System and method for a wireless ringer function

• US 9,219,826 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey M., Robinson, Michael C., Morrill, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US13/421,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/412.2, 455/575.2, 455344-346
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• 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: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a device and method for extending alerts for a wireless device. In one embodiment, a method for extending alerts for a wireless device includes linking the wireless device through a wireless connection with a wireless ringer module; wherein the wireless ringer module is removably coupled to a device having an interface for receiving and coupling with the wireless ringer module. The method further includes transmitting a signal to the wireless ringer that triggers an alert feature of the wireless ringer for notifying a user of an incoming communication in response to the wireless device receiving an indication of an incoming communication.

Claims

1. A method for extending alerts for a wireless device, comprising:

providing a wireless device having a housing;

providing an opening having a width and height in the housing of the wireless device, said opening comprising a wireless device physical interface, wherein said opening is accessible from the exterior of said housing;

providing a wireless ringer module comprising a removable card having a ringer module physical interface which is selectively mated with the wireless device physical interface at the opening in the housing of the wireless device, said wireless ringer module having a width and height which is less than or equal to the width and height of the opening in the exterior of the housing of the wireless device, the wireless ringer module further comprising a communications transceiver for communicating with the wireless device;

coupling the wireless ringer module to the wireless device at the opening in the housing of the wireless device by mating the wireless device physical interfaces and the ringer module physical interface;

linking the wireless device through a wireless connection with the wireless ringer module;

in response to the wireless device receiving an indication of an incoming communication;

transmitting a signal to the wireless ringer module that triggers an alert feature of the wireless ringer for notifying a user of the incoming communication; and

playing an alert signal on the wireless device, said alert signal overlaying the playback of media content playing on the wireless device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a media player.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a headset.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a watch.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the alert feature of the wireless ringer plays an alert signal at a volume greater than an audio volume of media content being played on the media player, wherein the audio volume of media content being played on the media player is not muted during the playing of the alert.

6. A wireless device, comprising:

a housing;

an opening in the housing having a width and height said opening comprising a wireless device physical interface, wherein said opening is accessible from the exterior of said housing;

said wireless device physical interface providing for receiving and coupling with a removable wireless ringer module, wherein the wireless ringer module is a removable card, having a ringer module physical interface which is selectively mated with the wireless device physical interface at the opening in the housing of the wireless device, said wireless ringer module having an integrated communications transceiver for communicating with the wireless device;

a processor configured to execute instructions to;

link the removable wireless ringer module with a communication device using the integrated communications transceiver of the wireless ringer module; and

trigger an alert feature on the wireless device for notifying a user of an incoming communication in response to the removable wireless ringer module receiving an indication of an incoming communication to the communication device; and

play an alert signal on the wireless device, said alert signal overlaying the playback of media content playing on the wireless device.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a media player.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a headset.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a watch.