Mobile station for telecommunications system

• US 7,433,715 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buckley, Anthony Robert, Redshaw, Nic Andrew, Verney, Richard Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US09/854,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,706 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751-5752, 455 901- 903, 4555691-5692, 455/564, 455/567, 37943301-43303, 379/433.1, 379/430, 37942001-42004, 379422-427, 379/433.06, 379/433.11, 379/434
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone

Abstract

A mobile telecommunications system has a handset and a headset for connection to the handset. The handset includes an RF transceiver for transmitting an outgoing call and receiving an incoming call, and a processor coupled to the RF transceiver that provides audio signals on a first audio path to an audio transducer in the handset and on a second audio path for an audio transducer in the headsets. The headset and handset include respective button switches arranged that the operation has the effect both of initiating and/or accepting a call, and of routing audio signals to the respective first or second audio paths. Embodiments are described including a separate switch for toggling the audio paths, and automatic sensors for detecting use of the headset or handset.

Claims

1. A mobile station for mobile telecommunications system comprising:

a handset

a headset for connection to a handset;

the handset including a transceiver for transmitting an outgoing call and receiving an incoming call, a processor coupled to the transceiver for providing audio signals on a first audio path to a first audio transducer in the handset and on second audio path to second audio transducer in the headset; and

a single first user operable switch disposed in the handset, said single switch configured such that the operation thereof has the effect both of initiating and/or accepting a call, and of routing audio signals to said audio path corresponding to said handset regardless of whether said headset is connected to said handset and regardless of the condition of any other user operable switch of said mobile station.

2. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the audio transducer in the headset and handset each comprise a microphone and a loudspeaker.

3. The mobile station according to claim 1, further comprising a single second switch located in the headset and configured to initiate and/or accept a call and route it on said second audio path.

4. The mobile station according to claim 3 wherein operation of the first switch followed by operation of the second switch, or vice versa, is effective to select the other of the selected one of the first and second audio paths.

5. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein operation of the first switch during a call routed on the first audio path is operative to terminate a call.

6. A method of operating a mobile station for a mobile telecommunications system, the mobile station comprising a handset and a headset for connection to the handset, the handset including a transceiver for transmitting an outgoing call and receiving an incoming call, a processor coupled to the receiver for providing audio signals on a first audio path to an audio transducer in the handset and on a second path to an audio transducer in the headset, a single first switch and a singe second switch, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the handset for receipt of an incoming call and, responsive to operation of the single first switch, initiating or accepting a call and routing the call on the first audio path regardless of whether said headset is connected to said handset and regardless of the condition of any other user operable switch of said mobile station, and responsive to operation of the single second switch, initiating or accepting a call and routing the call on the second audio path.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

responsive to operation of the first switch during a call routed on the first audio path, terminating the call; and

responsive to operation of the second switch during a call routed on the second audio path, terminating the call.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first switch is located in the handset and the second switch is located in the headset.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of;

responsive to operation of the first switch during a call routed on the second audio path, rerouting the call on the first audio path; and

responsive to operation of the second switch during a call routed on the first audio path, rerouting the call on the second audio path.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein initiating a call comprises one of accepting an incoming call and starting an outgoing call.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second switches are operating automatically via detection of use of the handset and/or headset, respectively.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of automatically detecting comprises detecting proximity of the handset to a user'"'"'s head via capacitance change as the handset is brought within vicinity of the user'"'"'s head.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of automatically detecting comprises detecting proximity of the handset to a user'"'"'s head via infrared sensing.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of automatically detecting comprises detecting proximity to the handset of a user'"'"'s head via acoustic impedance sensing.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of automatically detecting comprises detecting tension in a headband of the headset.