Pulsed input push-to-talk wireless adapter systems and methods

• US 9,210,555 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twisted Pair Solutions Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Twisted Pair Solutions Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Larson, David, Clack, Derick
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US14/054,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20150105117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

An adaptor that includes a male connector, a control circuit, and a wireless transceiver coupleable to a corresponding female connector on a portable electronic device provides push-to-talk functionality on the portable electronic device. In conjunction with the device operating system, the adaptor converts a first incoming signal to a first number of low impedance/high impedance pulses detectable by the portable electronic device to initiate a push-to-talk session. During the push-to-talk session, the adaptor transceiver wirelessly transmits and receives communication signals (e.g., audio signals) to and from an accessory device communicably coupled to the adapter. In conjunction with the device operating system, the adaptor converts a second incoming signal to a second number of low impedance/high impedance pulses detectable by the portable electronic device to terminate the push-to-talk session.

Claims

1. An audio jack adaptor for a wireless communications device to enable push-to-talk, PTT, functionality between an audio input/output wireless accessory device and the wireless communications device, the adaptor comprising:

a housing;

a male plug coupled to the housing, the male plug sized, dimensioned and configured to be received by the audio jack, the male plug further comprising an audio input signal line for providing audio received from the wireless accessory device to the wireless communication device via the audio jack;

a wireless transceiver at least partially housed by the housing; and

a control circuit at least partially housed by the housing, the control circuit configured to;

responsive to receipt of a signal from the wireless accessory device indicative of an activation of a PTT input switch transitioning the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, transmit one or more pulses to the wireless communication device via the male plug by momentarily grounding the audio input signal line to create each pulse to indicate the transition of the PTT input switch to the activated state.

2. The audio jack adaptor of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to, responsive to detecting the activation of the PTT input switch, generate and communicate via the male plug a first number of pulses, each pulse comprising a low impedance electrical connection to ground for at least a first duration and each pulse separated from another pulse by a high impedance electrical connection for at least a second duration.

3. The audio jack adaptor of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to, responsive to detecting a signal from the wireless accessory device indicative of a deactivation of the PTT input switch transitioning from the activated state back to the deactivated state, generate and communicate via the male plug a second number of pulses and, while the PTT input switch remains deactivated, terminate transmission of signals via the male plug to the wireless communications device.

4. The audio jack adaptor of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to translates signals received via the male plug and transmit the translated signals via the wireless transceiver to the wireless accessory device.

5. The audio jack adaptor of claim 1, wherein the male plug includes a plurality of distinct, electrically conductive, segments spaced along a length thereof.

6. The audio jack adaptor of claim 5, wherein the male plug (is a tip-ring-ring-sleeve, TRRS, plug.

7. The audio jack adaptor of claim 5, wherein the male plug is a 3.5 mm male plug and is the only male plug on the adaptor.

8. The audio jack adaptor of claim 7, wherein the adaptor omits any female communications ports.

9. The audio jack adaptor of claim 1, wherein the male plug comprises a serial communications interface consisting of at least four conductors, the four conductors consisting of:

a pair of power transmission conductors; and

a pair of differential data transmission conductors.

10. The audio jack adaptor of claim 1, wherein responsive to detecting activation of the PTT input switch, the control circuit transmits a first number of pulses to the wireless communication device, each pulse comprising a low impedance electrical connection to ground for at least a first duration and each pulse separated from another pulse by a high impedance electrical connection for at least a second duration;

and wherein, responsive to detecting deactivation of the PTT input switch, the control circuit transmits a second number of pulses to the wireless communication device different from the first number of pulses.

11. A system for use with a wireless communications device having an audio jack, the system comprising:

a wireless accessory device having at least one wireless transceiver, a microphone, a speaker, and an operably coupled PTT input switch;

an audio jack adaptor, the adapter comprising;

a housing;

a male plug sized, dimensioned and configured to be received by the wireless communications device audio jack, the male plug further comprising an audio input signal line for providing audio received from the wireless accessory device to the wireless communication device via the audio jack;

a wireless transceiver; and

a control circuit configured to responsive to receipt of a signal from the indicative of an activation of the PTT input switch transitioning the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, transmit one or more pulses to the wireless communication device via the male plug by momentarily grounding the audio input signal line to create each pulse to indicate the transition of the PTT input switch to the activated state.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuit is further configured to, responsive to detecting the activation of the PTT input switch, generate and communicate via the male plug a first number of pulses, each pulse comprising a low impedance electrical connection to ground for at least a first duration and each pulse separated from another pulse by a high impedance electrical connection for at least a second duration.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is further configured to, responsive to detecting a signal from the wireless accessory device indicative of a deactivation of the PTT input switch transitioning from the activated state back to the deactivated state, and, while the PTT input switch remains deactivated, terminate transmission of signals via the male plug to the wireless communications device.

14. A method in an audio jack adaptor for enabling push-to-talk, PTT, functionality between an audio input/output wireless accessory device and a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

receiving one or more signals from a wireless communication device via a male plug, the male plug further comprising an audio input signal line for providing audio received from the wireless accessory device to the wireless communication device via the audio jack;

responsive to receiving the one or more signals, translating the one or more signals by a control circuit communicably coupled to the male plug;

transmitting the one or more translated signals to the wireless accessory device via a wireless transceiver communicably coupled to the control circuit;

receiving a signal via the wireless transceiver indicative of an activation of a PTT input switch coupled to the wireless accessory device transitioning the PTT input switch from a deactivated state to an activated state;

responsive to receiving the signal indicative of the activation of the PTT input switch, transmitting one or more pulses to the wireless communication device via the male plug by momentarily grounding the audio input signal line to create each pulse to indicate the transition of the PTT input switch to the activated state; and

while the PTT input switch remains in the activated state, translating signals from the wireless accessory device via the wireless transceiver and transmitting the translated signals via the male plug to the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the one or more signals from the wireless communication device via the male plug comprises:

receiving the one or more signals via the male plug via a corresponding audio jack on the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the translated signals via the male plug to the wireless communication device comprises:

transmitting the translated signals via the male plug consisting of at least four conductors to a corresponding wireless communication device jack of the wireless communication device, the four conductors consisting of;

a pair of power transmission conductors; and

a pair of differential data transmission conductors.