AUDIO HEADSET

• US 20070206829A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Weinans, Erwin, Hin, Rene, Trip, Barteld
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/370
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

An audio headset usable for conducting a voice call through a phone, and for playing audio, such as music, from a streaming audio device, by means of a speaker. The headset comprises a signal transceiver, wirelessly connectable to a plurality of devices, including a voice call device and an audio device. A control unit in the headset can be controlled by means of a switch, which is operable to selectively set the control unit to a single point connection setting, in which only audio signals received from a first device are relayed to the speaker, or to a multiple point connection setting, in which audio signals received from the first device or from a second device are relayed to the speaker. The first device is typically a mobile phone, and priority is preferably always given to voice call signals from mobile phone even in the multipoint connection setting.

Claims

1. An audio headset, comprising

a signal transceiver, wirelessly connectable to a plurality of devices, including a voice call device and an audio device;

a speaker;

a control unit, configured to relay audio signals to the speaker;

a switch operable to selectively set the control unit to

a single point connection setting, in which only audio signals received from a first device are relayed to the speaker, or

a multiple point connection setting, in which audio signals received from the first device or from a second device are relayed to the speaker.

2. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a memory configured to store identities of the connectable devices.

3. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to relay audio signals from the second device, being any one of the plurality of devices, in the multiple point connection setting.

4. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select, among the plurality of devices, a last used device as the second device in the multiple point connection setting.

5. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select, among the plurality of devices, a device which connects to the headset as the second device in the multiple point connection setting.

6. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to give priority to audio signals from the first device over the second device in the multiple point connection setting.

7. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the first device is a voice call device.

8. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the first device is a phone.

9. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the first device is a voice call device and also includes an audio device.

10. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the signal transceiver is a bluetooth device, and wherein the plurality of devices are made connectable to the signal transceiver by pairing.

11. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices are different streaming audio devices.

12. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the switch is manually operable.

13. The audio headset of claim 1, wherein the switch is manually operated by a slide key, selectively displaceable to a first or a second position.

14. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a microphone for input of speech signals.

15. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a pair of stereo speakers.

16. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a carrier device for wearing the speaker positioned at a user'"'"'s ear.

17. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a support structure carrying the switch and the transceiver device, and

a carrier device for wearing the support structure as a necklace.

18. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a support structure carrying the switch and the transceiver device, and

a cable connecting the speaker to the support structure.

19. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a pair of stereo speakers,

a support structure carrying the switch and the transceiver device, and

a cable connecting the speakers to the support structure.

20. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a pair of stereo speakers,

a support structure carrying the switch, the transceiver device, and one of the speakers, and

a cable connecting the other speaker to the support structure.

21. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

an audio control interface for input of audio control commands, wherein the signal transceiver is configured to send remote control commands based on input audio control commands to a device from which audio signals are presently received.

22. The audio headset of claim 1, comprising

a voice call interface for input of a voice call command, wherein the signal transceiver is configured to send remote control commands based on input voice call control commands to the first device.