The present invention relates to an audio player, more particularly, to an audio player to connect with an external wireless earphone or embeded an internal wireless transceiver, so that it can pause a music playing and answer a call from a mobile phone under a playing operation.
With the growing popularity of telecommunication devices, mobile phones and wireless handsets have become common communication tools for many people. At the same time, a series of related peripheral products have also developed, including devices for indicating incoming calls on mobile phone, such as flashing lights, vibrations, or musical rings, as well as wireless bluetooth earphones.
Seeing the as yet unexplored use of conventional technology in connecting wireless handsets and MP3 players, the objective of this invention provides an audio player with a built-in wireless transceiver for pausing music playing and answering incoming calls from mobile phones.
One objective of this invention is to provide an audio player externally connected a wireless earphone that can pause music playing and answer incoming call from mobile phones.
Another objective of this invention is to provide an audio player equipped with a earphone and a microphone that can be used as a wireless headset for communicating with a mobile phone or wireless handset.
Yet another objective of this invention is to provide an audio player that can be used for recording purposes to store conversations with mobile phone or wireless handset.
Still another objective of this invention is to provide an audio player with an external wireless earphone that can establish wireless connectivity with a mobile phone or wireless handset.
Finally, another objective of this invention is to provide an audio player with a recording function that can be connected to an external wireless earphone and establish two-way audio communication with a mobile phone or wireless handset, as well as being able to record and store the conversation.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an audio player, including a memory unit to store audio compressed files; a DSP processor to decompress audio compressed files under a playing operation, to produce an audio signal; an audio outputting unit responsive to the audio signal, to convert this audio signal into sound; an audio collecting unit responsive to a voice, to provide a electrical signal transmitted to the DSP processor; and a key inputting unit to transmit a command requested by a user to the DSP processor; characterized in that:
Wherein, the wireless transceiver would either be a bluetooth transceiver or would be based in RF connectivity technologies, such as DECT or 802.11b.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for an audio player having an earphone and a microphone to allow two-way audio communication to a mobile phone, comprising the following steps:
In one of other embodiments, this invention provides an audio player comprising an audio playing module having an earphone and a microphone, to decode audio compressed files, produce an audio signal transmitted to an earphone, and receive a voice signal from a microphone; and an attachment mechanism to combine a wireless earphone with the audio playing module for accomplishing an electrical connecting interface therebetween. The audio playing module operates the wireless earphone via said electrical connecting interface to establish two-way audio communication to a mobile phone, and to enable a conversation with the mobile phone at any time in response to a ring indication received from the mobile phone Wherein, said electrical connecting interface at least comprises: control signals between the wireless earphone and the audio playing module; audio signal transmitted from the mobile phone; and voice signal transmitted to the mobile phone.
Wherein, said electrical connecting interface furthercomprises: a ground signal connecting the wireless earphone and the audio playing module.
Wherein, said control signals at least comprises: a ring indication signal transmitted from the mobile phone; and a response signal transmitted from audio playing module operating the wireless earphone.
Wherein, said wireless earphone and the mobile phone are a bluetooth earphone and a bluetooth mobile phone, respectively.
Wherein, said audio playing module produces a ringing signal in said earphone in response to the ring indicating signal.
In one of other embodiments, the present invention provides an audio player, comprising:
Based on the above embodiment, this invention provides a method for establishing two-way audio communication between an audio player with a wireless earphone and a mobile phone. This method comprises the following steps:
MP3 players developed according to the embodiments of this invention can pause music playing to answer calls from mobile phones. When MP3 file is being played under a playing operation, the MP3 player will, in response to a ring indication from a mobile phone, produce a ringing signal in the earphone. Thus, the user can determine whether the playing operation is paused and a conversation with the mobile phone is established.
Next,
The MP3 player (20) of the present invention further comprises a wireless transceiver (22) connected to the antenna (21) and the DSP processor (30), and the DSP processor (30) controls or operates the wireless transceiver (22), allowing for two-way audio communication with a mobile phone (10). In this embodiment, the exemplary wireless transceiver (22) is a bluetooth transceiver, and the said DSP processor (30) operates bluetooth handset profiles to achieve two-way audio communication with the bluetooth handset. When MP3 files or audio compressed files are played under the playing operation, once DSP processor (30) receives a ring indication from a mobile phone (10) via the wireless transceiver (22), the DSP processor (30) would automatically practice a suspending operation, pausing the music playing and enabling a conversation with the mobile phone (10) by using the earphone (27) and microphone (28).
Furthermore, the MP3 player (20) in this invention further comprises a wireless transceiver (22) connected to the antenna (21) and the DSP processor (30), and the DSP processor (30) controls or operates the wireless transceiver (22), allowing for two-way audio communication with a mobile phone (10). In this embodiment, the exemplary wireless transceiver (22) is a bluetooth transceiver, and the said DSP processor (30) operates bluetooth handset profiles to achieve two-way audio communication with the bluetooth handset. When MP3 files or audio compressed files are played under the playing operation, once DSP processor (30) receives a ring indication from a mobile phone (10) via the wireless transceiver (22), the DSP processor (30) would automatically practice a suspending operation, pausing the music playing and enabling a conversation with the mobile phone (10) by using the earphone (27) and microphone (28).
Based the embodiments shown in
Step 101: Establishing Wireless Connectivity
The DSP processor (30) operates the wireless transceiver (22) to establish a wireless connectivity with a mobile phone (10) through an antenna (21). The wireless connectivity is based on either bluetooth communication or RF connectivity technologies, such as DECT or 802.11b. In these embodiments, the wireless transceiver (22) is a bluetooth transceiver, and the DSP processor (30) operates bluetooth handset profiles to realize two-way audio communication with a bluetooth handset.
Step 102: Ring Indication
The DSP processor (30) determines whether a ring indication from the mobile phone (10) is received; if there is no ring indication, the DSP processor (30) continues the playing operation at Step 107 and remains in that status. If there is a ring indication, the DSP processor (30) would enter the suspending operation, which comprises the following steps:
Step 103: Producing Ringing Signal
In order to signify the ring indication of the mobile phone (10) to the user, the DSP processor (30) produces a ringing signal and transmits this signal to the earphone (27). In one embodiment of the present invention, if a MP3 file is played under the playing operation of the DSP processor (30), the ringing signal will be mixed to the audio signal corresponding to the played MP3 file and transmitted to the earphone (27).
Step 104: Answering Phone Call
Based on the user's command received through the key inputting unit (25), the DSP processor determines whether or not to answer the incoming call. If the DSP processor (30) concludes that the user has commanded not to answer the call from the mobile phone (10), then DSP processor (30) will stop transmitting the audio ringing signal to the earphone (27), inform the mobile phone (10) that the call is terminated, and continue the playing operation. On the other hand, if the DSP processor (30) concludes that the user has commanded to answer the call from the mobile phone (10), then a conversation with the mobile phone (10) would begin.
Step 105: Pausing Playing Operation and Enabling a Conversation
The DSP processor (30) stops transmitting the ringing signal and pauses music playing, establishing talking status in order to communicate with the mobile phone (10) by using the earphone (27) and microphone (28). In one of embodiments of the present invention, the DSP processor (30) can store the content of the conversation in the memory unit (26) according to the command requested by the user through the key inputting unit (25). Furthermore, the file containing the content of the conversation can also be outputted from the data interface unit (24).
Step 106: Ending a Conversation
Based on the command requested by the user through the key inputting unit (25), the DSP processor (30) can terminate communication with the mobile phone (10), and continue to execute Step 107, the playing operation.
In this the embodiment of the invention, MP3 player further comprises an attachment mechanism to combine a wireless earphone with the body of the MP3 player, as well as to accomplish a electrical connecting interface between the audio playing module (60) and wireless earphone module (70). One of the embodiments of the invention is that the attachment mechanism between the MP3 player and the wireless earphone is in fact in a holding mechanism design. Its contact surface comprises a number of electrical contacts, allowing the audio playing module (60) and wireless earphone module (70) to realize electrical connection.
This electrical connecting interface comprises at least: control signals (31), that is the control signals between the wireless earphone and the audio playing module (60), the control signals (31) at least comprises: the ring indication signal of the mobile phone or wireless handset transmitted from the wireless earphone module (70) to the audio playing module (60), and a response signal outputted from the audio module (60) to the wireless earphone module (70) for operating the wireless earphone; a sound signal (33) transmitted by the mobile phone and outputted to the audio playing module (60) via the wireless earphone module (70) after two-way audio communication has been established between the wireless earphone module (70) and the mobile phone; and a voice signal (32) collected through the microphone and transmitted to the mobile phone through the wireless earphone module (70). The response signal is outputted by the audio playing module (60) for regarding whether or not to answer the call from the mobile phone.
The electrical connecting interface further comprises a ground signal (34), for forming an electrical loop between the audio playing module (60) and the wireless earphone module (70).
In another embodiment of this invention, the signals of the electrical connecting interface represent become a data bus between the wireless earphone module (70) and the audio playing module (60); the control signal (31), voice signal (32), sound signal (33), ring indication signal, response signal, etc. are all coded data signals, rather than just being signals of electrical contacts.
In One embodiment of the present invention, when wireless connectivity has been established between the wireless earphone module (70) and a mobile phone, the processor (75) will produce an indication signal (31) responsive to the ring indication of the mobile phone, and transmit this signal to the audio playing module (60) via the electrical connecting interface. Meanwhile, the processor (75) will receive a response signal from the audio playing module (60), and determine whether or not to establish two-way audio communication with the mobile phone. When two-way audio communication has been established, the processor (75) will receive the sound signal from the mobile phone via wireless transceiver (72), and output the sound signal (33) to the audio playing module (60); at the same time, it will also receive a voice signal (32) from the audio playing module (60), and transmit the voice signal to the mobile phone via the wireless transceiver (72).
In this invention, the DSP processor (61) receives an indication signal (31) through the electrical connecting interface and produces a ringing signal in the earphone (64) in response to the indication signal. If the DSP processor (61) is playing MP3 files at the moment, then the ringing signal will be mixed to the audio signal corresponding to the played MP3 file and outputted to the earphone (64). Based on the user's command received through the key inputting unit (67), the DSP processor (61) determines whether to answer the call from the mobile phone or not, and transmits a response signal to the processor (75). When two-way audio communication has been established between the wireless earphone module (70) and the mobile phone, the DSP processor (61) will receive sound signal from the mobile phone via the wireless earphone module (70), and output sound signal to the earphone (64); at the same time, the DSP processor (61) will also receive voice signal from the microphone (65), and transmit voice signal to the mobile phone via the wireless earphone module (70). Thus, users can enable a conversation with a mobile phone by using the earphone (64) and microphone (65).
Step 201: Playing Operation
The DSP processor (61) executes a program stored in the memory (66), decoding MP3 or audio compressed files, producing corresponding audio signal, and transmitting the audio signal to the earphone (64).
Step 202: Ring Indication
The DSP processor (61) recognizes a ring indication from a mobile phone; when there is no call, the DSP processor (61) will continue to execute the playing operation at Step 201. If there is a call, the DSP processor (61) will execute a suspending operation, which comprises the following steps:
Step 203: Producing Ringing Signal
In order to signify the ring indication of the mobile phone to the user, the DSP processor (61) produces a ringing signal and transmits this signal to the earphone (64). In one embodiment of the present invention, if an MP3 file is played under the playing operation of the DSP processor (61), the ringing signal will be mixed to the audio signal corresponding to the played MP3 file and transmitted to the earphone (64).
Step 204: Answering Phone Call
Based on the user's command received through the key inputting unit, the DSP processor (61) determines whether to answer the incoming call or not. If the user has commanded not to answer the call from the mobile phone, the DSP processor (61) would then stop transmitting the audio ringing signal to the earphone (64), inform the mobile phone that the call has been terminated, and continue the playing operation. On the other hand, if the user has commanded to answer the call from the mobile phone, then the DSP processor (61) will inform the processor (75) to establish two-way audio communication with the mobile phone.
Step 205: Pausing Playing Operation and Enabling a Conversation
The DSP processor (61) stops transmitting the ringing signal and pauses the play operation, establishing a talking status to communicate with the mobile phone by using the earphone (64) and microphone (65). In one of embodiments of the present invention, the DSP processor (61) can store the content of the conversation in the memory (66) according to the command requested by the user through the key inputting unit (67). Furthermore, the file containing the content of the conversation can also be outputted from the data interface unit (62).
Step 206: Ending a Conversation
Based on the commands requested by the user through the key inputting unit (67), the DSP processor (61) can stop communication with the mobile phone, and then continue to the playing operation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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92121117 | Aug 2003 | TW | national |
92121125 | Aug 2003 | TW | national |