Patent Application
20090197574
The present disclosure generally relates to telecommunications, and more particularly relates to signal reception in wireless communications.
The signal from cellular telephone base stations is not uniformly strong in all areas. In fact, some areas exist in which coverage is sporadic or non-existent. In these zones, users may need to monitor their cellular telephones for an indication that they are receiving a signal of sufficient strength before initiating a communication.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings presented herein, in which:
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.
If the first rule is in effect, the method proceeds to block 514 where the cellular telephone allows the user to record a message for the intended recipient, and stores the recorded message and the telephone number of the intended recipient. At block 516, the method checks whether sufficient reception has been reestablished. If not, the method loops until sufficient reception is present. When that occurs, the method checks at block 518 whether there are any messages to be sent according to the first rule. Then at block 520, the method retrieves and sends any messages to the intended recipient.
If the first rule is not in effect at block 512, the method determines at block 522 whether a second rule, such as automatic dial control, is in effect. If so, the method proceeds to block 524 where the cellular telephone stores the dialed number. At block 526, the method checks whether sufficient reception has been reestablished. If not, the method loops until sufficient reception is present. When that occurs, the method checks at block 528 whether there are any actions to be taken according to the second rule, such as sending messages by automatic dialing. If so, the method at block 530 causes the hardware to dial any stored numbers, and optionally to send a distinctive signal to inform the caller that the second rule has been executed such as by automatically dialing a stored number and sending a message.
If the second rule is not in effect at block 522, the method determines at block 532 whether a third rule, such as audio notification control, is in effect. If so, the method proceeds to block 534 where the cellular telephone stores the dialed number. At block 536, the method checks whether sufficient reception has been reestablished. If not, the method loops until sufficient reception is present. When that occurs, the method checks at block 538 whether there are any actions to be taken according to the third rule, such as enabling audio notification. If so, the method at block 540 causes the hardware to play a distinctive sound informing the caller that sufficient reception has been restored.
The systems and methods described thus enable cellular telephone users in areas with sporadic reception to communicate more efficiently. The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. ยง1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosed subject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
