Communications using aviation headsets

• US 10,652,381 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2016
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Yamkovoy, Paul G., Garrett, George Sean, Patil, Naganagouda B., Ruwe, Matthew Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Navar, Erica
• Application Number:
  US15/238,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20180054508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/02 for preventing acoustic reaction , i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a first signal representative of audio captured using a microphone in communication with an analog communication module. The method also includes determining that a first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes a sidetone associated with the audio captured by the microphone, and responsive to determining that the first feedback signal includes the sidetone, generating, by one or more processing devices, at least one control signal that affects operations of a digital communication module.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal representative of audio captured using a microphone of an aviation headset in communication with an analog communication module;

computing a correlation between (i) a portion of the first feedback signal and (ii) at least a portion of the first signal;

determining that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition; and

responsive to determining that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition, determining that a first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes a first sidetone associated with the audio captured by the microphone; and

responsive to determining that the first feedback signal includes the first sidetone, generating, by one or more processing devices, at least one control signal configured to disable one or more functions, of generation of a second sidetone by a digital communication module,

determining an absence of sidetone in a second feedback signal from the analog communication module, and

responsive to determining the absence of sidetone in the second feedback signal, enabling one or more functions of the digital communication module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analog communication module is associated with an intercom system, and the digital communication module is associated with a headset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital communication module comprises a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication engine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the P2P communication engine comprises a Bluetooth®

radio.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control signal is configured to disable the digital communication module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control signal is configured to disable generation of a digital sidetone signal by the digital communication module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the one or more functions comprises enabling the digital communication module to communicate with a remote device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the microphone to provide signals to the digital communication module.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the microphone is disconnected or disabled; and

responsive to determining that the microphone is disconnected or disabled, enabling a second microphone to provide signals to the digital communication module.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sidetone signal is generated by the analog communication module in response to a signal from the microphone of the aviation headset being above a threshold.

11. A headset for use in aviation, the headset comprising:

circuitry configured to interface with an analog communication module external to the headset;

a digital communication module configured to communicate with a wireless-enabled device; and

a controller comprising one or more processing devices, the controller configured to;

receive a first signal representative of audio captured using a microphone in communication with the analog communication module;

compute a correlation between (i) a portion of the first feedback signal and (ii) at least a portion of the first signal;

determine that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition; and

responsive to determining that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition, determine that a first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes a first sidetone associated with the audio captured by the microphone; and

responsive to determining that the first feedback signal includes the first sidetone, generate at least one control signal configured to disable generation of a second sidetone by a digital communication module, determine an absence of sidetone in a second feedback signal from the analog communication module, and responsive to determining the absence of sidetone in the second feedback signal, enable one or more functions of the digital communication module.

12. The headset of claim 11, wherein the analog communication module is associated with an intercom system, and the digital communication module is configured to communicate with another headset.

13. The headset of claim 11, wherein the digital communication module comprises a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication engine.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the P2P communication engine comprises a Bluetooth®

radio.

15. The headset of claim 11, wherein the at least one control signal is configured to disable the digital communication module.

16. The headset of claim 11, wherein the at least one control signal is configured to disable generation of a digital sidetone signal by the digital communication module.

17. The headset of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

enable the microphone to provide signals to the digital communication module.

18. The headset of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the microphone is disconnected or disabled; and

responsive to determining that the microphone is disconnected or disabled, enable a second microphone to provide signals to the digital communication module.

19. The headset of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the headset is being accessed for use in a phone call; and

responsive to determining that the headset is being accessed for use in a phone call, disable one or more functions of the digital communication module such that the headset is usable for the phone call.

20. The headset of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the headset is not being used for the phone call; and

responsive to determining that the headset is not being used for the phone call, automatically enable the one or more functions of the digital communication module that were disabled to make the headset usable for the phone call.

21. A machine-readable storage device having encoded thereon computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first signal representative of audio captured using a microphone of an aviation headset in communication with an analog communication module;

determining that a first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes a first sidetone associated with the audio captured by the microphone;

computing a correlation between (i) a portion of the first feedback signal and (ii) at least a portion of the first signal;

determining that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition;

responsive to determining that the computed correlation satisfies a threshold condition, determining that the first feedback signal from the analog communication module includes the first sidetone;

responsive to determining that the first feedback signal includes the first sidetone, generating at least one control signal configured to disable generation of a second sidetone by a digital communication module; and

determining an absence of sidetone in a second feedback signal from the analog communication module, and responsive to determining the absence of sidetone in the second feedback signal, enabling one or more functions of the digital communication module.

22. The machine-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the at least one control signal is configured to disable the digital communication module.

23. The machine-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein enabling the one or more functions comprises enabling the digital communication module to communicate with a remote device.