Group call for a wireless mobile communication device using bluetooth

• US 6,405,027 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bell, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/456,899
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/414, 455/416, 455/417, 455/462, 455/463, 455/41
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communication handset which is configured for communicating by a cellular or PCS or cordless call over a first wireless link to a base station, and is also configured for communicating with one or more other communication devices over other respective wireless direct device-to-device second links implemented by the Bluetooth Intercom Profile, is provided with functionality to carry on a group call by appropriately combining speech signals carried by the various links and by the handset. The first wireless link may be a cordless link which is implemented by the Bluetooth Telephony Profile. Alternatively, the first link may also be configured as wireless direct device-to-device link, in which case all wireless links involved in the group call are implemented by the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a local end comprising an electrical-to-acoustic transducer and an acoustic-to-electrical transducer;

means for carrying on a local side of a first call to a remote end thereof via a first wireless link, in which signals derived from the local end are applied to said first call for transmission to the remote end thereof and signals derived from the remote end of the first call are applied to the local end; and

means for carrying on a local side of at least a second call to a remote end thereof comprising another communication device via a direct device-to-device second wireless link, without any intervening base station, in which signals derived from the local end are applied to said second call for transmission to the remote end thereof and signals derived from the remote end of the second call are applied to the local end;

wherein the means for carrying on the local sides of the first and second calls can be active simultaneously; and

further comprising group call combining means for forming the signals applied to said local end, the signals applied to said first call, and the signals applied to said second call, such that the signals applied to the local end include contributions from the signals derived from the remote ends of the first and second calls, the signals applied to said first call include contributions from the signals derived from said local and second ends, and the signals applied to said second call include contributions derived from said local and first ends.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first wireless link is to a base station.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first wireless link is a cellular or PCS link.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first wireless link is a cordless link.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first wireless link is also a direct device-to-device link to still another communication device, without any intervening base station.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

8. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

9. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

10. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said direct device-to-device first and second links are implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cordless link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Telephony Profile.

12. A program stored in or among one or more memories which is for execution by a processor within a mobile communication device which includes a local end comprising an electrical-to-acoustic transducer and an acoustic-to-electrical transducer, said program being configured for steering:

carrying on a local side of a first call to a remote end thereof via a first wireless link, in which signals derived from the local end are applied to said first call for transmission to the remote end thereof and signals derived from the remote end of the first call are applied to the local end; and

carrying on a local side of at least a second call to a remote end thereof comprising another communication device via a direct device-to-device second wireless link without any intervening base station, in which signals derived from the local end are applied to said second call for transmission to the remote end thereof and signals derived from the remote end of the second call are applied to the local end;

wherein the local sides of the first and second calls are active simultaneously; and

forming the signals applied to said local end, the signals applied to said first call, and the signals applied to said second call, to maintain a group call such that the signals applied to the local end include contributions from the signals derived from the remote ends of the first and second calls, the signals applied to said first call include contributions from the signals derived from said local and second ends, and the signals applied to said second call include contributions derived from said local and first ends.

13. The program as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first wireless link is to a base station.

14. The program as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first wireless link is a cellular or PCS link.

15. The program as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first wireless link is a cordless link.

16. The program as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first wireless link is also a direct device-to-device link to still another communication device, without any intervening base station.

17. The program as claimed in claim 12, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

18. The program as claimed in claim 13, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

19. The program as claimed in claim 15, wherein said direct device-to-device second link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Intercom Profile.

20. The program as claimed in claim 19, wherein said cordless link is implemented in accordance with the Bluetooth Telephony Profile.