Communication device, circuit and method for confirming receipt of messages sent through unidirectional communication channels

• US 9,426,297 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saqr Majed Saqr Al Marri
• Original Assignee: Saqr Majed Saqr Al Marri
• Inventors: Al Marri, Saqr Majed Saqr
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/623,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2083 Confirmation by serviced party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

An electronic communication device for facilitating communication between one or more remote devices for voice communication over a unidirectional radio communication channel, the device comprising a receiver for receiving an incoming voice message from a first remote device, a speaker for playing the incoming voice message, a microphone for receiving an output to generate an outgoing voice message, a transmitter for sending the outgoing voice message to a second remote device, an indicator to indicate whether the receiver is in a passive mode or an active mode, and a confirmation circuit to be connected to the receiver, the transmitter, the speaker and the indicator for recording the incoming voice message when the receiver is in an active mode, playing the recorded voice message and sending the played voice message to the remote device as a confirmation receipt of the incoming voice message when the receiver is in a passive mode.

Claims

1. An electronic communication device adapted to facilitate voice communication between one or more remote devices, the electronic communication device comprising:

a receiver for receiving an incoming voice message from a first remote device via a communication channel;

a speaker connected to the at least one receiver for playing the incoming voice message;

a microphone for receiving an outgoing voice message;

a transmitter connected to the microphone for sending the outgoing voice message to a second remote device;

an indicator connected to the receiver, the indicator adapted to;

provide a passive mode signal when the receiver is in a passive mode, and

provide an active mode signal when the receiver is in an active mode;

a confirmation circuit adapted to be connected to the indicator, to the receiver, to the transmitter and to the microphone, the confirmation circuit being adapted to;

record the incoming voice message received by the receiver when the indicator provides an active mode signal, and

play the recorded voice message and send the played voice message via the transmitter to the first remote device thereby confirming the safe receipt of the incoming voice message when the indicator provides a passive mode signal.

2. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

3. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the LED is adapted to turn off when the receiver is in an active mode and to be turned on when the receiver is in a passive mode, wherein the active mode signal provided by the LED consists of the LED being turned off and the passive mode signal consists of the LED being turned on.

4. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the confirmation circuit comprises:

a recorder for recording the incoming voice message,

a first relay connected to the recorder, to the indicator and to the speaker, wherein the first relay is adapted to activate the recorder to record the incoming voice message when the receiver is in the active mode, and

a second relay coupled to the recorder, to the indicator and to the microphone, wherein the second relay is adapted to activate the recorder to play the recorded message when the receiver is in a passive mode, and to relay the played message to the microphone.

5. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second relay is further adapted to relay the played message to the transmitter for transmission to the first remote device, thereby confirming the receipt of the incoming voice message.

6. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the confirmation circuit further comprises a memory for storing the recorded message.

7. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recorder is an audio recorder.

8. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the memory is at least one of a ROM, a RAM, a EEPROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, a magnetic disk and an optical disk.

9. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the confirmation circuit further comprises a capacitor for imposing a delay to play back the incoming voice message after the indicator provides a passive mode signal in order to provide a sufficient time to record the entire incoming message before playing back the message.

10. The electronic communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication channel is a unidirectional radio communication channel and wherein the first remote device is a walkie talkie device.

12. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the communication device is a repeater.

14. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second relay is further adapted to relay the played message to the transmitter for transmission to the remote device, thereby confirming the receipt of the incoming voice message.

15. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a memory for storing the recorded message.

16. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the recorder is an audio recorder.

17. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the memory is at least one of a ROM, a RAM, a EEPROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, a magnetic disk and an optical disk.

18. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the communication channel is unidirectional radio communication channel and wherein the remote device is a walkie talkie device.

11. A confirmation circuit adapted to be connected to a communication device comprising a receiver for receiving an incoming message through a communication channel, a transmitter, a speaker connected to the receiver for playing the incoming message, a microphone connected to the transmitter, and an indicator connected to the receiver for indicating whether the receiver is in an active mode or a passive mode, the confirmation circuit comprising:

a recorder for recording the incoming voice message sent by a remote device received at the receiver;

a first relay connected to the recorder, to the indicator and to the speaker, the first relay being adapted to activate the recorder to record the incoming voice message when the receiver is in an active mode; and

a second relay connected to the recorder, to the indicator and to the microphone, the second relay being adapted to activate the recorder to play the recorded message when the receiver is in a passive mode, and to relay the played message to the microphone.

13. The confirmation circuit as claimed in claim 11 wherein the indicator is a Light Emitting Device (LED) adapted to turn off when the receiver is in an active mode and to be turned on when the receiver is in a passive mode.

19. A method for confirming safe receipt of a voice message transmitted by a remote device to a communication device via a communication channel, the communication device comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker connected to the receiver, a microphone connected to the transmitter, and an indicator connected to the receiver adapted to indicate whether the receiver is in a passive mode or in an active mode, the method comprising:

receiving the voice message from the remote device, the voice message being received by the receiver;

recording the voice message while the receiver is in an active mode, the recording being done by a recorder;

playing the recorded message while the receiver is a passive mode; and

transmitting the played message to the remote device via the transmitter, thereby confirming safe receipt of the voice message.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising relaying the message played by the recorder to the microphone connected to the transmitter for transmission by the transmitter.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the communication device is a repeater.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the indicator is a Light Emitting Device (LED) adapted to be turned off when the receiver is in an active mode and to be turned on when the receiver is in a passive mode.

23. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the communication channel is unidirectional radio communication channel and wherein the remote device is a walkie talkie device.