Call pod for having conference calls in a portable environment

• US 6,801,611 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callpod Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Callpod Incorporated
• Inventors: Guccione, Darren, Lurey, Daniel Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US09/896,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/93.21, 379/428.02, 379/158, 379/205.01, 455/416, 455/417, 455/414.1, 455/575.2, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for establishing a conference call connection among a plurality of conference call participants. The method includes the steps of providing a call pod for interconnecting a plurality of headsets of the plurality of participants, operably connecting a headset interface of a wireless telephone with a wireless telephone audio interface of the call pod and forming a two-way voice path among the plurality of headsets and the wireless telephone interface within the call pod.

Claims

1. A method of providing a conference call connection among a plurality of conference call participants, such method comprising the steps of:

providing a call pod for interconnecting a plurality of headsets of the plurality of participants;

operably connecting a headset interface of a wireless telephone with a wireless telephone audio interface of the call pod; and

forming a two-way voice path among the plurality of headsets and the wireless telephone interface within the call pod, wherein the call pod includes a sense circuit structured to automatically activate the call pod during a call and to automatically deactivate the call pod upon termination of the call wherein the sense circuit detects a microphone bias current on a microphone input of the wireless telephone and activates the call pod using the detected microphone bias current.

2. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising activating a flashing indicator upon detection of a call connection.

3. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising deactivating the call pod upon termination of a call connection.

4. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising detecting a positive bias current from the microphone connection of the wireless telephone.

5. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 4 further comprising detecting a negative bias current from the microphone connection of the wireless telephone.

6. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising muting a microphone of a call participant of the plurality of participants.

7. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising muting a headset of a participant of the plurality of participants.

8. The method of providing a conference call connection as in claim 1 further comprising muting the wireless telephone audio interface.

9. An apparatus for providing a conference call connection among a plurality of conference call participants, such apparatus comprising:

a call pod for interconnecting a plurality of headsets of the plurality of participants;

means for operably connecting a headset interface of a wireless telephone with a wireless telephone audio interface of the call pod; and

means for forming a two-way voice path among the plurality of headsets and the wireless telephone interface within the call pod, wherein the call pod includes a sense circuit structured to automatically activate the call pod during a call and to automatically deactivate the call pod upon termination of the call wherein the sense circuit detects a microphone bias current on a microphone input of the wireless telephone and activates the call pod using the detected microphone bias current.

10. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for activating the call pod upon detection of a call connection.

11. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for activating a flashing indicator upon detection of a call connection.

12. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for deactivating the call pod upon termination of a call connection.

13. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for detecting a positive bias current from the microphone connection of the wireless telephone.

14. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 12 further comprising means for detecting a negative bias current from the microphone connection of the wireless telephone.

15. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for muting a microphone of a call participant of the plurality of participants.

16. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for muting a headset of a participant of the plurality of participants.

17. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising means for muting the wireless telephone audio interface.

22. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 9 further comprising a pushbutton adapted to mute the wireless telephone audio interface.

18. An apparatus for providing a conference call connection among a plurality of conference call participants, such apparatus comprising:

a call pod for interconnecting a plurality of headsets of the plurality of participants;

a wireless telephone interconnect cable adapted to operably connect a headset interface of a wireless telephone with a wireless telephone audio interface of the call pod; and

first and second circuits adapted to form a two-way voice path among the plurality of headsets and the wireless telephone interface within the call pod, wherein the call pod includes a sense circuit structured to automatically activate the call pod during a call and to automatically deactivate the call pod upon termination of the call wherein the sense circuit detects a microphone bias current on a microphone input of the wireless telephone and activates the call pod using the detected microphone bias current.

19. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 18 further comprising a power switch adapted to automatically activate the call pod upon detection of a call connection.

20. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 18 further comprising a flashing indicator adapted to provide indication of a call connection.

21. The apparatus for providing a conference call connection as in claim 18 further comprising a pushbutton adapted to mute a microphone of a call participant of the plurality of participants.