Communication headsets and systems for mobile application control and power savings

• US 9,936,278 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vocollect, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: McGary, Dale, Sharbaugh, Richard, Nichols, Matthew, Nickel, Sean, DiPiazza, Bryan Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerez Lora, William A
• Application Number:
  US15/283,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20180098145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381367, 381370, 381374, 381375, 381376
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Headset assemblies and systems for mobile application control and power savings are provided. Headset assembly includes headband with proximity sensor activation element and receiver assembly configured to be rotated with respect to the headband between a first position and a second position. Receiver assembly has memory, proximity sensor, processor communicatively coupled to memory and proximity sensor, microphone boom having first and second ends, and microphone located adjacent first end and speaker located adjacent second end. Processor comprises PIO port. Proximity sensor activation element is positioned to trigger proximity sensor to activate PIO port when receiver assembly is rotated to the second position and to deactivate PIO port when receiver assembly is rotated to first position. Proximity sensor is configured to transmit at least one signal representing receiver assembly position.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile device and a headset assembly cooperatively configured to be communicatively coupled to one another;

the mobile device comprising a processing unit communicatively coupled to a memory storing program code configured to cause the processing unit to implement bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly, the program code comprising a voice application program;

the headset assembly comprising;

a headband comprising a proximity sensor activation element;

a receiver assembly configured to be rotated with respect to the headband between a first position and a second position, the receiver assembly comprising;

a memory;

a proximity sensor configured to transmit at least one signal in response to being triggered;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory of the receiver assembly and the proximity sensor, and the processor of the receiver assembly comprising a port configured to receive the at least one signal from the proximity sensor;

a microphone boom having a first end and a second end; and

a microphone located adjacent the first end of the microphone boom and a speaker located adjacent the second end of the microphone boom;

the proximity sensor activation element positioned to trigger the proximity sensor;

the headset assembly being configured to transmit a command indicating a position of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband; and

the mobile device being configured to be responsive to the command to;

activate the bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly, comprising activating the voice application program, when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position, and

deactivate the bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly when the receiver assembly is rotated to the first position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured, by a software program in the memory of the receiver assembly, to:

receive the at least one signal from the proximity sensor;

determine the position of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband from the at least one signal; and

transmit the command indicating the position of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position, an audio stream to and from the headset assembly is discontinued, the audio stream from the headset assembly is muted, or both the audio stream to and from the headset assembly is discontinued and the audio stream from the headset assembly is muted.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit of the mobile device is configured by the program code of the mobile device to:

receive the command; and

in response thereto,

permit or discontinue an audio stream to and from the headset assembly, mute the audio stream from the headset assembly, or both discontinue the audio stream to and from the headset assembly and mute the audio stream from the headset assembly.

5. The headset assembly according to claim 4, wherein the voice application program permits the audio stream to and from the headset assembly when the receiver assembly is rotated to the first position and discontinues the audio stream to and from the headset assembly, mutes the audio stream from the headset assembly, or both when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband switches the headset assembly between a normal, active state and a passive, power-saving state.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor activation element moves apart from the proximity sensor when the receiver assembly is rotated to the first position.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor activation element moves into close proximity of the proximity sensor when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor activation element comprises a magnet.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein power consumption of the headset assembly is reduced when the audio stream is discontinued.

11. The system according to claim 4, wherein power consumption of the mobile device is reduced when the audio stream is discontinued.

12. The system according to claim 4, wherein the mobile device maintains a service level connection to the headset assembly when the audio stream is discontinued.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the service level connection permits commands to the mobile device to stop and start software services, thereby reducing power consumption of the mobile device.

14. A system comprising:

a headset assembly communicatively coupled to a mobile device,

the mobile device comprising a processing unit communicatively coupled to a memory storing program code configured to cause the processing unit to implement bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly, the program code comprising a voice application program;

the headset assembly comprising;

a headband comprising a proximity sensor activation element;

a receiver assembly coupled to the headband and configured to be rotated with respect thereto between a first position and a second position, the receiver assembly comprising;

a memory;

a proximity sensor configured to transmit at least one signal in response to being triggered;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory of the receiver assembly and the proximity sensor and the processor of the receiver assembly comprising a port;

a microphone boom having a first end and a second end; and

a microphone located adjacent the first end of the microphone boom and a speaker located adjacent the second end of the microphone boom;

wherein the processor is configured, by a software program to;

receive the at least one signal from the proximity sensor;

determine the position of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband from the at least one signal; and

transmit a command indicating the position of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband;

wherein the mobile device is configured to be responsive to the command to;

activate the bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly, comprising activating the voice application program, when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position, and

deactivate the bi-directional dialog flow between the mobile device and the headset assembly when the receiver assembly is rotated to the first position.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit of the mobile device is configured by the program code of the mobile device to:

receive the command; and

in response thereto,

permit an audio stream to and from the headset assembly, discontinue the audio stream to and from the headset assembly, mute the audio stream from the headset assembly, or both discontinue the audio stream to and from the headset assembly and mute the audio stream from the headset assembly.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein rotation of the receiver assembly with respect to the headband switches the headset assembly between a normal, active state and a passive, power-saving state.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the proximity sensor activation element moves apart from the proximity sensor when the receiver assembly is rotated to the first position.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the proximity sensor activation element moves into close proximity of the proximity sensor when the receiver assembly is rotated to the second position.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the proximity sensor activation element comprises a magnet.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein power consumption of the headset assembly is reduced when the audio stream is discontinued.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein power consumption of the mobile device is reduced when the audio stream is discontinued.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the mobile device maintains a service level connection to the headset assembly when the audio stream is discontinued.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service level connection permits commands to the mobile device to stop and start software services.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein power consumption of the mobile device is reduced through stopping and starting the software services.