Communications interface for wireless communications headset

• US 6,745,014 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration US Government As Represented By The Administrator of The, US Government As Represented By The Director National Security Agency
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Culotta, Anthony Joseph Jr., Seibert, Marc A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Persino, Raymond B.
• Application Number:
  US09/631,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 455/462, 455/463, 455/464, 455/74, 455/507, 455/74.1, 455/41.2, 455/78, 455/79, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/557, 455/560, 455/569.1, 455/559, 455/90.2, 455/561, 379/398, 379/394
• US Class Current: 455/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A universal interface adapter circuit interfaces, for example, a wireless communications headset with any type of communications system, including those that require push-to-talk (PTT) signaling. The interface adapter is comprised of several main components, including an RF signaling receiver, a microcontroller and associated circuitry for decoding and processing the received signals, and programmable impedance matching and line interfacing circuitry for interfacing a wireless communications headset system base to a communications system. A signaling transmitter, which is preferably portable (e.g., handheld), is employed by the wireless headset user to send signals to the signaling receiver. In an embodiment of the invention directed specifically to push-to-talk (PTT) signaling, the wireless headset user presses a button on the signaling transmitter when they wish to speak. This sends a signal to the microcontroller which decodes the signal and recognizes the signal as being a PTT request. In response, the microcontroller generates a control signal that closes a switch to complete a voice connection between the headset system base and the communications system so that the user can communicate with the communications system. With this arrangement, the wireless headset can be interfaced to any communications system that requires PTT signaling, without modification of the headset device. In addition, the interface adapter can also be configured to respond to or deliver any other types of signals, such as dual-tone-multiple-frequency (DTMF) tones, and on/off hook signals. The present invention is also scalable, and permits multiple wireless users to operate independently in the same environment through use of a plurality of the interface adapters.

Claims

1. A communications interface system for facilitating communications between a communications system and a communication device comprising:

a) a signaling transmitter for generating and transmitting encoded signals; and

b) an interface adapter circuit for interfacing a communications system with a communication device, said interface adapter circuit including;

1) a signaling receiver for receiving said encoded signals from said signaling transmitter;

2) a decoder and control signal generator for decoding said received signals and generating control signals in response thereto;

3) an impedance matching and line interface circuit for interfacing a communications system to a communication device, said impedance matching and line interface circuit being controllable in response to said control signals; and

said impedance matching and line interface circuit including a programming terminal block including a plurality of terminals for selectively connecting one or more external electrical components to said circuit for selectively programming said impedance matching and line interface circuit.

2. The communications interface system of claim 1, wherein said signaling transmitter includes a transmitter module and a switch connected to said module for causing said module to transmit an encoded signal.

3. The communications interface of claim 2, wherein said signaling transmitter further includes a keypad connected to said module for causing said module to transmit a plurality of different encoded signals.

4. The communications interface system of claim 1, wherein said decoder and control signal generator generates a push-to-talk control signal in response to receipt of an encoded signal from said transmitter, and said impedance matching and line interface circuit further includes a switch for selectively connecting one or more voice lines from a communication device to a communications system in response to said push-to-talk control signal.

5. The communications interface system of claim 4, further including:

c) a wireless headset communication device;

d) a wireless headset base for sending voice communications to, and receiving voice communications from, said wireless headset communication device, said base being interfaced to said adapter interface circuit; and

e) a communications system interfaced to said adapter interface circuit;

whereby, said signaling transmitter sends a push-to-talk request to said receiver in said adapter interface circuit, and said decoder and control signal generator generates a push-to-talk control signal so that said switch in said impedance matching and line interface circuit will connect one or more voice lines from said wireless headset base to said communications system in response to said push-to-talk request.

6. The communications interface system of claim 1, wherein said decoder and control signal generator comprises a microcontroller.

7. The communications interface system of claim 1, wherein said decoder and signal generator comprises a microcontroller that generates a push-to-talk control signal in response to receipt of an encoded signal from said transmitter, and said impedance matching and line interface circuit further includes a programming terminal block including a plurality of terminals for selectively connecting one or more external electrical components for selectively programming said impedance matching and line interface circuit, and a switch for selectively connecting one or more voice lines from a communication device to a communications system in response to said push-to-talk control signal, and said interface system further includes:

c) a wireless headset communication device;

d) a wireless headset base for sending voice communications to. And receiving voice communications from, said wireless headset communication device, said base being interfaced to said adapter interface circuit; and

e) a communications system interfaced to said adapter interface circuit;

whereby, said signaling transmitter sends a push-to-talk request to said receiver in said adapter interface circuit, and said decoder and control signal generator generates a push-to-talk control signal so that said switch in said impedance matching and line interface circuit will connect one or more lines from said wireless headset base to said communications system in response to said push-to-talk request.

8. A communications interface system for facilitating communications between a plurality of communications systems and a plurality of communication devices comprising:

a) first and second communications systems;

b) first and second communication devices;

c) first and second signaling transmitters for generating and transmitting encoded signals, said first signaling transmitter being assigned to a first transmission channel, and said second signaling transmitter being assigned to a second transmission channel;

d) a first interface adapter circuit for interfacing said first communications system with said first communication device, said first interface adapter circuit including;

1) a signaling receiver for receiving said encoded signals from said first signaling transmitter;

2) a decoder and control signal generator for decoding said received signals and generating control signals in response thereto; and

3) an impedance matching and line interface circuit for interfacing said first communications system to said first communications device, said impedance matching and line interface circuit being controllable in response to said control signals; and

e) a second interface adapter circuit for interfacing said second communications system with said second communication device, said second interface adapter circuit including;

1) a signaling receive for receiving said encoded signals from said second signaling transmitter;

2) a decoder and control signal generator for decoding said received signals and generating control signals in response thereto; and

3) an impedance matching a line interfacing circuit for interfacing said second communications system to said second communications device, said impedance matching and line interface circuit being controllable in response to said control signals.

9. The communications interface system of claim 8, wherein said signaling transmitters each include a transmitter module and a switch connected to said module for causing said module to transmit an encoded signal.

10. The communications interface system of claim 8, wherein said signaling transmitter further includes a keypad connected to said module for causing said module to transmit a plurality of difference encoded signals.

11. The communications interface system of claim 8, wherein each of said decoding and controlling signal generators generates a push-to-talk control signal in response to receipt of an encoded signal from said transmitter, and each of said impedance matching and line interface circuits further includes a switch for selectively connecting one or more lines from a corresponding one of said communication devices to a corresponding one of said communications system in response to said push-to-talk control signal.

12. The communications interface system of claim 11, wherein said communication devices comprises first and second wireless headset communication devices and first and second corresponding wireless headset bases for sending voice communications to, and receiving voice communications from, said wireless headset communication devices, said bases interfaced to said first and second adaptor interface circuits, respectively;

whereby, said signaling transmitters send push-to-talk requests to said receivers in said adapter interface circuits, and said decoder and control signal generators generate push-to-talk control signals so that said switches in said impedance matching and line interface circuits will connect one or more voice lines from said wireless headset bases to said communications systems in response to said push-to-talk requests.

13. The communications interface system of claim 8, wherein said decoder and signal generators each comprise a microcontroller.

14. The communications interface system of claim 8, wherein each said impedance matching and line interface circuit includes a programming terminal block including a plurality of terminals for selectively connecting one or more external electrical components to said impedance matching and line interface circuits for selectively programming said circuits.

15. The communication interface system of claim 8, wherein each said decoder and generator comprises a microcontroller that generates a push-to-talk control signal in response to receipt of an encoded signal from a corresponding one of said transmitters, and each said impedance matching and line interface circuit further includes a programming terminal block including a plurality of terminals for selectively connecting one or more external electrical components to said impedance matching and line interface circuits for selectively programming said circuits, and a switch for selectively connecting one or more voice lines from a corresponding one of said communication devices to a corresponding one of said communications systems in response to said push-to-talk control signals, and

wherein said communication devices comprise first and second wireless headset communication devices and first and second corresponding wireless headset bases for sending voice communications to, and receiving voice communications from, said wireless headset communication devices, said bases being:

interfaced to said first and second adapter interface circuits, respectively;

whereby, said signaling transmitters send push-to-talk requests to said receivers in said adapter interface circuits, and said decoder and control signal generators generate push-to-talk control signals so that said switches in said impedance matching and line interface circuits will connect or more voice lines from said wireless headset bases to said communications systems in response to said push-to-talk requests.

16. A method for facilitating communications between a communications system and a communication device comprising the steps of

a) providing a user of said communication device with a signaling transmitter for generating and transmitting encoded signals;

b) providing an interface adapter circuit for interfacing said communications system with said communication device, said interface adapter circuit including an impedance matching and line interface circuit for interfacing said communications system to said communication device;

c) generating and transmitting an encoded signal with said signaling transmitter;

d) receiving said encoded signal with a signaling receiver in said interface adapter circuit;

e) decoding said encoded signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

f) employing said control signal to control said impedance matching and line interface circuit and facilitate communication between said communications system and said communication device; and

g) providing a programming terminal block in said impedance matching and line interface circuit, said block including a plurality of terminals; and

selectively connecting one or more external electrical components to said terminals for selectively programming said impedance matching and line interface circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said steps of decoding said encoded signal and generating a control signal in response thereto, and employing said control signal to control said impedance matching and line interface circuit further comprise generating a push-to-talk control signal, and applying said push-to-talk control signal to a switch in said impedance matching and line interface circuit for selectively connecting one or more voice lines from said communication device to said communications system in response to said push-to-talk control signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication device comprises a wireless headset communication device, and a wireless headset base for sending voice communications to, and receiving voice communications from, said wireless headset communications device, said wireless base being interfaced to said adapter interface circuit.