Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-08
2001-04-17
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2735)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C340S407100, C455S041300, C455S066100, C455S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218958
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable computing devices, and more particularly to systems and methods for alerting a user when one of a plurality of wearable computing devices have generated a user alert.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computing devices that can be carried by a person have become popular, and such devices continue to proliferate as the size of computing devices shrinks, allowing the devices to become comparatively unobtrusive and lightweight to carry. Examples of personal computing devices are information devices such as pagers, cellular telephones, laptop and palm top computers, personal music systems, camcorders, and dictating machines, and sensor devices, including biosensors such as heart rate sensors and blood pressure sensors.
As recognized by the present invention, as computing devices continue to be miniaturized, people can be expected to carry more and more wearable personal computing devices. Furthermore, the effectiveness of such devices, as well as their ease of use, would be promoted if some or all of a person's personal computing devices were integrated in a single system or otherwise configured to work in concert with each other. With this in mind, a wireless radiofrequency (RF) communication protocol, referred to as “Bluetooth”, has been proposed by an industry consortium to enable computing devices to communicate with each other using what is essentially a wireless standardized local area network.
The present invention recognizes, however, that even should personal computing devices be configured to communicate with each other, such devices nonetheless generate unique alerts that are not integrated with each other. For example, a cellular telephone rings to indicate an incoming call, a pager beeps or vibrates to indicate a page, a biosensor might alarm when a setpoint is reached, a palm top computer might display a visual alert of an incoming email, and so on. In other words, each personal computing device generates its own alert, whether audible, visual, or vibratory.
As understood herein, the generation of many unique alerts has drawbacks. One drawback is that a person must constantly “tune in” to multiple sensory alerts, i.e., the person must listen for a pager beep or cellular telephone ring, visually observe a palm top computer screen, and remain sensitive for a tactile signal. This undesirably diverts the person's attention away from other activities.
Additionally, it is frequently the case that existing alerts are either ineffective or inappropriate, depending on the circumstances. For example, a vibratory tactile alert is ineffective when a person subjected to the alert is operating a vibrating piece of machinery. Also, an audible alert might be ineffective for a person who is hard of hearing, or who is in a noisy place. Moreover, auditory and visual alerts are often inappropriate when, for example, a person is in church, or a meeting, or other circumstance that renders audible and/or visual alerts unwelcome distractions.
Accordingly, the present invention understands that with so many devices requiring a person's attention at various times and under various circumstances, a need exists for an integrated alert notification system. The present invention recognizes that the above-noted shortcomings can be addressed as set forth herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system is disclosed for centralizing notification of alerts of plural personal computing devices. The system includes a tactile notification device that can be worn by a person and that defines a tactile surface facing the person such that the tactile notification device generates one or more person-detectable tactile signals when activated. Plural personal computing devices that are bearable by the person communicate with the tactile notification device via a wireless communication network.
In a preferred embodiment, the tactile notification device includes a wireless communication receiver, and the personal computing devices transmit respective alert signals to the receiver to activate the tactile notification device. Moreover, the tactile notification device generates plural tactile signals, and each tactile signal is different from other tactile signals generated by the tactile notification device. As disclosed in detail below, each tactile signal is correlated to a respective alert signal from a respective one of the personal computing devices. Preferably, a user can correlate the tactile signals to the respective alert signals, and in this preferred embodiment the tactile notification device includes a data store to receive user signals indicating a user-defined correlation of the tactile signals to the respective alert signals.
Per the present invention, the tactile notification device includes one or more tactile elements engaged with the tactile surface. The tactile elements can include parallel bars spaced from each other, with at least one bar being disposed on the tactile surface and reciprocatingly movable toward and away from the other bar to gently pinch the person's skin. Additionally, the tactile elements include at least one bar rotatingly engaged with the tactile surface. A pressure sensor can be provided on the tactile notification device for generating a contact signal when the tactile surface contacts another surface, such as the skin of a person.
In another aspect, a tactile notification device includes a housing, one or more tactile elements on the housing, and a processor in the housing for activating the tactile elements to generate plural tactile signals. At least some tactile signals correspond to respective alerts from respective personal computing devices that are in wireless communication with the tactile notification device.
In still another aspect, a method is disclosed for signalling to a person when one of plural personal computing devices generates an alert signal. The method includes providing a tactile notification device configured to generate plural tactile signals, with at least two tactile signals being different from each other. Also, the method includes establishing wireless communication between the personal computing devices and the tactile notification device. The tactile notification device is caused to generate a tactile signal corresponding to an alerting personal computing device when the alerting personal computing device generates an alert signal.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
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Eichstaedt Matthias
Lu Qi
Dalencourt Yves
Horabik Michael
International Business Machines - Corporation
Rogitz John L.
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