Display headset

• US 20040137967A1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom Incorporated (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom Incorporated (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Bodley, Martin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

A wireless headset with an integral display is provided, the headset capable of communicating via a wireless network to a cellular telephone, cellular telephone adaptor, land-line telephone, land-line telephone adaptor, computer, personal digital assistant, or other device capable of communicating via the wireless network. The wireless headset of the invention includes an input transducer (e.g., a microphone), an output transducer (e.g., a speaker), a wireless networking subsystem and a controller/controller interface. The headset may also include means for attaching the headset to the user in order to allow hands-free operation. The integral display, fabricated using any of a variety of suitable technologies, allows headset and system information to be displayed (e.g., battery levels, signal levels, call status, caller identification, incoming call alert, current time, current date, elapsed use time, etc.). The integral display can also be used to aid headset/system configuration (e.g., headset volume, voice dialing, ring mode, roaming mode, etc.). The integral display can also provide added functionality to the headset (e.g., phone lists, text messages, calendar functions, appointment and/or task lists, etc.).

Claims

1. A wireless headset comprising:

a housing;

an input transducer coupled to said housing;

an output transducer coupled to said housing;

a wireless networking module adapted to transmit first signals via a short distance wireless network to a peripheral electronic device and to receive second signals via said short distance wireless network from said peripheral electronic device, wherein said first signals are initially received by said input transducer, and wherein said second signals are output by said output transducer after receipt by said wireless networking module; and

a display means coupled to said housing, said display means capable of displaying text.

2. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said input transducer is a microphone.

3. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said output transducer is a speaker.

4. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said peripheral electronic device forwards said first signals via a long distance communication network and wherein said second signals are transmitted to said peripheral electronic device via said long distance communication network.

5. The wireless headset of claim 4, wherein said long distance communication network is a cellular telephone network.

6. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said peripheral electronic device is a cellular telephone.

7. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said wireless networking module is a Bluetooth enabled networking module and said peripheral electronic device is a Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone.

8. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said wireless networking module is a Bluetooth enabled networking module, said peripheral electronic device is a cellular telephone, and wherein said wireless headset system further comprises a Bluetooth enabled adaptor, said adaptor coupled to said peripheral electronic device and providing Bluetooth enablement to said peripheral electronic device.

9. The wireless headset of claim 1, further comprising a boom member with a base end and a distal end, said base end coupled to said housing and said input transducer located proximate said distal end.

10. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying headset status information.

11. The wireless headset of claim 10, wherein said headset status information includes at least one of headset battery level, headset signal level, call status, caller identification, time, elapsed time, and date.

12. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of indicating an incoming call.

13. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying peripheral electronic device status information.

14. The wireless headset of claim 13, wherein said peripheral electronic device status information includes at least one of peripheral electronic device battery level and peripheral electronic device signal level.

15. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying configuration feedback information.

16. The wireless headset of claim 13, wherein said configuration feedback information includes at least one of text configuration instructions, graphical configuration feedback, ring mode, ring volume, headset volume, display mode, voice dialing, time and date.

17. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying a phone list.

18. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is capable of displaying a text message.

19. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is a touch sensitive display.

20. The wireless headset of claim 1, wherein said display means is selected from the group of display means consisting of liquid crystal displays, light emitting polymer displays, electroluminescent displays, active matrix electroluminescent displays, organic thin film transistor displays, active matrix organic light emitting diode displays, amorphous silicon integrated displays, and pliable display technology displays.

21. The wireless headset of claim 1, further comprising at least one controller and a controller interface.

22. The wireless headset of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said wireless headset to a user.

23. The wireless headset of claim 22, wherein said attaching means is an earpiece.

24. A wireless headset comprising:

a housing;

a wireless networking module adapted to transmit first signals via a short distance wireless network to a peripheral electronic device and to receive second signals via said short distance wireless network from said peripheral electronic device;

a microphone coupled to said housing and coupled to said wireless networking module, wherein said first signals are initially received by said microphone;

a speaker coupled to said housing and coupled to said wireless networking module, wherein said second signals are output by said speaker after receipt by said wireless networking module; and

a liquid crystal display capable of displaying text.

25. A wireless headset comprising:

a housing;

a Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module adapted to transmit first signals via a short distance wireless network to a Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone and to receive second signals via said short distance wireless network from said Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone wherein said Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone forwards said first signals via a cellular telephone network and wherein said second signals are transmitted to said Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone via said cellular telephone network;

a microphone coupled to said housing and coupled to said Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module, wherein said first signals are initially received by said microphone;

a speaker coupled to said housing and coupled to said Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module, wherein said second signals are output by said speaker after receipt by said Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module;

a controller and a controller interface coupled to said Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module; and

a display coupled to said controller interface, said display capable of displaying text.

26. The wireless headset of claim 25, said Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone further comprising a Bluetooth adaptor.

27. The wireless headset of claim 25, wherein said display is capable of displaying at least one of headset status information, Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone status information, incoming call status, configuration feedback information, phone list information, and text messages.

28. The wireless headset of claim 25, wherein said display is selected from the group of displays consisting of liquid crystal displays, light emitting polymer displays, electroluminescent displays, active matrix electroluminescent displays, organic thin film transistor displays, active matrix organic light emitting diode displays, amorphous silicon integrated displays, and pliable display technology displays.