Wireless apparatus and methods for controlling electronic devices

• US 10,165,101 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slapswitch Technology, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Slapswitch Technology, Ltd.
• Inventors: Gibbons, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T
• Application Number:
  US15/655,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724094 Interfacing with a device worn on the user's body to provide access to telephonic functionalities, e.g. accepting a call, reading or composing a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724097 Worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/03 Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

The present invention relates to the control and operation of cellular telephones and other electronic devices, and particularly to improvements in the functionality of those devices for use in conjunction with a variety of sports and recreational activities.

Claims

1. A wireless apparatus to control and operate wireless electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:

A. two or more electronic signal communication ports;

wherein said apparatus is configured to;

1) establish a first wireless signal connection with a first electronic device via a first of said two or more electronic signal communication ports using a first wireless communication protocol;

2) establish a second wireless signal connection with a second electronic device via a second of said two or more electronic signal communication ports using a second wireless communication protocol;

3) receive a first electronic signal from said first electronic device via said first wireless signal connection; and

4) transmit a second electronic signal comprising said first electronic signal to said second electronic device via said second wireless signal connection;

wherein said first electronic signal, said second electronic signal, or said first electronic signal and said second electronic signal additionally comprise any number of control signals generated by any of said wireless apparatus, said first electronic device, and said second electronic device wherein said control signals are operative to control the operation of any other of said electronic devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electronic signal comprises control signals operative to control the operation of said second electronic device, said control signals having been generated or received by said first electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second electronic signal comprises control signals operative to control the operation of said second electronic device, said control signals having been generated or received by said first electronic device, said apparatus, or said first electronic device and said apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising one or more switches and wherein said control signals are generated by said apparatus in response to the activation of at least one of said one or more switches.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control signals are generated by said apparatus in response to a pressing activation, a rotating activation, or any number, pattern, or duration of pressing, rotating, or pressing and rotating activations of at least one of said one or more switches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein (i) any control signals present in said first electronic signal are compatible with said first wireless communication protocol, and (ii) any control signals present in said second electronic data are compatible with said second wireless communication protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first wireless communication protocol and said second wireless communication protocol are (i) the same wireless communication protocol or (ii) are different wireless communication protocols.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured to translate said first electronic signal compatible with said first wireless communication protocol into said second electronic signal compatible with said second wireless communication protocol whenever said first and second wireless communication protocols are different wireless communication protocols.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electronic device or said second electronic device comprise at least one of any of a second of said wireless apparatus, a cellular telephone, a non-cellular mobile phone, a satellite phone, a cordless wireless phone, a walkie-talkie, a television receiver, a video display, a visual presentation device, a vehicle system, a security device, a lighting controller, portable or fixed-location communication equipment, a public address system, an electronic musical instrument, video or audio recording equipment, a personal computer or computing tablet, an electronic dictation machine, an electronic authentication device, an electronic gaming machine or peripheral, a financial transaction, payment, or authentication device, industrial equipment, or equipment related to control, monitoring, and performance of sporting events.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first wireless signal connection or said second wireless signal connection comprise one of any of a Bluetooth®

, ZigBee®

, NFC, or Wi-Fi®

802.11 wireless signal connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electronic signal, said second electronic signal, or said first electronic signal and said second electronic signal comprise an audio signal.

12. A method of operating and controlling wireless electronic devices using a wireless control apparatus, the method comprising:

A. establishing a first wireless signal connection between a control apparatus and a first electronic device using a first wireless communication protocol;

B. establishing a second wireless signal connection between said control apparatus and a second electronic device using a second wireless communication protocol;

C. receiving, by said control apparatus from said first electronic device via said first wireless signal connection, a first electronic signal compatible with said first wireless communication protocol; and

D. transmitting, by said control apparatus to said second electronic device via said second wireless signal connection, a second electronic signal compatible with said first wireless communication protocol and comprising said first electronic signal;

wherein said first electronic signal, said second electronic signal, or said first electronic signal and said second electronic signal additionally comprise control signals operative to control the operation of any of said electronic devices.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of communicating control signals generated or received by said first electronic device to said second electronic device via said first wireless signal connection, said control apparatus, and said second wireless signal connection.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of generating or receiving control signals by said control apparatus and communicating said control signals to said second electronic device via said second wireless signal connection.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said control apparatus comprises one or more switches and said method further comprises a step of generating, by said control apparatus, said control signals in response to a pressing activation, a rotating activation, or any number, pattern, or duration of pressing, rotating, or pressing and rotating activations of at least one of said one or more switches.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said first wireless communication protocol and said second wireless communication protocol are (i) the same wireless communication protocol or (ii) are different wireless communication protocols.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of translating, by said control apparatus, said first electronic signal compatible with said first wireless communication protocol into said second electronic signal compatible with said second wireless communication protocol whenever said first and second wireless communication protocols are different wireless communication protocols.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said first electronic device or said second electronic device comprise at least one of any of a second of said wireless control apparatus, a cellular telephone, a non-cellular mobile phone, a satellite phone, a cordless wireless phone, a walkie-talkie, a television receiver, a video display, a visual presentation device, a vehicle system, a security device, a lighting controller, portable or fixed-location communication equipment, a public address system, an electronic musical instrument, video or audio recording equipment, a personal computer or computing tablet, an electronic dictation machine, an electronic authentication device, an electronic gaming machine or peripheral, a financial transaction, payment, or authentication device, industrial equipment, or equipment related to control, monitoring, and performance of sporting events.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said first wireless signal connection or said second wireless signal connection comprise one of any of a Bluetooth®

, ZigBee®

, NFC, or Wi-Fi®

802.11 wireless signal connection.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said first electronic signal, said second electronic signal, or said first electronic signal and said second electronic signal comprise an audio signal.