System for alerting portable communication device user of incoming call

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

More generally, the present invention relates to a system for informing a user of a portable communication device of incoming calls by means of an additional module coupled only to that portable communication device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Tactile information systems that attract human attention without the use of sound or light are well known in the art. Such systems are used, for example, in doorbells for the deaf or blind (e.g. U.S. Patent 4,731,603, McRaeTe et al.) And telephones (e.g. U.S. Patent 4,421,953, inventor Zielinski). These information systems typically include a transmitter that transmits a signal to a receiving module that is normally carried by a person, whereby when someone is at the door or when an incoming call is received, the receiving module will start to vibrate or otherwise transmit an informative signal. While these tactile information systems are useful for the purposes assigned to them, it should be noted that their use is restricted to a particular location due to the physical limitations of their use.

²⁵

In the case of a portable communication device, it must be possible for the information system to move with the user. Part of the solution to this problem is given in US 5,404,391 to the inventor Wavroch et al., Which describes a system for mobile phones to notify them of an incoming call.

This information system is physically separate from the mobile phone and is not wired to the mobile phone with which it is used. More specifically, the Wavroch et al. System is tuned to receive a carrier signal transmitted by a cellular telephone at the frequency of a voice channel after receiving a paging message. The carrier signal is then used to activate the trigger means and the associated information means. However, it has been found that if another transmitter transmits a voice channel in the frequency band, in a frequency band close to that frequency band,

EE 04082 ΒΙ or its harmonic frequencies, false alarms occur. They can be a source of constant confusion for the mobile phone user, especially in an environment where several other mobile phones are used.

Another system for informing users of incoming calls is described in European Patent Application EP-A-0 746 131, invented by Sato, wherein a speech detection and speech reporting circuit is embedded in a honeycomb module that can be attached to and removed from a radio communication unit. It follows that the paging device associated with the radiocommunication device receives a radio wave for receiving an incoming call transmitted by an incoming call detection and call informing circuit at a location remote from the radiocommunication device.

European patent application EP-A-0 740449, invented by Inutsuka, describes a vibration module for use with a portable telephone apparatus having a speech hold mode.

In this case, the connection between the portable telephone and its dedicated base station is temporarily disconnected. More specifically, the vibration module alerts the user of a portable telephone apparatus to receive an incoming call. Activating the call hold switch on the vibration module generates a call waiting signal, which is transmitted to the portable phone, which puts it into call hold mode.

Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device that is connected only to that portable communication device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device, wherein an additional module physically separate from the portable communication device outputs an information signal when receiving a call from the portable communication device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device, wherein an additional module physically separate from the portable communication device is in wireless communication with that portable communication device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device capable of displaying information identifying the source of an incoming call received by the portable communication device.

EE 04082 ΒΙ

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device that automatically determines whether an incoming call received by the portable communication device is to be forwarded to a voicemail mailbox, whether it is answered or not.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information system for use with a portable communication device, wherein the information signal emitted by the portable communication device when the information system is turned on is turned off automatically or when necessary.

These objects and features which distinguish the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An incoming call notification system for use with a portable communication device, according to one aspect of the invention, comprising a first module electrically connected to the system bus connector of a portable communication device and a second module housed in a housing separate from the portable communication device. The first module further includes an interface for maintaining and disconnecting the electrical connection between the first module and the portable communication device system bus, a transceiver for transmitting messages wirelessly to and receiving from the second module, monitoring the incoming call from the portable communication device and trigger logic for transmission, and a voice mail module for presenting a previously recorded message after activating said module by means of a message from another module. The second module further comprises a power source, a transceiver for wirelessly transmitting messages to the first module only and receiving messages from the first module only, a converter which, when activated, outputs an information signal, a control for activating the transducer after receiving a voice command message for transmitting an activation message by the transceiver of the second module to the voice mail module.

According to another distinguishing feature of the invention, an additional module for use with a portable communication device, comprising a power supply, a wireless connection to a portable accessory, a transceiver for receiving a voice command message specifically addressed to another module by a wireless communication device

EE 04082 B1 output an information signal, a control circuit for activating the transducer after receiving a voice command message by means of a transceiver, and a call switch activating the voice communication module associated with the portable communication device for playing a pre-recorded message.

According to a third distinguishing feature of the invention, an extension module for wirelessly transmitting a signal when a portable communication device receives an incoming call is described, the module comprising a circuit electrically connected to the portable communication device operating circuit, an interface for holding and disconnecting said circuit between the operating circuit of the communication device, a transceiver for transmitting messages wirelessly to an add-on only, and receiving messages wirelessly from an add-on only, monitoring the control logic for incoming call by the portable communication device, and in response to activating the transceiver for transmitting a message,