Radio with silent and audible alerts

Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06252515

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to radios, including but not limited to radios alerting a user of the radio that a call has been received.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many applications radio devices alert a user of the device when a call has been received. Such devices generally produce an audible alerting signal which can be heard by the user. However, an audible signal may produce a disturbance in some places where there is a low ambient noise level, and may not be heard in other places where there is a high ambient noise level. A manual sound level control can be provided to change the level of the sound for different situations. However, such a manual control is objectionable as the level control may be set to a level such that the audible alerting signal produces a disturbance or is not heard.
To eliminate the use of an audible alerting signal in places where this is objectionable, some radio devices use a silent alert signal, such as that produced by a vibrating device, so that the user of the radio device feels, rather than hears, the alerting signal. This is objectionable as it is only effective when the radio device is worn on the body of the user.
Some radio devices may provide both an audible and a silent alert. A manual control can be provided to alternatively select between the audible alert and the silent alert for different situations. However, such a control is objectionable as the user may forget that the audible alert was selected so the audible alert signal produces a disturbance or is not heard, or the user may forget that the silent alert was selected so the silent alert goes undetected to the user when the radio device is not worn on the body of the user.
Accordingly, there is a need to insure that the user of a radio device will be alerted when a call has been received in a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio device relative to the user's body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs and others are substantially met by a radio having a receiver for receiving an information signal, a silent alert generator, an audible alert generator, and a processor with an associated timer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the processor, responsive to the times when the information signal is received, activates the silent alert during a first predetermined time period, and the audible alert during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period.
In another embodiment of the present invention the radio can also detect the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory to the radio and the radio. Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio activates the audible alert.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3911416 (1975-10-01), Feder
patent: 4237448 (1980-12-01), Weinberg
patent: 4536761 (1985-08-01), Tsunoda et al.
patent: 4755816 (1988-07-01), DeLuca
patent: 4879759 (1989-11-01), Matsumoto et al.
patent: 4904992 (1990-02-01), Grothause
patent: 4918438 (1990-04-01), Yamasaki
patent: 5039985 (1991-08-01), Ohyanagi
patent: 5172092 (1992-12-01), Nguyen et al.
patent: 5202912 (1993-04-01), Breeden
Motorola “Metro-Pageboy”, decimal digital radio pager, A03MAC/LAC series discloses a “Mem-O-Lert” function that permits the pager to receive and store paging calls in a memory cell while the pager audio alert circuit is inhibited.
Motorola “PMR2000” series, GSC Alphanumeric Display Personal Message Receiver discloses the “Vibra-Page” option that causes the unit to vibrate when a message is received in the silent mode.
Motorola “PMR2000”, Personal Message Receiver Golay Sequential Code discloses a VIBRA-Page Silent Alerting feature that will vibrate the receiver if the radio is in the “speaker off” (silent) position, when a message is received.
Motorola Cellular Mobile Telephone, users manual No. 68P81156E19-0 discloses a horn alert feature that activates your horn or headlights if you will be outside the vehicle and expect a call.
Cellular mobile and carry phone accessory, programming and installation manual No. 68P09354A76-0 discloses in step 8 on page 20, referring to FIG. 4, the wiring connection to operate an auxiliary feature.

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