AUDIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHODS USING PERSONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20130077609A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmZetta Technologies, LLC (American Megatrends International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Mondal, Umasankar
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

According to one aspect, a communications system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the communications system includes a managed communications module that is executable on a personal communications device. The managed communications module is operative to, when executed by a processor, receive input data associated with sound from a user of the personal communications device and to cause the personal communications device to send audio output data including the input data over a local wireless network link. A management module that is executable on a management computer is operative to, when executed by a processor, receive the audio output data and to perform at least one audio data processing function to generate processed audio data. The management module is also operative to, when executed, cause the management computer to send the processed audio data to the managed communications module over the local wireless network link.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

(a) a managed communications module executable on a personal communications device, the managed communications module operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive input data associated with sound from a user of the personal communications device; and

(ii) cause the personal communications device to send audio output data including the input data associated with sound from the user over a local wireless network link; and

(b) a management module executable on a management computer separated from the personal communications device, the management module operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive the audio output data from the managed communications module over the local wireless network link;

(ii) perform at least one audio data processing function on the received audio output data to generate processed audio data; and

(iii) cause the management computer to send the processed audio data to the managed communications module over the local wireless network link, the processed audio data including data configured for the managed communications module and data configured for sound output by a sound output means separated from the portable communications device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the managed communications module is further operative to, when executed, receive the input data associated with the sound from the user via at least one of a microphone, audio input connector, or short-range wireless communications interface of the personal communications device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the managed communications module is further operative to, when executed, receive the data configured for the managed communications module over the local wireless network link and cause the personal communications device to output sound to the user based on the received data configured for the managed communications module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the function of causing the personal communications device to output sound to the user comprises at least one of:

(a) causing a sound output speaker of the personal communications device to output the sound to the user; and

(b) causing a sound output connector or short-range wireless communications interface of the personal communications device to send user output data to a user sound output means over an audio cable or short-range wireless communications link, respectively.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the short-range wireless communications interface and short-range wireless communications link are configured for Bluetooth protocol communications.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the local wireless network link comprises an ad-hoc network or a local area network (LAN) connection.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the management module is further operative to, when executed, identify and authenticate the personal portable communications device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio data processing functions include at least one of noise filtering and bit-rate adjustment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal communications device is operative as a telephone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound output means separate from the personal communications device comprises a loudspeaker operatively coupled to the management computer.

11. A communications system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of managed communications modules, each executable on a corresponding one of a plurality of personal communications devices and each operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive input data associated with sound from a corresponding user of a plurality of users of the personal communications devices; and

(ii) causing the corresponding personal communications device to send audio output data including the input data associated with the sound from the corresponding user over a local wireless network link; and

(b) at least one management module executable on at least one corresponding management computer, the management module operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive the audio output data from each of the plurality of managed communications modules over the local wireless network link;

(ii) perform at least one audio data processing function on the received audio output data to generate processed audio data; and

(iii) cause the at least one management computer to send the processed audio data to the managed communications modules over the corresponding local wireless network links, the processed audio data including data configured for each particular one of the managed communications modules and data configured for sound output by at least one sound output means that is physically separated from the portable communications devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein performing at least one audio data processing function comprises generating a particular set of audio data for each one of the plurality of managed communications modules, wherein at least one particular set for one of the managed communications modules is different from at least one other particular set for another one of the managed communications modules.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each one of the managed communications modules is operative to, when executed, receive the corresponding set of audio data for the corresponding managed communications module and cause the personal communications device to output sound to the corresponding user based on the received set of audio data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein causing each of the personal communications devices to output sound to the user comprises at least one of:

(a) causing a sound output speaker of the personal communications device to output the sound to the user; and

(b) causing a sound output connector or short-range wireless communications interface of the personal communications device to send user output data to a user sound output means over an audio cable or short-range wireless communications link, respectively.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the managed communications module for each one of the personal communications devices is operative to, when executed, receive the audio input data associated with the sound generated by the user via at least one of a microphone, audio input connector, and short-range wireless communications interface of the personal communications device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the local wireless network link comprises an ad-hoc network or local area network (LAN) connection.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of personal communications devices is operative as a telephone.

18. A method for enabling audio communications, comprising:

(a) installing a managed communications module on a personal communications device, the managed communications module operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive input data associated with sound from a user of the personal communications device; and

(ii) cause the personal communications device to send audio output data including the input data associated with sound from the user over a local wireless network link; and

(b) installing a management module on a management computer separated from the personal communications device, the management module operative to, when executed by a processor;

(i) receive the audio output data from the managed communications module over the local wireless network link;

(ii) perform at least one audio data processing function on the received audio output data to generate processed audio data; and

(iii) cause the management computer to send the processed audio data to the managed communications module over the local wireless network link, the processed audio data including data configured for the managed communications module and data configured for sound output by a sound output means separated from the portable communications device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the managed communications module is further operative to, when executed, receive the input data associated with the sound from the user via at least one of a microphone, audio input connector, and short-range wireless communications interface of the portable communications device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the managed communications module is further operative to, when executed, receive the data configured for the managed communications module over the local wireless network link and cause the personal communications device to output sound to the user based on the received data configured for the managed communications module.