Abstract:
The invention is drawn to a method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a wireless terminal (e.g., a cell phone) of a request for communication. When an incoming request for communication is received by the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal generates an acknowledgement return signal. The return signal comprises a unique wireless terminal identification associated with the wireless terminal. The return signal is received by a notifier device worn on or close to the end user. The notifier decodes the return signal to obtain the unique terminal identification. A notification signal is generated in response to obtaining the unique terminal identification. Such notification signal may be, for example, a tactile, light, or sound indicator, or combinations thereof. As the primary function of the notifier device is simply to monitor for the return signal and produce a notification, the complexity and size of the notifier device is relatively smaller than a fully functional wireless terminal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to wireless communications services, and more specifically to remotely notifying an end user of a request for communication.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There are three typical methods of notifying end users of a wireless terminal (e.g., a cell phone or pager) that a request for communication has been sent. The first and most common is an audible tone or tones that are the functional equivalent of traditional “ringing” of a telephone. The second method is an inaudible transducer that produces a vibration (so-called “silent” mode) in the wireless terminal that can be felt by the end user when the wireless terminal is in direct contact, or very close to, the end user. The third is some form of visual indication, usually an alpha-numeric display of caller-ID, possibly accompanied by a light or flashing light, that appears in the screen of the wireless terminal. This third form is often provided in combination with either of the first two notification methods.  
           [0003]    While all three typical wireless terminal notification methods are well understood by end users, there are many instances where the end user is simply unaware of the request for communication. As a result, the communication request goes unanswered. The reasons for the unanswered communication requests are several. The wireless terminal may be set to produce audible tones, but the tones are effectively made inaudible by the cover of a briefcase, handbag, or purse. The audible tones may also be too distant to hear, or difficult to hear due to surrounding environmental noise; for example, in a noisy bar. Likewise, the “silent” mode is ineffective if the terminal is not in direct physical contact with the body of the end user, or very close to the end user (e.g., on the table in front of the end user). And, the visual notification is not perceptible unless the face of the wireless terminal is in direct sight of the end user, and the end user is actually looking at the wireless terminal. The visual notification is ineffective if the wireless terminal is turned over face down, or is in a jacket, briefcase, purse, etc.  
           [0004]    As such, a need exists for an apparatus and method to more reliably notify the end user of a wireless terminal of a request for communication.  
           [0005]    Typical paging systems can notify users of a call or provide other textual information. However, such systems receive signals from a broadcast signal. As such, receivers in paging devices must be relatively high powered and technologically sophisticated in order receive signals from a great distance and discriminate unique signals in the broadcast. Power and interference often create technical challenges in such systems.  
           [0006]    Although wireless terminals are convenient, and increasingly made to a smaller scale, for various reasons many end users simply do not carry wireless terminal on, or close to, their person. A complete wireless terminal is necessarily bulky because of the technology required to make them fully functional—e.g., audio out, audio in, keypad, display, radio frequency two-way wireless communication capabilities, ergonomic handset, etc. As such, many end users do not carry the wireless terminal on, or in, their clothing, or otherwise directly on themselves. This is often for the practical reasons of bulk, and also for fashion reasons (e.g., a clip-on cell phone on a formal ball gown does not fit well, or look fashionable).  
           [0007]    As such, a need exists for an apparatus and method to notify the end user of a wireless terminal of a request for communication via a convenient and relatively small device.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to reliably notify end users of wireless terminals of an incoming request for a communication, overcoming the known limitations of present wireless terminal notification, some of which are noted above.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to notify an end user of an incoming request for communication in an unobtrusive and convenient manner via a device that is distinct from the wireless terminal and is relatively smaller than a typical wireless terminal.  
           [0010]    A small notifier device, for example packaged as a slender patch much like a Band-Aid® or other slender device, is associated with an end user wireless terminal by short-range radio frequency (RF) link or other similar wireless means. The notifier device is worn on, or is placed near, the end user. A request signal for wireless communication is sent from a base station to the end user wireless terminal, typically via RF broadcast. The requested end user wireless terminal receives the request signal, and sends a return signal back to the base station indicating that the end user wireless terminal received the request signal. When the return signal is sent to the base station by the end user wireless terminal, the nearby notifier device also receives the acknowledgement via the same return signal RF link. In response to the return signal, the notifier device produces an end user notification signal. The notification signal may be a tactile notification, or some other method of notifying the end user of the incoming request for communication, e.g., light, sound, electrical pulse, etc. Upon user awareness of notification, the nearby wireless terminal can be removed from briefcase, pocket, or purse, and answered in a timely fashion. As the primary function of the notifier device is simply to monitor for the return signal and produce a notification, the complexity and size of the notifier device is relatively smaller than a fully functional wireless terminal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a block and flow diagram of a wireless communication network that employs the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method for practicing the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a notifier device that employs the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    The present invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims below may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. This detailed description of the preferred embodiment is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as a particular example thereof. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not of limitation.  
         [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 1, cellular telephone system  100  is shown. Base station  110  transmits communication request signal  120  to wireless terminal  130 . Base station  110  is typically a cellular or other similar wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver base station known by those skilled in the art. Base station  110  is also typically in communication, via a wireless or wired coupling, through none, one, or more base stations, cells, or other devices  108 , to a switching station or central office  106 , and, in turn, to the public switch telephone network  104 .  
         [0016]    Base station  110  typically uses an RF overhead signaling channel to set up, supervise, and terminate voice or data communication sessions with wireless terminals  130 ,  132 - 134  in the system  100 . Using the overhead RF channel, base station  110  is in two-way contact with each wireless terminal  130 ,  132 - 134  within the serving area of system  100 , performing a variety of administrative functions in the overhead RF spectrum, such as authentication, verification, detection of illegal “cloned” cell phones, identification of “roaming” users, and assessing the point at which a given active communication session needs to be handed off to the next cell in the system  100 .  
         [0017]    Request signal  120  is transmitted in the overhead RF channel. Request signal  120  modulates the RF link by using various techniques, including, for example, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM), GSM, G3, and other similar modulation techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Request signal  120  includes an identifier, flag, or other information  122  that is unique to a particular end user wireless terminal  130 . As such, end user wireless terminal  130  can discern that the request signal  120  is for that particular end user wireless terminal  130 , as opposed to other wireless terminals  132 - 134  on the system  100 .  
         [0018]    End user wireless terminal  130  may be, for example, a cellular telephone, pager, PDA, BlackBerry, or other similar wireless voice or data communication device. In the event that wireless terminal  130  is on and operational, upon receipt of request signal  120 , wireless terminal  130  transmits an automatic return signal  140  back to base station  110 . Return signal  140  is generally transmitted in the administrative overhead RF channel, and is typically transmitted before any notification to the end user (e.g., before the wireless terminal rings or vibrates, etc., and before the request for communication is “answered” by the end user).  
         [0019]    Return signal  140  contains a unique terminal identification  142  of the wireless terminal  130  that received request signal  120 . Terminal identification  142  is used by Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO)  175  to process the communication request. If there is no return signal  140  (and  142 ) forthcoming from wireless terminal  130 , MTSO  175  assumes that wireless terminal  130  is either switched off, not operational, and/or out of RF range of system  100 . In such case, the calling party may be routed to voice mail, or to a standard network recording, depending on service option selected by the end user.  
         [0020]    Although the return signal  140  and the terminal identification  142  is intended for receipt by MTSO  175  or other devices in system  100 , it is also possible for other devices near the wireless terminal  130  to receive return signal  140 , typically in the RF spectrum. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, notifier  160  comprises receiver  162  for receiving return signal  140 , a decoder or processor  164  for obtaining or recovering terminal identification  142  from return signal  140 , transducer  166  or some other mechanism to create end user notification signal  170 , and a power source  168 .  
         [0021]    Notifier  160  is programmed or otherwise associated with a wireless terminal  130  to recognize terminal-specific identification  142  transmitted from the associated wireless terminal  130 . In an optional embodiment of the invention, notifier  160  can be associated with multiple wireless terminals  130 /terminal identifiers  142 . In another embodiment a different notification signal  170  (e.g., one beep, two beeps, etc.) are associated with each wireless terminal  130  known by notifier  160  so that the end user may discern which wireless terminal  130  is receiving a request for communication. For example, one tactile indication of notification signal  170  may indicate a first wireless terminal  130 , and a second tactile indication of notification signal  170  may indicate a second wireless terminal  130 .  
         [0022]    In one embodiment notification signal  170  is a tactile indicator such as a small vibrating sensation or a low voltage electrical stimulation. Such a tactile notifier  160  could be worn close to the body of the end user, or even on the skin in the form of an adhesive patch similar to a Band Aid®. Alternatively, notifier  160  could produce a light or sound notification signal  170 . Such a notifier  160  may take the form of a ring, necklace, earrings, lapel pin, or other object on or near the end user (e.g., a so-called “mood” ring worn by the end user could produce both sound and light).  
         [0023]    Typically notifier  160 , and its components, would require only a few milliwatts of power. Notifier  160  can be powered by a small battery  168 , similar to those used in hearing aids or watches. Alternatively, notifier  160  could be powered by solar power from natural lighting or room lighting, or ergonomic movement (similar to the technology used in Rolex® watches). Thin flexible solar powered strips are known in the art and are commercially available.  
         [0024]    Association or programming of notifier  160  with wireless terminal  130  and, in particular with terminal identification  142 , may be accomplished by the service provider at the point of sale, by a third party, or directly by an end user. “Manual” methods of programming notifier  160  may be used. For example, the user could enter the serial number or ESN number imprinted on each wireless terminal  130 , for example using a computer or other input device. Such numbers are unique and typically included in the return signal  140  as the terminal identification  142 . After entering such numbers, a device can be used to program one or more notifiers to discriminate to such terminal identification (or multiple terminal identification numbers if desired). Although end users typically perform complex steps to customize, establish, or select various service features on their wireless terminals  130 , the present invention does not require any programming of the wireless terminal  130  itself.  
         [0025]    Although many other methods of programming notifier  160  to be associated with wireless terminal  130  (and  142 ) are well known to those skilled in the art, one method of associating notifier  160  with one or more wireless terminals  130 ,  142  is a “self-learning” process similar to a technique well known in programmable “generic” hand-held remote-control units designed for control of individual or multiple consumer electronics devices such as television sets, VCRs and DVD players. These programmable remote control devices can be set up to understand and control the particular device(s) by exercising a few user-friendly steps in front of the device(s) to be controlled. Communication in the consumer electronics example is via infrared light modulated by digital information. In the case of the present invention, one method of programming notifier  160  may be accomplished placing one or more “blank” notifiers  160  in a programming station, then making a call to the desired wireless terminal  130  from another telephone device. The outgoing return signal  140  and terminal identification  142  is then output by wireless terminal  130  and “burned” into the notifier or notifiers  160 . The process is repeated if the notifier  160  is to be programmed for multiple wireless terminals  130 , or multiple notifier devices are programmed for one or more of the same wireless terminals  130 . Once all wireless terminals  130  are “input” into the notifier  160 , a function to complete or “lock” the notifiers  160  is performed.  
         [0026]    Turning now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a method for practicing the present invention is shown. A base station transmits communication request signal  220 . Request signal  220  is received by a wireless terminal  225 . Wireless terminal processes the request signal to determine if the request signal is for the wireless terminal  230 . If the result of step  230  is negative, the process ends or is otherwise processed (e.g., the wireless terminal may not be functional, out of range, or off. In such case, the calling party may be routed to voice mail, or to a standard network recording, depending on service option selected by the end user). If the result of step  230  is positive, a return signal is transmitted  240 . Return signal comprises a termination identification associated with the wireless terminal. Return signal is received by a notifier device  250 . Notifier decodes the return signal to obtain the terminal identification  260 . Notifier determines if the terminal identification matches the wireless device associated with the notifier  270 . If the result of step  270  is negative, the process ends. If the result of step  270  is positive, the notifier produces a notification signal to the end user  280 , and the process ends.  
         [0027]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of notifier  160  is shown. Notifier  160  comprises receiver  162  for receiving return signal  140 , a decoder or processor  164  for obtaining or recovering terminal identification  142  from return signal  140 , transducer  166  or some other mechanism to create end user notification signal  170 , and power source  168 . Each of receiver  162 , decoder  164 , transducer  166  and power source  168  are devices well known in the art. In one embodiment, an ASIC or other customer fabricated chip comprises one or more of the receiver  162 , decoder/processor  164 , and/or transducer  166 . Thus, the size of notifier  160  can be greatly reduced by using such design and manufacturing techniques well know in the art.  
         [0028]    As noted above receiver  162  may include the capability to tune to or receive multiple return signals  140 . Decoder or processor  164  serves the function of decoding the received return signal  140  to ascertain terminal identification  142 . In one embodiment, additional processing capabilities can be added to decoder  164  (or a separate processor can be added) to identify multiple terminal identifications  142  from multiple wireless terminals  130 . In a further enhanced embodiment decoder or process  164  produces a different response to each of such different terminal identifications  142 . Such different responses can then be used by transducer  166  to produce different notification signals  170 . Transducer  166  is activated by decoder/processor  164 . Transducer  166  serves the purpose of creating some form of notification signal  170  to the user. Such notification signal  170  may be in the form of a small electrical stimulation, light, sound, or other notification methods, or combinations of the above. As noted above, in one embodiment, different notification signals  170  are used to notify the user of different terminal identifications  142 .  
         [0029]    It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may also be used in other similar wireless networking applications. For example, wireless communications transmitted in a restaurant (e.g., to indicate order is up), buildings (e.g., to page someone), or other similar applications. Thus, the above disclosed embodiments should not limit in any way the claims below.