be charged;

the signaling device being configured to generate an alert signal including sound and/or a light responsive to the receiver sending the another encoded message.

13. A station configured to cooperate with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED further able to generate internally a wireless action signal responsive to receiving a wireless signal from a network, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

means for receiving the wireless action signal; and

means for generating an alert signal including sound and/or a light, responsive to receipt of the wireless action signal by the means for receiving, when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

wherein the station does not provide a communication pathway between the PED and any and all networks.

14. The station of claim 13, wherein the preset criterion is a format and/or content of the encoded message.

15. The station of claim 13, wherein the encoded message is one of a plurality of possible messages, and the alert signal is different for at least some of the possible messages.

19. The station of claim 13, wherein the PED generates internally an action signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal when the PED is set to a non-audio ringing mode.

16. A station configured to cooperate with a Portable Electronic Device (PED) distinct from the station, the PED further able to generate internally a wireless action signal responsive to receiving a wireless signal from a network, the action signal not being human perceptible, the action signal encoding a message, the station comprising:

means for receiving the wireless action signal; and

means for generating an alert signal including sound and/or a light, responsive to receipt of the wireless action signal by the means for receiving, when the encoded message meets a preset criterion, but not when the encoded message does not meet the preset criterion;

the means for receiving comprising means for receiving another encoded message representing at least in part that the PED needs to be charged;

the means for generating being configured to issue an alert signal including sound and/or a light responsive to the receiver receiving the another encoded message.