Patent ID: 7043286

Claim:
An electronic device of the type which alerts a user to an incoming message by connecting an alert signal to a preselected one of a first alert device comprising a vibrator and a second alert devices, comprising: a) a detector which monitors the incoming message to detect the presence of a squelch signal broadcast locally by an emitter and generates a control signal at its output when the squelch signal is detected; b) a processor operatively connected to the output of the detector; c) an alert-mode memory-cell storing one of a default binary value and a user-set binary value; d) a buffer memory connected to the processor and (i) configured to store a predetermined binary value when the squelch signal is detected in response to the control signal and also (ii) configured to store the contents of the alert-mode memory-cell in the absence of detection of the squelch signal; e) a switch, operatively connected to the processor, to (i) automatically direct the alert signal to the vibrator when buffer memory stores the predetermined binary value and (ii) automatically direct the alert signal to a predetermined one of the first and second alert devices as a function of the contents of the buffer memory in the absence of the squelch signal.