GB2338318A

GB2338318A - Pager with alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2338318A
Application number: GB9921333A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamazaki
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1995-07-13
Filing date: 1996-07-15
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-15
Also published as: GB9921333D0; GB2338318B

Abstract

A pager includes an alarm scheduler 106 having audible alarm signalling 13 and non-audible signalling ie display 12, LED 14 or a vibrator. Various modes of alarm signalling may be selected at 110 including one where a user is notified at least audibly on activation of an alarm but silently on receipt of a call.

Description

1 REMINDER APPARATUS AND METHOD 2338318 The prse'nt invention relates to a

reminder apparatus having a scheduler function, and more particularly to a method and apparatus of reminding a user of a schedule by a sound, a visual or a vibration reminder.

A seliactive calling. receiver has been widely used for various purposes and, especially, a small-sized and lightweight selective calling receiver called a pager is suitable for being taken on the road. A basic function of the selective calling receiver is to indicat- by beep sound,,--bratirn, or ligh-'.

incoming call. Since the beep is a nuisance to others, either a beep mode or a silent mode can be selected by.the user operating a mode selector depending on surroundings. Further, in order to match the convenience of portability, many selective calling rece ivers have been provided wi th a scheduler progran, and ar. alarm function which makes a beep or a visual reminder to remind the user of a meeting or other events, as disclosed in Jaz)anese Patent La-Ld-open Publication No. 3-1 8136.

Since an alarm is generally i.-,iportantk to the user, it is 9 necessary to attract the attention of the user who may forget the appointment. For that purpose, a beep reminder is most effective. Theretore, the conventional selective calling receiver is generally designed to make a beep alar.n even in the silent mode. However, as described above, it is true in some cases that the beep is a nuisance to others.

The present invention has been proposed in order to overcome the aforementioned problems inevi tably inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for reminding an user o.L a schedule with reliability.

It- is another object of the pz,-jen-t. invention - ' k,.z provide a selective calling receiver for notifying a user of an alarm time with reliability even when a silent mode has been selected.

Aspects of the invention are as set out in the independent claims.

Preferred features of the invention are as set out in the dependent clai 'Ms.

There is also described herein k J_ ion by u. s ing at least an apparatus for notifying a user of informati one of a sound medium and a silent medium provided with a scheduler which determines an alarm time and a selector which selects a single mode from a sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, a second silent mode, and a third silent mode. The sound mode uses at least L-he sound medium to 1 3 notify the information to the user, and the silent mode uses the silent medium to notify the information $to the user. The apparatus makes a sound reminder at the ala= time when either the sound mode or the first silent mode has been selected. When the second silent mode has.been selected, the sound reminder is made at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed. And, when the third s.ilent mode has been selected, a silent reminder is made at the alarm time.

There is also described herein a selective calling receiver comprising a receiver which receives a selective calling signal and detects an incoming call and a scheduler which determines an alarm time.

The selective' calling receiver is further comorised of a selector which selects a single mode from a sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, a second silent mode,, and a third silent mode. The sound mode uses at least the sound medium to tif y the incoming call to the user, and the s 'eat mode uses the silent medium to notify the incoming call to the user. when either the sound mode or the first silent mode has been selected, a sound reminder is generated at the alarm tL-,ie. When the second silent mode has been selected, the kound reminder is generated at a tLme when a selection of the silent mode is reset af ter the alarm time has passed. And when the third silent mode has been selected, a silent reminder is generated at the alarm time.

There is also described a method for notifying a user of information by us Ing at least one of a sound medium and a s ilent medium, af ter 4 determini 1 ng an alarm time by a scheduler program, a silent mode is selected in which the silent medium is used to notify the information to the user. And then a sound reminder is generated at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the 5 alarm time has passed.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a selective calling receiver employing an embodiment according to the present invention; FIG - 2 is a f lowchart showing an alarm notifying operation 15 of the selective calling receiver employing the embodiment; and FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the alarm notifying operation of the selective calling receiver employing the embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a selec-'--ive calling receiver in accordance with the present inventLion. The selective calling receiver is comprised of a radio system module 10 and a control unit 11 which is connected to a battery, a power switch, and an informer. The informer is comprised of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) 12, a speaker 13, and a lightemitting diode (LED) 14,thich are connected to the controller 11 through an LCD driver 15, a speaker driver 16, and an LED driver 17, respectively. The radio system module 10 is comprised of a built-in antenna, a receiver 101, and a waveform shaping circuit 102. The receiver 101 receives a radio signal from abase station (not shown) of a paging sys tem through the antenna. The receiver 101 further includes a demodulator which demodulates the received radio signal into a baseband sjA..gnal. The waveform shaping circuit 102 shapes the waveform of the baseband signal and the wu'.-e-shaped signal..s transferred as a selective calling signal from the radio system module 10 to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 is comprised of a decoder.103, a processor 104, a random access memory 105, a program memory 106, 20 a timer 107, and other necessary circuits. The control unit 11. is further provided with an alarm time setting key 108, a message read key 109, and a mode selector 110. The decoder 103 decodes the selective calling signal received from the radio system module 10 and outputs received data to the processor 104- The proc essor 104 performs the receiving control accord-Ling to a main 6 program previously stored in the program memory 106. Inaddition to the main program, the program memory 106 further stores a scheduler as well as a been mode and a silent mode programs one O.L which is selected by the user operating the mode selector 110.

The silent mode program, as described later, includes three mode programs A, B, and C, one of which is designated by the user using the mode selector 110.

Further, as known well, the processor 104 outputs an intermittent ONIOFF control signal to the radio system module 10 so as to perform an intermittent receiving operation. Furthermore, in the case of the beep mode, the processor 104 activates the soeaker 13 and the LED 14 to inform the user of incoming call by beep sound and blinking light when a selective calling number included in the received data is identical to the 15!D number of its own previously stored in an!D memory (not shown).

However, in the case where the silent mode is selected, the processor 104 causes speaker 13 not- t-o be a-.tivated but. the LCD 12 or the LED 14 to be activated when the incoming call has occurred. when the selective calling number is identical to the ID number of its own, the processor 104 causes the memory 105 to store the received message and then the received message is displayed on the LCD 12 b the user operating the message read key 109.

1 In addition to the receiving operations as ment _Joned above, the control unit 11 has an alarm function which makes a beep Or a visual reminder when an alarm time previously set by the user 1 1 7 is reached. The user can set the scheduler to appointment -="es by operating the alarm time setting key 108. In the scheduler program, when the timer 107 reaches the set alarm time, the processor 104 activates the speaker 13 to make a beep reminder in the beep 'silent mode A, and activates the LCD 12 or the LED 14 to make a visual reminder in t_he fully silent mode C. Further, in the cas e where the modified silent mode B is designated, the processor 104 activates the speaker 13 to make a beep reminder when the alarm time has passed away and then the silent mode is reset by the user operating the mode selector 110. Suchanalarm function will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, in the case where the user has set the timer 107 to an alarm time through the scheduler program by operating the alarm ti-me setting key 108 (YES in step S201), the processor 104 is informed of the current time reaching the set alarm time by the interrupt of the timer 107 YES in step S202). When-the alarm time is reacned, the processor 104 cheeks the mode selector 110 whether the silent mode is set (step S203). when the silent mode is set (YES in step S203),' it is further checked which silent mode is designated, the beep silent mode A, the modified silent mode B, or the fully silent mode C (S204).

In the case where the beep silent mode A has been designated, the processor 104 controls the speaker driver 16 sucn that the speaker 13 makes a beep reminder to remind the user of a meeting or other events (step 5205). The ti-M.e of day at that time may be displayed on the LCD 12. 5 ince the receiver operates i 0 8 in the silent mode, needless to say, the user is informed Of the incoming call by 'only a visual informer such as the LCD 12 or the LED 14.

When the modified silent mode B has been designated, the processor 104 transfers control to th e main program without reminding the user of the alarr-n time until the silent mode is reset by the user operating the mode selector 110 (step S206).

At the time when the silent mode ieset interrupt occurs, the processor 104 controls the speaker driver 16 such thatthe speaker 13 makes a beep reminder to remind the user of a meeting or other events (step S205). The time of day at that time may be displayed on the LCD 12.

In the case of the fully silent mode designated, the user is inAlro=ecl of the current time reaching the set alarm time by only a silent informer such as the LeD 12 or the LED 14 (step S207). More specifically, the processor 104 controls the LCD drive,: i.5 and the LED driver 17 so that the szt alarm time is displayed on the LCD 12 and the LED 14 blinks to remind the user of an appointment or the like. The silent informer may include a vibrator in addition to a visual informer such as the LCD 12 and the LED 14- As shown in Fig. 3, even when the selective calling receiver is set to the silent mode which is to inform the user Of the incoming call by the visual informer only, the selective calling receiver can inform the user of the set alarm time to remind the user of the appointment according to a desired silent p 1 mode designated by the user himself. As described above, a beep reminder is made at the set alarm time when the userhas designated.the beep silent mode A, a beep reminder i s made at the time when the silent mode is reset in the case of the modified silent mode B, and a visual reminder is made at the set alarm time when the user has designated the fully silent mode C.

In summary an apparatus for notifying a user of information by using sound or silent medium includes a scheduler which determines an alarm time by the user's operation and a selegtor which selects a single mode from a sound mode and a silent mode comprising a beep silent mode, a modified silent mode, and a fully silent mode. The sound mode uses at least the sound medium to notify the user of the information, and the silent mode uses the silent medium to notify the user of the information. When either the sound mode or the beep silent mode has been selected, the apparatus makes a beep reminder at the alarm time. When the modified silent mode has been selected, the sound reminder is made at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed. When the fully silent mode -has been selected, a silent reminder such as a visual or a vibration reminder is made at the alarm time.

One particularly advantageous feature of the embodiment is that a mixed mode (beep silent mode A) can be selected in which a user is not audibly annoyed by incoming calls, but is alerted to important reminders.

Each feature disclosed in the specification (which term includes the claims) andlor shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed andlor illustrated features.

CLALMS:

1 Notifying apparatus for alerting a user comprising: scheduling means for storing at least one alarm; selective call receiver means for receiving a call signal directed to the apparatus; mode selection means for selecting an operation mode from a plurality of operation modes including a mixed operation ' mode; alert means arranged to notify the user on activation of the alarm or on receipt of a call signal at least audibly if a normal operation mode is selected, and silently if muted operation is selected, wherein if said mixed operation mode is selected, the alert means is arranged to notify the user at least audibly on activation of an alarm but silently on receipt of an incoming call.

Claims

2. Notifying apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein muted operation

includes a mode in which the alert means is arranged to de.lay audible notification of the user following activation of an alarm until receipt of a signal from the user.

Notifying apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein muted operation includes a mode in which the alert means is arranged to notify a user only silently following activation of an alarm.

4. Notifying apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the alert means includes at least one of a visual display, a light emitting device and means for generating vibration as means for notifying the user silently.

5. An apparatus for notifying a user of information by using at least one of a sound medium and a.silent medium, comprising: scheduling means for determining an alarm tL-ne; selecting means for selecting a single mode from sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, second silent mode, and a third silent mode, the sound mode using at least the sound medium to notify the user olf the information, and the silent mode using the silent medium to notify the user of the inf-ormation; and means for generating a sound reminder at the alarm time when either the sound mode or the first silent mode has been select,=,j, generating the sound reminder at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed when the second silent mode has been selected, and generating a silent reminder at the alarm time when the third silent mode has been selected, the sound reminder comprising the sound-medium, and the silent reminder comprising the silent medium.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sound reminder is generated by a spea,-,er.

12 - 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the silent medium' comprises a visual medium.

8. The apparatus according to claim7, wherein the silent medium is generated by a ligh--..-em-itting device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the silent medium is generated by a display device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5cr6, wherein the silent medium is of mechanical vibration generated by a vibrator- signal; 11. The apparatus according to any of claims 5, 6, 7 and 8, further comprising: receiving mean for receiving a selective calling and control means for-notifying an incoming call to the user by using at least the sound medium when the sound mode is selected and notifying the user of the incoming call by using the silent medium when the silent mode is selected.

12. A selective calling receiver comprising: receiving means for receiving a selective calling signal and detecting an incoming call; scheduling means for determining an alar-m time; 13 selecting means for selecting a single mode from sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, second silent mode, and a third silent mode, the sound mode using at least the sound medium to notify the user of the incoming call, and the silent mode using the silent medium to notify the user of the incoming call; and means for generating a sound rem.Inder at the alarm time when either the sound mode or the f irst silent diode has been selected, generating the sound reminder at a time when a selection of the si-lent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed when the second silent mode has been selected, and generating a silent reminder at the alarm time when the third silen- mode has been selected, the sound reminder comprising the sound medium, and the silent reminder comprising the silent medium.

13. The selective calling receiver according to claim 12,wherein the sound reminder -JS generated by a speaker.' 14. The selective calling receiver according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the silent medium is generated by a visual device.

15. The selective calling receiver according to claim 14, wherein the silent medium is generated by a light-emitting device.

16. The selective calling receiver according to claim 14, wherein the silent medium is generated by a display device.

17. The selective callino, receiver accordina to claim 12 or 13, wherein the silent 0 W medium is of mechanical vibration.

18. The selective calling receiver according - to claim 17, wherein the silent medium is generated by a vibrator.

19. A method for notifying a user of information by using at least one of a sound medium and a silent medium comprising the steps of: determining an alarm time by a scheduler program; selecting a silent mode in which the silent medium is used to notify the user of the information; and generating a sound reminder at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed, the silent reminder comprising the silent medium.

20. A method for notifying a user of information by using at least one of a sound medium and a silent medium, comprising the steps of: determining an alarm time by a scheduler program; selecting a single mode from a sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, a second silent mode, and dthird silent mode, the sound mode using at least the sound medium to notify the user of the information, and the silent mode using the silent medium to notify the user of the information; and generating a sound eminder at the alarm time in a state that either the sound mode or the first silent mode has been selected, the sound reminder comprising the sound medium; generating the sound reminder at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed in a state that the second silent mode has been selected; and 1 1 p - generating a silent reminder at the alarm time in a state that the third silent mode has been selected, the silent reminder comprising the silent medium.

21. A method for notifying a user of information in a selective calling receiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a selective calling signal and detecting an incoming call; determining an alarm time by a scheduler program; selecting a single mode from a sound mode and a silent mode comprising a first silent mode, a second silent mode, and a th ird silent mode, the sound mode using at least the sound medium to notify the user of the incoming call, and the silent mode using the silent medium to notify the user of the incoming call; generating a sound reminder at the alarm time when either the sound mode or the first silent mode has been selected, the sound reminder comprising the sound medium; generating the sound reminder at a time when a selection of the silent mode is reset after the alarm time has passed when the second silent mode has been selected; and generating a silent reminder at the alarm time when the third silent mode has been selected, the silent reminder comprising the silent medium.