Establishing a communication link

• US 20060258408A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ronkainen, Sami, Tuomela, Urpo
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless communication is provided between a mobile telephone handset and a headset worn by a person that uses the handset, through a first, wireless link such as Bluetooth. A second communication link is established by passing electrical currents between the handset and the headset through the body of the person. Communication through the second link is used to control operation of the first link.

Claims

1. Mobile communication apparatus for use by a person, comprising:

a first communications device for establishing a first, wireless communication link with a remote unit, and a second communications device for establishing a second communication link with the remote unit through the body of the person.

2. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a controller operable to control operation of the first communications device in dependence on the outcome of communication performed by the second communication device through the body of the person.

3. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first communication device is configured to provide a Bluetooth wireless link with the remote unit.

4. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device includes a transmitter to apply an electrical current to the skin of the person.

5. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transmitter includes an electrode to apply the current to the skin of the person.

6. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electrode is configured to apply the current by direct contact with the skin.

7. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electrode is configured to induce the current in the body electrostatically without direct contact between the electrode and the skin.

8. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transmitter includes a pulse generator and a modulator to modulate a pulse generated by the pulse generator with an identification code corresponding to said mobile communication apparatus.

9. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device includes a receiver to receive a signal current from said remote unit through the body of the person.

10. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the receiver includes an electrode to receive the current to the skin of the person.

11. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrode is configured to receive the current by direct contact with the skin.

12. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrode is configured to have the signal induced electrostatically therein by the current in the body, without direct contact between the electrode and the skin.

13. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the transmitter includes a demodulator to demodulate a pulse modulated with an identification code corresponding to said remote unit.

14. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a transceiver for providing a telecommunications link with a cellular mobile network.

15. Mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second communication device is configured to transmit and receive pairing information to establish pairing with the remote device, the pairing information including an identification code for the apparatus and the remote unit respectively.

16. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device is operable to receive information through the second link from the remote unit indicative of whether the remote unit is in an operational state to communicate through the first, wireless link.

17. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second communication device is operable to signal to the remote unit through the second link to place the first, wireless link in an operational state.

18. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second communication device is operable to signal to the remote unit that the first communication device of the apparatus is to be powered off, such as to enable the remote unit to power down its connection to the first communication link.

19. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an acoustic transducer to provide an audible output, a processor operable to provide an audio signal for the transducer to produce an audible output, the second communication device being operable through said second link to determine whether the remote unit is in an operational condition to process the audio signal at an acoustic transducer at the remote unit, and the processor being operable to route the audio signal selectively to at least one of said acoustic transducers depending on said determined operational condition of the remote unit.

20. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the routing of the of the audio signal to the acoustic transducer of the remote unit occurs through the first link.

21. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a headset.

22. Mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mobile telephone handset.

23. A method of communicating between a mobile communication apparatus for use by a person, and a remote unit, comprising:

establishing a first, wireless communication link with the remote unit, and establishing a second communication link with the remote unit through the body of the person.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 including communicating pairing information between mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit through the second link, and storing the pairing information in the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit for authentication of further communications between the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 including providing the first link selectively in dependence upon the outcome of a communication carried out through the second link.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 including switching on the remote unit for communication through the second link, checking through the second link to determine if the mobile communication apparatus is configured to communicate through the first link, and if so, commencing communication through the first link.

27. A method according to claim 26 including sending an instruction through 5 the second link from the remote unit to instruct the mobile communication apparatus to enable the first link.

28. A method as claimed in claim 23 including sending an instruction through the second link from one of the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit, to the other thereof that communication through the first link is to be discontinued.

29. A method as claimed in claim 26 including powering down the first link at said other one of the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit, upon receipt of said instruction.

30. A method as claimed in claim 23 including providing an audio signal for an acoustic transducer in the mobile communication apparatus to provide an audible output, determining through said second link whether the remote unit is in an operational condition to process the audio signal at an acoustic transducer at the remote unit, and routing the audio signal selectively to at least one of said acoustic transducers depending on said determined operational condition of the remote unit.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the routing of the audio signal includes selectively routing the audio signal to the acoustic transducer of the remote unit through the first link.