Handheld communications device with automatic alert mode selection

A method for automatically alerting a user of a handheld communications device of an incoming transmission comprising:

• generating a set of signals each of which is indicative of a physical parameter of a surrounding environment of the handheld communications device, the signals including an audio signal that indicates a noisy environment, a global positioning system (GPS) position signal that indicates a geographic position of the handheld communications device, a motion sensor that produces a motion signal in response to movement of the hand held communications device, a proximity signal that indicates nearness of the handheld communications device to a human body, and a battery charging sensor that produces a charging signal that indicates when the handheld communications device is being charged:
• determining an alert mode setting based on the set of signals according to a programmed algorithm,
• when the GPS position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is in a transmission sensitive or restricted location, the alert mode setting being restricted to a non-audible alert output,
• when the GPS position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in any of the transmission sensitive or restricted locations, the audio signal indicates that the handheld communications device is in a noisy environment, and the proximity signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not near the human body, the alert mode setting comprising a high-volume audible alert output,
• when the position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in any of the transmission sensitive or restricted locations, the audio signal indicates that the handheld communications device is in a noisy environment, the proximity signal indicates that the handheld communications device is near the human body, and the motion signal indicates movement of the handheld communications device, the alert mode setting comprising a vibration alert output and/or the high-volume audible alert output,
• and when the hand held communications device is being charged, the alert mode setting being automatically restricted to a non-vibration alert output responsive to the charging signal;
• and
• producing one or more sensory alert outputs in response to the alert mode setting, the one or more sensory alert including the non-audible alert output, the vibration alert output and/or the high-volume audible alert output.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of sensors that produce signals indicative of a physical parameter of a surrounding environment of a handheld communications device, the sensors including a microphone that produces an audio signal, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor that produces a position signal, a motion sensor that produces a motion signal in response to movement of the handheld communications device, a proximity sensor that produces a proximity signal indicative of nearness to a human body, and a battery charging sensor that produces a charging signal which indicates when the handheld communications device is being charged;
• one or more processors operable to execute a programmed set of instructions to determine an alert mode setting based on a combination of the signals;
• a plurality of output units that produce one or more sensory alert outputs in response to the alert mode setting, the alert mode setting automatically restricting the one or more sensory alert outputs to a non-vibration alert output when the charging signal is produced by the battery charging sensor, when the position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is in any one of a plurality of transmission sensitive or restricted locations, the alert mode setting being automatically restricted to a vibrate-only alert output, when the position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in any of the transmission sensitive or restricted locations, the audio signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in a noisy environment, and the proximity signal indicates that the handheld communications device is near the human body, the alert mode setting including a vibration and/or a low-level ring alert output, and when the position signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in any of the transmission sensitive or restricted locations, the audio signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not in a noisy environment, the proximity signal indicates that the handheld communications device is not near the human body, and the motion signal indicates movement of the handheld communications device, the alert mode setting including a loud ring alert output.