Patent Application
20070117556
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telephone systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to table top conferencing systems.
2. Background
Communications through table top teleconferencing provides a convenient method for a group of persons in a particular location to participate in a phone conversation with a person or persons located elsewhere. An advantage of tabletop teleconferencing in which a group of users sits at a conference table is the ability of persons at the conference table to independently and rapidly communicate with others at the conference table, while conducting a phone conversation with a remote party. Thus, audio and visual information can be shared within the group at the conference table while a conversation with remote parties is maintained.
In order to improve table top teleconferencing, typically a full duplex speakerphone system is employed to allow users from any point in a conference room to hear and converse with remotely located parties. Typically, high quality table top teleconferencing equipment (also termed hereinafter “conference phone” or “conferencing device”) requires a PSTN phone connection and a power source to power the conferencing device.
Although known system 100 and other like systems provide a convenient manner in which to carry out a teleconference, nevertheless significant limitations are present that reduce its effectiveness. In addition to the need for a phone line connection, typically such systems require power from an AC outlet for operation of the conference phone. Thus, lengthy cables 101, 103 and connectors (such as an RJ11 connector) associated with wired connections to a PSTN and AC power source are required for proper operation of the conference phone. These requirements serve to limit portability and increase the expense of such conference phones.
Known fully wireless conference phones that obviate the need for an RJ11 type connection to a PSTN line exist. For example,
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that a need exists to improve conference phone capabilities.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for portable tabletop teleconferencing includes a handset that is configured to communicate over a telecommunications network and to supply power to an external device. Preferably the handset is coupled to a base station through an RF communications link. The system further includes a table top conferencing device configured to receive power from the handset to facilitate communications over the telecommunications network. The tabletop conferencing device receives power from the handset when the handset is coupled to the conferencing device and a discharge mode is active. In one embodiment, an audio link to the conferencing device is established using a wire from a headset jack of the handset to a receptacle in the conferencing device. Accordingly, a portable teleconference can be established in any location in the vicinity of a cordless telephone, and in conjunction with any cordless system capable of sending power from a portable handset.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a handset-powered table top conferencing device contains one or more speakers. The device also contains a speaker driver for controlling the speakers and one or more microphones for receiving voice input. A digital signal processor for audible sound management is also included in the device. The device further includes an interface for coupling with a handset that is configured to supply power to the conferencing device and a keypad for audio management during a teleconference. Accordingly, a teleconference can be conducted with the conferencing device untethered by wires to telephone line connections or power connections.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a handset for table top phone conferencing includes an RF communications link to a telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the communications link is a link to a base station of a cordless phone system. The handset further includes a battery for powering the handset and a set of contacts for coupling to a table top conferencing device. The handset also includes a circuit for permitting flow of power from the battery to the tabletop conferencing device. When the circuit is engaged and the handset is coupled to the table top conferencing device, the conferencing device is powered by the handset.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for conducting a telephone teleconference includes a step of arranging a conferencing device within a wireless communications range of a base station. In one embodiment, the base station is a base station of a cordless phone system. A handset is coupled with the conferencing device. An RF link is established between the handset and base station. A teleconference is initiated using the conferencing device, whereby the conferencing device is powered by the handset.
a illustrates further details of an exemplary step of
Before one or more embodiments of the invention are described in detail, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction, the arrangements of components, and the arrangement of steps set forth in the following detailed description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Pod 302 also includes keypad 309 that is used, for example, for dialing telephone numbers and audio management of a teleconference. Audio management includes manually controlling speaker output and microphone input. For example, speaker volume and microphone muting can be controlled through keypad 309.
Pod 302 further includes interface 310. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, interface 310 is a cradle that is configured to accept handset 312. Handset cradle 310 preferably contains contacts (not shown) that electrically engage contacts (not shown) of handset 312 when the latter is placed in cradle 310. Handset 312 contains battery 314 used to power handset 312 during operation. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, handset 312 is used to supply power to pod 302 when placed in cradle 310. Accordingly, a teleconference using pod 302 can be conducted where operation power of pod 302 is received solely from handset 312.
System 300 is configured to allow a phone call to be placed or received by handset 312 when it is coupled to interface 310. An RF link between handset 312 and base station 316 is established during the phone call. For example, handset 312 and base station 316 can communicate using a Worldwide Digital Cordless Telecommunications (WDCT) protocol. In an exemplary embodiment, base station 316 is configured to connect to a conventional PSTN line. When a phone call is initiated to or from handset 312 while it is coupled with interface 310, speakers 306 and microphones 304 are activated by power supplied from battery 314. Thus, from a teleconference user's point of view, pod 302 acts to amplify and improve the quality of sound transmitted from a receiver of handset 312. From a point of view of a remote party, system 300 acts to amplify and improve the audio input into handset 312, such that voice input from many users within a room can be clearly received and understood by the remote party.
An advantage of system 300 over conventional handsets having speakerphone capability is that the quality of sound received and transmitted is far superior, since audio signals are sent and received through pod 302 rather than directly through handset 314.
Another advantage of system 300 over known wireless speaker phones is that an expensive radio need not be built into the conference pod. A further advantage is that no batteries requiring frequent recharging and replacing are needed for the conference pod.
In one embodiment, cradle 410 is configured to accept a handset of standard base region dimensions. In another embodiment, cradle 410 is designed to couple to handset of specially designed dimensions. In still another embodiment, cradle 410 is configured to accept a flexible insert (not shown) designed to allow handsets of varying base dimensions to fit snugly within cradle 410.
It is noted that cradle 410 can be configured to receive a wireless telephone (cell phone) or other wireless communications device or handset that is capable of carrying voice signals. Thus, in another embodiment of the invention, system 400 provides a means for conducting a teleconference using power from a wireless telephone.
Preferably, pod 400 includes a digital signal processor and speaker drivers to implement full duplex speakerphone functionality including echo cancellation and background noise reduction.
Pod 400 also contains connector 430 to couple to optional AC adapter 440 that is configured to connect to an AC power source for use, for example, when battery power of a handset is low, or to replenish power to the battery handset when convenient.
Also located in pod 400 is power source detector 460 that detects if power is being received from an AC power supply or DC battery.
Handset 500 is also configured to engage a cradle of a conference pod, for example, pod 400 of
Handset 500 also contains headset jack 508 that is used to couple to jack 420 in pod 400, as described above. A communications link can be established from base station 316 to pod 400 when handset 500 is placed in pod 400 and headset jack 508 is connected to jack 420, for example, using wire 514. A teleconference user or group of users receiving a phone call with handset 500 inserted in cradle 410 can press an “ON” button (not shown) on handset 500 and a duplex audio link is established. Subsequently, the users can employ pod 400 in a conventional manner to conduct a teleconference with the calling party or parties. Alternatively, a user can initiate a teleconference by placing a call using keypad 516 of handset 500 while it is inserted in cradle 404.
In another exemplary embodiment the first base station is a base transmission station (cell tower) of a wireless communications network. In this embodiment, any place that a wireless (cell) telephone can be used is suitable for placement of the pod.
In step 702, a first handset is placed in a receptacle of the conferencing device.
The first handset is configured to establish an RF link with the base station configured in step 700. Thus, for example, handset 312 and base station 316 “belong” to the same telephone device. The receptacle is configured to provide an electrical power connection between handset and conferencing device as described above. In addition, an audio signal connection between the first handset and conferencing device is established, as detailed above.
In step 704, the handset is switched to a discharge mode, in which a battery in the handset discharges power to the conferencing device. Preferably, the switching to discharge mode takes place automatically, for example, after the handset detects that no other external power supply exists to power the conferencing device, as described above with respect to
In step 706, an RF link is initiated between the first handset and first base station. For example, handset 312 is switched on and a phone number for a called party is dialed. An RF link between handset 312 and base station 316 is established, and a call is placed to the called party.
In step 708, a teleconference using the handset powered teleconferencing device is conducted.
In step 710, a battery power level on the handset is checked. If the power is deemed acceptable according to some predetermined criterion, the process continues to step 712. If a low battery power condition is detected, the process moves to step 800 of
In step 712, the teleconference is concluded. The first handset can then be powered off and removed from the conferencing device receptacle.
In step 714, if a user detects that battery power is sufficient, and does not require recharging, then the process moves to step 720, where the first handset is used for a next teleconference.
If a battery in the handset is deemed to be in the need of recharging, then in step 716, the handset is placed in a charging cradle to recharge the battery.
In step 718, a second handset is placed in the conferencing device and then used to conduct a subsequent teleconference. In one embodiment, the second handset is a handset belonging to the same base station as the first handset. In another embodiment, the second handset is associated with a second base station, and is configured similarly to the first handset such that battery power and audio signals can be conveniently communicated between the second handset and conferencing device.
Thus, according to the above exemplary steps, combinations of multiple handsets within a given cordless phone system, or handsets belonging to separate cordless phone systems can be used to power a wireless conferencing device. The wireless conferencing device can be moved to any location in wireless communications range or a base station of a cordless phone, and can accordingly be used to communicate over different phone lines and phone numbers.
In step 802, the availability of an AC power source to power the conferencing device is determined. If an AC power source is available, the process moves to step 804.
In step 804, a determination is made as to how much longer the teleconference will last. If the teleconference may last for a significant time, then the process moves to step 806.
In step 806, an AC power source is engaged to power the conferencing device. For example, adapter 440 in
In step 808, the handset is switched to a charge mode, so that the handset can be recharged. Referring also to
In step 810, the teleconference is completed with the conferencing device powered by an AC power source. A battery within the first handset is recharged at the same time.
If, in step 802 it is determined that no AC power source is available, or if in step 804 a user determines that a duration of the remaining teleconference is likely to be short, the process moves to step 814.
In step 814, it is determined whether the teleconferencing system components, such as portable handset and conference pod are operating in a high quality mode. If the conferencing components are not operating in a high quality mode, the process moves to step 818 where the teleconference continues. If the device is operating in a high quality mode, the process moves to step 816.
In step 816, the mode of operation of the conferencing system components are switched from the high quality mode to a low power mode.
The process moves to step 818 where the conferencing system components are maintained in a low power operation mode. In low power mode, an acceptable audio quality is maintained in the conferencing pod and handset, as described further with respect to
a illustrates further details of step 814, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In step 814a, a determination is made as to whether the handset used to power the conferencing pod is operating in a high quality mode. As regards handset operation, a high quality mode can include such features as multiple time slot use in a time division multiple access (TDMA) device. By employing more than one time slot for a base station to transmit to a handset and for a handset to transmit to a base station during each communications time frame, a link between the handset and a base station provides a higher audio quality. This is due to the lower probability of degrading transmission of audio packets while transmitting the packets between the handset and base, since each packet can be sent over multiple time slots to avoid a time period when interference is greater. However, this high quality operation consumes significantly more power than when a link between handset and base or base and handset is established over a single time slot in a communications frame. Accordingly, the handset battery power depletes at a faster rate.
If the handset is determined to be operating in high quality mode, the process moves to step 816, where low power mode operation for the handset is initiated, including, for example, setting a frame structure such that communication from a base station to a handset takes place over a single time slot in a given communications frame. In one embodiment, the low power mode comprises operation of a single time slot per communications frame for both transmitting from a handset to a base station and transmitting from a base station to a handset. However, in other embodiments, a low power mode may employ multiple time slots for communication in one direction between the base and handset, and only a single time slot for communication in the other direction. In either case, the power used is significantly lower than in high quality mode operation. If the handset is operating in low power mode (the equivalent of not operating in high quality mode), the process moves to step 814b. In one embodiment of the invention, handset operation is automatically switched from high quality to low power mode, when the handset detects that the power level of the handset battery is reduced to a threshold value.
In step 814b, it is determined whether the conferencing pod is operating in a high quality mode. If the pod is not operating in high quality mode, then the process moves to step 818. If the pod is operating in high quality mode, the process moves to step 816, where operation of the pod is switched to low power mode. In the context of operation of a conference pod, high quality mode can entail the ability to operate at a high audio output level from the pod with no volume limit.
In other embodiments of the invention in which a handset battery acts as power source for a teleconferencing pod, either the handset or conference pod, but not both, are switched from high quality to low power operation, even though both teleconference components are detected to be operating in a high quality mode. For example, a handset used to power a conference pod may not have a low power operation mode available, or automatically enabled. Nevertheless, switching the conference pod to low power operation when a low battery condition is detected can act to substantially preserve battery life of the handset for the duration of a call.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a conference pod automatically receives a signal indicating a low battery condition in a handset battery so that it can automatically switch from high quality operation mode to low power mode when battery power is low. This low battery signal could be sent, for example, over a data link established when the handset is placed in a conference pod cradle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, depicted in exemplary steps of
In step 902, the tabletop device detects that the power source for the device is a battery. For example, pod 400 using detector 416 determines that battery 506 is powering the pod.
In step 904, the tabletop device determines whether it is set to operate in low power mode. If so, the process moves to step 906 where operation of the conferencing device continues in low power mode. For example, pod 400, is configured to automatically initiate a low power mode operation when it detects a battery power source only.
If low power operation is not set, the process moves to step 908 where the tabletop device is switched to low power operation. Thus, in this embodiment, a tabletop conferencing device can automatically adjust its operation mode base on whether it is being powered by an external AC power supply or by a handset battery.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in steps 900-908, a handset may not automatically switch to a low power operation if the handset battery power is high. Thus, in one instance, high quality mode operation of the handset may continue in step 906 until a low battery condition is detected and the handset automatically switches into low power mode as described for step 814. Otherwise, if the handset were to automatically switch to low power mode itself when powering a tabletop device, a user would be precluded from operating the handset in a high quality mode that might be desirable to improve communications with a base station. However, it is envisioned that in some embodiments, a low power button can be provided on a portable handset to allow battery power to be preserved even when the battery initially is at full charge, so that a tabletop conference call duration can be maximized when the handset acts as the sole source of power.
In another embodiment of the present invention, depicted in exemplary steps of
In step 1002, the conferencing device detects that the power source for the device is an AC supply. For example, pod 400 using detector 416 determines that AC adapter 414 is powering the pod.
In step 1004, the conferencing device determines whether it is set to operate in high quality mode. If so, the process moves to step 1006 where operation of the conferencing device continues in high quality mode. For example, pod 400, is configured to automatically initiate a high quality mode operation when it detects an AC source.
If high quality operation is not set, the process moves to step 1008 where the conferencing device is switched to high quality operation.
The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. For example, although embodiments of the invention discussed above employ handsets of cordless phone systems to power a conferencing device, embodiments in which cell phones or other similar devices are used in lieu of a handset have been contemplated by the inventor. In addition, although the aforementioned embodiments focused on arrangements in which a handset is in wireless communication with a base station, embodiments in which a conference pod is directly connected to a PSTN line are considered to be within the scope of the invention. In other words, embodiments of the invention can include a dual mode operation in which a handset can be used to either power a conference pod for a wireless communication from the handset to a base station, or power a wired communication from the pod to an external PSTN (see
Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. In particular, in addition to those steps disclosed in
