Hands-free function

• US 7,292,880 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lehtonen, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US09/864,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,358 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/558, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/568.1, 455/41.3, 455/41.2, 455/344, 455/575.2, 381/384
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a apparatus for implementing a hands-free function, the apparatus comprising a mobile station (22) and a headset (21). The apparatus comprises means for transferring an audio signal of a call between the mobile station (22) and the headset (21) for hands-free implementation of the call. The mobile station (22) and the headset (21) both comprise a short-range radio transceiver (BT, BT2) for wireless transfer of files between the mobile station (22) and the headset (21). The headset comprises a memory means for storing the files in the headset. The invention also relates to a headset (21).

Claims

1. An apparatus for implementing a hands-free function, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a mobile station comprising a first short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range communication; and

a headset, separate from the mobile station, the headset comprising a second short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range communication of files between the mobile station and the headset, and wherein

the apparatus is configured to transfer an audio signal of a call between the mobile station and the headset for hands-free implementation of the call, and wherein the headset comprises;

a memory for storing the files; and

a media player, wherein the media player in the headset is arranged to decode the stored files.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headset is arranged to:

receive a particular file from the mobile station with the short-range radio transceiver; and

store said file in the headset.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said files are user files.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headset comprises as a memory one of the following:

fixed memory, a memory card slot to which a memory card is detachably connectable.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headset comprises a speaker and a microphone.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headset comprises a user interface and that the mobile station is arranged to control the user interface of the headset over a short-range radio connection.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises a multimedia player.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the headset comprises two earpieces and as a multimedia player an audio player, which is arranged to play music in the earpieces.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the audio player is arranged to play music by decoding a music file, which is stored in said memory in the headset.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the multimedia player comprises a number of functions, and that the mobile station is arranged to control said functions over a short-range radio connection.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile station is one of the following:

a mobile telephone, a mobile station of a cellular network.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said short-range radio connection is a Bluetooth connection.

13. A headset configured for transferring an audio signal of a call between the headset and a particular mobile station, wherein the headset is separate from the mobile station and comprises:

a short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range transfer of files between the mobile station and the headset,

a memory for storing the files, and

a media player which is arranged to decode the files.

14. A headset as claimed in claim 13, wherein the headset comprises two earpieces interconnected with a headband.

15. A headset as claimed in claim 14, wherein said headband comprises an electronics module comprising said memory and short-range radio transceiver.

16. A headset as claimed in claim 15, wherein said media player comprises a multimedia player.

17. A headset configured for transferring an audio signal of a call between the headset and a particular mobile station, wherein the headset is separate from the mobile station and comprises:

a short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range transfer of files between the mobile station and the headset,

a memory for storing the files, and

a media player which is arranged to decode the files,

wherein the headset comprises a server application configured for transferring a user interface of the headset to the mobile station.

19. The headset as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a button configured for answering a call received by the mobile station upon activation of the button.

20. The headset as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a microphone comprising a switch configured to indicate a position of the microphone, the headset being configured for answering a call received in the mobile station upon a turning of the microphone.

21. The headset as claimed in claim 17, wherein a headband connecting two earpieces of the headset comprises an electronics module comprising the memory and short range radio transceiver.

18. An apparatus for implementing a hands-free function, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a mobile station comprising a first short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range communication; and

a headset, separate from the mobile station, the headset comDrising a second short-range radio transceiver for wireless short-range communication of files between the mobile station and the headset, and wherein

the apparatus is configured to transfer;

an audio signal of a call between the mobile station and the headset for hands-free implementation of the call, and wherein the headset comprises;

a short range radio transceiver for wireless transfer of files between the mobile station and the headset, and

a memory for storing the files; and

a media player, wherein the media player is the headset is arranged to decode the stored files, and

wherein the headset comprises a server application and the mobile station comprises a client application, and wherein the apparatus is configured to use the server application and the client application to transfer a user interface of the headset to the mobile station.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the headset is configured to:

receive a particular file from the mobile station with the short-range radio transceiver; and

store said file in the headset.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the headset comprises as a memory one of the following:

fixed memory, a memory card slot to which a memory card is detachably connectable.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the headset comprises a user interface and that the mobile station is arranged to control the user interface of the headset over a short-range radio connection.