Abstract:
A reproduction-receiver part is provided for use in a headset system, wherein parts are provided for wireless reception of audio signals from a mobile radio telephone network and a loudspeaker for acoustic reproduction of the signals.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a radio headset system as well as to handshake procedure associated therewith. 
     Radio headset systems are commonly known as radio headsets or headsets. They allow a conversation to be held with a communicating party whereby the hands of the user are free for other activities. Radio headsets are a simple version of handsfree devices. 
     Radio headset systems generally are either wired or connected wirelessly to a communication terminal. The terminal can be a fixed network telephone, a mobile phone in accordance with the GSM standard or one of the future standards, as well as a cordless telephone. 
     An object of the present invention is to improve the handling of radio headset systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, this object is achieved for a reproduction and receive part of a radio headset, an acceptance and send part of a radio headset and an overall inventive radio headset system. The present invention also provides for handshake procedures associated with such a radio headset system. 
     The radio headset system is subdivided in accordance with the present invention into a reproduction and receive part and an acceptance and send part which reduces the size of the in-ear headphone system so that it is practically imperceptible in its environment. With the reproduction and receive part, the lack of a send stage results in the radiation burden near the head being extremely small. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows the radio headset system in accordance with the present invention with a reproduction and receive part and an acceptance and send part. 
         FIG. 2  shows an alternative embodiment for the inventive radio headset system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The radio headset system in accordance with the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  basically consists of a reproduction and receive part WE and an acceptance and send part AS. 
     The reproduction and receive part WE features a receiving device for acoustic audio signals. The receive part WE is connected directly via a mobile radio network or a mobile communication network to a radio base station. A loudspeaker is also provided for reproduction of the audio signals. Electronic and electrical components such as battery, receive antenna, control facilities and converters are not shown explicitly in  FIG. 1  and are of secondary importance with respect to the present invention. 
     The reproduction and receive part WE only needs a comparatively small battery to operate, since only one receive device has to be operated. The reproduction and receive part WE can be worn like a hearing aid, directly on or in an ear of the user. 
     The acceptance and send part AS features a microphone to accept acoustic audio signals as well as a send part for forwarding the acoustic signals via a mobile radio network to a radio base station. Here, too, the electrical and electronic components such as battery, antenna, controller, send stage and converter facilities are of secondary importance for an understanding of the present invention and are not shown explicitly in  FIG. 1 . 
     The acceptance and send part AS can be a self-contained device which is worn on the wrist, like a wristwatch, for example. The send part AS also can, however, be integrated into other devices such as, for example, a palmtop or similar. 
     With mobile telephones, be they using the GSM standard or the DECT standard, the connection between the mobile device and the base station is monitored. What are known as handshake signals are exchanged between the two units for this purpose. With a corresponding number of errors in these signals (that is, with a bad communications link), a notification signal is sent to the mobile device and, in turn, output there. 
     With the radio headset system in accordance with the present invention there are two possible alternatives for this. 
     In a first embodiment, which is preferably employed in cordless telephones, handshake signals are sent directly from the radio base station to the reproduction and receive part WE. This part performs the signaling and gives an audible notification, if necessary. 
     With a second embodiment, the handshake signals are exchanged between the radio base station and the acceptance and send part AS. In the case of a bad connection, a corresponding notification then can be inserted into the audio data stream, starting out from the radio base station. The notification is then received by the reproduction and receive part WE and output acoustically. 
     With the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2 , the acceptance and send part AS also receives audio signals from the mobile communication network. These are then forwarded via a short-range air interface, such as Bluetooth, to the reproduction and receive part WE. The send part AS is then a normal mobile radio device for which the acoustic reproduction converter is either missing or switched off. 
     With this embodiment, the handshake signals are exchanged between the acceptance and send part AS and the reproduction and receive part WE. A bad connection is then notified by a message inserted into the audio data stream by the send part AS to the receive part WE. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the hereafter appended claims.