Method and system for remote telephone calibration

• US 20030021408A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Jabra Corporation
• Original Assignee: GN Jabra Corporation
• Inventors: Mauney, Daniel Wayne, Talbot, Joseph Edward, Roach, David T., Dyer, Medford A., Swinson, Kenneth S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/390.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/60 including speech amplifiers

Abstract

A method and system for remotely calibrating a headset telephone with a reliable, accurate and easy to use user interface is provided. This method makes use of the remote programmability of advanced telephone headsets and DTMF signal encoding and permits the customer-user to instigate the calibration procedure with an ordinary telephone call. The invention provides a way for the optimum settings to be transmitted, loaded and stored to the headset, thereby improving the audio quality of telephone headsets by providing adjustment steps for such audio qualities as microphone gain, speaker gain, background noise and echo cancellation, filter functions and diagnostics.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, comprising the steps of:

(A)initializing the telephone equipment for receipt of program command, said telephone equipment having the capability of receiving audio signal;

(B)adjusting the quality of the received audio signal; and

(C)storing said received audio signal adjustment.

2. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of

detecting the quality of the received audio signal.

3. A method for calibrating a telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1 wherein said initializing the telephone equipment step comprises the steps of:

(A)insuring the telephone equipment is properly connected to a telephone base unit;

(B)entering remote program control of the telephone equipment;

(C)receiving a security access code; and

(D)checking said security access code for remote program access privileges.

4. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusting the quality of the received audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the received audio transmission level of the communication channel.

5. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusting the quality of the received audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the noise level of the communication channel.

6. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1, wherin said adjusting the quality of the received audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the audio parametric characteristics of the communication channel.

7. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an adjustment of the program parameters, said program parameters controlling the function of the telephone equipment.

8. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 1 wherein said storing said received audio signal adjustment step comprises the steps of:

(A)sending an instruction to the telephone equipment to store said signal adjustment; and

(B)loading said signal adjustment into a semiconductor memory component, said semiconductor memory component being contained within the telephone equipment.

9. A method for calibration of telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, comprising the steps of:

(A)initializing the telephone equipment for receipt of program commands, said telephone equipment having the capability of receiving an electrical signal and transmitting an audio signal;

(B)adjusting the quality of said transmitted audio signal; and

(C)storing said transmitted audio signal adjustment.

10. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

detecting the quality of said transmitted audio signal.

11. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said initializing the telephone equipment step comprises the steps of:

(A)insuring the telephone equipment is properly connected to a telephone base unit;

(B)entering remote program control of the telephone equipment;

(C)receiving a security access code; and

(D)checking said security access code for remote program access privilege.

12. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said adjusting the quality of the generated audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the transmission level of the communication channel.

13. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said adjusting the quality of the generated audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the noise level of the communication channel.

14. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said adjusting the quality of the generated audio signal step further comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the audio parametric characteristics of the communications channel.

15. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communication channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said adjusting the quality of the generated audio signal step comprises the step of:

providing an adjustment of the program parameters, said program parameters controlling the operation of said telephone equipment.

16. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone communications channel, as recited in claim 9 wherein said storing said received audio signal adjustment step comprises the steps of:

(A)sending an instruction to the telephone equipment store said signal adjustment; and

(B)loading said signal adjustment into a semiconductor memory component, said semiconductor memory component being contained within the telephone equipment.

17. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, the invented method comprising the steps of:

(A)receiving a calibration request;

(B)initializing the telephone equipment, said telephone equipment being configured for use by a user in telephone communications and said telephone equipment having audio transmission level circuitry, noise reduction circuitry and a capacity for storing and modifying audio parameters;

(C)taking control of the telephone equipment;

(D)providing an adjustment for the telephone equipment transmission level;

(E)storing said adjustment for the telephone equipment transmission level;

(F)providing an adjustment to compensate for the environment noise level;

(G)storing said environment noise level compensation adjustment;

(H)providing an adjustment for the tuning of the telephone equipment audio parameters;

(I)storing said telephone equipment audio parameter adjustments; and

(J)returning control of the telephone equipment to the user.

19. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said receiving calibration request step further comprises the step of receiving a calibration request from the telephone equipment user;

said calibration request being placed remotely through the use of a telephone unit.

20. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said initializing the telephone equipment step further comprises the step of activating the telephone equipment.

21. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said taking control of the telephone equipment step comprises the steps of:

(A)entering a programming mode command;

(B)generating a first response signal to acknowledge the receipt of said programming mode command;

(C)entering a security code;

(D)verifying said security code; and

(E)generating a second response signal to acknowledge the acceptance of said security code.

22. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said providing an adjustment for the telephone equipment transmission level step comprises the steps of:

(A)measuring to determine if the transmission level is correct;

(B)entering a command to decrease the transmission level if the transmission level is high;

(C)entering a command to increase the transmission level if the transmission level is low;

(D)determining if all calibrations have been completed;

(E)storing all calibration adjustments if all calibrations have been completed; and

(F)returning telephone equipment control to the user if all calibrations have been completed and all adjustments have been stored.

23. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said providing an adjustment to compensate for the environment noise level step comprises the steps of:

(A)testing if the noise level is correct;

(B)entering a command to set the noise cancellation function to a high degree of noise cancellation, if the noise level is high;

(C)entering a command to set the noise cancellation function to a low degree of noise cancellation, if the noise level is low;

(D)entering a command to set the noise cancellation function to a medium degree of noise cancellation, if the noise level is neither high nor low;

(E)determining whether all noise level calibrations have been completed;

(F)storing all calibration adjustments if all calibrations have been completed; and

(G)returning telephone equipment control to the user if all calibrations have been completed and all adjustments have been stored.

24. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said providing an adjustment for the tuning of telephone equipment audio parameters step comprises the steps of:

(A)entering expert mode;

(B)generating audio signal verifying entering of expert mode;

(C)entering desired parametric codes; and

(D)checking that all desired parametric codes have been entered.

25. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said storing said telephone equipment audio parameter adjustments step comprises the steps of:

(A)entering the store parameter adjustments command; and

(B)activating a storage cycle for semiconductor memory resident within said telephone equipment unit.

26. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, as recited in claim 17, wherein said returning control of the telephone equipment to the user step comprises the step of entering a user mode command.

18. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, the invented method comprising the steps of:

(A)transmitting a calibration command;

(B)initializing the telephone equipment, said telephone equipment being configured for use by a user in telephone communications and said telephone equipment having audio transmission level circuitry, noise reduction circuitry and a capacity for storing and modifying audio parameters;

(C)taking control of the telephone equipment;

(D)providing an adjustment for the telephone equipment transmission level;

(E)storing said adjustment for the telephone equipment transmission level;

(F)providing an adjustment to compensate for the environment noise level;

(G)storing said environment noise level compensation adjustment;

(H)providing an adjustment for the tuning of the telephone equipment audio parameters;

(I)storing said telephone equipment audio parameter adjustments; and

(J)returning control of the telephone equipment to the user.

27. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, the invented method comprising the steps of:

(A)receiving an electrical signal, said electrical signal indicating a request for calibration of remote telephone equipment, said remote telephone equipment having circuitry for the remote calibration of the audio quality of said telephone equipment;

(B)exerting program mode control over the telephone equipment;

(C)providing adjustment for said remote telephone equipment calibration circuitry;

(D)storing said adjustment of said remote telephone equipment calibration circuitry; and

(E)exiting program control over the telephone equipment.

28. A method for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, the invented method comprising the steps of:

(A)transmitting an electrical signal, said electrical signal indicating a command for calibration of remote telephone equipment, said remote telephone equipment having circuitry for the remote calibration of the audio quality of said telephone equipment;

(B)exerting program mode control over the telephone equipment;

(C)providing adjustment for said remote telephone equipment calibration circuitry;

(D)storing said adjustment of said remote telephone equipment calibration circuitry; and

(E)exiting program control over the telephone equipment.

29. A process for calibrating telephone equipment to a telephone base unit and to the noise environment in which they exist, the invented process comprising:

(A) a process for permitting user control;

(B)a process for providing remote program control;

(C)a process for ensuring program control is only available if authorized;

(D)a process for programming the telephone equipment, said programming to adjust audio characteristics of the telephone equipment; and

(E)a process for storing said adjustments for future use.

30. A system for calibrating telephone equipment, comprising:

(A)a communication channel;

(B)a telephone receiver;

(C)a telephone transmitter; and

(D)a control console.

31. A system for calibrating telephone equipment, as recited in claim 30, wherein said telephone receiver further comprises:

(A)a speaker;

(B)a programmable unit, for receipt of program commands from said control console; and

(C)a connector, said connector electrically connecting said telephone receiver to said communication channel.

32. A system for calibrating telephone equipment, as recited in claim 30, wherein said telephone transmitter further comprises:

(A)a microphone;

(B)a progammable unit, for receipt of program commands from said control console; and

(C)a connector, said connector electrically connecting said telephone receiver to said communication channel.

33. A system for calibrating telephone equipment, as recited in claim 30, wherein said control console further comprises:

(A)one or more switches capable of activating signals for transmission to said transmitter programmable unit and to said receiver programmable unit;

(B)a process for determining audio characteristics of the telephone equipment;

(C)a process for modifying the audio characteristics of the telephone equipment; and

(D)a means for storing the program control parameters sent to said transmitter and to said receiver.