DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDS-FREE PUSH-TO-TALK FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20050245203A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vance, Scott LaDell
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/46 by voice-frequency signals; by pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/52 Hybrid arrangements, i.e. arrangements for transition from single-path two-direction transmission to single-direction transmission on each of two paths or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A device for hands-free push-to-talk functionality may include a push-to-talk sensor or switch operable by at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement of the sensor or switch, air pressure or the like. The device may also include means to control operation of a communications device in response to signals from the push-to-talk sensor or switch.

Claims

1. A device for hands-free push-to-talk functionality, comprising:

a push-to-talk sensor or switch operable by at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement of the sensor or switch, or air pressure; and

means to control operation of a communications device in response to signals from the push-to-talk sensor or switch.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises at least one of an audible signal detector, an accelerometer, and a pressure sensitive switch.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises a tilt sensor, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the tilt sensor being tilted more than a predetermined angle from a normalized angle for a predetermined time duration.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising means for maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after a selected time delay.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising means for switching the communications device to one of a receive mode or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of detecting a voice signal or the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after a selected time delay.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises an audible signal detector, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the audible signal detector detecting a preset audible signal.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising means for maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset audible signal after a selected time delay.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising means for switching the communications device to one of a receive mode or a standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset audible signal after a selected time delay.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises a pressure sensitive switch, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the pressure sensitive switch receiving a preset air pressure.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising means for maintaining the communications device in a transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset air pressure after a selected time delay.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising means for switching the communications device to one of a receive mode or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset air pressure after a selected time delay.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is a wireless communications device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications device is one of a radio, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a personal digital assistant and a computer.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a headset, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch is mounted to the headset.

15. A communications device including hands-free push-to-talk functionality, comprising:

a push-to-talk sensor or switch operable by at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement or air pressure; and

a processor to control operation of the communications device in response to signals from the push-to-talk sensor or switch.

16. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises at least one of an audible signal detector, an accelerometer, and a pressure sensitive switch.

17. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises a tilt sensor, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the tilt sensor being tilted more than a predetermined angle from a normalized angle for a predetermined time duration.

18. The communications device of claim 17, further comprising means for maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after a selected time delay.

19. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises an audible signal detector, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the audible signal detector detecting a preset audible signal.

20. The communications device of claim 15, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises a pressure sensitive switch, wherein a transmit mode of the communications device is activated in response to the pressure sensitive switch receiving a preset air pressure.

21. The communications device of claim 15, further comprising a headset, wherein the push-to-talk sensor or switch is mounted to the headset.

22. A method for hands-free push-to-talk functionality, comprising:

detecting at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement, or air pressure; and

controlling operation of a communications device in response to detecting a presence or absence of at least one of the preset audible signal, the predetermined movement, or air pressure.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein detecting the preset audible signal comprises detecting one of a voice signal, a static signal, a white noise signal, or a predefined sound, word, or group of words or numbers.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising activating a transmit mode of the communications device in response to detecting the preset audible signal.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting a tilt sensor being tilted more than a predetermined angle from a normalized angle for a predetermined duration.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising activating a transmit mode in the communications device in response to detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle from the normalized angle for a predetermined duration.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after a selected time delay; and

switching or maintaining the communications device in one of a receive or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of a voice signal or detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after the selected time delay.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting an air pressure greater than a preset air pressure.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising activating a transmit mode in the communications device in response to detecting the air pressure greater than the preset air pressure.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset air pressure after a selected time delay; and

switching or maintaining the communications device in one of a receive or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of a voice signal or the preset air pressure after the selected time delay.

31. A method of making a device for hands-free push-to-talk functionality, comprising:

providing a push-to-talk sensor or switch operable by at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement of the sensor or switch, or air pressure; and

providing means to control operation of a communications device in response to signals from the push-to-talk sensor or switch.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises providing at least one of an audible signal detector, an accelerometer, and a switch sensitive to air pressure.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises:

providing a tilt sensor; and

adapting the tilt sensor to cause activation of a transmit mode in the communications device in response to the tilt sensor being tilted more than a predetermined angle from a normalized angle for a predetermined time duration.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises:

providing an audible signal detector; and

adapting the audible signal detector to cause activation of a transmit mode in the communications device in response to the audible signal detector detecting a preset audible signal.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the push-to-talk sensor or switch comprises:

providing a pressure sensitive switch; and

adapting the pressure sensitive switch to cause activation of a transmit mode in the communications device in response to the pressure sensitive switch detecting a preset air pressure.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing a headset; and

mounting the push-to-talk sensor or switch in the headset.

37. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method, comprising:

detecting at least one of a preset audible signal, a predetermined movement, or air pressure; and

controlling operation of a communications device in response to detecting a presence or absence of at least one of the preset audible signal, the predetermined movement, or air pressure.

38. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 37, wherein detecting the preset audible signal comprises detecting one of a voice signal, a static signal, a white noise signal, or a predefined sound, word, or group of words or numbers.

39. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 37, further comprising activating a transmit mode of the communications device in response to detecting the preset audible signal.

40. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 37, further comprising detecting a tilt sensor being titled more than a predetermined angle from a normalized angle for a predetermined duration.

41. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 40, further comprising activating a transmit mode in the communications device in response to detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle from the normalized angle for a predetermined duration.

42. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 40, further comprising:

maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after a selected time delay; and

switching or maintaining the communications device in one of a receive or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of a voice signal or detecting the tilt sensor being tilted more than the predetermined angle after the selected time delay.

43. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 37, further comprising detecting an air pressure greater than a preset air pressure.

44. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 43, further comprising activating a transmit mode in the communications device in response to detecting the air pressure greater than the preset air pressure.

45. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 44, further comprising:

maintaining the communications device in the transmit mode in response to at least one of detecting a voice signal or the preset air pressure after a selected time delay; and

switching or maintaining the communications device in one of a receive or standby mode in response to an absence of at least one of a voice signal or the preset air pressure after the selected time delay.