Wireless headset communication system for aircraft and method therefor

• US 7,787,913 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cornell, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/423,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 455/100, 455/431, 455/569.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/575.2, 455/41.2, 455 73- 74, 381/74, 381/362, 381/367, 381/370, 381/376
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system has a wireless headset for transmitting and receiving communication signals. At least one aircraft transceiver having a connector to plug the transceiver to a headphone jack in the existing aircraft communication system is provided. The transceiver sends communication signals from the existing aircraft communication system and wirelessly transmits the communication signals to the transceiver and wirelessly receives communications signals from the wireless headset.

Claims

1. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless headset for transmitting and receiving communication signals;

at least one aircraft transceiver having a connector to attach the aircraft transceiver to a headphone jack in the existing aircraft communication system, the aircraft transceiver wirelessly transmitting and receiving the communication signals to and from the wireless headset;

an encryption/decryption circuit for encrypting and decrypting the communication signals; and

a wire having a first end coupled to the aircraft transceiver and a second end coupled to the wireless headset to at least one of charge the wireless headset or provide fail safe communication with the existing aircraft communication system.

2. An aircraft communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wire is directly coupled to the wireless headset and the existing headphone jack in an aircraft to provide fail safe communication.

3. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one aircraft transceiver comprises:

an aircraft transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals;

a back-up power supply coupled to the aircraft transceiver transmitter /receiver circuit; and

wherein the encryption/decryption circuit comprises an aircraft transceiver encryption/decryption unit coupled to the aircraft transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit.

4. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wireless headset comprises:

a headset transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals;

at least one earpiece coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit;

a microphone coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit; and

a headset back-up power supply coupled to the transmitter/receiver circuit;

wherein the encryption/decryption circuit comprises a headset encryption/decryption unit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit.

5. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the encryption/decryption circuit comprises:

an aircraft transceiver encryption/decryption unit located in the aircraft transceiver; and

a headset encryption/decryption unit located in the wireless headset.

6. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the wireless headset further comprises a loss of signal indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit to indicate when the wireless headset is not communicating with the wireless transceiver.

7. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the wireless headset further comprises a low battery indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit.

8. An aircraft communication system comprising:

a transceiver having a connector to plug the transceiver to a headphone jack in an existing aircraft communication system, communication signals being wirelessly transmitted to and from the transceiver; and

a wireless headset for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the transceiver;

wherein the transceiver and wireless headset each has an encryption/decryption circuit to prevent unauthorized access of the communication signals;

a wire having a first end coupled to the aircraft transceiver and a second end coupled to the wireless headset to at least one of charge the wireless headset or provide fail safe communication with the existing aircraft communication system, wherein the first end may be directly coupled to the existing aircraft communication system to provide fail safe communication with the existing aircraft communication system.

9. An aircraft communication system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the transceiver comprises:

a transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals; and

a back-up power supply coupled to the transmitter /receiver circuit;

wherein the encryption/decryption circuit of the transceiver is coupled to the transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit.

10. An aircraft communication system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the wherein the wireless headset comprises:

a headset transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals;

at least one earpiece coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit;

a microphone coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit; and

a headset back-up power supply coupled to the transmitter/receiver circuit;

wherein the encryption/decryption circuit of the wireless headset is coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit.

11. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the wireless headset further comprises a loss of signal indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit to indicate when the wireless headset is not communicating with the wireless transceiver.

12. A system for converting an existing aircraft communication system to a wireless communication system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the wireless headset further comprises a low battery indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit.

13. An aircraft communication system comprising:

a transceiver having a connector to plug the transceiver to a headphone jack in an existing aircraft communication system, communication signals being wirelessly transmitted to and from the transceiver, wherein the transceiver comprises;

a transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals;

a transceiver encryption/decryption circuit coupled to the transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit;

a back-up power supply coupled to the transceiver transmitter /receiver circuit; and

a transceiver jack;

a wireless headset for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the transceiver, wherein the wherein the wireless headset comprises;

a headset transmitter/receiver circuit for wirelessly sending and receiving communication signals;

a headset encryption/decryption circuit coupled to the transceiver transmitter/receiver circuit;

at least one earpiece coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit;

a microphone coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit;

a headset back-up power supply coupled to the transmitter /receiver circuit;

a loss of signal indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit to indicate when the wireless headset is not communicating with the wireless transceiver;

a low battery indicator circuit coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit; and

a wireless headset jack coupled to the headset transmitter/receiver circuit; and

a wire having a first end coupled to the transceiver and a second end coupled to the wireless headset to charge the wireless headset and provide fail safe communication, wherein the wire can having a first end coupled to the wireless headset and a second end coupled to the headphone jack to provide fail safe communication.