Device and method for augmenting cellular telephone audio signals

• US 8,825,117 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• 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:
  US11/693,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,714 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.01, 455/90.3, 455/401, 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: 455/572
• 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 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A system and method is described for augmenting cellular telephone signals for a cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, a cellular battery is equipped with a sound generating device that stores one or more audio signals that are activated upon receipt of a telephone call. Optionally, the battery may store a library of audio signals that may be programmable and edited. The 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. A removable memory device containing at least one accessible sound file is attachable to the battery or telephone body, and provides increased selection of audio signal choices.

Claims

1. A battery assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a battery for providing power to the cellular telephone through a plurality of terminals;

a sound generating device attached to the battery;

a removable memory attached to the battery; and

a sound file on the removable memory;

wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of an incoming telephone call by the cellular telephone; and

wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of an electrical signal at the cellular telephone other than an incoming telephone call, the electrical signal detected through the plurality of terminals.

2. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the sound file is downloaded from the removable memory upon the removable memory being attached to the battery.

3. The battery assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the battery in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the sound file in the sound generating device.

4. The battery assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a selector device on the battery, wherein the removable memory stores a plurality of sound files and wherein the selector device allows scrolling through the plurality of sound files and selecting one of the plurality of sound files to use as an audio alert signal.

5. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the event other than an incoming telephone call is an appointment alarm.

6. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the sound generating device comprises a piezoelectric device.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a sound generating device of a battery connected with a cellular telephone, an electrical signal from the cellular telephone, the electrical signal received through a plurality of battery terminals of the battery, the electrical signal being indicative of incoming telephone calls and other events at the cellular telephone;

obtaining, by the sound generating device, a sound file from a removable memory device within the battery; and

upon receiving the electrical signals, playing, by the sound generating device, the sound file.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising editing the sound file of the removable memory device according to a connection to a personal computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the event other than an incoming telephone call is an appointment alarm.

10. A cellular telephone system having changeable audio alert signals, the cellular telephone system comprising:

a cellular telephone body having terminals to receive power and to provide electrical signals;

a cellular telephone battery connectable with the cellular telephone body;

a sound generating device attached to the cellular telephone battery;

a removable memory device for storing a sound file, the removable memory device attachable to the cellular telephone battery, wherein the sound generating device is triggered to play sound associated with the sound file when the cellular telephone battery is installed in the cellular telephone body and upon receiving an electrical signal produced by the cellular telephone body upon detection of a telephone call by the cellular telephone body and to play sound associated with the sound file upon detection of an event at the cellular telephone body other than an incoming telephone call.

11. The cellular telephone system of claim 10, wherein the sound generating device comprises a piezoelectric device.

12. The cellular telephone system of claim 10, wherein the sound generating device stores a plurality of sound files that are capable of being edited.

13. The cellular telephone system of claim 12, further comprising:

an external connector socket on the cellular telephone battery in electrical communication with the sound generating device to provide external access to the plurality of sound files in the sound generating device.

14. The cellular telephone system of claim 13, further comprising:

a computer system having an electrical plug electrically connected to the sound generating device through the external connector socket, the computer system for accessing the plurality of sound files to add to, delete from, and edit the plurality of sound files from the sound generating device.

15. The cellular telephone system of claim 12, further comprising:

a selector device on the cellular telephone battery for scrolling through the plurality of sound files and designating one of the plurality of sound files to use as an audio alert signal.

16. The cellular telephone system of claim 10, wherein the event other than an incoming telephone call is an appointment alarm.