Abstract:
A wireless communication device having vibrational communication capabilities in accordance with various embodiments is provided including a receiver to receive signals, a body casing, a vibrator coupled to the body casing to vibrate the wireless communication device, a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the wireless communication device to vibrationally output received alphanumeric data through vibrational manifestation of the received alphanumeric data using the vibrator, and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 09/767,587 entitled “A Wireless Mobile Phone With Morse Code and Related Capabilities” filed on Jan. 22, 2001 by Walter G. Bright, et al., and commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to complementary features that enhance the usability of these devices.  
           [0004]    2. Background Information  
           [0005]    Advances in integrated circuit and telecommunication technology have led to wide spread adoption of wireless mobile client devices including wireless mobile phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants to name just a few. Such wireless communication devices offer the advantage of enabling their users to be communicatively reachable by their business associates, friends and family members, wherever the users may be, as long as they are within the reach of an associated service network. Thus, even non-professionals are increasingly dependent on their wireless devices to meet their communication needs.  
           [0006]    With increased usage and reliance, often times, wireless mobile phone users would find themselves in the dilemma of having to engage in potentially sensitive conversations in a setting that is less than desirable, privacy-wise. For examples, a user may find himself/herself having to engage in an urgent personal or business conversation at a bus stop while waiting for the next bus, or at an airport terminal while waiting to board his/her flight. Under the prior art, a user may have to elect to continue the private/sensitive conversation in a less than private manner, switch to another form of communication, such as email, or delay the communication. Each of these options has disadvantages. Electing to proceed with the conversation in a less than private manner may unduly expose private/sensitive information to the public, while switching communication form is inconvenient. Even if the user is in possession of a wireless mobile phone capable of sending and receiving emails, any switching would likely at a minimum, disrupt the continuity of the communication.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, there are times when it may not be possible or convenient for an individual to answer or attend to a wireless device when a message arrives, yet it may nonetheless be important or even critical that the individual receive the message. For example, an individual may be expecting a very important message by way of his or her wireless device, but in the case of a mobile phone, may not be able to answer the phone, or in the case of a wireless pager or PDA, may not be able to retrieve the device e.g. out of a pocket to view the message. Such may often be the case while individuals are driving vehicles, carrying objects, or participating in any number of activities that require the use of both hands or may otherwise render the option of verbal communication unavailable. For example, when the user is driving and does not wish the passengers to hear the conversation and/or message, or the user is in a meeting, attending a conference, or any one of a number of “performances” (movie, opera, symphony and the like).  
           [0008]    Therefore, a more user-friendly approach to accommodating privacy sensitive communication is desired.  
           [0009]    Note: The term “wireless mobile phone” as used in herein (in the specification and in the claims) refers to the class of telephone devices equipped to enable a user to make and receive calls wirelessly, notwithstanding the user&#39;s movement, as long as the user is within the communication reach of a service or base station. The term “wireless mobile phone” is to include the analog subclass as well as the digital subclass (of all signaling protocols).  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    A wireless communication device having vibrational communication capabilities is provided in accordance with various embodiments. In one embodiment of the invention a wireless mobile phone is provided including a body casing, a transceiver to send and receive signals including alphanumeric data, a vibrator coupled to the body casing to vibrate the wireless mobile phone, a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the wireless mobile phone to vibrationally output received alphanumeric data through vibrational manifestation of the received alphanumeric data using the vibrator, and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment of the invention a wireless pager is provided including a receiver to receive signals, a body casing, a vibrator coupled to the body casing to vibrate the wireless communication device, a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the wireless communciation device to vibrationally output received alphanumeric data through vibrational manifestation of the received alphanumeric data using the vibrator, and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.  
           [0012]    In yet another embodiment of the invention a personal digital assistant (PDA) is provided including a receiver to receive signals, a body casing having front surface, a vibrator coupled to said body casing to vibrate the PDA, a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the PDA to vibrationally output received alphanumeric data through vibrational manifestation of the received alphanumeric data using the vibrator, and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 1 a - 1   b  illustrate a wireless mobile phone of the present invention, incorporated with the Morse code facilities in accordance with the present invention, in accordance with two embodiments;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 2 a - 2   b  illustrate the operational flow of relevant aspects of the Morse code logic provided to the wireless mobile phone of FIGS. 1 a / 1   b , in accordance with one embodiment;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 illustrates an internal component view of the wireless mobile phone of FIGS. 1 a / 1   b , in accordance with one embodiment;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless mobile phone incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 illustrates an internal component view of a wireless client device, including the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention in accordance with various embodiments;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 illustrates an operational flow diagram illustrating the vibrational communication aspect of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless pager incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 illustrates a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some or all aspects of the present invention. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention. The phrase “in one embodiment” will be used repeatedly, however the phrase does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 a - 1   b , wherein two embodiments of a wireless mobile phone  100  and  100 ′, incorporated with the teachings of the present invention are shown. As illustrated, in accordance with the present invention, wireless mobile phone  100 / 100 ′ is provided with two extra buttons  120  and complementary logic (shown as ref.  330  in FIG. 3) to facilitate a user of phone  100 / 100 ′ to enter and send alphanumeric data, e.g. a text message. More specifically, buttons  120  in conjunction with the complementary logic facilitate a user in entering alphanumeric data through entry of their Morse code representations (see Tables I-III), and causing the entered alphanumeric data to be sent. One of buttons  120  is provided to allow a user to enter the “dit” representation, while the other is provided to allow the user to enter the “dah” representation. The facilities may be employed in particular during a call, thereby enabling the user to conduct all or a portion of a call in a non-audible and more private manner.  
                             TABLE I                           Morse Codes for Letters                Letters   Morse Code                       A   ditdah           B   dahditditdit           C   dahditdahdit           D   dahditdit           E   dit           F   ditditdahdit           G   dahdahdit           H   ditditditdit           I   ditdit           J   ditdahdahdah           K   dahditdah           L   ditdahditdit           M   dahdah           N   dahdit           O   dahdahdah           P   ditdahdahdit           Q   dahdahditdah           R   ditdahdit           S   ditditdit           T   dah           U   ditditdah           V   ditditditdah           W   ditdahdah           X   dahditditdah           Y   dahditdahdah           Z   dahdahditdit                      
 
         [0024]    [0024]                             TABLE II                           Morse Code for Numbers                Numbers   Morse Code                       0   dahdahdahdahdah           1   ditdahdahdahdah           2   ditditdahdahdah           3   ditditditdahdah           4   ditditditditdah           5   ditditditditdit           6   dahditditditdit           7   dahdahditditdit           8   dahdahdahditdit           9   dahdahdahdahdit                        
         [0025]    [0025]                             TABLE III                           Morse Codes for Punctuations                Punctuations   Morse Codes                       / (slash)   dahditditdahdit           , (comma)   dahdahditditdahdah           . (period)   ditdahditdahditdah           ? (question mark)   ditditdahdahditdit                        
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the conventional operational setting selection feature of phone  100 / 100 ′ is enhanced to facilitate a user in selecting an operational rate for processing and interpreting Morse codes, e.g. 5 wpm, 13 wpm, 20 wpm and so forth. The different operational rates facilitate usage by users of varying skill levels, from the novice users to the more advanced users.  
         [0027]    Preferably, buttons  120  are strategically placed on a side surface of phone  100 / 100 ′ to facilitate single-handed operation of phone  100 / 100 ′. That is, with the side surface placement of buttons  120 , a user may e.g. use two fingers of the same hand holding phone  100 / 100 ′ to manipulate buttons  120  to enter alphanumeric data of a text message to be transmitted by entering their Morse codes. Thus a user may be holding phone  100 / 100 ′, engage in a verbal conversation, and switch to sending the other calling party a non-verbal text message, and then switch back to verbal conversation, all performed without changing the position of phone  100 / 100 ′ or altering the manner phone  100 / 100 ′ is held. Phone  100 / 100 ′ may be held next to the user&#39;s ear or in any arbitrary position if an earpiece or a speaker is used.  
         [0028]    For the illustrated embodiments, which are designed for right-handed users, buttons  120  are strategically placed on left side surface  119   a  of body casing  116  of phone  100 / 100 ′. In alternate embodiments, designed for left-handed users, buttons  120  may be strategically placed on right side surface  119   b  of body casing  116  of phone  100 / 100 ′ instead. In yet other alternate embodiments, buttons  120  may be placed on the top surface at top end  118   a.    
         [0029]    Beside side surfaces  119   a  and  119   b , and top end  118   a , body casing  116  also has bottom end  118   b  as well as front surface  117 / 117 ′. Note that side surfaces  119   a  and  119   b , top and bottom ends  118   a  and  118   b , and front surface  117 / 117 ′ are all objectively determined. As illustrated, wireless mobile phone  100 / 100 ′ also includes display  108 / 108 ′. Such a device necessarily has a reading orientation. By definition, the surface the display is disposed is the front surface. The front surface in turns definitively defines the left side surface and the right side surface. Further, such a device necessarily has a display orientation, which definitively defines top and bottom ends  118   a  and  118   b . For example, textual data are either rendered from left to right and top to bottom, as denoted by arrows  140   a  and  140   b , as in the case of the English language, or right to left and top to bottom, as denoted by arrows  142   a  and  142   b  , as in the case of the Hebrew language, or top to bottom and right to left, as denoted by arrows  142   b  and  142   a , as in the case of the Chinese language. Thus the manner in which textual data are rendered definitively defines which end is the top end, and which end is the bottom end. Moreover, an element A of phone  100 / 100 ′ will necessarily be considered as above element B of phone  100 / 100 ′, and element B will necessarily be considered as below or beneath element A, if element A is closer to the objectively determinable top end of phone  100 / 100 ′ (or element B is closer to the objectively determinable bottom end of phone  100 / 100 ′).  
         [0030]    Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 a - 1   b , beside buttons  120  and the complementary logic, phone  100 / 100 ′ is otherwise intended to represent a broad range of wireless mobile phones, including both the analog as well as the digital types (of all signaling protocols). In addition to buttons  120 , the complementary logic, body casing  116 / 116 ′ and display  108 / 108 ′ phone  100 / 100 ′ further includes standard input key pad  102 / 102 ′ having a number of conventional alphanumeric keys, “talk” and “end talk” buttons  104 , cursor control buttons  106 , antenna  110 / 110 ′, ear speaker  112 , microphone  214  and adapter interface  122 .  
         [0031]    The two embodiments differ in the relative disposition of antenna  110 / 110 ′ to ear speaker  112 , and the relative disposition of keypad  102 / 102 ′ to display  108 / 108 ′. In the first embodiment, similar to conventional prior art wireless mobile phones, antenna  110  and ear speaker  112  are both disposed near top end  118   a , whereas in the second embodiment, unlike conventional prior art wireless mobile phones, antenna  110 ′ is disposed near bottom end  118   b  while ear speaker  112  is disposed near top end  118   a . Further, in the first embodiment, similar to conventional prior art wireless mobile phones, keypad  102  is disposed in the lower half of phone  100  beneath display  108 , whereas in the second embodiment, unlike conventional prior art wireless mobile phones, keypad  102 ′ is disposed in the upper half of phone  100 ′ above display  108 ′. In other words, except for Morse code buttons  120  and the associated complementary logic of the present invention, the first embodiment represents a wide range of wireless mobile phones known in the art. Similarly, except for Morse code buttons  120  and the associated complementary logic of the present invention, the second embodiment is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/767,526, entitled “A Wireless Mobile Phone with Inverted Placement of Antenna and Keypad”, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference.  
         [0032]    Further, for the illustrated embodiments, each of buttons  120  includes light emitting diodes (LED). The LEDs are employed by the complementary logic to visually echo the Morse code representations of alphanumeric data entered through input keypad  102 / 102 ′, thereby facilitating a user in learning Morse code. In various embodiments, the present invention also contemplates the conventional operational setting feature of phone  100 / 100 ′ will further be enhanced to facilitate enabling/disabling of this “learn mode”.  
         [0033]    Additionally, as alluded to earlier, phone  100 / 100 ′ includes adapter interface  122  for removably attaching a variety of accessory devices to phone  100 / 100 ′. Among these removably attachable accessory devices include e.g. ear piece (not shown), and vibration device  132 . Thus, with the attachment of vibration device  132 , the complementary logic may vibrationally output received alphanumeric data through vibrational manifestations of their corresponding Morse code representations. As a result, a user may silently and vibrationally receive a text message.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 a - 2   b , wherein the operational flow ( 200 ) of the relevant aspects of the complementary logic as it applies to one embodiment of the invention is shown. As illustrated, during operation, the complementary logic continuously checks and determines the operational state of phone  100 / 100 ′, and acts accordingly. For the illustrated embodiment, the complementary logic first checks to determine if an input has been entered using one of the Morse code buttons  120 , block  202 . If an input has been entered, the complementary logic accumulates the Morse code input received (until a letter, a number or a punctuation has been inputted), using e.g. an accumulation buffer, block  204 .  
         [0035]    Back at block  202 , if it is determined that a Morse code has not been just inputted, the complementary logic determines if the operational state is considered to be at a pause after a series of successive Morse code inputs have been entered, block  206 . If it is determined that the operational state is at such a pause, the complementary logic causes the corresponding alphanumeric data to be injected into the data stream to be transmitted, resulting in their eventual transmission, block  208 . The complementary logic also causes the corresponding alphanumeric data to be visually echoed on display  108 / 108 ′ (based on the accumulated Morse code since the last “refresh” of the accumulation buffer), block  208 . Upon echoing, the complementary logic also “clears” the accumulated Morse code inputs.  
         [0036]    On the other hand if back at block  206 , it was determined that the operational state is not at such a pause, the complementary logic further determines if alphanumeric data has just been entered through input keypad  102 / 102 ′, block  210 . If it is so determined, and assuming the earlier described “learn mode” is enabled, the complementary logic causes the LEDs of buttons  120  to be lit up accordingly (with a pattern of “dit” and “dah”) to visually echo the corresponding Morse codes of the entered alphanumeric data, block  212 .  
         [0037]    Back at block  210 , if it was determined that alphanumeric data has not been just entered through input keypad  102 / 102 ′, the complementary logic further determines if alphanumeric data has just been received from another device, e.g. another phone, block  214 . The complementary logic makes the determination by analyzing the received data stream. If so and a vibration device is attached to phone  100 / 100 ′, the complementary logic vibrationally output the received alphanumeric data by causing the vibration device to vibrationally manifest the corresponding Morse code representation of the received alphanumeric data, block  216 .  
         [0038]    In each case, upon accumulating an entered Morse code (block  204 ), echoing the corresponding alphanumeric data of the entered Morse code (block  208 ), echoing the Morse code of entered alphanumeric data (block  212 ), or vibrationally output the Morse code representation of received alphanumeric data (block  214 ), the complementary logic continues operation back at block  202 .  
         [0039]    Thus, it can be seen from the above description, a user of phone  100 / 100 ′ may advantageously use the facilities provided to enter and send a text message, by entering their Morse codes, during a call, thereby enabling the user to be able to selectively communicate with the caller/callee in a non-verbal or more private manner.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture view of a wireless mobile phone  300 , in accordance with one embodiment. As illustrated, wireless mobile phone  300  includes elements found in conventional mobile client devices, such as micro-controller/processor  302 , digital signal processor (DSP)  304 , non-volatile memory  306 , general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface  308 , transmit/receive (TX/RX)  312  (also known as a transceiver), and adapter interface  316 , coupled to each other via bus  314  and disposed on a circuit board  320 . Except for the use of GPIO  308  to also interface Morse code buttons  120 , and the use of non-volatile memory  306  to host complementary logic  330 , the elements are used to perform their conventional functions known in the art. In particular, TX/RX  312  may support one or more of any of the known signaling protocols, including but are not limited to CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and so forth. Their constitutions are known. Accordingly, the elements will not be further described.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless mobile phone incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment. Mobile phone  400  includes many of the features described above with respect to mobile phones  100 / 100 ′ of FIGS. 1 a / 1   b . For example, mobile phone  400  includes body casing  416 , antenna  410 , ear speaker  412 , microphone  414 , as well as display  408  and input key pad  402  both disposed on the front side of body casing  416 . However, mobile phone  400  is additionally equipped with mode switch  432 , which facilitates selective operation of mobile phone  400  in at least one of a first non-vibrational operating mode where alphanumeric data received via e.g. antenna  410 , input keypad  402 , or another communication interface is visually output on display  408 , and a second vibrational operating mode where received alphanumeric data is vibrationally output in the form of vibrational representations of the alphanumeric data. Thus, while mobile phone  400  operates in a vibrational operating mode, the received alphanumeric data is vibrationally communicated to a user through the vibrational manifestations of the alphanumeric data to display  408 . Of course, while operating in the second vibrational operating mode, mobile phone  400  may also visually output the received alphanumeric data. In one embodiment of the invention, the alphanumeric data is vibrationally output in the form of Morse code vibrational representations. Mobile phone  400  may also be equipped with buttons  420 , which in conjunction with included complementary logic, facilitate a user in entering alphanumeric data through entry of their Morse code representations (see Tables I-III), and cause the entered alphanumeric data to be sent to another party, as described above. However, it should be noted that additional buttons  420  are not necessary to practice the vibrational communication aspect of the present invention.  
         [0042]    Skipping ahead now to FIG. 7, a wireless pager incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment is illustrated. Wireless pager  700  includes body casing  716 , display  708  disposed on the front side of body casing  716 , miscellaneous input keys  705 A-E, power switch  730  and mode select switch  732 . Except for the teachings of the present invention, the items depicted in FIG. 7 all perform their conventional functions and will not be discussed further. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, mode select switch  732  facilitates switching wireless pager  700  between a first vibrational communication mode and a second non-vibrational communication mode. In one embodiment of the invention, alphanumeric data received by wireless pager  700  via e.g. a communication interface and/or receiver is vibrationally output, in conjunction with a vibration unit and complementary logic (as shown e.g. in FIG. 5), in the form of Morse code vibrational representations. However, as with mobile phone  400 , the functionality provided by mode select switch  732  may instead be provided through one or more of miscellaneous input keys  705 A-E.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 8 illustrates a PDA incorporated with the vibrational communication facilities of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment. PDA  800  is shown including body casing  816 , display  808  disposed on the front side of body casing  816 , input key pad  802  and mode select switch  832 . Except for the teachings of the present invention, the items depicted in FIG. 8 all perform their conventional functions. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, mode select switch  832  facilitates switching PDA  800  between a first vibrational communication mode and a second non-vibrational communication mode. In one embodiment of the invention, alphanumeric data received by PDA  800  via e.g. a communication interface and/or receiver is vibrationally output in the form of Morse code vibrational representations, in conjunction with a vibration unit and complementary logic (as shown e.g. in FIG. 5). However, as with mobile phone  400  and wireless pager  700 , the functionality provided to PDA  800  by mode select switch  832  may instead be provided through one or more keys of input key pad  802 , or in the case where display  808  represents a touch screen, the functionality provided by mode select switch  832  may instead be provided through touch input via display  808 .  
         [0044]    Referring now back to FIG. 5, an internal component view of a wireless client device such as but not limited to mobile phone  400 , wireless pager  700 , and PDA  800  is illustrated accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, wireless device  500  includes such elements found in conventional mobile client devices including micro-controller/processor  502 , digital signal processor (DSP)  504 , communication interface  516 , receiver  512 , and GPIO  508 . Except for the use of GPIO  508  to also interface a mode switch and optional Morse code buttons (as described above), and the use of non-volatile memory  506  to host complementary logic  530 , the elements are used to perform their conventional functions known in the art. In particular, receiver  512  may support one or more of any of the known signaling protocols, including but not limited to CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and so forth. In certain embodiments, receiver  512  may be supplemented by a transmitter or replaced by a transceiver. Similarly, communication interface  516  may support one or more wireless communication protocols including but not limited to infrared, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 b, and so forth. It should be noted that one or more of these elements may be omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in the case where wireless device  500  represents a wireless pager such as wireless pager  700 , DSP  504  may be omitted. Similarly, in the case where wireless device  500  represents a mobile phone such as mobile phone  400 , the ear speaker and microphone may likewise be omitted. As their constitutions are known, these conventional elements will not be further described.  
         [0045]    Wireless device  500  additionally includes vibration unit  510 , and non-volatile memory  506  coupled to each other via bus  514 . Non-volatile memory  506  hosts complementary logic  530 , which includes logic to translate incoming alphanumeric text into vibrational control signals which are passed to vibration unit  510 . In one embodiment, complementary logic  530  represents instructions, which when executed by processor  502 , cause wireless device  500  to output vibrational representations of received alphanumeric data via vibration unit  510 . Vibration unit  510  represents a mechanism such as a servomechanism or like device to cause wireless device  500  to vibrate in accordance with control signals received from micro-controller/processor  502  and complementary logic  530 . In one embodiment, vibration unit  510  causes wireless device  500  to vibrate at multiple distinct frequencies, where vibrations at each frequency are distinguishable from each other by a user. In one embodiment, vibration unit  510  causes wireless device  500  to vibrate for multiple distinct durations where each vibrational duration is user-distinguishable. In one embodiment, vibration unit  510  causes wireless device  500  to vibrate at any two of the multiple frequencies and/or durations so as to generate Morse code based vibrational representations of received alphanumeric data. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, wireless device  500  may vibrate at one frequency to represent a “dit” and at another frequency to represent a “dah” (as shown in tables I-III), or wireless device  500  may vibrate at a particular frequency for one duration to represent a “dit” and at the same frequency for a second duration to represent a “dah”. In one embodiment, the frequencies and/or vibration durations are user-adjustable by way of e.g. a switch and/or dial (not shown). Any one or more components illustrated in FIG. 5 may be disposed on a single circuit board or on multiple circuit boards within a wireless device such as mobile phone  400 , wireless pager  700 , and PDA  800 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 6 illustrates an operational flow of the complementary logic as it applies to the vibrational communication aspect of the present invention in accordance with one embodiment. The process begins at block  602  with wireless device  500  receiving alphanumeric data. As alluded to above, wireless device entitled “A Wireless Mobile Phone With Morse Code and Related Capabilities” filed on Jan. 22, 2001 by Walter G. Bright, et al., and commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application.  500  may receive such alphanumeric data in any number of ways including by way of signals received through an antenna and receiver  512 , as well as through GPIO  508  and/or communication interface  516  in accordance with a wide variety of wireless communication protocols. At block  604 , a determination is made as to whether or not wireless device  500  is set to operate in a vibrational operating mode. Such a determination may be achieved by e.g. examining the status of a mode switch such as mode switch  432 ,  732  and  832 . However, it should be noted that a dedicated mode switch is not required as such operational mode settings may be entered by an individual through e.g. a standard input key pad and/or one or more existing I/O keys. If mobile phone  400  is not set to operate in a vibrational operating mode, the received alphanumeric data is visually output to a display, block  606 . However, if wireless device  500  is set to operate in a vibrational operating mode, complementary logic  530  determines vibrational representations of the received alphanumeric data (block  608 ) and causes vibration unit  510  to output such vibrational representations of the received alphanumeric data, block  610 . Thus, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an individual may receive private, alphanumeric messages via a wireless communication device such as but not limited to a mobile phone, wireless pager, and a PDA without the need to view the wireless communication device.  
         [0047]    Thus, various wireless devices having vibration communication capabilities have been described. While the present invention has been described in terms of the above-illustrated embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.