Wireless multi-unit conference phone

• US 8,457,614 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearOne Communications Inc. (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bernard, Bruce V., Kwok, Li Hing, Ren, Oliver, Ong, Pichet Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/371,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 455/570, 455/416, 455/41.1, 379/93.21, 379/158, 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 379/3, 379/388.02, 37940601-40616, 348 1401- 1416
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/082 using echo cancellers echo cancellers per se H04B3/23

Abstract

A wireless conference phone system has a base station to couple at least one conference unit to a telephone network, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network. Each conference unit performs echo cancellation of the audio signal received from a remote location allowing a simplified base station implementation.

Claims

1. A conference phone system with multiple wireless conference phone units, comprising:

a base station unit comprising a base station processor, a wireless conference phone unit interface that includes RF interface circuitry, and telephone network circuitry;

a plurality of wireless conference phone units (PODs) that wirelessly couple to said base station unit, each individual POD further comprises;

a plurality of microphones, a loudspeaker, a POD processor, a DSP, analog to digital conversion circuitry, digital to analog conversion circuitry, a base station interface that includes RF interface circuitry, circuitry for user input and output, all of which are electrically coupled together; and

echo-cancelling circuitry configured to perform its own echo-cancellation by analyzing a received signal and subtracting the received signal from a signal generated by the microphones, and communicate audio information with said base station unit;

wherein said base station unit;

does not include microphones, loudspeakers, or user input circuitry;

communicates audio information with said plurality of PODs;

receives and sums the audio information via a summer from said PODs before transmitting the audio information to far end conference participants; and

does not transmit the received audio information from one said POD to another said POD.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said individual POD comprises three microphones.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.

5. A method to manufacture a conference phone system with multiple wireless conference phone units, comprising:

providing a base station unit comprising a base station processor, a wireless conference phone unit interface that includes RF interface circuitry, a telephone line interface;

providing a plurality of wireless conference phone units (PODs) that wirelessly couple to said base station unit, each individual POD further comprises;

a plurality of microphones, a loudspeaker, a POD processor, a DSP, analog to digital conversion circuitry, digital to analog conversion circuitry, a base station interface that includes RF interface circuitry, circuitry for user input and output, all of which are electrically coupled together, each said POD including echo-cancelling circuitry configured to perform its own echo-cancellation by analyzing a received signal and subtracting he received signal from a signal generated by the microphones, and communicate audio information with said base station unit;

wherein said base station unit;

does not include microphones, loudspeakers, or user input circuitry; and

communicates audio information with said plurality of PODs;

receives and sums the audio information via a summer from said PODs before transmitting the audio information to far end conference participants; and

does not transmit the received audio information from one said POD to another said POD.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said individual POD comprises three microphones.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.

9. A method to use a conference phone system with multiple wireless conference phone units, comprising:

wirelessly communicating between a base station and a plurality of wireless conference phone units (PODs);

said base station unit further comprises a base station processor, a wireless conference phone unit interface that includes RF interface circuitry, a telephone line interface;

said plurality of wireless conference phone units (PODs) wirelessly couple to said base station unit, each individual POD further comprises;

a plurality of microphones, a loudspeaker, a POD processor, a DSP, analog to digital conversion circuitry, digital to analog conversion circuitry, a base station interface that includes RF interface circuitry, circuitry for user input and output, all of which are electrically coupled together; and

echo-cancelling circuitry configured to perform its own echo-cancellation by analyzing a received signal and subtracting the received signal from a signal generated by the microphones, and communicate audio information with said base station unit;

wherein said base station unit;

does not include microphones, loudspeakers, or user input circuitry;

communicates audio information with said plurality of PODs;

receives and sums the audio information via a summer from said PODs before transmitting the audio information to far end conference participants; and

does not transmit the received audio information from one said POD to another said POD.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said individual POD comprises three microphones.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said telephone network circuitry couples said base station unit to the digital telephone network such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network.