Wireless multi-unit conference phone

• US 20060227963A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ascalade Communications Incorporated, ClearOne Communications Inc. (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bernard, Bruce V., Ong, Pichet Thomas, Kwok, Li Hing, Ren, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/388.10
• 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 (VolP) 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 comprising:

a. a base station having a telephone line interface, a POD interface and a base control processor coupled to the telephone line interface and the POD interface operable to exchange call control and audio communications signalling between the telephone line interface and the POD interface;

b. at least one POD unit, each such POD unit having a microphone, a loudspeaker, a base interface and a POD control processor interconnecting the microphone, loudspeaker and base interface to exchange communications signalling with the base station via the POD interface and base interface and operable to filter out audio signalling received over the base interface from the signal produced by the microphone supplied to the base interface; and

wherein the base POD interface prevents audio signaling communication between each POD.

2. The system of claim 1 further including an in-use indicator on said base.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a page button on said base operable to cause each said POD unit to emit an audible signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said POD control processor includes a base processor and a digital signal processor (DSP).

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each said POD unit further includes a keypad to receive input from a user.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said keypad includes at least one key selected from the group of switches comprising on/off switch, onhook/offhook switch, volume control switch, mute switch and a telephone dialing keypad group of switches.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display to provide status output from the POD.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said display is configured to show caller-id information, dialed number and volume levels information.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the base interface and the POD interface exchange communications signalling over a wireless channel.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless channel is a radio frequency (RF) channel.

11. A method for conducting a conference call using a base station with a call control processor controlling a telephone line interface connected to a telephone network and a POD interface operable to exchange call control and audio communications signalling between the telephone network and the POD interface and at least one POD control processor unit controlling a microphone, a loudspeaker and a base interface to exchange communications signalling with the base station POD interface comprising the steps of:

a. producing audio output on each POD loudspeaker corresponding to audio signalling received from the telephone network;

b. performing echo cancellation processing at the POD control processor on the audio signalling produced by the microphone to remove the audio output produced by step a; and

c. delivering the echo cancellation output produced by each POD to the base station call control processor for summing and delivery into the telephone network and blocking a side-tone of a POD from delivery to another POD.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the base interface and each POD interface exchange communications signalling over a wireless channel, preferably a radio frequency (RF) wireless channel.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the telephone network is a public switched telephone network or a digital telephone network including a voice over internet protocol telephone network. into the base station

14. The method of claim 11 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display controlled by said POD control processor unit further including the step of providing a status output on the display.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said display is controlled to show caller-id information, dialed number and volume levels information.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display controlled by said POD control processor unit further including the step of providing a status output on the display

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display controlled by said POD control processor unit further including the step of providing a status output on the display

18. The method of claim 13 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display controlled by said POD control processor unit further including the step of providing a status output on the display

19. The method of claim 18 wherein each said POD unit further includes a display controlled by said POD control processor unit further including the step of providing a status output on the display