Personal portable integrator for music player and mobile phone

• US 20040198436A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• 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 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A personal portable integrator is used to integrate the services of an arbitrary audio delivery device such as an MP3, CD, DVD, radio, or other media player, with the services of an arbitrary two-way communication device such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio such as a walkie talkie, citizen band radio (e.g. CB), HAM radio, marine or aviation radio, and the like. The portable integrator receives and provides input and output signals from both the audio delivery device and the two-way communication device, thereby enabling a user to listen to music or other audio material and receive and place phone calls on a mobile phone simultaneously. The portable integrator provides these services by switching between the audio and communication devices, mixing signals received therefrom, and optionally enabling a user to reduce the volume or mute the signals as desired.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrical connector configured to receive a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

a second electrical connector configured to receive a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

a coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication devices, the coupling device connected to receive the first and second audio signals, and to transmit a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first and second audio signals; and

an acoustic device adapted to convert the third audio signal to an acoustic wave having an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first switch connected to selectively switch between the first and second audio signals to provide the third audio signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mixer connected to mix the first and second audio signals to create the third audio signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a microphone connected to transmit a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, the apparatus further comprising a volume controller connected to selectively control the volume of at least one of the first and second audio signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the volume controller controls the volume of the first audio signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

wires connected to carry the second audio signal and the voice signal; and

a second switch connected to at least two of the second audio signal wire, the voice signal wire, and a ground wire, to activate a function of the two-way communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

9. The apparatus of claims 8, wherein the coupling device contains at least one of the microphone, the first switch, the second switch, the mixer, and the volume controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value;

the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal; and

the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microphone connected to transmit a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a volume controller connected to selectively control the volume of at least one of the first and second audio signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is proximate the face of a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

wires connected to carry the second audio signal and the voice signal; and

a switch connected to at least two of the second audio signal wire, the voice signal wire, and a ground wire, to activate a function of the two-way communication device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

16. The apparatus of claims 1, wherein the coupling device contains at least one of a microphone, a switch, a mixer, and a volume controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value;

the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal; and

the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value.

18. A method for integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, the method comprising:

receiving a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

receiving a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

receiving, by a device independent from the audio delivery and two-way communication device, the first and second audio signals, and transmitting a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first and second audio signals; and

converting the third audio signal to an acoustic wave having an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising selectively switching between the first and second audio signals to provide the third audio signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mixing the first and second audio signals to create the third audio signal.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

22. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising selectively controlling the volume of at least one of the first and second audio signals.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing wires connected to carry the second audio signal and the voice signal; and

connecting at least two of the second audio signal wire, the voice signal wire, and a ground wire, to activate a function of the two-way communication device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

25. The method of claims 24, wherein the independent device performs a task selected from the group consisting of switching between the first and second audio signals, mixing the first and second audio signals, transmitting the voice signal to the two-way communication device, and adjusting the volume of the first audio signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value;

the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal; and

the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

28. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising selectively controlling the volume of at least one of the first and second audio signals.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing wires connected to carry the second audio signal and the voice signal; and

connecting at least two of the second audio signal wire, the voice signal wire, and a ground wire, to activate a function of the two-way communication device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

31. The method of claims 18, wherein the independent device performs a task selected from the group consisting of switching between the first and second audio signals, mixing the first and second audio signals, transmitting the voice signal to the two-way communication device, and adjusting the volume of the first audio signal.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value;

the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal; and

the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising swapping the audio delivery device with a second audio delivery device.

34. The method of claim 18, further comprising swapping the two-way communication device with a second two-way communication device.