US6720863B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile electronic communication device with lights to indicate received messages
Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2001-08-16
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Granted: 2004-04-13
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Expires: 2021-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A mobile electronic communication device includes a processor unit, a transceiver, a keypad and a light unit. Each key of the keypad is associated with a contact of a contact list. The light unit can perform light functions to notify a user of the reception and/or status of messages received via the transceiver. The light functions include providing an indication of the age of a received message that was sent by a contact in the contacts list. The age of the message is indicated by a modulation of the illuminating light. In one embodiment, the age of a message is indicated as one of a set of predetermined age ranges, with each age range being represented by a unique color.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric J. Hull
- 👤 Jonathan O. Nelson
- 👤 Gary N. Mager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/22; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/40; H04M1/57; H04M1/575; H04M1/576; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/7243; H04M19/00; H04M19/02; H04M19/04; H04M1/72436; H04M19/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A mobile electronic communication device comprising: a transceiver; a keypad having a plurality of keys; a light unit coupled to the keypad; and a processor unit coupled to the transceiver, keypad and light unit, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output light to light a selected one of the keys to indicate a source of a received message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A mobile electronic communication device comprising: a transceiver; a keypad having a plurality of keys; a light unit coupled to the keypad; and a processor unit coupled to the transceiver, keypad and light unit, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output light to light a selected one of the keys to indicate a source of a received message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein each key of the plurality of keys is associated with a corresponding contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 2 , wherein keys corresponding to contacts are numeric keys of the keypad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 2 , wherein, in response to an actuation of a key corresponding to a contact, the processor unit is configured to cause the mobile electronic communication device to dial a telephone number associated with that contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 2 further comprising a display, wherein in response to an actuation of a key corresponding to a contact, the processor unit is configured to cause information related to a message received from that contact to be displayed on the display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 2 , wherein the mobile electronic communication device is configured to receive messages of two or more types, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output the light with modulation that depends on the received message's type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein the received message includes an indication of its importance, wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output the light with modulation that depends on the importance of the received message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 2 , wherein the selected one of the keys being lit is associated with a contact, and the message is received from the associated contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 8 , wherein the light unit can simultaneously illuminate another key of the keypad to indicate that a message has been received from a contact associated with the other key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processor unit is configured to cause the light unit to output light with modulation that depends on an age of a message received by the mobile electronic communication device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 10 , wherein the modulated light has a color that depends on the relative age of a received message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 10 , wherein the modulated light has a blinking rate that indicates a number of unread messages received from a contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile electronic communication device in claim 10 , wherein the message is a most recent message received from a contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 13 , wherein the message is an unread message received from the contact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 10 , wherein the relative age is indicated using a plurality of predetermined age categories.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 15 , wherein each age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined color of light that can be outputted by the light unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 15 , wherein each age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined number of light flashes within a cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein the message is a SMS message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
91 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile electronic communication device further comprises a touch-screen display in addition to or in lieu of the light unit, and the processor emulates said causing of the light unit to light a selected one of a plurality of keys of a keypad to indicate receipt of a message from a source by rendering a virtual keypad having a plurality of virtual keys on the touch-screen display, with a selected one of the virtual keys manifesting an appearance of being illuminated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein each key of the plurality of keys of the keypad is at least partially translucent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 1 , wherein the light unit comprises an LED circuit configured to selectively output light having a color selected from a set of a plurality of preselected colors, the LED circuit having at least one LED coupled to each key of the plurality of keys of the keypad.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mobile electronic communication device of claim 21 , wherein a LED coupled to a key of the plurality of keys of the keypad is a multicolor LED.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for use with a mobile electronic communication having a plurality of keys, each key being associated with a corresponding contact, the method comprising: receiving a message; determining a sender of the received message; and illuminating a key of the plurality of keys when the sender is the corresponding contact.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for use with a mobile electronic communication having a plurality of keys, each key being associated with a corresponding contact, the method comprising: receiving a message; determining a sender of the received message; and illuminating a key of the plurality of keys when the sender is the corresponding contact.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claim 23 , further comprising determining an age of the received signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein determining the age of the received message comprises determining which age range of a plurality of predetermined age ranges contains the age of the received message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method claim 24 , further comprising modulating the illumination as a function of the determined age.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein modulating the illumination comprises causing the illumination to have a color selected from a plurality of colors, each color of the plurality of colors corresponding to an age range of the plurality of predetermined age ranges.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claim 23 , further comprising modulating the illumination to indicate a number of unread messages received by the contact corresponding to the key.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method claim 28 , wherein the modulation comprises causing the illumination to flash while illuminating the key, the illumination flashing a number of times in a cycle reflective of a number of unread messages sent by the contact corresponding to the key.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising illuminating another key of the plurality of keys when a message from another contact has been received.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising displaying a message log of stored messages received from the contact in response to the key corresponding to the contact being activated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-10-13 | 2008-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | 2012-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-13 | 2015-10-13 | 2016-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |