Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
To detect whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn, the communication accessory 110 can include a sensor 130. The sensor 130 can be any of a variety of sensors that are suitable for detecting one or more parameters that correspond to the communication accessory 110 being worn. For example, the sensor 130 can include a mechanical or electrical contact that closes or opens when in contact with another material (e.g. the user's skin or apparel worn by the user). In another example, the sensor 130 can be a capacitive sensor that senses capacitive coupling, for instance between the sensor 130 and another material. The sensor 130 also can be a thermal sensor that detects thermal energy generated by a material, a resistive sensor that senses a material based on the resistance of the material, an accelerometric sensor that senses movement of material, for instance due to blood flow and/or a heart beat, an infrared sensor that senses infrared energy and/or oxygen emanated by the user, and/or an antenna loading sensor. Still, a myriad of other types of sensors can be used to detect whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn and the invention is not limited in this regard.
In one arrangement, the communication accessory 110 can include a plurality of sensors 130, and the plurality of sensors 130 can cooperatively indicate whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn by the user. For example, the communication accessory 110 can include both a capacitive sensor and a thermal sensor. If communication accessory 110 is exposed to a temperature that is close to the temperature of the human body, the thermal sensor may generate a signal indicative of the communication accessory 110 being worn by a user. However, if the capacitive sensor does not sense the presence of another material such as skin, it can generate a signal that indicates the communication accessory 110 is not being worn. In this scenario, a determination can be made that the communication accessory 110 is not being worn.
The sensor(s) 130 can be integrated into the communication accessory 110 in any suitable manner. For instance, the sensor 130 can be integrated into an ear-loop 140 of the communication accessory 110, a base 150 of the communication accessory, or in any other components of the communication accessory 110. In another arrangement, rather than being integrated into the communication accessory 110, the sensor 130 can be attached to the person and can detect proximity of the communication accessory 110.
The communication accessory 110 also can include a communications adapter 210 that is used by the communication accessory 110 to communicate with communication device 120. The communications adapter 210 can be configured for wired communications and/or wireless communications. For example, the communications adapter 210 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance Bluetooth, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communication device 120.
The communication accessory 110 also can include an audio processor 215 connected to an input audio transducer 220 (e.g. microphone) and an output audio transducer 225 (e.g. loudspeaker). The audio processor 215 can be integrated with the controller 205, or provided as a separate component that is communicatively linked to the controller 205. The audio processor 215 can comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process audio data, and/or any other suitable audio processing device. The audio processor 215 can receive input audio signals from a user wearing the communication accessory 110 via the input audio transducer 220, and propagate output audio signals to the user via the output audio transducer 225.
In operation, the sensor(s) 130 can detect one or more parameters and forward corresponding signals 230 to the controller 205. The controller 205 can process the signals 230 to determine whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn by the user. For example, if the communication accessory 110 comprises a single sensor 130, the controller 205 can process one or more signals 230 generated by that sensor 130 to determine whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn and propagate a corresponding signal 235 to the communications adapter 210, which can forward the signal 235 to the communication device. If, however, the communication accessory 110 comprises a plurality of sensors 130, the controller 205 can receive one or more signals 230 from each of the sensors 130 and process such signals to determine whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn.
In one arrangement, the communication accessory 110 can include a datastore 240 on which a signal processing application 245 is stored for processing the signals 230. The signal processing application 245 can be executed by the controller 205 and can include, for example, one or more algorithms that account for various sensor readings in order to arrive at an accurate determination as to whether the communication accessory 110 is being worn. The datastore 240 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information. In one aspect of the invention, the datastore 240 can be integrated into the controller 205.
In one arrangement, if the signal(s) 230 indicate that the communication accessory 110 is not being worn, the controller 205 can enter the communication accessory 110 into a standby state, thereby reducing energy usage and extending battery life. In the standby state the communication accessory 110 can remain connected to the communication device. Alternatively, if the communication accessory 110 wirelessly communicates with the communication device, in the standby state the communication accessory 110 can disconnect its wireless communication link with the communication device.
When the signal 230 again indicates that the communication accessory 110 is being worn, the controller 205 can take the communication accessory 110 out of the standby state and into a state in which the communication accessory 110 is ready to communicate with the communication device and ready to send and receive audio signals via the audio transducers 220, 225. If the communication accessory 110 was not connected to the communication device during the standby state, the controller 205 can communicate with the communications adapter 210 to connect, or reconnect, a wireless communications link with the communication device.
The communication device 120 also can include a communications adapter 310 with which the communication device 120 communicates with communication accessory. The communications adapter 310 can be configured for wired communications and/or wireless communications. For example, the communications adapter 310 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance Bluetooth, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communication adapter.
A second communications adapter 315 also can be provided support communications between the communication device 120 and a communication network. The communications adapter 315 can include, for example, a transceiver that communicates data via IEEE 802 wireless communications, WPA, WPA2, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, direct wireless communication, TCP/IP, or any other suitable form of communications. Moreover, the communications adapter 315 also can include a network adapter, a serial communications port, a parallel communications port, or any other suitable port through which the communication device 120 can receive signals communicated over a wired link. In one arrangement, the communications adapter 315 can be integrated with the communications adapter 310.
The communication device 120 also can include an audio processor 320 connected to an input audio transducer 325 (e.g. microphone) and an output audio transducer 330 (e.g. loudspeaker). The audio processor 320 can be integrated with the controller 305, or provided as a separate component that is communicatively linked to the controller 305. The audio processor 320 can comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process audio data, and/or any other suitable audio processing device. The audio processor 320 can receive input audio signals from a user via the input audio transducer 325, and propagate output audio signals to the user via the output audio transducer 330.
The audio processor also can be connected to a second output audio transducer 335 that generates audio signals at a higher volume than the output audio transducer 330. For example, when appropriate, the audio processor 320 can direct alert notifications to the output audio transducer 335. The audio processor 320 also can direct audio communication signals to the output audio transducer 335 when the communication device 120 is being used in hands-free mode without use of the communication accessory.
The communication device 120 also can include a datastore 340. The datastore 340 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information. In one arrangement, the datastore 340 can be integrated into the controller 305.
A signal routing application 345 can be contained on the datastore 340. The signal routing application 345 can be executed by the controller 205 to selectively propagate one or more signals, for instance an alert notification or communication signals, to the communication accessory and implement other processes described herein.
In operation, the communications adapter 310 can receive the signal 235, if present, from the communication accessory and forward the signal 235 to the controller 305. If the signal 235 indicates that the communication accessory is not being worn by the user, or the signal 235 is not present, the controller can forward signals, such as communication signals and alert notifications to the audio processor 320. The audio processor 320 can forward communication signals to the output audio transducer 330 and forward alert notifications to the output audio transducer 335. In addition, the audio processor 320 can receive audio signals from the input audio transducer 325 and forward such signals to the controller 305 for further communications processing. In another arrangement, the audio processor 320 can exchange the communication signals with another device with which the communication device 120 is communicatively linked, for example an audio system within a vehicle.
If the signal 235 indicates that the communication accessory is being worn by the user, rather than sending communication signals to the audio processor 320, such signals can be forwarded to the communications adapter 310 and communicated to the communication accessory. For example, responsive to receiving an incoming call, the controller 305 can forward an alert notification to the communication adapter 310, which can communicate the alert notification to the communication accessory. The communication accessory can present the alert notification to the user. Communication signals received during the call session also can be communicated to the communication accessory in a similar manner for presentation to the user. The controller 305 can redirect the communication signals should the signal 235 change or cease being detected. The signal 235 may cease being detected if the communication accessory enters a standby state in which it disconnects a communication link with the communication device.
The terms “computer program,” “software,” “application,” variants and/or combinations thereof, in the present context, mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. For example, an application can include, but is not limited to, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a processing system.
The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).
This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.