APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING HANDS-FREE FUNCTION OF PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20130012128A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Sang-Don
• Application Number:
  US13/405,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for performing a hands-free function of a portable terminal by allowing the portable terminal to perform a hands-free accessory function of a device in communication with the portable terminal through wireless communication. The apparatus includes: a hands-free function unit connected to an audio gateway function unit of a device to implement a hands-free communication mode; and an audio gateway function unit for outputting audio data received from the device and transmitting audio data input from the portable terminal to the device during the hands-free communication mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a hands-free function of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a hands-free function unit, in communication with an audio gateway function unit of another device, configured to implement a hands-free communication mode; and

an audio gateway function unit configured to output audio data received from said another device to the portable terminal and to transmit audio data input from the portable terminal to said another device during the hands-free communication mode.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said another device is another portable terminal including only an audio gateway function.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the hands-free function unit implements the hands-free communication mode with said another device through Bluetooth wireless communication.

4. An apparatus for performing a hands-free function of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a hands-free function unit, in communication with a first device, configured to implement a hands-free communication mode; and

an audio gateway function unit, in communication with a second device, configured to implement the hands-free communication mode, wherein the audio gateway function unit allows bypassing of audio data received from the first device and transmits the audio data received from the first device to the second device, and allows bypassing of audio data received from the second device and transmits the audio data received from the second device to the first device.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the audio gateway function unit comprises a modem and a wireless communication processor, and wherein the audio data received from the first device or the audio data received from the second device bypass the modem or the wireless communication processor.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the modem or the wireless communication processor performs a loopback of the audio data, so as to cause the audio data to bypass the modem or the wireless communication processor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first device is a portable terminal including only an audio gateway function, and the second device is a hands-free device including only a hands-free function.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hands-free function unit implements the hands-free communication mode with the first device through Bluetooth wireless communication, and the audio gateway function unit implements the hands-free communication mode with the second device through Bluetooth wireless communication.

9. A method of performing a hands-free function of a portable terminal, the method comprising:

switching a mode of the portable terminal into a hands-free communication mode by a hands-free function unit of the portable terminal in communication with an audio gateway function unit of another device;

when audio data is received from said another device, outputting the received audio data to the portable terminal during the hands-free communication mode; and

when audio data is input through the portable terminal, transmitting the input audio data to said another device during the hands-free communication mode.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said another device is a portable terminal including only an audio gateway function.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hands-free function unit of the portable terminal implements the hands-free communication mode with said another device through Bluetooth wireless communication.

12. A method of performing a hands-free function of a portable terminal, the method comprising:

implementing a hands-free communication mode by a hands-free function unit of the portable terminal in communication with an audio gateway function unit of a first device, and implementing the hands-free communication mode by an audio gateway function unit of the portable terminal in communication with a hands-free function unit of a second device;

when audio data is received from the first device during the hands-free communication mode, causing bypassing of the audio data received from the first device and transmitting the audio data received from the first device to the second device; and

when audio data is received from the second device during the hands-free communication mode, causing bypassing of the audio data received from the second device and transmitting the audio data received from the second device to the first device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bypassing of the audio data received from the first device or the bypassing of the audio data received from the second device is implemented by a modem or a wireless communication processor of the audio gateway function unit.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the modem or the wireless communication processor performs a loopback of audio data, so as to cause the bypassing of the audio data received from the first device or the audio data received from the second device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first device is a portable terminal including only an audio gateway function, and the second device is a hands-free device including only a hands-free function.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hands-free function unit of the portable terminal implements the hands-free communication mode with the first device through Bluetooth wireless communication, and the audio gateway function unit of the portable terminal implements the hands-free communication mode with the second device through Bluetooth wireless communication.