WO2008082939A1

WO2008082939A1 - Method of operating a wireless headset

Info

Publication number: WO2008082939A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/087781
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ling Zhang; Hai Wei Ding; Wei Zhan
Original assignee: Motorola Inc.
Priority date: 2006-12-28
Filing date: 2007-12-17
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: CN101212241A

Abstract

A method of operating a wireless headset enables integrating the wireless headset with an electronic communication device. The method includes detecting a wired connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device, such as where the wireless headset is mounted in an interface of the electronic communication device. A wireless connection protocol is then disabled in response to detecting the wired connection (block 510). A disconnection of the wired connection is then detected, such as where the wireless headset is removed from the interface in the electronic communication device (block 515). The wireless connection protocol is then enabled in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection, and a wireless connection is thereby established between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device (block 520).

Description

METHOD OF OPERATING A WIRELESS HEADSET

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electronic communication devices, and in particular to operating a wireless headset using either a wired connection or a wireless connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device.

Background Wireless headsets capable of establishing a wireless connection with an electronic communication device have become very popular. For example, a user of a mobile telephone can operate a vehicle more safely while talking on the mobile telephone through a wireless headset that includes a microphone and a speaker. The user is thus able to operate the mobile telephone and wireless headset in a "hands free" mode, which enables both hands to be used for driving.

However, a wireless headset is an additional electronic peripheral device that a user generally needs to carry and maintain independently of an associated electronic communication device. For example, a wireless headset often includes a separate battery charger and storage case that are carried and maintained in addition to a battery charger and storage case of a corresponding mobile telephone. Further, wireless headsets often include redundant hardware, such as speaker and microphone subsystems, that operate independently of speaker and microphone subsystems of a corresponding mobile telephone. Such redundant hardware can add weight, complexity and size to a communication system that includes both a wireless headset and a corresponding mobile telephone.

Brief Description of the Figures

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views. The figures together with a detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate the embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, in accordance with the present invention where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electronic communication device in the form of a mobile telephone, according to some embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of components of a conventional communication system that includes a wireless headset and a mobile telephone, according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a back face of a mobile telephone and an attached wireless headset including a microphone and a speaker, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a front face of a "candy bar" shaped mobile telephone, including a wireless headset that can be integrated with the mobile telephone, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a general flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a wireless headset, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a general flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a wireless headset, according to some alternative embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a general flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a wireless headset, according to some additional alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and device components related to a method of operating a wireless headset. Accordingly, the device components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or device. An element preceded by "comprises a ..." does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. Embodiments of the present invention include methods of operating a wireless headset in association with an electronic communication device using either a wired or a wireless connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device. The methods include first detecting a wired connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device, such as where the wireless headset is mounted in an interface of the electronic communication device. A wireless connection protocol is then disabled in response to detecting the wired connection. Next, a disconnection of the wired connection is detected, such as when the wireless headset is removed from the interface in the electronic communication device. The wireless connection protocol is then enabled in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection. A wireless connection is thereby established between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram illustrates an electronic communication device in the form of a mobile telephone 100, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The mobile telephone 100 comprises a radio frequency communications unit 102 coupled to be in communication with a common data and address bus 117 of a processor 103. The mobile telephone 100 also has a keypad 106 and a display screen 105, such as a touch screen, coupled to be in communication with the processor 103.

The processor 103 also includes an encoder/decoder 111 with an associated code Read Only Memory (ROM) 112 for storing data for encoding and decoding voice or other signals that may be transmitted or received by the mobile telephone 100. The processor 103 further includes a microprocessor 113 coupled, by the common data and address bus 117, to the encoder/decoder 111, a character Read Only Memory (ROM) 114, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 104, programmable memory 116 and a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) interface 118. The programmable memory 116 and a SIM operatively coupled to the SIM interface 118 each can store, among other things, selected email messages, text messages and a contacts database comprising a number field for telephone numbers, an email address field for email addresses, and a name field for identifiers associated with a contact.

The radio frequency communications unit 102 is a combined receiver and transmitter having a common antenna 107. The communications unit 102 has a transceiver 108 coupled to the antenna 107 via a radio frequency amplifier 109. The transceiver 108 is also coupled to a combined modulator/demodulator 110 that is coupled to the encoder/decoder 111.

The microprocessor 113 has ports for coupling to the keypad 106 and to the display screen 105. The microprocessor 113 further has ports for coupling to an alert module 115 that typically contains an alert speaker, vibrator motor and associated drivers, to a microphone 120, to a communications speaker 122, to a Bluetooth® adapter 121, and to a headset interface 119. The headset interface 119 is used to establish, as described in detail below, a wired connection between the mobile telephone 100 and a wireless headset. Alternatively, the Bluetooth® adapter 121 can be used to establish a wireless connection between the mobile telephone 100 and a wireless headset. The character ROM 114 stores code for decoding or encoding data such as email messages that may be transmitted or received by the communications unit 102. In some embodiments of the present invention, the character ROM 114, the programmable memory 116, or a SIM also can store operating code (OC) for the microprocessor 113 and code for performing functions associated with the mobile telephone 100. For example, the programmable memory 116 can comprise wireless headset computer readable program code components 125 configured to cause execution of a method for operating a wireless headset, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Various methods for operating the mobile telephone 100 and a corresponding wireless headset, according to different embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram illustrates a plurality of components of a conventional communication system that includes a wireless headset 205 and a mobile telephone 210, according to the prior art. The wireless headset 205 includes a speaker 215 and a microphone 220. A separate docking/charging station 225 is included for the wireless headset 205. Further, a direct current (dc) power module 230 and associated lead wires 235 are connected to the docking/charging station 225. The mobile telephone 210 also includes a speaker 240, a microphone 245, and a direct current (dc) power module 250 and associated lead wires 255.

Referring to FIG. 3, a diagram illustrates a back face of the mobile telephone 100 and an attached wireless headset 300 including a microphone 305 and a speaker 310, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The wireless headset 300 is mounted in the headset interface 119 of the mobile telephone 100, enabling the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100 to form an integral device. That can provide numerous advantages over the prior art, including one or more of the following: allowing wireless authentication and authorization information to be transmitted through a wired connection between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100; providing a convenient storage location for the wireless headset 300; and enabling batteries of the wireless headset 300 to be charged using power received from the mobile telephone 100 via a direct current (dc) power module 315 and lead wires 320, thus eliminating a need to have a separate docking/charging station and power module for the wireless headset 300.

Therefore, according to some embodiments of the present invention, when the wireless headset 300 is mounted in the headset interface 119 of the mobile telephone 100, a user of the mobile telephone 100 can operate the mobile telephone 100 in the same manner as a conventional mobile telephone that is unassociated with a wireless headset. The wireless headset 300 can be unobtrusively stored on a back face of the mobile telephone 100 so that the wireless headset 300 does not interfere with a user's access to conventional telephone features such as the display screen 105 and the keypad 106. According to some embodiments of the present invention, when a user of the mobile telephone 100 chooses to activate a wireless feature of the wireless headset 300, the wireless headset 300 can be simply pulled and removed from the headset interface 119 of the mobile telephone 100. The mobile telephone then detects a disconnection of the wired connection through the headset interface 119 between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100. In response, the mobile telephone 100 enables a wireless connection protocol to be executed automatically between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100, thereby establishing a wireless connection between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100. The user of the mobile telephone 100 then can simply place the wireless headset 300 over his or her ear and process a telephone call as with a conventional wireless headset. For example, an audio signal received over the wireless connection at the wireless headset 300 from the mobile telephone 100 can be amplified over the speaker 310 of the wireless headset 300, and an audio signal received at the microphone 305 of the wireless headset 300 can be transmitted over the wireless connection to the mobile telephone 100.

Furthermore, when a user chooses to stop using the wireless features of the wireless headset 300, he or she simply reconnects the wireless headset 300 to the mobile telephone 100 by mounting the wireless headset 300 in the headset interface 119 of the mobile telephone 100. The mobile telephone 100 then detects the wired connection between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100 and, in response, disables the wireless connection protocol.

In light of the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various alternative embodiments of the present invention can include attaching a wireless headset to a mobile telephone in various locations using various interfaces, according to various mobile telephone designs. Such various mobile telephone designs include, for example, "clam-shell" designs, "flip-phone" designs, "slider" designs, and "candy bar" designs.

Referring to FIG. 4, a diagram illustrates a front face of a "candy bar" shaped mobile telephone 400, including a wireless headset 405 that can be integrated with the mobile telephone 400, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The mobile telephone includes a display screen 440 and a keypad 445. The wireless headset 405 includes a microphone 410, a speaker 415, and an ear clip 435, and is shown inserted into a headset interface 420 near a top of the mobile telephone 400. When inserted into the headset interface 420, the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 form an integral device. Batteries of the wireless headset 405 can be charged using power received from the mobile telephone 400 via a direct current (dc) power module 425 and lead wires 430, which eliminates a need to have a separate docking/charging station and power module for the wireless headset 405. Further, a battery power indicator, which indicates remaining power of the batteries of the wireless headset 405, can be displayed on the display screen 440 of the mobile telephone 400, which eliminates a need to include a separate battery power indicator on the wireless headset 405.

As described in detail below, the mobile telephone 400 can further comprise a simpler design than the mobile telephone 100. That is because the mobile telephone 400 does not require a microphone and speaker analogous to the microphone 120 and communications speaker 122 of the mobile telephone 100. Integrating the wireless headset 405 with the mobile telephone 400 enables the microphone 410 and the speaker 415 of the wireless headset 405 to also function as a microphone and speaker, respectively, of the mobile telephone 400. Thus when the wireless headset 405 is mounted in a headset interface 420, and a call is processed through the mobile telephone 400, an audio signal can be transmitted from the mobile telephone 400, over the wired connection established by the headset interface 420, and then amplified over the speaker 415 of the wireless headset 405. Similarly an audio signal received at the microphone 410 of the wireless headset 405 can be transmitted over the wired connection established by the headset interface 420 to the mobile telephone 400, and then retransmitted from the mobile telephone 400 to a caller or callee. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such an embodiment of the present invention can make a built-in communications speaker and microphone of a mobile telephone redundant. Thus, according to some embodiments of the present invention, one or both of a communications speaker and microphone can be eliminated from the design of a mobile telephone. Eliminating such components and using, for example, the microphone 410 and the speaker 415 of the wireless headset 405 to function also as a microphone and speaker of the mobile telephone 400 can reduce the size, weight and complexity of the mobile telephone 400.

Referring to FIG. 5, a general flow diagram illustrates a method 500 of operating a wireless headset, according to some embodiments of the present invention. At block 505, a wired connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device is detected. For example, the mobile telephone 100 detects that the wireless headset 300 is mounted in the headset interface 119.

At block 510, a wireless connection protocol is disabled in response to detecting the wired connection. For example, a wireless connection protocol of the mobile telephone 100, including transmission of authorization and authentication data through the Bluetooth® adapter 121, is disabled.

At block 515, a disconnection of the wired connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device is detected. For example, the mobile telephone 100 can detect a disconnection caused by a user pulling and removing the wireless headset 300 from the headset interface 119 of the mobile telephone 100.

At block 520, the wireless connection protocol is enabled in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device, thereby establishing a wireless connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device. For example, authorization and authentication data are transmitted wirelessly between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100 using the Bluetooth® adapter 121. The wireless connection protocol can be enabled automatically in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection. That can significantly improve the speed and convenience of activating the wireless headset 300, as it can be activated automatically when it is removed from the headset interface 119. According to some embodiments of the present invention, no activation buttons need to be pressed on the wireless headset 300 to activate the wireless headset 300, and authentication and authorization protocols can be streamlined because data can be pre-exchanged between the wireless headset 300 and the mobile telephone 100 through the wired connection of the headset interface 119.

Referring to FIG. 6, a general flow diagram illustrates a method 600 of operating a wireless headset, according to some alternative embodiments of the present invention. At block 605, wireless connection protocol data are transmitted across a wired connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device. For example, wireless authentication and authorization data are transmitted across the wired connection between the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 created through the headset interface 420. Transmission of such data through a wired connection means that establishing a subsequent wireless connection between the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 can be performed more efficiently, as the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 can be pre-configured to recognize and process each other's wireless signals. At block 610, a call is processed at the electronic communication device before detecting a disconnection of a wired connection between the wireless headset and the mobile telephone. Processing the call includes amplifying an audio signal received over the wired connection at a speaker of the wireless headset. For example, an audio signal from a caller or callee is transmitted from the mobile telephone 400 through the headset interface 420, and is amplified over the speaker 415 of the wireless headset 405.

At block 615, a wireless connection protocol is enabled in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device. For example, a wireless connection protocol enables a wireless connection between the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 using a wireless adapter, such as a Bluetooth® adapter, of the mobile telephone 400.

At block 620, processing of the call is continued at the electronic communication device after detecting a disconnection of the wired connection and enabling the wireless connection protocol, wherein the speaker of the wireless headset amplifies an audio signal received over the wireless connection. For example, after the mobile telephone 400 detects that the wireless headset 405 has been removed from the headset interface 420, the speaker 415 of the wireless headset 405 amplifies an audio signal received from a wireless adapter, such as a Bluetooth® adapter, of the mobile telephone 400.

Referring to FIG. 7, a general flow diagram illustrates a method 700 of operating a wireless headset, according to some additional alternative embodiments of the present invention. At block 705, a battery of a wireless headset is charged by transmitting power from an electronic communication device to the wireless headset through a wired connection. For example, power can be transmitted from the dc power module 425, through the lead wires 430, through the mobile telephone 400, through the headset interface 420, and to the wireless headset 405.

At block 710, a call is processed at the electronic communication device before detecting a disconnection of the wired connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device. Processing the call comprises transmitting an audio signal received at a microphone of the wireless headset over the wired connection. For example, an audio signal received at the microphone 410 of the wireless headset 405 is transmitted to the mobile telephone 400 over the wired connection created by the headset interface 420.

At block 715, a wireless connection protocol is enabled in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device. For example, a wireless connection protocol enables a wireless connection between the wireless headset 405 and the mobile telephone 400 using a wireless adapter, such as a Bluetooth® adapter, of the mobile telephone 400.

At block 720, processing of the call is continued at the electronic communication device after detecting the disconnection of the wired connection and enabling the wireless connection protocol, whereby an audio signal received at the microphone of the wireless headset is transmitted over the wireless connection. For example, an audio signal received at the microphone 410 of the wireless headset 405 is transmitted over the wireless connection through a Bluetooth® adapter of the mobile telephone 400.

At block 725, the wired connection is reestablished and the wireless connection protocol is disabled. For example, after using the wireless headset 405, a user may choose to reconnect the wireless headset 405 to the mobile telephone 400 and then continue using the mobile telephone 400 in a conventional manner by holding the mobile telephone 400 up to the user's ear. Thus when the mobile telephone 400 detects that the wireless headset 405 has been reconnected to the headset interface 420, the wireless connection protocol is disabled.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention therefore enable a user to seamlessly switch between a wireless headset mode and a conventional handset mode by simply plugging the wireless headset 405 into the headset interface 420 of the mobile telephone 400, or by simply unplugging the wireless headset 405 from the headset interface 420.

Embodiments of the present invention therefore can improve the convenience and functionality of wireless headsets, while enabling improved mobile telephone designs. Specific advantages of some embodiments of the present invention include allowing wireless authentication and authorization information to be transmitted through a wired connection between a wireless headset and a mobile telephone; providing a convenient storage location in a mobile telephone for a wireless headset; and enabling batteries of a wireless headset to be charged using power received from the mobile telephone. Further advantages of some embodiments of the present invention include enabling a microphone and speaker of a wireless headset to also function as a microphone and speaker of a mobile telephone, which can reduce the size, weight and complexity of the mobile telephone.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of operating a wireless headset as described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method of operating a wireless headset. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of operating a wireless headset, the method comprising:

detecting a wired connection between the wireless headset and an electronic communication device;

disabling a wireless connection protocol in response to detecting the wired connection;

detecting a disconnection of the wired connection; and

enabling the wireless connection protocol in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection, whereby a wireless connection is established between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, across the wired connection, wireless connection protocol data between the wireless headset and the electronic communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless connection protocol data comprise wireless authorization and authentication data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing a call at the electronic communication device before detecting a disconnection of the wired connection, wherein a speaker of the wireless headset amplifies an audio signal received over the wired connection; and

continuing to process the call at the electronic communication device after detecting the disconnection of the wired connection and enabling the wireless connection protocol, wherein the speaker of the wireless headset amplifies an audio signal received over the wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing a call at the electronic communication device before detecting the disconnection of the wired connection, wherein an audio signal received at a microphone of the wireless headset is transmitted over the wired connection; and

continuing to process the call at the electronic communication device after detecting the disconnection of the wired connection and enabling the wireless connection protocol, wherein an audio signal received at the microphone of the wireless headset is transmitted over the wireless connection.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless headset is a Bluetooth® headset.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the wireless connection protocol is performed automatically in response to detecting the disconnection of the wired connection.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reestablishing the wired connection after establishing the wireless connection, wherein the wireless connection protocol is disabled after reestablishing the wired connection.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wired connection is established when the wireless headset is mounted in an interface in the electronic communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless headset and the electronic communication device form an integral device when the wired connection is detected.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising charging a battery of the wireless headset by transmitting power from the electronic communication device to the wireless headset through the wired connection.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a battery power indicator, which indicates remaining power of batteries of the wireless headset, is displayed on a display screen of the electronic communication device.