Patent Application
20090010246
This disclosure relates to cordless telephone and wireless headset systems, in general, and in particular, to a reliable yet inexpensive, “hands-free” capable multimode cordless telephone apparatus and system for use in the home.
Recent advances in telecommunications hardware, software and protocols have enabled the provision of hands-free telecommunication freedom in the home by means of a variety of commonly used devices. Thus, cellular telephones (cell phones), cordless and wired phones coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VOIP”), and the Internet all coexist independently in the prior art. However, there are no affordable, “user friendly” systems available to the home user that enable these disparate communication channels to be used with each other in a relatively integrated and seamless fashion.
Accordingly, what is needed is a simple, relatively inexpensive integrated wireless system, including a headset, that enables a home user to selectively communicate seamlessly and transparently via all of the foregoing channels.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments thereof described herein, the present invention provides a home telephony system that includes a wireless, e.g., Bluetooth (BT) enabled, headset that communicates with a base station through a cordless handset that can also double as a speakerphone. A VOIP element is included in the system to increase its functionality, and conventional cell phone connectivity is also enabled. Thus, the user can selectively connect to three different telecommunication sources, viz., a conventional two-wire, PSTN, a conventional cell phone having Bluetooth headset connectivity, and Internet telephony via a personal computer (PC), the Internet and a VOIP communication protocol, such as Skype™, Windows Live™ or Vonage™. Additionally, the user interface provided by the novel system is more akin to the more familiar cellular phone interface than to a conventional cordless telephone interface.
In one exemplary embodiment, the multi-mode home telephone system comprises a personal computer (PC) having first and second communication ports. The first port is coupled to the Internet and the PC is programmed to implement a first voice communication protocol, e.g., the VOIP protocol, and is operable to effect full duplex voice communication via the Internet through the first port. The second port implements a second communication protocol, e.g., the USB protocol, and is operable to transmit and receive communication signals to and from the PC.
The system also includes a base unit having a first port coupled to a PSTN, and is operable to effect full duplex telecommunication via the PSTN through the first port, a second port coupled to the PC via the second port of the PC and operable to effect full duplex communication between and the base and the PC therethrough, and an RF transceiver implementing a third communication protocol, e.g., the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications/Unlicensed Personal Communications Service (DECT/UPCS) protocol, and operable to receive and transmit communication signals wirelessly to and from the base.
The system further includes a wireless handset incorporating first and second RF transceivers. The first transceiver implements the third communication protocol of the base, e.g., the DECT/UPCS protocol, and is operable to transmit and receive communication signals wirelessly between the handset and the base. The second RF transceiver implements a fourth communication protocol, e.g., the Bluetooth protocol, and is operable to transmit communication signals wirelessly to and from the handset.
The exemplary system further comprises a wireless headset having an RF transceiver implementing the fourth communication protocol of the handset, e.g., the Bluetooth protocol, and is operable to transmit communication signals wirelessly between the headset and the handset.
In another exemplary embodiment, the handset and the headset of the system are powered by respective rechargeable batteries, and the base further comprises battery charging receptacles, each of which is adapted to receive and recharge the respective battery of a respective one of the handset and the headset when disposed therein.
In another embodiment, the handset and headset may each further comprise firmware supporting an enhanced synchronous communications oriented (eSCO) protocol for wireless communication with the headset.
In another embodiment, the PC includes software operable to provide “soft phone” functionalities, including ringing, on hook and off hook functions. The base may further include a pair of push buttons, each of which is operable, when actuated, to cause a respective one of the handset and the headset to emit an audible locating signal.
The handset may advantageously further comprise a speakerphone, e.g., a half-duplex speakerphone, and may further include a jack for a corded headset, and the system may further include a corded headset that plugs into the jack in lieu of or in addition to the wireless headset.
The handset preferably comprises a dial pad having a plurality of buttons and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.
The wireless headset preferably comprises a microphone boom incorporating a noise cancelling (NC) microphone therein.
In another embodiment, the system may further comprise an optional Bluetooth enabled cell phone, and the headset may further comprise software and a call select button that enables the headset to select between the cell phone and the handset to place or answer a telephone call therewith.
In another embodiment, the system may further include a second headset having an RF transceiver implementing the third communication protocol, e.g., the DECT/UPCS protocol, which is operable to transmit communication signals wirelessly directly between the second headset and the base.
A better understanding of the above and many other features and advantages of the novel multimode home telephone system of the present invention may be obtained from a consideration of the detailed description of some exemplary embodiments thereof below, particularly if such consideration is made in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures thereof.
Like the optional cell phone 38, the PC 12 is typically not sold with the telephone system 10, but instead, comprises a PC already owned by the user and running, e.g., a Windows, Unix, Linux or other operating system. The PC includes first and second communication ports 20 and 22. The first communication port 20 is coupled to the Internet, and the PC is programmed to implement a first communication protocol, e.g., the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and is operable to effect full duplex voice communication via the Internet through the first port. The second port 22 implements a second communication protocol, e.g., the IEEE Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and is operable to transmit and receive communication signals between the PC and the base 14 therethrough.
The base component 14 of the system 10 has a first port 24, e.g., an RJ 11 socket, coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 26 and operable to effect full duplex telecommunication via the PSTN through the first port, a second port 28, e.g., a USB port, coupled to the PC 12 via the second port 22 of the PC and operable to effect full duplex communication between and the base 14 and the PC 12 therethrough, and an RF transceiver 30 implementing a third communication protocol and operable to receive and transmit communication signals wirelessly between the base 14 and the handset 16. In the particular exemplary embodiment of
The wireless handset 16 of the system 10 incorporates first and second RF transceivers 32 and 34. The first transceiver 32 implements the third communication protocol, i.e., the DECT/UPCS protocol, and is operable to transmit and receive communication signals wirelessly between the handset 16 and the base 14. The second handset RF transceiver 34 implements a fourth communication protocol, e.g., the Bluetooth AG protocol, and is operable to transmit communication signals wirelessly between the handset 16 and the headset 18, with a range of about 10 meters.
The wireless headset 18 incorporates an RF transceiver 36 implementing the fourth communication protocol, i.e., the Bluetooth protocol, and is operable to transmit communication signals wirelessly between the headset 18 and the handset 16, and as discussed below, with an optional Bluetooth enabled cell phone 38.
An application, such as Persono Call,™ runs on the PC and provides ringing, On hook and Off hook functions from various conventionally available “soft phone” applications. Thus, VOIP calls from, e.g., Skype (or another soft phone application) may be remotely answered by either the headset 18 or the handset 16. The handset 16 is thus able to switch between VOIP calls and PSTN calls without losing a call. In this way, the system functions as a two line telephone. Further, the headset 18 can switch between an active call selected by the handset 16 (i.e., a PSTN or a VOIP call) and a call transmitted through an optional Bluetooth enabled cell phone 38 already owned by the user by simply pressing a call select button 60 on the Bluetooth enabled headset 18, as illustrated in the call signal flow diagram of
Thus, in the particular exemplary embodiment of
In the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The handset 16 incorporates many of the common cordless phone features, with the addition of, e.g., a half-duplex speakerphone capability, plus a Bluetooth interface for connection to the wireless Bluetooth headset 18 component of the system. The software of the handset and a simple user interface enable the selection and control of both VOIP and PSTN calls therethrough. Thus, both VOIP and PSTN audio is routed through the base 14 to the handset 16 through the DECT/UPCS RF link, and thence, via the Bluetooth RF link, to the headset 18.
The handset 16 and the headset 18 both preferably incorporate Bluetooth Applications Group (AG) firmware and hardware that support the enhanced Synchronous Communications Oriented (eSCO) protocol for communications therebetween. Additionally, the handset incorporates a half duplex speakerphone capability with competitive audio quality, and the most commonly used cordless phone handset features are made available through an intuitive, easy to use user interface (UI), e.g., “Menu Navigation” and phone book paradigms, which are designed to be similar to those of a conventional cell phone.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The telephone system 10 of the present invention thus provides a simple, affordable, easy to use, and versatile personal telephony system that can be used in conjunction with an existing cordless phone system, or alternatively, can be used in a standalone manner.
By now, those of skill in this art will appreciate that many modifications, substitutions and variations can be made in and to the novel telephone system of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, two alternative embodiments of the system can be provided for the home market user, e.g., a “Lite” version and “Pro” version. The two embodiments are similar to each other, except that the Lite version would omit the computer/internet/VOIP interconnectivity for reasons of economy.
As another example of an alternative embodiment, the telephone system 10 can be configured for use with a DECT/UPCS enabled wireless headset 56 instead of, or in addition to, the Bluetooth headset 18, as shown in the alternative embodiment of the system of
In light of the foregoing, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to that of the particular embodiments illustrated and described herein, as they are only exemplary in nature, but instead, should be fully commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents.
