Patent ID: 8458320

Claim:
A computer implemented method for alerting a user to an occurrence of a specified event, the method comprising: receiving event information from the user, wherein the event information indicates a specified event selected from events consisting of receiving an e-mail at a data processing system, receiving an instant message at the data processing system, receiving a stock quote at the data processing system, and receiving financial information at the data processing system, and wherein the event information identifies at least one of a sender of the specified event, a subject matter of the specified event, and specific parameters of the specified event; receiving the specified event at the data processing system; responsive to receiving the specified event, transmitting a wireless signal from the data processing system to a remote receiver, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted using a transmitter attached to a universal serial port of the data processing system; and wherein the remote receiver is selected from a group consisting of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a remote e-mail device, and a key fob.