METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING BACKUP PUSH-TO-TALK FUNCTION IN STUCK MICROPHONE CONDITION

• US 20200137218A1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Pandey, Vivek Kumar, Mallick, Supriya, Gurusamy, Saravanakumar
• Granted Patent: US 10,887,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/14 Signalling existence of persistent "off-hook" condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services

Abstract

A method and system provide a backup push-to-talk (PTT) function for a transmitter in a stuck microphone condition. The method determines whether a stuck microphone condition exists in the transmitter, and if the stuck microphone condition exists, the method alerts a user that the stuck microphone condition exists. The method then enables a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function. The method alerts the user when the backup PTT function is activated, and sends a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a backup push-to-talk (PTT) function for a transmitter;

determining whether a stuck microphone condition exists in the transmitter;

if the stuck microphone condition exists, alerting a user that the stuck microphone condition exists;

enabling a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function;

alerting the user when the backup PTT function is activated; and

sending a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option to the user to change a time-out duration for the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup PTT button comprises an existing hardware button that is reconfigurable as the backup PTT button when the stuck microphone condition exists.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of a display unit, or on a touch screen controller (TSC) display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located in a vehicle, handheld communication equipment, or a built-in communication sub-system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the backup PTT button is associated with a display unit that is:

in the vehicle, in the handheld communication equipment, or is part of the built-in communication sub-system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the display unit comprises a navigation display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup PTT button is located on a screen of a connected device comprising a handheld device or a wearable device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is alerted when the backup PTT function is activated by a PTT status indicator viewable by the user on a display unit.

11. A system, comprising:

an audio control unit that includes a processor and a memory unit;

at least one transmitter in a radio or transceiver operatively coupled to the audio control unit;

a display unit operatively coupled to the audio control unit;

a microphone in operative communication with the audio control unit, the microphone including a push-to-talk (PTT) switch for a user;

wherein the processor is operative to execute instructions stored in the memory unit to perform a method comprising;

providing a backup PTT function for the transmitter;

determining whether a stuck microphone condition exists;

if the stuck microphone condition exists, alerting the user that the stuck microphone condition exists;

enabling a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function;

alerting the user when the backup PTT function is activated; and

sending a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is operative to execute instructions to perform the method further comprising:

providing an option to the user to change a time-out duration for the transmitter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the backup PTT button comprises a hardware button.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit comprising a touch screen controller (TSC) display.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter and display unit are located in an aircraft.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the backup PTT button is associated with the display unit in the aircraft.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the display unit comprises an avionics navigation display.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the message sent to the receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged comprises an automatic downlink message.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the user is alerted when the backup PTT function is activated by a PTT status indicator viewable by the user on the display unit.