Method of using a communications device together with another communications device, a communications system, a communications device and an accessory device for use in connection with a communications device

• US 7,130,608 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktienbolaget L.M. Ericsson
• Inventors: Borgström, Anders, Hollström, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/726,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455 304- 606, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/518, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/569.1, 455/575.2, 455/413, 455/456, 455/466, 455/412.2, 455/414.3, 379/68, 379/85, 379/87, 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379/88.26, 379/88.22, 379/88.1, 379/88.27
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• 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

Abstract

A method of using a first communications device, such as a mobile telephone, together with at least one other communications device, such as a telephone, comprises the steps of playing back audio signals in the first communications device, transmitting the same audio signals to the other communications device, and playing back the audio signals in the other communications device. By transmitting the audio signals played back in the first communications device to the other device and playing them back there, shared audio listening is achieved and in this way the communications devices can be used also for the shared listening to e.g. music. Thus it is possible for two persons present at different locations to listen to the same audio signals simultaneously or at least almost simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method of using a first mobile terminal together with at least one other mobile terminal over a communications network, the method comprising:

configuring an audio playback unit in a first mobile terminal to receive, store and play audio signals;

establishing a data channel connection through a communications network between the first mobile terminal and the at least one other mobile terminal;

establishing a voice channel connection through the communications network between the first mobile terminal and the at least one other mobile terminal;

audibly playing back audio signals by the audio playback unit in the first mobile terminal;

transmitting the same audio signals by the audio playback unit over the first data channel to the at least one other mobile terminal; and

audibly playing back the audio signals by the at least one other mobile terminal, wherein the audibly playing back of the audio signals in the at least one other mobile terminal occurs at least in part simultaneously with the audibly playing back of the audio signals by the audio playback unit of the first mobile terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a telephone conversation by transmitting contemporaneous voice signals over the voice channel connection; and

simultaneously transmitting stored audio signals from the audio playback unit of the first mobile terminal over the communications network to the at least one other mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to operate in a GSM network.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to operate in a GPRS network.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to operate in an EDGE network.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to operate in a WCDMA network.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using a digital audio player as the audio playback unit of the first mobile terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the audio signals in a form of a digitized and compressed audio file.

9. A method of using a first mobile terminal together with at least one other mobile terminal, the method comprising:

configuring an audio playback unit in a first mobile terminal to receive, store and play audio signals;

receiving and converting into digital form in the first mobile terminal, contemporaneous voice signals;

mixing the contemporaneous voice signals and the stored audio signals; and

modulating and transmitting the mixed contemporaneous voice and stored audio signals from the first mobile terminal to at least one other mobile terminal through a common channel in a connection in over a communications network.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the common channel comprises a normal telephone voice channel.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the common channel comprises a data channel.

12. A method of using a first mobile terminal together with at least one other mobile terminal, the method comprising:

establishing a connection through a network between the first mobile terminal and at least one other mobile terminal;

establishing a telephone conversation by transmitting contemporaneous voice signals between a first mobile terminal to at least one other mobile terminal over a channel in a connection in a communications network;

transmitting audio signals received by an audio playback unit in the first mobile terminal from a service provider via the communications network to the at least one other mobile terminal; and

transmitting the same audio signals from the service provider via the communications network to the at least one other mobile terminal.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the audio signals are transmitted in a form of a digitized and compressed audio file.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the digitized and compressed audio file is compressed in a MP3 format.

15. A communications system, comprising:

a mobile telephone having an audio playback unit adapted to receive, store and play audio signals and a module adapted to receive, convert into digital form, modulate and transmit contemporaneous voice signals;

at least one other communications device

the audio playback unit operable to audibly play back stored audio signals and the mobile telephone operable to transmit the stored audio signals over a communications network to the at least one other communications device; and

the at least one other communications device operable to audibly play back the audio signals, wherein the audible play back of the audio signals in the at least one other communications device occurs at least in part simultaneously with the audible play back of the audio signals in the mobile telephone.

16. The communications system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile telephone is adapted for use in a public network.

17. The communications system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile telephone is adapted for use in a wireless shortlink.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein the wireless shortlink comprises a Bluetooth connection.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein the wireless shortlink comprises an infrared connection.

20. The communications system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile telephone incorporates an integrated audio device operable to receive, store and play back audio signals.

21. An accessory device for use with a mobile terminal adapted to be used in a communications system comprising at least one other communications device, the accessory device comprising:

an audio playback unit adapted to receive, store and audibly play back audio signals through the mobile terminal; and

a transmitter for initiating transmission of the audio signals to the at least one other communications device, such that said audio signals can be audibly played back in the at least one other communications device, wherein the audibly playing back of said audio signals in the at least one other communications device occurs at least in part simultaneously with audibly playing back of the audio signals in the mobile terminal.