AUDIO SELECTION CONTROL FOR PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the distribution of audio signals among audio systems in a headset and in a base unit comprising:
- determining whether the headset is ready for use;
in response to a determination that the headset audio system is ready for use, distributing audio signals from the base unit to the headset audio system;
in the absence of a determination that the headset audio system is ready for use, determining whether a base unit audio system is ready for use; and
in response to a determination that the base unit audio system is ready for use, distributing audio signals to the base unit audio system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The distribution of audio signals to either a headset or to a base unit (such as a cell phone) is determined by whether the headset is ready for use when a call is made or received. The headset is considered ready for use if it is powered on, has been initialized to exchange signals with the base unit using a standard communications protocol (such as Bluetooth), and is in place on the user'"'"'s head. The headset includes a proximity sensor that provides a signal indicating that the headset is in place. If the headset is ready for use, audio signals are automatically distributed to the headset. Otherwise, the audio signals were distributed to a cell phone audio system. The invention may also be used by a personal computer user having an audio headset.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the distribution of audio signals among audio systems in a headset and in a base unit comprising:
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determining whether the headset is ready for use; in response to a determination that the headset audio system is ready for use, distributing audio signals from the base unit to the headset audio system; in the absence of a determination that the headset audio system is ready for use, determining whether a base unit audio system is ready for use; and in response to a determination that the base unit audio system is ready for use, distributing audio signals to the base unit audio system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An audio control system for controlling the distribution of audio signals among audio systems in a headset and in a base unit comprising:
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communications control logic for receiving signals from the headset and for determining whether the received signals indicate the audio headset is ready for use by a user of the base unit; audio control logic responsive to a determination that the headset is ready for use to distribute audio signals to the headset, said audio control logic being responsive to the absence of a determination that the headset is ready for use to determine whether a base unit audio system is ready for use and, responsive to a determination that the base unit audio system is ready for use, to distribute audio signals to the base unit audio system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for controlling the distribution of audio signals among audio systems in a headset and in a base unit, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, said computer usable program code comprising:
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computer usable program code configured to determine whether the headset is ready for use; computer usable program code configured, in response to a determination that the headset is ready for use, to distribute audio signals to the headset; computer usable program code configured, in the absence of a determination that the headset is ready for use, to determine whether a base unit audio system is ready for use; and computer usable program code configured, in response to a determination that the base unit audio system is ready for use, to distribute audio signals to the base unit audio system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification