Method of Giving the User Information and Portable Device

• US 20150011255A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: MobileMedia Ideas LLC
• Inventors: Ronkainen, Sami
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of giving the user information on the operation of a portable device, and a portable device. In the method, an event that concerns the operation of the device and interests the user is detected (302) by the control means of the device. If at least one silent alarm pattern producing a tactile sensation in the user is attached to the event, the user is given (312) abstract information on the operation of the device by using at least one silent alarm pattern implemented with the alarm device and sensed by the user. Various alarm patterns differ from one another such that at least one alarm pattern characteristic sensed by the user varies. The characteristic can be the alarm pattern frequency, amplitude, changing rate of the amplitude, changing rate of the frequency or duration of the alarm pattern. One way to perform a silent alarm is vibration. The user interface is particularly intended for users with impaired hearing and/or vision.

Claims

1. A mobile station comprising:

a user interface configured to enable a user to control operation of the mobile station by manual input and to obtain information on the operation of the mobile station,

a tactile alert device configured to generate a tactile vibration,

a control circuit configured to control the tactile alert device to generate a first tactile vibration with a first pattern in response to a first event and a second tactile vibration with a second pattern that is distinctly humanly perceptibly different from the first pattern in response to a second event different from the first event, and

a wristband configured to enable a user to sense the tactile vibrations generated by the tactile alert device in a wrist of the user.

2. A mobile station comprising:

a user interface configured to enable a user to control operation of the mobile station by manual input and to obtain information on the operation of the mobile station,

a tactile alert device configured to generate a tactile vibration, and

a control circuit configured to control the tactile alert device to generate a first tactile vibration with a first pattern in response to a first event and a second tactile vibration with a second pattern that is distinctly humanly perceptibly different from the first pattern in response to a second event different from the first event,

wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to modify one or more of the tactile vibration patterns that can be generated by the tactile alert device.