Edward T Lumsdaine

US Patent:

20020145518, Oct 10, 2002

Filed:

Feb 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/068696

Inventors:

Robert Smith - Lake Linden MI, US
Edward Lumsdaine - Hancock MI, US

International Classification:

G08B021/00

US Classification:

340/540000, 340/286010

Abstract:

The present invention provides a new method to alert the computer operator to events. The inventive device includes a computer, the computer sound file, an audio connection, and an alerting device. The computer will preferably present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in an integrated way. In addition, it will play operator-selectable sound files in response to an event. A sound file comprises a quantity of data that may be decoded as an audible sound. For this invention, the sound file will additionally contain a distinct sound known as a trigger-sound. The alerting device plugs into the audio-output port on the computer and allows the speakers to be connected inline. The alerting device selectively activates on computer output of the trigger-sound to gain operator attention. Example alerting devices include: a wireless pager, incremental counter, an animated figure, or a flashing light.