Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PERSONAL PORTABLE INTEGRATOR FOR MUSIC PLAYER AND MOBILE
PHONE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrating electronic devices and, more
particularly, to
novel systems and methods for integrating services provided by personal music
players
and mobile phones.
2. The Background Art
The use of mobile telephones and other wireless communication devices has
increased dramatically in recent years. Likewise, electronic music players,
such as MP3,
CD, DVD, and like players have proliferated. Some companies have attempted to
integrate music players and mobile two-way communication devices into single
devices.
While integration may reduce the number of devices a user is required to
carry, a user
may unnecessarily discard devices that are still fully functional, incurring
unnecessary
expense.
With respect to music players and mobile phones, various conflicts may arise
when attempting to operate independent devices simultaneously. For example,
users may
listen to portable music players while exercising, traveling, working,
relaxing, and
performing like activities. However, users may desire to simultaneously place
and receive
phone calls, activities that may be inherently difficult to perform while
listening to music
or other audio material. For example, a user may be unable to hear a phone
ring while
listening to music using headphones, earphones, or the like. Moreover, if a
user is able to
accept a call, the user may be required to remove headphones, reduce the
volume of or
mute a music player, pick up a mobile phone handset, or like actions, in order
to accept or
place a call. This may be an excessively clumsy process.
What is needed is apparatus and methods for users to simultaneously accept and
place phone calls using a mobile phone or other two-communication device while
listening to music, or other audio material using an independent audio
delivery device.
What is further needed is apparatus and methods to integrate the services of
substantially any arbitrary two-way communication device with substantially
any
arbitrary music or audio delivery device.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods
for
integrating two-way communication devices with audio delivery devices. An
apparatus in
accordance with the invention may include a first electrical connector
connected to
receive a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio
delivery
device, such as an MP3, CD, DVD, radio, or other media player. A second
electrical
connector may be connected to receive a second audio signal from a
substantially
arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device, such as a mobile phone,
or a two-
way radio such as a walkie talkie, citizen band radio (e.g. CB), HAM radio,
marine and
aviation radio, and the like.
A coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication
devices may be connected to receive the first and second audio signals. A
third audio
signal comprising at least one of the first and second audio signals may be
transmitted
from the coupling device to an acoustic device, such as headphones, earphones,
speakers,
or the like to convert the third audio signal to an acoustic wave having an
audio range
corresponding to a hearing range of a user.
In certain embodiments, a switch may be connected to the apparatus to enable a
user to selectively switch between the first and second audio signals to
provide the third
audio signal to the acoustic device. In other embodiments, a mixer may be
connected to
the apparatus to mix the first and second audio signals to create the third
audio signal.
In selected embodiments, the apparatus may include a microphone connected to
transmit a voice signal of a user to the two-way communication device. Thus,
the two-
way communication device may be located away from the face of the user. The
apparatus
may also include a volume controller connected to selectively control the
volume of at
least one of the first and second audio signals. In certain embodiments, the
volume
controller may control the first audio signal (e.g. the audio signal
originating from the
audio delivery device) so that a user may selectively raise or lower the
volume of the
music or other media while receiving or placing a call.
In selected embodiments, the apparatus may employ electrical wiring to route
the
audio signals and the voice signal to and from the coupling device. A switch,
selectively
operable by a user, may be used to connect at least two of the second audio
signal wire,
the voice signal wire, and a ground wire, to activate a function of the two-
way
communication device. For example, if the two-way communication device is a
mobile
phone, the switch may be used to trigger a function of the mobile phone such
as a mute
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command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated
dialing, a
command to call the last number dialed, and the like.
The coupling device may contain any or all of the hardware previously
described
including but not limited to the microphone, the switches, the mixer, and the
volume
controller. In selected embodiments, the audio signal from the two-way
communication
device may be characterized by a threshold value. The second audio signal may
be
accorded priority relative to the first audio signal originating from the
audio delivery
device. Thus, the second audio signal may interrupt the first audio signal
upon reaching
the threshold value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully
apparent
from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the
invention and
are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will
be described
with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a personal portable integrator
usable
with a music player and a mobile phone;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of a personal portable integrator
having
a device-specific link to a two-way communication device;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of connectors
that may be used to adapt the invention to a wide variety of devices;
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an adapter that may
be used to interface to a specific device;
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of components contained
within a coupling device in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative embodiment of components
contained within a coupling device in accordance with the invention;
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FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another alternative embodiment of
components contained within a coupling device in accordance with the
invention; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a personal portable
integrator usable with a music player and a mobile phone using wireless
technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as
generally described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 herein, could be
arranged and
designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the description
herein is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of
certain
presently preferred embodiments of devices and systems in accordance with the
invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that
various
modifications to the details herein may easily be made without departing from
the
essential characteristics of the invention, as described. Thus, the following
information is
intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain presently
preferred
embodiments consistent with the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a portable integrator 10 for use with a two-communication
device 18, such as a mobile phone 18, and an audio delivery device 16, such as
a portable
= MP3 player or CD player, may include electrical connectors 12, 14 to
interface with the
devices 16, 18. The electrical connectors 12, 14 may vary according to the
device. For
example, an audio device 16 may require a jack 12 having specific dimensions
and with a
specified number of contact points. Likewise, a connector 14 may connect to a
particular
communication device 18. The connectors 12, 14 may be modified as needed to
adapt to
other devices 16, 18.
The connectors 12, 14 may be adapted to receive and provide signals 13, 15, 17
from the devices 16, 18. For example, the connector 12 may simply receive an
audio
signal 13 from the audio device 16. The signal 13 may be a monophonic,
stereophonic, or
like representation of an audio signal 13. Likewise, the connector 14 may
receive an
audio signal 15 from the communication device 18. In addition, the connector
14 may
provide a voice signal 17, or other input signal 17, to the communication
device 18 from a
user thereof or other outside source.
Sheathed flexible wires 20, 22 or other transmission means such as optical
fibers
20,22, or wireless technology such as BluetoothTM may be used to carry the
signal 13, 15,
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17 to and from the devices 16, 18. In certain embodiments, a reinforcement
member 24
may be used to provide strength at a junction point 24 of the lines 20, 22.
The
reinforcement member 24 may also be used to form a transition point 24 where
wires 20,
22 may be bundled together beneath a single protective sheathing 26.
A coupling device 28 may receive and transmit the signals 13, 15, 17 through
the
path 26. The coupling device 28 may act as a controller 28 or hub 28 to route
the signals
13, 15, 17 to an acoustic device 30, 32, such as headphones 30, 32, earphones
30, 32,
speakers 30, 32, or the like. The coupling device 28 may also contain a
microphone 29,
thus providing a hands free set 29, 30, 32, usable with a mobile phone 18. A
pair of wires
34, 36 or other communication paths 34, 36 may connect the coupling device 28
to the
acoustic device 30, 32.
Referring to FIG. 2, as was previously mentioned, devices 16, 18, such as
mobile
phones 18, may not use a standardized jack 12, 14. However, it may be
undesirable to
provide a separate integrator device 10 for each variation of devices 12, 14
that may be
available. Therefore, in certain embodiments, a portion 38 of the portable
integrator 10
may be provided as a universal component 38 while another portion 40 may serve
as a
device-specific component 40. For example, audio devices 16 may use a
standardized
connector 12 or jack 12.
Therefore, a universal component 38 may adapt to the vast majority of audio
= devices 16 that may be available. Conversely, many two-way communication
devices 18,
such as mobile phones 18 may not have standardized connections 14. Therefore,
device-
specific components 40 may be provided having a standard connection 42 that
may
interface with the universal component 38, while another adapter 14 or
connector 14 may
be specific to the device 18.
In cases where devices 18 may have a varying number of inputs 17 and outputs
15, dead pins, wires (communication paths), and the like may by used as needed
to
increase or decrease the number of inputs 15 or outputs 17 according to
specific devices
18. In addition, a user may only desire to use a single device 16 for a given
period of time
and may wish to remove the portion 40 until it is needed.
Referring to FIG. 3, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1 and 2,
adaptability of the integrator device 10 may be provided in various ways. For
example, in
certain embodiments, the integrator device 10 may include an adapter 44 that
may
provide an interface 44 to each of the devices 16, 18, 28. In selected
embodiments, a
connection 20 to an audio device 16 may be swapped with another connection 20
fitted
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for another device 16, a connection 22 to a communication device 18 may be
swapped
with another connection 22 fitted for another communication device 18, a
coupling device
28 and an acoustic device 30,32 may be swapped with other devices 28, 30, 32,
and the
like. As was previously mentioned, certain portions 26,20, 22 may be added or
deleted as
needed by the user. The adapter 44 may use a variety of connectors 42, 46, 48
to connect
to the adapter 44. In certain embodiments, the adapter 44 may wirelessly
communicate
with each of the devices 16,18 using a wireless technology, thereby acting as
a wireless
communication hub 44.
Referring to FIG. 4, in selected embodiments, adapters 50 may be provided in
accordance with the invention to adapt a portable integrator 10 to specific
devices 18. For
example, an adapter 50 may include an interface 52 for interfacing with a
connector 14.
Likewise, the adapter 50 may include another interface 54 that may connect
directly to a
device 18 at an input 56. In addition, other features may be built into the
adapter 50 such
as impedance matching, signal amplification, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 5, in certain embodiments, the coupling device 28 may
include a
switch 58 to selectively enable a user to connect one of the signals 13, 15
through to the
output 60. For example, a user may listen to an audio recording or live
transmission from
an audio device 16 with the switch 58 in a first position 62. If the user
receives or desires
to place a call, the switch 58 may be changed to a second position 64 to
connect the
communication device 18 through to the output 60. The switch 58 may include a
button
63 or like mechanism 63 to enable a user operation thereof. Thus, the signal
13 from the
audio device 16 may be conveniently and selectively disconnected while the
user operates
the communication device 18. In this way, simple operation of a switch 58 may
enable a
user to operate an audio delivery device 16 and a communication device 18
through a
single acoustic device 30, 32.
The coupling device 28 may also include a microphone 29 to transmit a voice or
other audio signal 17 back to the communication device 18. The coupling device
28 may
contain one or several apertures to permit an acoustic wave to directly enter
and drive the
microphone 29. In certain embodiments, the coupling device 28 may be located,
such as
by clipping, proximate the face of a user so that the switch 58, microphone
29, and other
controls located therein, may be easily accessed and used by a user. Likewise,
the
communication device 18 and audio device 16 may be located away from the
user's face,
clipped along a belt line, in a pocket, in a bag, or the like.
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Referring to FIG. 6, in certain embodiments, the coupling device 28 may
include a
mixer 66 to mix the audio signals 13, 15 originating from the audio and
communication
devices 16,18. Thus, the audio signals 13, 15 may be heard simultaneously by a
user
through an acoustic device 30, 32. In certain instances, a ring or other sound
may indicate
a call is being received by the communication device 18 and may by audible
over the
sound of the music or other media through the acoustic device 30, 32. In this
case, the
audio signal 13 from the audio device 16 may be muted or disconnected by a
user with a
switch 58 while the user receives or places a call. Once the call is finished,
the user may
once again trigger the switch to begin listening to music or other audible
media. Thus, a
user may simultaneously hear and monitor both devices 16, 18 through a single
acoustic
device 30, 32 and may mute or disconnect at least one of the devices 16, 18
when needed.
In certain embodiments, the coupling device 28 may also include a switch 68 or
other control device 68 to control features of the communication device 18,
the audio
device 16, or a combination thereof. For example, a switch 68 may connect
inputs 17 or
outputs 15 of the communication device 18 together, connect them to a ground
70,
provide control signals to the device 18, or the like, to control features of
the
communication device 18. For example, a switch 68 or control device 68 may
control
features of the communication device 18 such as performing a mute command, a
call
connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, a command
to
call the last number dialed, or like features. The features activated may vary
from device
18 to device 18 and may depend on the device engineering and configuration.
Referring to FIG. 7, in selected embodiments, the coupling device 28 may
include
a volume controller 72 to control the volume of at least one of the audio
signals 13, 15
from the audio device 16 and the communication device 18. For example, as in
the
previous example, a mixer 66 may provide that audio signals 13, 15 be heard
simultaneously by a user through an acoustic device 30, 32. When a call is
received or
placed on the communication device 18, a user may adjust the volume of the
audio signal
13 using the volume controller 72. If desired, the user may adjust the volume
such that
music or audio material is still heard in the background while receiving or
placing a call.
Once a call is finished, a user may readjust the volume to a desired level.
Thus, a user
may simultaneously hear and monitor both devices through a single acoustic
device 30,
32, and may adjust the volume of at least one of the devices 16, 18 when
desired.
Referring to FIG. 8, in certain embodiments, a coupling device 28 may be
divided
into a pair of components 28a, 28b that wirelessly communicate with one
another using a
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technology such as BluetoothT"'. For example, a first component 28a may
include a
transceiver 28a receptive to the signals 13, 15, 17 from the audio and
communication
devices 16, 18. The transceiver 76 may convert these signals to wirelessly
transmittable
frequencies 80 using an appropriate wireless protocol such that they may be
transmitted
to a peer transceiver 78. The transceiver 78 may then convert the frequencies
80 back to
signals 13, 15, 17, where they may be processed by the coupling device 28b in
accordance with a process like those described in FIGS. 5 through 7.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the wireless technology
described in FIG. 8 may be used in a wide variety of different configurations
and the
example presented herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
For example,
in certain embodiments, portions or all of the circuitry 29, 66, 72 or
components 29, 66,
72 may be located in the housing 28a. In other embodiments, each of the
devices 16, 18,
may communicate wirelessly with the coupling device 28a.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing
from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to
be
considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The
scope of the
invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the
foregoing
description. All changes within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
claims are to
be embraced within their scope.
