HEADSET-DERIVED REAL-TIME PRESENCE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080112567A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Siegel, Jeffrey M., Reuss, Edward L., Rosener, Douglas K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A method for real time digital instant messaging includes monitoring a condition of a wireless headset, estimating a potential for the user to receive and immediately respond to a real time digital message, such as an instant communications or a VoIP message, and then selectively directing a real time digital message, when received, to the user via the headset when the estimated potential indicates that the user is reasonably likely to immediately respond to the real time digital message. A sensor in the headset may be used to determine if a recent action of the user was don the headset by putting it on, doff the headset by taking it off, dock the headset by placing it in a charging station, move while wearing the headset, leave the headset on a desktop or other surface or carry the headset.

Claims

1. A method for digital messaging, comprising:

monitoring a condition related to a wireless headset associated with a user;

estimating from the monitored condition, a potential for the user to receive and immediately respond to a digital instant communication upon receipt; and

then

automatically directing an incoming digital instant communication to the user via the wireless headset when the estimated potential indicates that the user is likely to immediately respond thereto.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition indicates a recent action of the user with regard to the headset.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the monitored condition indicates that the recent action of the user was to

a) don the headset by putting it on,

b) doff the headset by taking it off,

c) dock the headset by placing it in a charging station,

d) move while wearing the headset, or

e) carry the headset.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the monitored condition indicates a likely current relationship between the user and the headset.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to a proximity between the headset and the user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the monitored condition is a characteristic of the user detected by a sensor in the headset.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to proximity of the headset to a communicating device associated with the user at that time for receiving and transmitting digital communications.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to proximity of the headset to a station for recharging a battery in the headset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to proximity of the headset with respect to one or mores known locations.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to a strength of received signals transmitted between the headset and one or more known locations.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to a timing associated with received signals transmitted between the headset and one or more known locations.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored condition is related to a coding associated with received signals transmitted between the headset and one or more known locations.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential is an estimate of a presence of the user to receive and immediately reply to a digital instant communication received at that particular time.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential is an estimate of the availability of the user to receive and immediately reply to a digital instant communication received at that particular time.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the estimated potential includes a factor related to a willingness of the user to receive and immediately reply to a digital instant communication at that particular time.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential is estimated before the incoming digital instant communication is received.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically directing the digital instant communication further comprises:

providing an audible message to the user derived from text associated with the incoming digital instant communication.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing an outgoing message to a sender of the digital instant communication, the outgoing message derived from a response by the user to the incoming digital instant communication.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically directing the incoming digital instant communication further comprises:

providing a signal to the headset indicating current receipt of an incoming digital instant communication for the user if the estimated potential indicates that the incoming digital instant communications should be sent to the user via the headset at that time, the signal being perceptible by the user if the user is proximate the headset even if the user is not wearing the headset.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selectively opening a new bidirectional voice communication channel, between the user and a sender of the incoming digital instant communication, upon command by the user in response to receiving the digital instant communication.