System and Method for Controlling Notification Characteristics of a Mobile Communication Device

Abstract

A system and method for controlling user notification characteristics of a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise transmitting a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter. Such a wireless signal may, for example, comprise a characteristic designed to control user notification characteristics of mobile communication devices receiving the wireless signal. Such a wireless signal may, for example, be transmitted to an area in which control of user notification characteristics is desired. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise receiving a wireless signal at a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may, based at least in part on a characteristic of the received signal, select one or more user notification characteristics. The mobile communication device may then receive a communication from a communication system and generate a user notification to notify a user of the communication, wherein the user notification comprises the selected characteristic(s).

1 . A method for controlling characteristics of a user notification generated by a mobile communication device concerning a communication, the method comprising:
 transmitting a control signal from a wireless transmitter, where:
 the control signal is adapted to be received by the mobile communication device; 
 the control signal comprises at least one characteristic specifically adapted 
   to, when received and processed by the mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device to select at least one characteristic of user notifications generated by the mobile communication device; and   the control signal mimics a communication network signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting a control signal from a wireless transmitter comprises transmitting the signal to a coverage area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting a plurality of control signals from a plurality of respective antennas, where respective coverage areas of the plurality of control signals are controlled such that the aggregate coverage area of the plurality of control signals represents an area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless control signal mimics a communication network beacon signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises information communicated by the control signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter is not associated with a communication network. 
     
     
         7 . A system for controlling characteristics of a user notification generated by a mobile communication device, the system comprising:
 a wireless transmitter; and   at least one module operable to, at least, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless control signal, where the wireless control signal comprises at least one characteristic specifically adapted to, when received and processed by the mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device receiving the wireless control signal to select at least one characteristic of user notifications generated by the mobile communication device;   where the wireless control signal mimics a wireless signal from a communication network.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless transmitter is operable to transmit the wireless control signal to a coverage area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a plurality of antennas with which a plurality of respective wireless control signals are transmitted, where respective coverage areas of the plurality of respective wireless control signals are controlled such that the aggregate coverage area of the plurality of respective wireless control signals substantially corresponds to an area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , where the wireless control signal mimics a beacon signal from a communication network. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , where the at least one characteristic comprises information communicated by the wireless control signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless transmitter is not associated with a communication network. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling characteristics of a user notification generated by a mobile communication device concerning a communication, the method comprising:
 transmitting a control signal from a wireless transmitter, where:
 the control signal is adapted to be received by the mobile communication device; and 
 the control signal comprises at least one characteristic specifically adapted to, when received and processed by the mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device to select at least one characteristic of user notifications generated by the mobile communication device; and 
   transmitting a plurality of control signals from a plurality of respective antennas, where respective coverage areas of the plurality of control signals are controlled such that the aggregate coverage area of the plurality of control signals represents an area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting a plurality of control signals from a plurality of respective antennas comprises transmitting the plurality of control signals from a plurality of respective antennas coupled to a same transmitter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprises a plurality of directional antennas. 
     
     
         16 . A system for controlling characteristics of a user notification generated by a mobile communication device, the system comprising:
 a wireless transmitter;   at least one module operable to, at least, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit   a wireless control signal, where the wireless control signal comprises at least one characteristic specifically adapted to, when received and processed by the mobile communication device, cause the mobile communication device receiving the wireless control signal to select at least one characteristic of user notifications generated by the mobile communication device; and   a plurality of antennas with which a plurality of respective wireless control signals are transmitted, where respective coverage areas of the plurality of respective wireless control signals are controlled such that the aggregate coverage area of the plurality of respective wireless control signals substantially corresponds to an area in which it is desired to control characteristics of user notifications generated by mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a plurality of control signals from the plurality of respective antennas comprises. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprises a plurality of directional antennas.