Methods and systems for enabling users to inject sound effects into telephone conversations
First Claim
1. Apparatus for injecting audio clips into a telephone communication, comprising:
- a first connection for connecting to a selected one of a plurality of audio playback devices, the selected audio playback device storing at least one audio clip;
at least a second connection for connecting to at least one of a telephone including a voice path and a headset including an earpiece;
an adapter, connected to each of the first and second connectors for receiving on the first connector an audio clip output by the selected audio playback device and for transmitting the audio clip substantially simultaneously on the second connector to the voice path of the telephone and to the earpiece of the headset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems enable a user to inject sound clips from an audio device into a telephone conversation. The invention includes an adapter that connects to an audio player, a user listening device, and a communication device such as a telephone. In different embodiments, these connections may be wired, wireless or a combination of both. The audio player is selectable and of the type wherein stored audio clips can be changed, for example an MP3 player, CD or DVD player, video player, computer or the like. In operation, the user selects an audio clip from the audio device for substantially immediate and simultaneous playback through the user listening device and the telephone. In this manner, both the user and any other party to the telephone conversation can hear the audio clip substantially simultaneously.
58 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for injecting audio clips into a telephone communication, comprising:
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a first connection for connecting to a selected one of a plurality of audio playback devices, the selected audio playback device storing at least one audio clip;
at least a second connection for connecting to at least one of a telephone including a voice path and a headset including an earpiece;
an adapter, connected to each of the first and second connectors for receiving on the first connector an audio clip output by the selected audio playback device and for transmitting the audio clip substantially simultaneously on the second connector to the voice path of the telephone and to the earpiece of the headset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for injecting audio clips into a telephone communication, comprising:
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a telephone;
an audio player including a first control operable by a user for storing a plurality of changeable audio clips and a second control operable by the user for selecting an audio clip from the plurality of changeable audio clips;
a headset including a microphone and an earpiece;
an adapter for processing the audio clip;
a first connection selectively connectable between the audio player and the adapter;
a second connection selectively connectable between the adapter and the telephone;
a third connection selectively connectable between the adapter and the headset;
the adapter including an electronic circuit comprising a receiver for receiving the selected audio clip from the audio player through the first connection, an audio processor for processing the audio clip, a transmitter for outputting the audio clip onto each of the second connection for transmission to the telephone and the third connection for transmission to the headset, and a controller for controlling the operation of the adapter; and
the adapter further operative to transmit audio from the headset microphone to a voice path of the telephone;
whereby the selected audio clip can be substantially simultaneously played back on both the headset and the telephone while the user communicates on the telephone using the headset.
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12. A method of injecting audio clips into a telephone communication, comprising:
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providing an adapter;
connecting the adapter to a selected one of a plurality of audio playback devices, the selected audio playback device storing at least one audio clip;
connecting the adapter to at least one of a telephone including a voice path and a headset including a microphone and an earpiece;
engaging in a telephone call on the telephone using the headset microphone to transmit audio and the headset earpiece to receive audio;
selecting the at least one audio clip; and
transmitting, using the adapter, the audio clip to the telephone and to the headset whereby the audio clip can be heard substantially simultaneously by all parties to the telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The method of clam 12 wherein the telephone is selected from the group comprising a cellular telephone and a landline telephone.
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21. Apparatus for injecting audio clips into a telephone communication, comprising:
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a first connection to an audio playback device, the selected audio playback device storing at least one changeable audio clip;
a second connection for connecting to at least one of a telephone including a voice path and a headset including an earpiece;
an adapter, connected to each of the first and second connectors for receiving on the first connector an audio clip output by the selected audio playback device and for transmitting the audio clip substantially simultaneously on the second connector to the voice path of the telephone and to the earpiece of the headset. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification