Method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a request for communication

Abstract

The invention is drawn to a method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a wireless terminal (e.g., a cell phone) of a request for communication. When an incoming request for communication is received by the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal generates an acknowledgement return signal. The return signal comprises a unique wireless terminal identification associated with the wireless terminal. The return signal is received by a notifier device worn on or close to the end user. The notifier decodes the return signal to obtain the unique terminal identification. A notification signal is generated in response to obtaining the unique terminal identification. Such notification signal may be, for example, a tactile, light, or sound indicator, or combinations thereof. As the primary function of the notifier device is simply to monitor for the return signal and produce a notification, the complexity and size of the notifier device is relatively smaller than a fully functional wireless terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.