Sensor-based mute control for a softphone client

• US 10,230,830 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kerr, Donald Hugh, Collins, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US15/601,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20180338028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 4555752, 4555691
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A method is provided for sensor-based mute control for a softphone client. The method includes monitoring a softphone client, and detecting an incoming call to the softphone client. Also, the method includes starting a timer in response to detecting the incoming call. Further, the method includes receiving, from a headset, a don event, and, in response to receiving the don event from the headset, comparing an elapsed time of the timer to a predetermined time threshold. Moreover, the method includes sending an unmute command to the headset based on the comparison of the elapsed time to the predetermined time threshold.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring a softphone client

detecting an incoming call to the softphone client

in response to detecting the incoming call, starting a timer;

receiving, from a headset, a don event;

in response to receiving the don event from the headset, comparing an elapsed time of the timer to a predetermined time threshold; and

sending an unmute command to the headset based on the comparison of the elapsed time to the predetermined time threshold;

wherein the elapsed time includes one of;

a time elapsed between starting the timer and sending an answer call command to the softphone client,

a time elapsed between starting the timer and receiving the don event from the headset, or

a time elapsed between starting the timer and the softphone client answering the incoming call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unmute command is sent to the headset in response to a determination that the predetermined time threshold is greater than the elapsed time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined time threshold is between 5 and 15 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising, prior to monitoring the softphone client:

detecting the headset;

in response to detecting the headset, sending a mute command to the headset; and

setting a mute state to muted.

5. A method, comprising:

detecting an active call at a softphone client;

based on the active call at the softphone client, setting a call state to active;

during the active call, receiving a doff event from a headset;

setting a worn state to doffed;

based on the worn state being set to doffed, sending a mute command to the headset;

setting a mute state to muted;

while the worn state is set to doffed, the call state is set to active, and the mute state is set to muted, receiving a don event from the headset;

in response to receiving the don event from the headset, setting the worn state to donned;

after setting the worn state to donned, waiting to receive an unmute event; and

receiving the unmute event.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

detecting a termination of the active call;

in response to detecting the termination of the active call, setting the call state to inactive;

in response to setting the call state to inactive, sending another mute command to the headset; and

setting the mute state to muted.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the active call at the softphone client is detected by monitoring the softphone client.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the active call at the softphone client is detected by monitoring one or more resources utilized by the softphone client for voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the mute state is synchronized with another mute state stored at the headset.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the unmute event is received from the headset in response to a user manipulating a user control of the headset.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the unmute event is received from the softphone client in response to a user manipulating a user interface control of the softphone client.

12. The method of claim 5, comprising, after sending the mute command to the headset, receiving an acknowledgement message from the headset.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the acknowledgement message includes receiving an empty transmit channel from the headset.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the mute state is set to muted in response to receiving the acknowledgement message from the headset.

15. A system for sensor-based mute control of a softphone client, comprising:

a headset manager storing a call state, a worn state, a mute state, and a predetermined time threshold;

at least one processor; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a process including;

monitoring a softphone client,

while monitoring the softphone client, detecting an incoming call to the softphone client,

in response to detecting the incoming call;

updating the call state, and

starting a timer,

receiving, from a headset, a don event,

in response to receiving the don event from the headset;

updating the worn state, and

comparing an elapsed time of the timer to the predetermined time threshold,

sending an unmute command to the headset based on the comparison of the elapsed time to the predetermined time threshold, and

updating the mute state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the elapsed time includes one of:

a time elapsed between starting the timer and receiving the don event from the headset,

a time elapsed between starting the timer and sending an answer call command to the softphone client, and

a time elapsed between starting the timer and the softphone client answering the incoming call.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the unmute command is sent to the headset in response to a determination that the predetermined time threshold is greater than the elapsed time.