Call management through a hands free communication device

• US 9,602,647 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Joergensen, Soeren Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): TRANDAI, CINDY HUYEN
• Application Number:
  US14/799,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A hands free communication device (2), such as a headset, adapted to be simultaneously connected to a first telecommunication device (2) and a second telecommunication device (3). The hands free communication device (2) is adapted to send a call status signal to the first telecommunication device (3) upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the second telecommunication device (4) and to send a call status signal to the second telecommunication device (4) upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the first telecommunication device (3). The invention also relates to a system implementing such a hands free device (2) and a method using such a system.

Claims

1. A bridging communications system comprising:

a. a hands free user worn-hands free device

b. first and second telecommunications devices adapted to be simultaneously connected to the hands free device

c. wherein the hands free communication device is a wireless headset is connected as an audio bridging link and is adapted to automatically send a call status signal to the first telecommunication device upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the second telecommunication device, the call status signal being sent from said second telecommunications device to said first telecommunications device via said hands free device, and to automatically send a call status signal to the second telecommunications device upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the first telecommunications device, the call status signal being sent from said first telecommunications device to said second telecommunications device via said hands free device;

d. wherein said hands free device includes an exchanger to send call status information from one telecommunications device to the other so that call status information is transferred from one telecommunications device to the other via said hands free device without said telecommunications devices having to communicate directly with each other to report call status.

2. A communications system according to claim 1, further including a signal to accept an incoming call.

3. A communications system according to claim 1, further including a signal to make an outgoing call.

4. A communications system device according to claim 1, wherein the hands free device functions to bridge call status information between said first and second device.

5. A communications system according to claim 1, which is adapted to be wirelessly connected by a first radio link to the first telecommunications device and a second radio link to the second telecommunications device.

6. A communications system according to claim 5, wherein the first radio link and the second radio link are following the Bluetooth®

standard.

7. A communications system according to claim 1 being a hands free device comprising a speaker, a microphone and attachment to a headset wearer.

8. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein the first telecommunications device comprises a first display and the second telecommunications device comprises a second display.

9. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein a graphical user interface widget on the first display is replicated on the second display.

10. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein the first telecommunications device is a smart phone and the second telecommunications device is a computer with a softphone.

11. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein the user is able to select a contact stored on the second telecommunications device by a display screen.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the user can initiate a call on the second telecommunications device by directly selecting the contact on the first telecommunications device without forwarding the contact details such as phone number from the first telecommunications device to the second telecommunications device.

13. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein presence status, is selected from the following a mobile phone call, a soft phone call, or in a meeting is exchanged between the first telecommunications device and the second telecommunications device.

14. A communication device according to claim 1 wherein the hands free communication device is a wireless headset worn on the ear.

15. A communication device according to claim 14 wherein the hands free communication device is user worn.

16. A method of remotely linking call status information between first and second telecommunications device through a third wireless hands free device comprising the method of:

wherein incoming call is accepted by said first telecommunications device;

incoming call status is then made visible on the second telecommunications device by call status indication being generated by said first telecommunications device and then transmitted to said second telecommunications device without said first or second telecommunications devices having a direct link therebetween and wherein an incoming call on the first telecommunications device is accepted by sending a call accept command from the second telecommunications device to said wireless handsfree device, which in turn sends a call accept command from said hands free device to the first telecommunications device, which method includes a further step wherein

said hands free headset device send a call status update to said second communications device indicating that a call has been accepted on said first telecommunications device;

establishing an audio connection between said first telecommunications device and said hands free headset device, so that the user can communicate to a third party via said first telecommunications device and while said second communications device indicates that an ongoing call has been accepted with said first telecommunications device.

17. A method of remote controlling a telecommunication device by another telecommunication device in a communication system which method includes:

configuring a wireless hands free headset device to monitor call status from first and second telecommunications devices;

configuring the first telecommunications device to send a call status message to said hands free device;

configuring the second communication device to send a call status message to said hands free device;

configuring the hands free device to, in turn, send a call status from the one communication device to the other communication device via said hands free device and without the need for a direct link between the first and second telecommunications devices and transferring call status from one telecommunications device to the other, so that both communication devices have synchronized call status information provided through the hands free device, whereby a user can determine call status from a display on either device which is therefore an accurate representation of current call status on either device.

18. A communications system comprising:

a. a hands free user worn device devoid of user interactive digital display screen;

b. first and second telecommunications devices adapted to be simultaneously connected to the hands free device

c. wherein the hands free communication device is a wireless headset and is adapted to automatically send a call status signal to the first telecommunications device upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the second telecommunications device and to automatically send a call status signal to the second telecommunications device upon reception of a corresponding call status signal from the first telecommunications device;

d. wherein said hands free device includes an exchanger bridge to send call status information from one telecommunication devices to the other without requiring a direct link between said first and second telecommunications devices so that call status information is transferred from one telecommunications device to the other via said hands free device.