Headset with integral non-volatile flash memory drive

• US 20100042781A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Reuss, Edward L
• Application Number:
  US11/786,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A headset flash memory drive that includes a flash memory chip for data storage and a digital data interface. The headset flash memory drive further includes a computer readable memory storing first instructions for a mass storage access protocol that when executed by a headset controller allow data transfer to and from the flash memory chip through the digital data interface, and storing second instructions that when executed by the controller allow the microphone to detect user speech or the speaker to output an audio signal.

Claims

1. A headset flash memory drive comprising:

a headset housing;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a flash memory chip for mass data storage;

a mini USB AB type connector;

a wireless digital data interface;

a controller; and

a computer readable memory storing first instructions for a USB mass storage device class communications protocol that when executed by the controller allow data transfer to or from the flash memory chip through the mini USB AB type connector, and storing second instructions that when executed by the controller allow voice communications to be transmitted or received through the wireless digital data interface.

2. The headset flash memory drive of claim 1, wherein the flash memory chip comprises a NAND flash memory chip dedicated to mass storage.

3. The headset flash memory drive of claim 1, wherein the flash memory chip comprises on the order of approximately 1 gigabyte or greater of memory.

4. The headset flash memory drive of claim 1, wherein the wireless digital data interface comprises an IEEE 802.11 transceiver.

5. The headset flash memory drive of claim 1, wherein the wireless digital data interface comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.

6. A headset flash memory drive comprising:

a headset housing;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a flash memory chip for data storage;

a wired digital data interface connector comprising a mini-USB connector;

a controller; and

a computer readable memory storing first instructions for a mass storage access protocol that when executed by the controller allow data transfer to and from the flash memory chip through the wired digital data interface connector, and storing second instructions that when executed by the controller allow the microphone to detect user speech or the speaker to output an audio signal.

11. The headset flash memory drive of claim 6, wherein the mass storage access protocol comprises a USB mass storage device class communications protocol.

13. The headset flash memory drive of claim 6, wherein the flash memory chip comprises a NAND flash memory chip dedicated to mass storage.

14. The headset flash memory drive of claim 6, wherein the flash memory chip comprises on the order of approximately 1 gigabyte or greater of memory.

7. (canceled)

8. The headset flash memory drive of claim 7, wherein the mini-USB connector comprises a mini USB AB type receptacle.

10. The headset flash memory drive of claim 7, wherein the mini-USB connector comprises a mini A plug or mini B plug.

9. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. A headset flash memory drive comprising:

a headset housing;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a flash memory chip for data storage;

a wireless digital data interface comprising a wireless USB transceiver;

a controller; and

a computer readable memory storing first instructions for a mass storage access protocol that when executed by the controller allow data transfer to and from the flash memory chip through the wireless digital data interface, and storing second instructions that when executed by the controller allow the microphone to detect user speech or the speaker to output an audio signal.

19. The headset flash memory drive of claim 15, wherein the flash memory chip comprises a NAND flash memory chip dedicated to mass storage.

20. The headset flash memory drive of claim 15, wherein the flash memory chip comprises on the order of approximately 1 gigabyte of memory or greater.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. A headset flash memory drive comprising:

a headset housing;

a microphone;

a speaker;

a rechargeable battery;

a flash memory means for mass data storage;

a wired digital interface connector means comprising a wired Ethernet connector means for transferring data to or from the flash memory means, transferring audio communications to the speaker or from the microphone, or transferring charging power to the rechargeable battery;

a wireless digital data interface for transferring data to or from the flash memory means, or transferring audio communications to the speaker or from the microphone;

a controller; and

a computer readable memory storing first instructions that when executed by the controller allow data transfer to or from the flash memory means through either the wired digital interface connector or the wireless digital data interface, and storing second instructions that when executed by the controller allow voice communications to be transmitted or received through the wired digital interface connector or the wireless digital data interface.

23. The headset flash memory drive of claim 22, wherein the flash memory means comprises on the order of approximately 1 gigabyte of memory or greater.