Alert Processing Devices and Systems for Noise-Reducing Headsets and Methods for Providing Alerts to Users of Noise-Reducing Headsets

• US 20090082071A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/570
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1785 Methods, e.g. algorithms; Devices G10K11/1781, G10K11/1783 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A system includes an active noise-reducing headset and an alert processor. The active noise reducing headset includes a communication module that establishes a wireless communication link, a microphone that generates a microphone signal in response to ambient noise, a speaker, a noise reduction circuit that generates a noise reduction signal in response to the microphone signal, and a control circuit that receives an incoming alert signal from the communication module and plays the alert signal over the speaker. The alert processor includes a second communication module that establishes the wireless link with the active noise-reducing headset, and a controller that receive an incoming alert signal, generates an alert notification in response to the alert signal, and transmits the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a communication module configured to establish a communication link with an active noise-reducing headset; and

a controller coupled to the communication module and configured to receive an incoming alert signal, to generate an alert notification in response to the alert signal, and to transmit the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset via the communication link.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises an RF and/or infrared short-range communication link.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless LAN communication link, and wherein establishing the communication link comprises establishing a TCP-IP communication link between the communication module and the active noise-reducing headset.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the alert signal comprises an electronic signal received from an alert generating device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to the controller and wherein the alert signal comprises an audible signal received via the microphone.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the audible signal to determine a source of the audible signal, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively retrieve a stored alert notification and/or generate the alert notification in response to determining the source of the audible signal.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a caller ID and/or voice over IP (VOIP) module coupled to the controller and configured to generate a caller identification in response to receiving an incoming call notification signal and to transmit the caller identification to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to selectively generate the alert notification in response to the caller identification.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a source of the alert signal, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively generate the alert notification in response to determining the source of the alert signal, the device further comprising a database that identifies actions to be taken in response to specified alert signals.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the database contains configuration information that specifies which of a plurality of headsets should receive notification of the specified alert signals.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is further configured to receive a voice command from the active noise-reducing headset, and wherein the controller is further configured to take action in response to the voice command.

11. A system comprising:

(a) an active noise-reducing headset comprising;

a communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link;

a microphone configured to generate a microphone signal in response to ambient noise;

a speaker;

a noise reduction circuit coupled to the microphone and the speaker and configured to generate a noise reduction signal in response to the microphone signal; and

a control circuit configured to receive an incoming alert signal from the communication module and to play the alert signal over the speaker; and

(b) an alert processor comprising;

a second communication module configured to establish the wireless link with the first communication module of the active noise-reducing headset; and

a controller coupled to the second communication module and configured to receive an incoming alert signal, to generate an alert notification in response to the alert signal, and to transmit the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset via the communication link.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a device configured to generate the alert signal.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the active noise-reducing headset further comprises a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) module configured to establish a VoIP communication session with a remote terminal using an internet protocol.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the active noise-reducing headset further comprises a voice recognition module configured to detect voice commands spoken by a user of the active noise-reducing headset and, in response to detecting the voice command, to send a signal indicative of the voice command to the control circuit.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving an alert signal;

generating an alert notification in response to the alert signal;

establishing a communication link with an active noise-reducing headset; and

transmitting the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset via the communication link.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless LAN communication link, and wherein establishing the communication link comprises establishing a TCP-IP communication link with the active noise-reducing headset.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert signal comprises an electronic signal received from an external device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the alert signal comprises receiving an audible signal via a microphone.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising analyzing the audible signal to determine a source of the audible signal;

and

selectively generating the alert notification in response to determining the source of the audible signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert signal comprises an incoming telephone call signal, the method further comprising generating a caller identification in response to receiving the incoming telephone call signal;

and

selectively generating the alert notification in response to the caller identification.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the active noise-reducing headset comprises one of a plurality of active noise-reducing headsets, the method further comprising:

determining that the active noise-reducing headset should receive the alert notification;

wherein transmitting the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset via the communication link comprises selectively transmitting the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset and not transmitting the alert notification to others of the plurality of active noise-reducing headsets.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a voice command from the active noise-reducing headset, and talking action in response to the voice command.