Wearable system for enabling mobile communications

• US 8,014,733 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Kanemoto, Michael W., Gailloux, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan; Yuwen
• Application Number:
  US11/627,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.2
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A system and associated methods are disclosed for facilitating mobile communications. In one embodiment, the system increases the utility of mobile communications devices by integrating communications electronics into wearable items, so that communications sessions are more easily conducted in a variety of circumstances. Further, in additional embodiments, the methods enable movement performance for an individual to be monitored and reported by an associated mobile communications device, and for preselected messages to be transmitted to inquiring devices depending on sensed movement activity.

Claims

1. A wearable communications enabling device comprising:

an article configured for wearing by a user, and having a containment portion for receiving a mobile communications device;

a push-to-talk switch for initiating and ending a voice transmission on the mobile communications device, the push-to-talk switch integrated with the article;

a wiring arrangement extending from the push-to-talk switch to the containment portion of the article for selectively electrically coupling the push-to-talk switch with the mobile communications device when such mobile communications device is located within the containment portion; and

a remote sensing device for monitoring and recording movement sensing data and transmitting the movement sensing data to the mobile communications device, wherein a transmitted message of the user'"'"'s unavailability is invoked when the movement sensing data exceeds a preset timeframe and a level of sufficient activity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the containment portion of the article configured for wearing is formed as a pocket.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more speakers and a microphone integrated with the article configured for wearing and electrically coupled with the wiring arrangement for communicating sound data from the microphone to the mobile communications device and communicating sound data from the mobile communications device to the speakers.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the wiring arrangement is a terminal end plug configured for mating with a jack of the mobile communications device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the push-to-talk switch is sandwiched between material layers of the article configured for wearing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the article configured for wearing by a user comprises a clothing item.

7. The wearable communications enabling device of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s unavailability is reexamined when the movement sensing data is determined to be stationary, moving slowly, or moving infrequently.

8. The wearable communications enabling device of claim 1, wherein the remote sensing device comprises a processor to determine the user'"'"'s unavailability from the movement sensing data.

9. The wearable communications enabling device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a processor to determine the user'"'"'s unavailability from the movement sensing data.

10. A mobile system for supporting performance monitoring, comprising:

an article configured for wearing by a user, and having a containment portion for receiving a mobile communications device;

a push-to-talk switch integrated with the article;

a wiring arrangement extending from the push-to-talk switch to the containment portion of the article for selectively electrically coupling the push-to-talk switch with the mobile communications device when such mobile communications device is located within the containment portion; and

a remote sensing device configured to utilize a wireless communications protocol for communications with the mobile communications device within a common local area network, the remote sensing device measuring movement activities and invoking a transmitted message from the mobile communications device of the user'"'"'s unavailability due to said movement activities when the movement activities exceed a preset timeframe.

11. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the containment portion of the article configured for wearing is formed as a pocket.

12. The mobile system of claim 10, further comprising:

one or more speakers and a microphone integrated with the article configured for wearing and electrically coupled with the wiring arrangement for communicating sound data from the microphone to the mobile communications device and communicating sound data from the mobile communications device to the speakers.

13. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the wiring arrangement has a terminal end plug configured for mating with a jack of the mobile communications device.

14. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the push-to-talk switch is sandwiched between material layers of the article configured for wearing.

15. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s unavailability is reexamined when the movement activities are determined to be stationary, moving slowly, or moving infrequently.

16. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the remote sensing device comprises a processor to determine the user'"'"'s unavailability from the movement activities.

17. The mobile system of claim 10, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a processor to determine the user'"'"'s unavailability from the movement activities.