U.S. patent application number 12/386908 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for reminder messages delivery from reminder device when triggered by reminder-required events.
Invention is credited to Bo-In Lin.
Application Number | 20100271202 12/386908 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42991651 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100271202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Bo-In |
October 28, 2010 |
Reminder messages delivery from reminder device when triggered by
reminder-required events
Abstract
The present invention discloses a method to deliver a reminder
message. The method includes a step of triggering a delivery of the
reminder message upon detecting or sensing a reminder message
required event-or-activity to prevent a person from forgetting or
losing a person item. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of
sensing the reminder message required event-or-activity includes a
step of detecting or sensing an activity when the person preparing
to leave a place for a next destination.
Inventors: |
Lin; Bo-In; (Los Altos,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bo-In Lin
13445 Mandoli Drive
Los Altos Hills
CA
94022
US
|
Family ID: |
42991651 |
Appl. No.: |
12/386908 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/540 |
International
Class: |
G08B 21/00 20060101
G08B021/00 |
Claims
1. A reminder message device comprising: a triggering functional
component for triggering a delivery of a reminder message upon
detecting or sensing a reminder message event or activity.
2. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: an
electronic door opener for a motor vehicle implemented with said
triggering functional component for detecting a signal for opening
a door of said motor vehicle for triggering a delivery of said
reminder message.
3. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
roof light in a motor vehicle implemented with said triggering
functional component for detecting a turning on of said roof light
upon opening of a car door for triggering a delivery of said
reminder message.
4. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
roof light in a motor vehicle implemented with said triggering
functional component for detecting a turning on of said roof light
upon opening of a car door for triggering a delivery of said
reminder message.
5. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
cigarette lighter adapter implemented with said triggering
functional component for plugging into a cigarette lighter for
detecting a turning on of an ignition key of a vehicle for
triggering a delivery of said reminder message.
6. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
garage door controller implemented with said triggering functional
component for detecting a signal to open or close a garage door for
triggering a delivery of said reminder message.
7. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
global position system (GPS) implemented with said triggering
functional component for detecting a turning on of said wireless
communication device for triggering a delivery of said reminder
message.
8. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
wireless communication device implemented with said triggering
functional component for detecting a turning on of said wireless
communication device for triggering a delivery of said reminder
message.
9. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: an
accelerometer implemented with said triggering functional component
for detecting an acceleration of said reminder message device for
triggering a delivery of said reminder message.
10. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: an
accelerometer disposed on a pull-up handle of a wheeled luggage
implemented with said triggering functional component for detecting
a pull-up action of said handle for triggering a delivery of said
reminder message.
11. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
light sensor disposed car key holder implemented with said
triggering functional component for sensing a light intensity
change of said car key holder for triggering a delivery of said
reminder message.
12. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: an
accelerometer disposed on a portable electronic device implemented
with said triggering functional component for sensing an
acceleration of said electronic device for triggering a delivery of
said reminder message.
13. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: an
audio output port for generating an audio pronunciation of a
reminder message.
14. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
wireless transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal to deliver
said reminder message as a textual short message.
15. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
wireless transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal to deliver
said reminder message to a wireless communication device as a
telephone message.
16. The reminder message device of claim 1 further comprising: a
wireless transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal to deliver
said reminder message to a wireless communication device as a voice
mail message.
17. The reminder device of claim 1 further comprising: a user
interface to allow for the device user to input a user-designated
event or activity to trigger a delivery of said reminder
message.
18. The reminder device of claim 1 further comprising a user
interface to allow a device user to input a user-designated
reminder message.
19. The reminder device of claim 1 further comprising: a light
emitter for projecting a light to alert a device user to
acknowledge and process said reminder message.
20. The reminder device of claim 1 further comprising: a user
acknowledge button for allowing a device user to acknowledge
receiving and processing said reminder message.
21. A method to deliver a reminder message comprising: triggering a
delivery of the reminder message upon detecting or sensing a
reminder message required event-or-activity to prevent a person
from forgetting or losing a person item.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein: the step of sensing the
reminder message required event-or-activity includes a step of
detecting or sensing an activity when the person preparing to leave
a place for a next destination.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to the systems, the devices
and methods for preventing a device user from forgetting and losing
important personal items as the user moves between different
locations. More particularly, this invention is related to a
reminder device implemented with a trigger for triggering an audio
output for pronunciation of a designated reminder message upon a
specific reminder-required activity.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The problem of forgetting important person items when a
person moves from one location to another becomes very annoying. It
is desirable to provide a device to remind a person to check
important personal items such as wallet, cellular phone, coat, eye
glasses, airline ticket, passport, etc., before leaving for next
destination such that forgetting and losing important personal
items may be prevented.
[0005] Many Patents and Patent Applications have disclosed reminder
devices. However, such devices are generally related to reminding a
person to carry out certain activities such as take medications, at
particular time of the day. The device for providing reminder
messages at designated times is however not practically useful for
reminding a person to check and prevent the loss of important
personal items due to the fact that the activities are usually
taking place at different times of the day. A reminder message that
is provided at fixed time according to a predefined schedule
generally will not satisfy the requirement of timely providing a
requirement message when such reminder messages are necessary and
required because a pending event or activities is soon to take
place.
[0006] In Published US Application 20070129888, a spatially
associated personal reminder system is disclosed. The device
enables users to create reminders and associate those reminders
with entering/exiting particular trigger areas. A user's portable
computing device triggers an alert/displays a reminder based upon a
user entering and/or exiting a trigger area. A user interface
supported by the portable computing device allows a user to
terminate the reminder so it will not trigger again, to defer the
reminder so it triggers again after an elapsed time, to reset the
reminder so that it triggers again only if a user leaves the area
and then returns, to request a last chance, causing the portable
computing device to remind the user again upon exiting the area to
ensure the user did not forget to act upon the reminder, or to edit
the reminder. The user interface also enables users to graphically
define trigger areas within the physical world to be associated
with personal digital reminders using geo-spatial imagery.
[0007] However, such system and method is still limited in the
practically usefulness due to the facts that the reminder messages
are related to particular locations. A person often travels to very
different kinds of places that have different geo-spatial imagery.
The triggering of a digital reminder depending on locations and the
characteristics that are spatially associated will not effectively
resolve the problems faced by a typical device user.
[0008] Therefore a need still exists to provide new and improve
system to resolve the difficulties and limitations discussed
above.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to
provide new and improved devices, systems, and method to provide
reminder messages by anticipating and detecting activities or
events that would generally require a reminder message. A reminder
message device is provided with detector or sensor to detect such
activities or events to trigger the delivery of such reminder
messages. The delivery of such messages may be in different forms
including textual display of a short message on a wireless
communication device, an audio pronunciation, or a voice mail that
a person may listen privately on a cellular phone a device with an
earphone.
[0010] Specifically, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a novel device for detecting an event related to entering
or driving a car to travel to a destination. Detector and sensors
are provided to detect activities of opening a car door by using a
electronic car key, turning on the roof light when entering into
the car, or pushing down the gas pedal to accelerate the car to a
certain speed that results an initial acceleration and movement of
a device carried on the car to at certain speed. A reminder message
is delivered when sensing or detecting such events or
activities.
[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is to detect a
user's activity in preparing to leave a place to travel to next
destination. The activities include placement of a car key in a
pocket or purse and then taking the car key from the pocket or
purse. The activities may include pulling up a handle of a wheeled
luggage or turning on a cellular phone after an airplane is landed
before the passengers are ready to leave the airplane cabinet. The
activities may also include turning off a notebook computer and
place the computer into a luggage. These typical activities provide
indications that a reminder message may be necessary because a
person is preparing to leave. A reminder device in this invention
is provided with sensors or detectors to detect such events or
activities to deliver reminder messages.
[0012] Briefly, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention
discloses a reminder message device that is provided for triggering
by an event or an activity to deliver a reminder message. In a
preferred embodiment, the reminder message device is integrated
with an electronic door opener for a car and triggered by a
door-opening signal of the electronic door opener to deliver a
reminder message. In another exemplary embodiment, the reminder
message device is integrated with a roof light inside the car and
is triggered by turning on of the roof light in opening a car door
for delivering the reminder message. In another preferred
embodiment, the reminder message device is implemented in a
wireless communication device such as a cellular phone or a
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device and is triggered by a
turning of operation of the wireless communication device for
delivering the reminder message. In another exemplary embodiment,
the reminder message device is implemented in car key that includes
a light sensor. The reminder message is triggered by a sudden
change of an intensity of light detector by the light sensor to
deliver the reminder message. In another exemplary embodiment, the
reminder message device is implemented with a portable electronic
device that includes a global position system (GPS) to detect a
motion of a certain speed to deliver the reminder message. Another
preferred embodiment, the reminder message device is implemented
with a portable electronic device by including an accelerometer to
detect an acceleration to deliver the reminder message. In another
exemplary embodiment, the reminder message device is disposed on a
pull-up handle of a wheeled luggage that includes an accelerometer
to detect a pull-up operation of the pull-up handle to deliver a
reminder message.
[0013] In summary reminder message device for delivering a reminder
message is disclosed in this invention. The reminder message device
includes a reminder message delivering circuit provided for
triggering by a reminder-message event or activity to deliver a
reminder message. In an exemplary embodiment, the reminder message
delivering circuit is triggered to deliver an audio output of the
reminder message. In another exemplary embodiment, the reminder
message delivering circuit is triggered to deliver a text message
for receiving by a wireless communication device as a short message
(SM). In another embodiment, the reminder message delivering
circuit is triggered to deliver a message to a wireless
communication device as a phone message of as a voice mail message.
In an exemplary embodiment, the message delivering circuit is
triggered by an activity of a user when preparing to leave for
another destination. In another exemplary embodiment, the message
delivering circuit is triggered by an event indicating a device
user is moving at a certain speed or acceleration in moving from
one location to a destination.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill
in the art after having read the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various
drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an electronic door opener for a vehicle
integrated with a reminder message device of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2A is an reminder message device integrated with a roof
light inside a car for providing reminder message to a driver and
passengers in the car when the car door is opened and the roof
light is turned on.
[0017] FIG. 2B is an reminder message device for plugging into a
cigarette lighter in a car that is turned on as an ignition key is
turned to startup a car for provide a reminder message to a driver
and passengers in the car.
[0018] FIG. 3A shows a reminder message device implemented together
with a cellular phone as a special feature of the cellular
phone.
[0019] FIG. 3B shows a portable electronic device implemented with
a reminder message processor that includes a reminder-message
requirement detector to detect a reminder message required
activity.
[0020] FIG. 3C shows a portable electronic device implemented with
a reminder message processor that includes a reminder-message
requirement detector such as an accelerometer detect a reminder
message required activity.
[0021] FIG. 3D shows a portable electronic device such as an
electronic car door opener implemented with a reminder message
device that includes a light sensor.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a reminder message device implemented with a
luggage that has a pull-up handle and reminder message device has
an accelerometer to detect the pull-up motion of the pull-up handle
when the user of the luggage is ready to leave.
[0023] FIG. 5 is flowchart to show the process steps carried out by
a reminder message processor implemented in a reminder message
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electronic door
opener 100 for a vehicle of the present invention. The electronic
door opener 100 includes a door control signal transmitter 105 to
transmit door control signals to either unlock or lock a door of a
vehicle 110. The electronic door opener 100 further includes a
reminder message processor 115 with a pronunciation audio port 118
to pronounce a reminder message when the user of the electronic
door opener operate the electronic door opener 100 either to lock
or unlock the door of the vehicle 110. The electronic door opener
100 further includes a user interface 120 to allow the user of the
door opener 100 to designate specific reminder messages to remind
the user of the door opener not to forget either the personal items
or important events. The reminder message may include message to
remind the user of the electronic door opener about personal items
such as wallet, cellular phone, passport, eyeglasses, or any items
that the user of the electronic door opener may forget when opening
the door of a vehicle to drive to another location. The messages
may be changed or inputted to the reminder message processor 115
depending on the circumstances that would demand such reminder
message.
[0025] FIG. 2A shows an alternate embodiment of a reminder message
device 150 integrated with a roof light 155 having outer screws for
screwing onto the roof light adapting outlet. The reminder message
device further includes a timer 160 for setting a predefined time
delay to allow a driver to enter and sitting in the car then
pronounce a reminder message to reminding the driver or
passenger(s) of the car not to forget to check the personal items.
Generally, the roof light 155 is turned on when the door car is
opened and the roof light will usually stay on for a short time
period. As the power is on, the reminder device 150 is turned on
also to pronounce designated reminder messages to remind a driver
or a passenger of the vehicle about personal items or important
event.
[0026] FIG. 2B is a perspective view for showing an alternate
embodiment of reminder message device 170 that includes a cigarette
lighter plug 175 for plugging into a cigarette lighter in a car. As
the ignition key of the car is turned on, it also turn on the
cigarette lighter thus providing power to the reminder message
device 170 to pronounce the reminder messages for reminding the
person sitting in the car before the car is driven off not to
forget important personal items.
[0027] FIG. 3A shows another exemplary embodiment of a reminder
message device 180 implemented together with a cellular phone 185
as a special feature of the cellular phone 185. The cellular phone
is usually turned on when an airplane is landed and the passengers
are ready to leave the airplane cabinet. As the cellular phone 185
is turned on, the reminder messages may be presented to the
cellular phone user either as a short message (SM) displayed on the
screen of the cellular phone. Alternately, the reminder message may
be directly pronounced from the phone as an audio output Or,
alternately, the reminder message device may just send a ring to
the cellular phone for the cellular phone user to push a button to
listen to the reminder messages as a voice mail. The cellular phone
user thus receives the reminder messages as private messages
instead of directly pronouncing the messages in the public place.
The reminder message device may be integrated with other kinds of
portable electronic devices in addition to a cellular phone, such
as a personal digital assistance (PDA), a digital camera, a
global-position system (GPS) device, an iPod, a portable DVD
device, or any other kind of portable electronic devices. The
reminder messages device implemented with these devices may be
turned on soon as these devices is turned on to provide the
reminder messages either as direct audio output, a text message in
the form of a short-message or a voice mail message that a device
user can listen as a private message from these devices.
[0028] FIG. 3B shows another exemplary embodiment of a reminder
message device implemented in a portable electronic device such as
a cellular phone, a personal digital assistance (PDA), a digital
camera, a global position system (GPS) device, or any other types
of portable electronic devices. The portable electronic device 200
is implemented with a reminder message processor 210. The reminder
message processor 210 includes a reminder-message requirement
detector 215 to detect a reminder message required activity. The
detection of such activity may include the detection of a signal
transmitted to a car to unlock a car door or to open or close a
garage door. Such activities would often require the pronunciation
of a reminder message because the device of the portable electronic
device 200 is probably driving from one location to another
location. The reminder message processor 210 may include a user
interface to allow a user to input or designate reminder message
required activities and reminder messages. For instance, a cellular
phone often includes a GPS for detecting the location of the user.
When the GPS detects the rate of location change of the user as the
user of the phone is riding in the car is greater than the walking
speed, then a reminder message may be pronounced because the user
of the cellular phone is now moving from one location to another in
a vehicle and a reminder message may be necessary.
[0029] Alternately, FIG. 3C shows that portable electronic device
230 may include an accelerometer 235 to detect an acceleration,
e.g., when a car is driven off initially with an acceleration
greater than a threshold value, and turning on the reminder message
device to provide reminder messages in different forms such as a
text message, a direct voice reminder or a voice mail message.
[0030] FIG. 3D shows a portable electronic device such as an
electronic car door opener 240. The electronic car door opener is
implemented with a reminder message device 245 that includes a
light sensor 248. As a user of the electronic car door opener 240
ready to leave a room, the electronic car door opener 240 is either
placed into a pocket or a purse or alternately the car door opener
is taken out from a pocket or a pulse. The light sensor will detect
a sudden light intensity change. The sudden large amount of light
intensity change provide a signal to the reminder message device
245 to turn on and provide the reminder messages in either a text
message, a direct pronounce voice message, or a voice mail type of
message.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of a reminder message
device of this invention implemented with a luggage 250 that has a
pull-up handle 255. A reminder message device 260 is formed as part
of the pull-up handle by placing the reminder message device 260 as
part of the top bar 265 of the pull-up handle. The reminder message
device further includes an accelerometer to detect the pull-up
motion of the pull-up handle 255 when the user of the luggage is
ready to leave. The accelerometer of the reminder message device
260 can be further turned on as the luggage is placed in a car and
the car is driven off. Acceleration of the car together with the
luggage is detected by the accelerometer included in the reminder
message device 260 to turn on the reminder message device to
provide the reminder message as a text message, a direct pronounce
voice message or a voice mail type of message.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating the processes of
implementing in a portable electronic device to trigger the
pronunciation a reminder message to a user of the portable
electronic device. The process starts (step 300) with a user of an
electronic device input through a user interface designated
activity and corresponding reminder messages (step 305). Then the
electronic device starts a process of detecting of a reminder
message required activity according to the designated activity
inputted by the device user (step 310). The reminder message
required activity might include activity of opening of a garage
door or turn on the ignition key of a car, etc. Upon the detection
of the reminder message required activity, the reminder message
processor activate the audio output port to pronounce the reminder
messages as inputted and designated by the electronic device user
(step 315), then the process ends (step 320) and return to the step
of detecting whether there is a reminder message required activity
again (step 310).
[0033] According to above descriptions, this invention discloses a
method to deliver a reminder message. The method includes a step of
triggering a delivery of the reminder message upon detecting or
sensing a reminder message required event-or-activity to prevent a
person from forgetting or losing a person item. In an exemplary
embodiment, the step of sensing the reminder message required
event-or-activity includes a step of detecting or sensing an
activity when the person preparing to leave a place for a next
destination. In another exemplary embodiment, the step of sensing
the reminder message required event-or-activity includes a step of
detecting or sensing an activity when the person preparing to drive
a motor vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of sensing
the reminder message required event-or-activity includes a step of
detecting or sensing an activity when the person turning on a
wireless communication device after an airplane is landed. In an
exemplary embodiment, the step of sensing the reminder message
required event-or-activity includes a step of detecting or sensing
an activity when the person preparing to leave an airline cabinet.
In an exemplary embodiment, the step of sensing the reminder
message required event-or-activity includes a step of detecting or
sensing an event when the person is traveling in a motor vehicle
over a certain speed or having an initial acceleration when the
motor vehicle starts to drive to reach a certain traveling speed.
In another exemplary embodiment, the reminder message is delivered
optionally in different kinds of messages as a text short message,
a direct audio pronunciation message, a phone message, or a voice
mail message.
[0034] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various
alternations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to
those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure.
Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted
as covering all alternations and modifications as fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *