Notification system

• US 9,306,877 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wendell A. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Thomas-Kohls Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomas, Wendell A
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/947,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.07, 370/256, 379/88.12, 379/88.11, 455/404.1, 455/412.1, 455/557, 700/9, 702/188, 705/3, 715/710, 707/708, 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services

Abstract

A notification system with a method for providing a notification including storing a notification request at a home unit; receiving the notification request at a central location, the notification request comprising a message, a notification time, and a destination; storing the message at the central location; associating the message with the notification time and destination; determining a current time; comparing the determined current time to the notification time; opening a communication session with the destination based on the determination; and transmitting the stored message to the destination during the communication session based on the opening.

Claims

1. A method for providing a notification under control of a user, the method comprising:

storing a notification request created by the user at a home unit, the notification request comprising a message, a notification time, and a destination;

receiving the notification request at a central location;

storing the message at the central location;

associating the message with the notification time and destination;

determining a current time;

comparing the determined current time to the notification time;

opening a communication session with the destination based on the determination; and

transmitting the stored message to the destination during the communication session based on the opening.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is an audible message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the stored message is an audible message.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising presenting the stored message on an audio output device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising presenting the stored message on a landline phone.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising converting the audible message to a text message, the stored message being a text message.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying the text message on a text display device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the home unit is an audio input device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the home unit is a landline phone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is a text message.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the stored message is a text message.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying the stored message on a text display device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising converting the text message to an audible message, the stored message being an audible message.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising presenting the audible message on an audio output device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising presenting the audible message on a landline phone.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the home unit is a text input device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a cell phone.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer readable code for providing a notification under control of a user, the medium comprising:

computer readable code for storing a notification request created by the user at a home unit, the notification request comprising a message, a notification time, and a destination;

computer readable code for receiving the notification request at a central location;

computer readable code for storing the message at the central location;

computer readable code for associating the message with the notification time and destination;

computer readable code for determining a current time;

computer readable code for comparing the determined current time to the notification time;

computer readable code for opening a communication session with the destination based on the determination; and

computer readable code for transmitting the stored message to the destination during the communication session based on the opening.

18. A system for providing a notification under control of a user, the system comprising:

a home unit; and

a central location operable to communicate with the home unit;

wherein the home unit is operable to;

store a notification request created by the user, the notification request comprising a message, a notification time, and a destination; and

wherein the central location is operable to;

receive the notification request;

store the message;

associate the message with the notification time and destination;

determine a current time;

compare the determined current time to the notification time;

open a communication session with the destination based on the determination; and

transmit the stored message to the destination during the communication session based on the opening.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the home unit is an audio input device.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the home unit is a text input device.