User-based signal indicator for telecommunications device and method of remotely notifying a user of an incoming communications signal incorporating the same

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of personal communication devices such as cellular phones and pagers, and in particular to the field of remote notification devices that alert users of personal communication devices of incoming calls, messages, or pages.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Modern personal communication devices, such as cellular phones and pagers, typically alert users of an incoming call, message, or page with some sort of signal. These signals generally take the form of an audible ring, a vibration, a visual signal such as a light, or some combination of the foregoing. These signals typically originate from the cellular phone or pager itself. In most social situations, this type of notification is adequate, as the user is within sight of, able to hear, or in physical contact with their cellular phone or pager.

[0005] The balance of this statement of the problem will be stated in terms of an incoming call to a cellular phone, though the concepts apply equally to a pager or other personal communication device, such as a conventional cordless phone.

[0006] People in loud, crowded places such as bars or dance clubs are often neither within sight of, able to hear, nor in physical contact with their cellular phone. For example, for reasons of preference, style, protection of the phone, security, and convenience, women at crowded bars often prefer to keep their cellular phones in their purses rather than in a pocket or on a table or the bar. These women often cannot see their cellular phone because it is contained within an opaque purse. Nor can these women hear their cellular phone ring, due to ambient noise from such sources as music and other patrons. And these women are obviously not in physical contact with their cellular phones while those phones are in their purses, hence the vibrate option on their cellular phone is incapable of notifying them of the incoming call. As a result of this decision to place their cellular phone in their purses, many women miss many incoming calls. This causes inconvenience, disruption to social lives, and has the potential to render these women unreachable in important and emergency situations. There is a need for a device to alert these cellular phone users to the fact that their cellular phone is currently receiving an incoming call.

[0007] Cellular phones are well known. Furthermore, there are certain devices in the art remote from cellular phones that alert users to an incoming call. These devices typically take the form, however, of an earpiece or headset designed to allow the user to receive and conduct a phone call without holding the phone to the user's ear. The purpose of these devices is to free the user's hands for other tasks such as driving a car, working at a computer, taking notes, or handling documents. An example of this type of device is the JABRA®Earsetâ, described at http://www.jabra.com/products/earset.htm. While these devices do free their users from having to be within sight, able to hear, or in physical contact with their cellular phones, they do not meet the needs that are met by the present invention.

[0008] The cellular phone users for which the present invention was conceived typically women at loud, crowded bars and clubs do not want to wear an earpiece or a headset while socializing. On the occasions that women go to bars and clubs, they design their appearance by selecting certain clothes, jewelry, shoes, makeup, and other accessories. Among the reasons that women choose to keep their cellular phones in their purses is the fact that they often choose not to wear clothes that would provide a pocket adequate for a cellular phone. Furthermore, even if they choose to wear an outfit having such a pocket, they would rather not keep their cellular phone in the pocket, for reasons of comfort and appearance. In short, aesthetics are important, and the appearance of the earpieces and headsets described above are aesthetically undesirable in the social situations for which the present invention is designed. While it is important to solve the problem of missed calls, it is also important to provide an incoming-call remote notification device that does not disrupt women's desired appearance.

[0009] There is a need for a device that alerts a cellular phone user of an incoming call, message, or page in situations where the user is neither in sight of, able to hear, nor in physical contact with their cellular phone, without negatively impacting the user's desired appearance.

[0010] The present invention provides a remote notification device that alerts a user of a personal communication device such as a cellular phone or pager of an incoming call, message, or page in situations where the user is neither in sight of, able to hear, nor in physical contact with their personal communication device, without altering the user's desired appearance.

[0011] In one aspect, the invention relates to a personal communications system comprising: a telecommunications device capable of both receiving a first incoming communication signal and generating a second indicator signal representative of the presence of the first incoming communication signal; and a remote notification device associated with a user of the telecommunications device and operably interconnected thereto for detecting the second indicator signal and providing a sensory indication to the user upon detection of the second indicator signal. A user located out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device can thereby receive the sensory indication from the remote notification device when the telecommunications device receives the first incoming communication signal.

[0012] Various embodiments of the system invention are also contemplated. The operable communication between the telecommunications device and the remote notification device can be a wireless link. The first incoming communication signal can comprise at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device. The first incoming communication signal can be received via a first telecommunications protocol and the second indicator signal can be generated via a second telecommunications protocol, the second telecommunications protocol being different than the first telecommunications protocol.

[0013] The remote notification device can be worn integral to the skin of a user. The remote notification device can be worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user. The remote notification device can be configured to have a decorative appearance.

[0014] The remote notification device can be worn integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user. The bodily-worn accessory can be a watch, a bracelet, an anklet, and/or a ring. The bodily-worn accessory can be an accessory received in a body piercing. The bodily-worn accessory can be eyeglasses.

[0015] The sensory indication can be visual. The sensory indication can be audible. The sensory indication can be tactile.

[0016] The remote notification device can be worn with a bodily-worn clothing of a user. The remote notification device can be clipped to a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

[0017] The remote notification device can be worn integral to a bodily-carried accessory of a user. The bodily-worn accessory can be at least one of a carry bag and a purse.

[0018] In another aspect, the invention relates to an indicator for a user of a telecommunications device, the telecommunications device capable of both receiving a first incoming communication signal and generating a second indicator signal representative of the presence of the first incoming communication signal, the remote notification device comprising a remote notification device associated with the user of the telecommunications device and adapted to be operably interconnected thereto for detecting the second indicator signal and providing a sensory indication to the user upon detection of the second indicator signal. A user located out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device thereby receives the sensory indication from the remote notification device when the telecommunications device receives the first incoming communication signal.

[0019] Various embodiments of the device described herein according to the invention are also contemplated. The remote notification device can be adapted to be operably interconnected to the telecommunications device by a wireless link. The first incoming communication signal can comprise at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device. The first incoming communication signal can be received via a first telecommunications protocol and the second indicator signal can be generated via a second telecommunications protocol. The second telecommunications protocol can be different than the first telecommunications protocol.

[0020] The remote notification device can be worn integral to the skin of a user. The remote notification device can be worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user. The remote notification device can be configured to have a decorative appearance.

[0021] The remote notification device can be worn integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user. The bodily-worn accessory can be a watch, a bracelet, an anklet, and/or a ring. The bodily-worn accessory can be an accessory received in a body piercing. The bodily-worn accessory can be eyeglasses.

[0022] The sensory indication can be visual. The sensory indication is audible. The sensory indication can be tactile.

[0023] The remote notification device can be worn with a bodily-worn clothing of a user. The remote notification device can be clipped to a bodily-worn clothing of a user.

[0024] The remote notification device can be worn integral to a bodily-carried accessory of a user. The bodily-worn accessory can be at least one of a carry bag and a purse.

[0025] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of remotely notifying a user of the presence of an incoming signal originated from a telecommunications transmitter to a telecommunications device associated with the user when the user is out of sensory contact with the telecommunications device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a remote notification device in sensory contact with the user; generating a notification signal to the remote notification device representative of the incoming signal between the telecommunications transmitter and the telecommunications device; and detecting the presence of the signal representative of the incoming signal.

[0026] Various embodiments of the method described herein are also contemplated according to the invention. The can further comprise the step of notifying the user by sensory contact of the presence of the signal representative of the incoming signal. The notifying step can further comprise the step of providing a visual sensory indication to the user. The notifying step can further comprise the step of providing an audible sensory indication to the user. The notifying step can further comprise the step of providing a tactile sensory indication to the user.

[0027] The method can further comprise the step of operably coupling the telecommunications device and the remote notification device by a wireless link. The first incoming signal can comprise at least one of an incoming page and an incoming telephone call to the telecommunications device.

[0028] The method can further comprise the step of wearing the remote notification device integral to the skin of the user. The remote notification device can be worn on a dermal patch removably mounted to the skin of a user. The remote notification device can be configured to have a decorative appearance. The method can further comprise the step of wearing the remote notification device integral to a bodily-worn accessory of a user. The method can further comprise the step of wearing the remote notification device with a bodily-worn clothing of a user. The method can further comprise the step of wearing the remote notification device integral with a bodily-carried accessory of a user. The notification signal can originate with the telecommunications transmitter. The notification signal can originate with the telecommunications device.

[0041] Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, an invention relating to a user-based signal indicator 10 for a telecommunications device 12 is shown which integrally incorporates a method of remotely notifying a user 14 (see FIGS. 3–6 for more detailed views of user 14) of an incoming communications signal 16 from a telecommunications transmitter 18. The user 14 is notified of the incoming signal 16 by any suitable signal which can provide an immediate notification (i.e., an emitted signal 20) to a user 14 in operable contact with the indicator 10, including, but not limited to, visual indication, audible indication, and tactile indication (e.g., vibratory notice).

[0042] A link, i.e., the operable interconnection between the indicator 10 and the user's telecommunications device 12, is shown by example in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 22. The link can be any suitable communications protocol, which includes both wired- and wireless-based protocols, including, but not limited to any IEEE standard, any TCP/IP standard, any networking standard, any telephony standard, any wireless standard (including but not limited to the BLUETOOTH®protocol), and the like. Further specific examples of usable protocols need not be presented here as they will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

[0043] The link 22 preferably extends between a suitable port on the telecommunications device 12 and a transceiver 24 located on the indicator 10. It will be understood that the type of link is not limiting the scope of this invention as a wired link 22 is shown in FIG. 1 and a wireless link 22 is shown in FIG. 2 (wherein like reference numerals which identify common components of the invention between FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified with like reference numerals). The transceiver 24 is operably interconnected to a signal emitter 26 which, as is described herein, emits the suitable indicator signal 20.

[0044] It will be understood that the instant invention relates to notification to a user 14 of the presence of an incoming telecommunications signal 16 to a user's telecommunications device 12. It will be understood that the specific nature of the user's telecommunications device 12 is not critical to the invention and can comprise any of the plethora of commercially-available telecommunications devices such as cellular telephones, pagers, personal desktop assistants (PDAs), cordless telephones, satellite telephones, and the like.

[0045] The specific embodiment of the telecommunications device 12 shown in the drawings as a cellular telephone shall not be limiting on the construction of the term telecommunications device as used in this application since and wired- or wireless-based communications device can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. Further, the telecommunications transmitter 18 is also shown by example in the drawings as a cellular telephone tower, and this pictorial representation shall not be limiting on the construction of the term “telecommunications originator” as used in this specification as well.

[0046] The remote notification device 10 is in operable communication the communication device 12 such as a cellular phone or pager that alerts the user 14 that the personal communication device 12 is receiving an incoming call, message, or page as represented by the incoming telecommunications signal 16 in FIG. 1. A user 14 who is not able to see, hear, or feel the communication device 12 is alerted to the incoming communications signal 16 by the device 10, which is operable contact with the user 14, and alerts the user 14 with, for example, an emitted signal 20 such as a light, sound or tactile sensation.

[0047] The remote notification device 10 is preferably designed so as to permit the user 14 to not alter his or her desired appearance in social situations. The remote notification device 10 is preferably easily concealable or integral to the user 14, an article of clothing worn on the user 14, piece of jewelry worn by the user 14, a piercing in the user 14, or accessory that the user 14 desires to wear or carry independent of the desire to be notified of incoming calls, messages, or pages.

[0048] Several locations for the remote notification device as associated with the user 14 are contemplated in connection with this invention and described below with reference to FIGS. 3–6. It will be understood that the associations with the user 14 shown in FIGS. 3–6 are by example only and that other associations of the device 10 with the user 14 are also contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0049] A first embodiment of the association of the remote notification device 10 with the user 14 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the remote notification device is mounted to the user's skin and wherein the remote notification device 10 is associated with the telecommunications device 12 by a wireless link 22. The example association shown in FIG. 3 is a dermal patch removably mounted on the user's skin (e.g., a user's hand 28) in which the remote notification device 10 is embedded. The dermal patch containing the remote notification device 10 can be provided with an aesthetically-pleasing color, such as a skin tone color, or, alternatively, worn on the user's skin in an area typically concealed by clothing. In addition, the dermal patch can have a separate adhesive portion which can alternatively be disposable so that the dermal patch can be reused upon expiry of the adhesive portion.

[0050] A second embodiment of the association of the remote notification device 10 with the user 14 is shown in FIG. 4A wherein the remote notification device 10 is mounted to a bodily-worn accessory such as a watch, bracelet or anklet and wherein the remote notification device 10 is associated with the telecommunications device by a wireless link 22. The bodily-worn accessory shown in FIG. 4A is a watch which has the remote notification device 10 associated therewith, but it would be apparent to one skilled in the art that an anklet or bracelet could be substituted for the watch shown in FIG. 4A without departing from the scope of this invention.

[0051] FIG. 4B shows the second embodiment association of the remote notification device 10 with a bodily-worn accessory of a user 14 the specific embodiment of the bodily-worn accessory in FIG. 4B is a ring worn on a finger 32 of the user 14.

[0052] FIG. 4C shows the second embodiment association of the remote notification device 10 with a bodily-worn accessory of a user 14 wherein the specific embodiment of the bodily-worn accessory in FIG. 4C is an adornment in a body piercing, such as an earring worn in an ear 34 of the user 14.

[0053] FIG. 4D shows the second embodiment association of the remote notification device 10 with a bodily-worn accessory of a user 14 the specific embodiment of the bodily-worn accessory in FIG. 4D is a pair of eyeglasses 36 worn by the user 14.

[0054] A third embodiment of the association of the remote notification device 10 with the user 14 is shown in FIG. 5A wherein the remote notification device 10 is mounted to bodily-worn clothing such as a clip that attaches to a collar of a shirt and/or a blouse 38 of the user 14 wherein the remote notification device is associated with the telecommunications device by a wireless link 22. It will be understood that the remote notification device 10 can be embedded and/or sewed within the clothing 38 or fastened thereto by a clip, snap; button, hook-and-loop fastener attachment (e.g., VELCRO®) or other means which would be apparent to one skilled in the art. In addition, the clothing 38, while shown by example as a shirt and/or blouse 38, can comprise any bodily-worn accessory such as a pair of pants, socks, T-shirt, underwear, coat, suit, sport coat, jacket and the like.

[0055] FIG. 5B shows the third embodiment association of the remote notification device 10 with a bodily-worn clothing 38 of a user 14 wherein the specific embodiment of the bodily-worn clothing 38 in FIG. 5B is bodily-worn clothing such as a buckle or strap for a bra, underwire or belt buckle 40 of a user 14 wherein the remote notification device 10 is associated with the telecommunications device by a wireless link 22.

[0056] FIG. 5C shows the third embodiment association of the remote notification device 10 with a bodily-worn clothing 38 of a user 14 wherein the specific embodiment of the bodily-worn clothing 38 in FIG. 5C is bodily-worn clothing such as a shoe 42 of a user 14 wherein the remote notification device 10 is associated with the telecommunications device by a wireless link 22.

[0057] A fourth embodiment of the association of the remote notification 10 with the user 14 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the remote notification device 10 is mounted to a bodily-carried accessory 44 such as a handbag of the user 14 wherein the remote notification device 10 is associated with the telecommunications device 12 by a wireless link 22. It will be understood that the remote notification device 10 can be embedded and/or sewed within the accessory 44 or fastened thereto by a clip, snap, button, hook-and-loop fastener attachment (e.g., VELCRO®) or other means which would be apparent to one skilled in the art. In addition, the accessory 44, while shown by example as a woman's handbag, can comprise any bodily-carried accessory 44 such as a purse, duffel bag, suitcase, satchel, handbag, sports sack, and the like.

[0058] In summary, the present invention provides a remote notification device 10 that alerts a user 14 of a personal communication device 12 such as a cellular phone or pager of an incoming telecommunications signal 16 such as a call, message, or page in situations where the user 14 is neither in sight of, able to hear, nor in physical contact with the personal communication device 12, without altering the user's desired aesthetic appearance.

[0059] It will be understood that the origin of the link 22 is shown by example only as coming from the telecommunications device 12. The link 22 can also originate from the telecommunications source 18 or any other suitable source of a telecommunications signal, including but not limited to a satellite, a cellular telecommunications antenna or tower, another cellular or another telecommunications device 12, and the like. For example, FIG. 7 shows a perspective view showing an alternative method by which the remote notification device 10 is provided a signal 22 representative of an incoming telecommunication signal (which corresponds to the link 22) directly from a telecommunications source 18 (shown by example in FIG. 7 as a cellular telecommunications tower 18), rather than from the telecommunications device 12.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.