초록 ▼

A tactile notification device that can be embodied in, e.g., a wristwatch, communicates via wireless link with plural personal computing devices, including cellular telephones, pagers, and palm top computers, of the person wearing the notification device. When one of the personal computing devices a

A tactile notification device that can be embodied in, e.g., a wristwatch, communicates via wireless link with plural personal computing devices, including cellular telephones, pagers, and palm top computers, of the person wearing the notification device. When one of the personal computing devices alerts, e.g., when the telephone receives an incoming call, the pager receives a page, or the palm top computer receives an email, the personal computing device sends a signal to the notification device, which generates a discrete tactile signal against the person's skin. The notification device can generate different tactile signals, and each tactile signal can be correlated as desired by the user to one of the personal computing devices. In one embodiment, opposed pinch bars are provided on the skin-facing tactile surface of a wristwatch to gently pinch the skin and thereby establish a first tactile signal that can be correlated to, for example, an alert for an incoming phone call. Also, a rotating bar can be provided on the tactile surface of the wristwatch, and the tactile signal that corresponds to, e.g., an incoming page can be established by rotating the bar against the skin.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A system for centralizing notification of alerts of plural personal computing devices, comprising:one and only one tactile notification device wearable by a person, the tactile notification defining a tactile surface facing the person when the device is worn by the person such th

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A system for centralizing notification of alerts of plural personal computing devices, comprising:one and only one tactile notification device wearable by a person, the tactile notification defining a tactile surface facing the person when the device is worn by the person such that the tactile notification device generates one or more tactile signals when activated;plural personal computing devices bearable by the person; anda wireless communication network establishing communication between the personal computing devices and the tactile notification device, wherein the devices are simultaneously worn by the person and the tactile notification device includes a wireless communication receiver, and the personal computing devices transmit respective alert signals to the receiver to activate the tactile notification device.