Personal portable integrator for music player and mobile phone

• US 7,187,948 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US10/382,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/90.3, 455/557, 455/426.1, 455/556.1, 455/344, 455/347, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• 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 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A personal portable integrator is used to integrate the services of an arbitrary audio delivery device such as an MP3, CD, DVD, radio, or other media player, with the services of an arbitrary two-way communication device such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio such as a walkie talkie, citizen band radio (e.g. CB), HAM radio, marine or aviation radio, and the like. The portable integrator receives and provides input and output signals from both the audio delivery device and the two-way communication device, thereby enabling a user to listen to music or other audio material and receive and place phone calls on a mobile phone simultaneously. The portable integrator provides these services by switching between the audio and communication devices, mixing signals received therefrom, and optionally enabling a user to reduce the volume or mute the signals as desired.

Claims

1. A portable and wireless apparatus for wirelessly integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, wherein the portable and wireless apparatus is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing during use of the portable and wireless apparatus, the portable and wireless apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

means for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

a coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication devices, wherein the second audio signal is characterized by a threshold value, the second audio signal is accorded priority relative to the first audio signal, and the second audio signal interrupts the first audio signal upon reaching the threshold value, the coupling device comprising said means for receiving said first and second audio signals, said coupling means further comprising;

means for transmitting a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first or second audio signals to an acoustic device adapted to convert the third acoustic wave to an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for mixing the first and second audio signals into the third audio signal and for enabling simultaneous use of said audio and two-way communications devices.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for selectably adjusting and controlling a mixing weight of the first and second audio signals as part of the third audio signal.