Device, system, and method of augmenting cellular telephone audio signals

• US 8,588,863 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/866,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.01, 455/90.03, 455/401, 455/567, 455/572, 455/573, 455/575.1, 37937301-37304, 37937401-37402, 340/636.1, 340/636.16, 340/7.2, 340/7.32
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A device, system and method is described for augmenting cellular telephone signals for a cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, an audio signal device cellular is provided with a sound generating device that stores one or more audio signals that are activated upon receipt of a telephone call. Optionally, the audio signal device may store a library of audio signals that may be programmable and edited. The device, system and method of the present invention enables a user to choose audio alert sounds beyond the scope of those provided by the manufacturer of a cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A device that plays sounds and is used with a cellular telephone, the device comprising:

a substantially rectangular planar shell having electric terminals on one side that are electrically connectable to electric terminals on a cellular telephone;

a battery powering the cellular telephone, the battery electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the planar shell,

a sound generating device located inside the shell and electrically connected to the electrical connectors of the planar shell, and

a memory for storing a sound file;

wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the battery generated by a telephone call by the cellular telephone, and

wherein the sound generating device is also triggered to play the sound associated with the sound file upon detection of a signal from the cellular telephone to the battery generated by an event at the cellular telephone other than a telephone call.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an external connector socket coupled with the shell in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access for adding sound files, deleting sound files and editing sound files in the memory.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a selector device on the shell for designating a sound file to use as a sound alert.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a computer electrically connected to the external connector socket adds, deletes, and edits the plurality of sound files on the memory.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the computer is a personal data assistant.

6. A wireless communication system having changeable sound alerts, the system comprising:

a wireless communication device having a plurality of device electric terminals;

a battery having a plurality of battery electric terminals, the battery electrically connected to the wireless communication device through the battery electric terminals;

a sound generating device coupled with the battery and electrically connected to the battery electrical terminals, and

a memory for storing a sound file, the memory coupled with the battery and electrically connected to the battery electrical terminals;

wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an incoming communication by the wireless communication device, and

wherein the sound generating device is also triggered to play the sound associated with the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an external connector socket coupled with the battery and in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access for adding sound files, deleting sound files and editing sound files in the memory.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a selector device coupled to the battery for designating a sound file to use as a sound alert.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a computer electrically connected to the external connector socket, the computer for adding, deleting, and editing the plurality of sound files on the memory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer is a personal data assistant.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone, and the incoming communication is a telephone call.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the battery, sound generating device, and memory are within a substantially rectangular planar shell.

13. A method of selecting a designated sound alert for a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device coupled with a battery, the battery including a sound generating device, a selector, and a memory having a plurality of sound files, the method comprising:

scrolling, with the selector, to hear the plurality of alert files;

selecting a sound file from the plurality of sound files to be a designated sound alert;

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to a battery generated by an incoming call at the wireless communication device; and

playing the sound file upon detection of a signal from the wireless communication device to the battery generated by an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing a plurality of sound files in the memory.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a first electric signal from the wireless communication device to the battery in response to an incoming communication.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a second electric signal from the wireless communication device to the battery in response to an event at the wireless communication device other than an incoming communication.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery includes an external connector socket.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using a computer electrically connected to the external connector socket for adding, deleting, and editing the plurality of sound files on the memory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computer is a personal data assistant.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery, sound generating device, and memory are within a substantially rectangular planar shell.