Smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway to mate a non-BLUETOOTH wireless device with a BLUETOOTH headset

• US 7,233,808 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mooney, Philip D., Rao, Sangeetha
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/945,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/557, 455 411- 412, 4555561- 2, 455/418, 455/420, 4555691- 2, 455/575.1, 455/2, 455/9, 455 901- 3, 455344-345, 37942001- 4, 379454-455, 343/700.MS, 343/793, 343/795
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device that allows a BLUETOOTH headset to establish an audio connection and communicate with a conventional wireless phone (e.g., a wireless phone that does not have BLUETOOTH installed). In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the connection is controlled merely by monitoring the presence of sound and tones in the audio stream from an analog audio jack of a conventional wireless phone. The smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device preferably attaches to the wireless phone just as a wired headset would. Use of the wireless phone is the same as if a wired headset were plugged in.

Claims

1. A device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device, comprising:

a BLUETOOTH front end;

a analog-to-digital codec to communicate with an analog audio path output from said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device and said BLUETOOTH front end; and

an activity detector, in communication with said codec, to sense audio activity output by said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device.

2. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said activity detector is adapted to distinguish an end of a call.

3. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said activity detector includes an audible ring tone detector to distinguish a ring tone.

4. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said activity detector detects analog audio activity output from an external jack of said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device.

5. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 4, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a wireless phone.

6. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a wireless audio device.

7. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said activity detector distinguishes digital audio activity output from an external jack of said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device.

8. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 7, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a wireless phone.

9. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 1, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a wireless phone.

10. The device to enable BLUETOOTH communications between a wireless BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 9, wherein:

said wireless phone is a cell phone.

11. A method of terminating a call between a BLUETOOTH headset and a wireless phone, said method comprising:

digitizing an analog output audio stream output from said wireless phone;

distinguishing an end of a call by detecting a termination of digitized audio activity on an audio path from said wireless phone; and

transmitting a signal relating to the termination of the call to a BLUETOOTH headset.

12. The method of terminating a call between a BLUETOOTH headset and a wireless phone according to claim 11, wherein:

said end of said call is detected by a detection of an absence of an audio signal in said audio path.

13. The method of terminating a call between a BLUETOOTH headset and a wireless phone according to claim 12, wherein:

said wireless phone is a non-BLUETOOTH enabled wireless phone.

14. A method of initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device, comprising:

digitizing an analog audio output channel output from said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device;

monitoring said digitized analog audio output for audible activity; and

initiating an establishment of said analog audio channel based on detection of digitized audible activity from said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device.

15. The method of initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 14, further comprising:

distinguishing a ring tone in said digitized analog audio output channel.

16. The method of initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 15, further comprising:

terminating said established audio channel based on a detection of cessation of said digitized audible activity.

17. The method of initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 14, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a wireless phone.

18. The method of initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device according to claim 17, wherein:

said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device is a non-BLUETOOTH enabled wireless phone.

19. Apparatus for terminating a call between a BLUETOOTH headset and a wireless phone, comprising:

means for digitizing an analog output audio stream output from said wireless phone;

means for distinguishing an end of a call by detecting a termination of digitized audio activity on an audio path from said wireless phone; and

means for transmitting a signal relating to said detected termination of said call to a BLUETOOTH headset.

20. Apparatus for initiating establishment of a BLUETOOTH audio channel between a BLUETOOTH headset and a non-BLUETOOTH enabled device, comprising:

means for digitizing an analog audio output channel from said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device;

means for monitoring said digitized analog audio output for audible activity; and

means for initiating establishment of said analog audio channel based on a detection of digitized audible activity from said non-BLUETOOTH enabled device.