Abstract:
A telecommunication system. The telecommunication system comprises a telecommunication apparatus and an audio accessory attached thereto. The audio accessory comprises an accessory interface and an accessory controller. The accessory controller controls operation of the audio accessory according to connection status of the audio interface. The telecommunication apparatus comprises an apparatus interface and an apparatus controller. The apparatus interface is configured to physically connect the telecommunication apparatus to the accessory interface of the audio accessory. The apparatus controller controls operation of the telecommunication apparatus according to connection status of the apparatus interface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/725,384, filed Oct. 11, 2005, entitled “Telecommunication system”. The contents of the provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a telecommunication system and in particular to a telecommunication system comprising a mobile phone and a hands-free headset.  
         [0003]     The type of devices capable of telecommunication has grown rapidly. Examples of commercially available telecommunication devices comprise IP soft phones, mobile phones, and Wi-Fi phones. The appearance of some telecommunication devices are completely different from conventional telephones, as is the way they are used. For example, an IP soft phone is implemented by software installed on a computer. When using an IP soft phone, i.e. when using a computer installed with communication software, to communicate with other IP soft phones, an earphone/speaker/microphone is used to transmit and receive vocal signals. Hands-free units, such as wired and cordless headsets, are also used with the IF soft phone.  
         [0004]     Conventionally, there are two ways to operate a wireless headset.  
         [0005]     For a wireless headset which is powered on by a default, the wireless headset is pre-connected and paired with a mobile phone. A bidirectional channel is thus established. The headset can be activated when an incoming call is received, and used to control mobile phone operation via a mechanism, such as a voice-activated-dialing mechanism. This always-on operation method enables a quick response of the wireless headset. A start-up time of a wireless headset is not required. The wireless headset, however, consumes power in standby mode when waiting for a call. The limited power of the wireless headset is a disadvantage for always-on operation method.  
         [0006]     For a wireless headset operating in a required-power-on operating method, it is powered-off when not in use, and powered on when required. In the required-powered-on operation method, battery life of the wireless headset can be maximized. When the wireless headset is powered-on by requirement, additional operations and time are required for a pairing procedure to establish a communication connection between the mobile phone and the wireless headset.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a telecommunication system. The telecommunication system comprises a telecommunication apparatus and an audio accessory attached thereto. The audio accessory comprises an accessory interface and an accessory controller. The accessory controller controls operation of the audio accessory according to the connection status of the audio interface. The telecommunication apparatus comprises an apparatus interface and an apparatus controller. The apparatus interface is configured to physically connect the telecommunication apparatus to the accessory interface of the audio accessory. The apparatus controller controls operation of the telecommunication apparatus according to the connection status of the apparatus interface.  
         [0008]     Also provided is telecommunication apparatus operating with a wireless headset. The telecommunication apparatus comprises a metal contact and an apparatus controller. The metal contact is used for electrically connecting to the wireless headset. The apparatus controller controls operation of the telecommunication apparatus according to the connection status of the metal contact.  
         [0009]     Also provided is telecommunication apparatus connecting to a headset via a wire. The telecommunication apparatus comprises an actuator, a wire coiling unit and an apparatus controller. The wire coiling unit is used for coiling up the cord when an actuator is activated. The apparatus controller controls operation of the telecommunication apparatus according to the operation status of the wire coiling unit.  
         [0010]     Also provided is a method for operating a telecommunication system. The telecommunication system comprises a telecommunication and a wireless headset, wherein the telecommunication apparatus and the wireless headset comprise metal contacts for electrically connecting to each other, respectively. Connection status of the metal contacts is determined, specifying whether the metal contact is connected to each other. Operations of the telecommunication apparatus and the wireless headset are controlled according to connection status of the metal contacts.  
         [0011]     Also provided is a method for operating a telecommunication apparatus connecting to a headset via a wire. The telecommunication apparatus comprises an actuator and a wire coiling unit used for coiling up the wire when the actuator is activated. The operation status of the coiling unit is determined. Operation of the telecommunication apparatus is controlled according to the operation status of the wire coiling unit and operation status of the telecommunication apparatus. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an embodiment of a mobile phone employing a wireless headset;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a mobile phone and wireless headset attached thereto;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show flowcharts the operations of a mobile phone and a wireless headset when metal contact detachment is detected;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show flowcharts the operations of a mobile phone and a wireless headset when metal contact attachment is detected;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate an embodiment of a mobile phone employing a wired headset;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a mobile phone and wired headset attached thereto;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates operations of mobile phone when detecting that the coiled wire is drawn out; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates operations of mobile phone when the actuator is activated for coiling up the wire. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , which generally relate to a telecommunication system. While some embodiments of the invention are applicable to a mobile phone and a headset attached thereto, it is understood that other telecommunication apparatuses employing hands-free units may be implemented.  
         [0022]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing in the figures corresponds to the Figure number, with the exception that the same reference number is used throughout to refer to an identical component which appears in multiple figures. It should be understood that the many of the elements described and illustrated throughout the specification are functional in nature and may be embodied in one or more physical entities or may take other forms beyond those described or depicted.  
         [0023]     Mobile phones are a prominent example of a telecommunication apparatus equipped with a hands-free unit, such as a headset. Consequently, for the remainder of this disclosure, a mobile phone is referred to, in a non-limiting sense, as an example of a telecommunication apparatus.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an embodiment of a mobile phone employing a wireless headset. A mobile phone  11  is coupled to a wireless headset  15 .  
         [0025]     The wireless headset  15  can be attached to mobile phone  11  via a physical mechanism. For example, the wireless headset  15  can be attached to mobile phone  11  via a metal contact, tenon-mortise structure, or other suitable physical mechanism. The mobile phone  11  comprises a holder  111  for holding wireless headset  15 .  
         [0026]     When wireless headset  15  is detached from mobile phone  11 , predetermined operations are triggered, and users can use the wireless headset  15  and mobile phone  11  for communication or other functions.  
         [0027]     Detecting whether the wireless headset  15  is detected from mobile phone  11  can be implemented by different method. Detection mechanisms capable of generating a trigger signal when the headset is handled for a specific operation may be implemented. For example, when wireless headset  15  is attached to mobile phone  11  via a metal contact, a trigger signal is generated in response the detachment of the wireless headset  15  and mobile phone  11 . When wireless headset  15  is attached to mobile phone  11  via a tenon-mortise structure, a trigger signal is generated in response the detachment of the wireless headset  15  and mobile phone  11 . The trigger signal can also be generated by magnetic induction device.  
         [0028]     Using metal contact as an example,  FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a mobile phone and wireless headset attached thereto. A mobile phone  21  is provided with a wireless headset  25 . The mobile phone  21  comprises headset holder  211 , a metal contact  213 , a detecting circuit  216 , a communication unit  217 , a cellular network communication unit  220 , a music player  219 , a keypad  218 , and an apparatus controller  215 . The headset holder  211  is used for holding the cordless headset when not in use. The metal contact  213  is used for electrically connecting to the wireless headset when not in use. The detecting circuit  216  is used for detecting whether wireless headset  25  is attached to or detached from mobile phone  21 . The communication unit  217  is used to establish a communication connection between the mobile phone  21  and the headset  25 , and the cellular network communication unit  220  is used for establishing a cellular communication connection between the mobile phone  21  and a base station (not shown). For example, the headset  25  can be a Bluetooth headset, and communication connection between the mobile phone  21  and the headset  25  is through a Bluetooth network. The Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers and digital cameras via a secure, low-cost, globally available short range radio frequency. The cellular communication connection between the mobile phone  21  and a base station may be a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network or similar. The apparatus controller  215  is used for controlling operation of the mobile phone  21  according to the connection status of the metal contact  213 . For example, the apparatus controller  215  can control operations of the communication unit  217 , the cellular network communication unit  220 , the music player  219 , the keypad  218 , and other functional units equipped in mobile phone  21 . The mobile phone  21  also comprises a battery  212  and a power connector  214 . Battery  212  supplies electrical power for mobile phone  21 , and can be recharged by an external electrical power source via the power connector  214 . The wireless headset  25  comprises a metal contact  253 , a headset controller  255 , and a communication unit  257 . The headset controller  255  controls operation of the headset according to the status of the metal contact  253 . For example, the headset controller  255  controls the communication unit  257  according to connection status of the metal contact  253 . The communication unit  257  is used to establish a communication connection between the mobile phone  21  and the headset  25 . The metal contacts  213  and  253  are electrically connected when wireless headset  25  is not in use. The wireless headset  25  also comprises a headset battery  252  and a power connector  254 . The headset battery  252  supplies electric power for the wireless headset  25 , and can be recharged by an external electrical power source via the power connector  254 .  
         [0029]     It should be noted that the headset battery  252  can be used as a power source for the battery  212 , and the power can be transmitted through the metal contacts  213  and  253  from the headset battery  252  to the battery  212 . Similarly, the battery  212  can be used as a power source for headset battery  252 , and power can be transmitted through the metal contacts  213  and  253  from the battery  212  to the headset battery  252 . Therefore, it can be known that when the metal contact  213  is electrically connected to the metal contact  253  and when the power connector  214 / 254  is connected to the external electrical power source for recharging, both of the battery  212  and the headset battery  213  can be recharged together by the external electrical power source via the power connector  214 / 254 . That is, when the power connector  214  is connected to the external electrical power source for recharging, the power can be transmitted to the battery  212 , and also can be transmitted to the headset battery  252  through the metal contacts  213  and  253 .  
         [0030]     Operations of both the wireless headset  25  and mobile phone  21  can be controlled according to the connection status of the metal contacts  213  and  253 . Using  FIG. 3A  as an example, operations of mobile phone  21  when detecting that metal contact  213  is detached from metal contact  253  are illustrated. In step S 311 , it is determined whether metal contact  213  is detached from metal contact  253 , and if so, the method proceeds to step S 312 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 312 , a pairing procedure is performed to establish a wireless communication connection, such as a Bluetooth network connection, between mobile phone  21  and wireless headset  35 , such as a Bluetooth headset. In step S 313 , it is determined whether an incoming call is received, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 314 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 315 . In step S 314 , the incoming call is answered, the cellular network communication connection being established, and the mobile phone  21  is engaged in the call. In step S 315 , a list of preset application is presented for selection. Here, a list comprising a dialing application and a music player application is presented. In step S 316 , it is determined whether the dialing application or the music player application is selected. If the dialing application is selected, the method proceeds to step S 318 , if the music player application is selected, the method proceeds to step S 3171 . In step S 3171 , it is determined whether the keypad lock is locked, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 3173 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 3175 . In step S 3173 , the locked keypad lock is unlocked. In step S 3175 , the music player application is performed according to instructions input by a user. In step S 318 , a keypad lock, if any, is unlocked. In step S 319 , a dialing application is performed according to instructions input by a user.  
         [0031]     Using  FIG. 3B  as an example, operations of wireless headset  25  when detecting that metal contact  213  is detached from metal contact  253  are illustrated. In step S 351 , it is determined whether metal contact  253  is detached from metal contact  213 , and if so, the method proceeds to step S 352 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 352 , wireless headset  25  is powered on. In step S 353 , a pairing procedure is performed to establish a wireless communication connection between mobile phone  21  and wireless headset  35 . In step S 355 , the wireless communication connection between mobile phone  21  and wireless headset  35  is established.  
         [0032]     Using  FIG. 4A  as an example, operations of mobile phone  21  are illustrated when detecting that wireless headset  25  is put back to its original position. When the wireless headset  25  is put back to its original position, metal contact  213  is attached to metal contact  253 . In step S 411 , it is determined whether metal contact  213  is attached to metal contact  253 , and if so, the method proceeds to step S 412 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 412 , it is determined whether mobile phone  21  is currently engaged in a call, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 413 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 414 . In step S 413 , a current call is terminated. In step S 414 , it is determined whether mobile phone  21  is currently performing the music player application, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 415 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 416 . In step S 415 , the music player application is stopped. In step S 4151 , a keypad lock is locked. In step S 417 , a keypad lock is locked immediately after the current call is terminated. In step S 416 , a keypad lock is locked.  
         [0033]     Using  FIG. 4B  as an example, operations of wireless headset  25  are illustrated, when detecting that wireless headset  25  is put back to its original position. When the wireless headset  25  is put back to its original position, metal contact  213  is attached to metal contact  253 . In step S 451 , it is determined whether metal contact  253  is attached to metal contact  213 , and if so, the method proceeds to step S 453 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 453 , headset  25  is powered off. In step S 455 , the wireless communication connection between mobile phone  21  and wireless headset  35  is terminated.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate an embodiment of a mobile phone employing a wired headset. Using  FIG. 5B  as an example, a mobile phone  51  is connected to a headset  55  (comprising earbuds  55   a  and  55   b ) via a wire  53 . The headset  55  is normally detachable from mobile phone  51 , using a jack plug (not shown). Mobile phone  51  comprises a wire coiling unit  52  used for coiling up wire  53  when an actuator  54  is activated. When wire  53  is coiled into or drawn out from mobile phone  51 , preset operations are triggered automatically.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a mobile phone and a wired headset attached thereto. A mobile phone  61  is connected to a wired headset  65  via a wire  63 . The mobile phone  61  comprises a wire coiling unit  62 , an apparatus controller  615 , an actuator  64 , cellular communication unit  617 , music player  619 , and keypad  618 . The wire coiling unit  62  used for coiling up the wire  63  when actuator  64  is activated. The actuator  64  may be a push button. The cellular communication unit  617  is used for cellular network communication. The apparatus controller  615  is used for controlling operations of the telecommunication apparatus, the mobile phone  61 , according to the status of the wire coiling unit  62 . When the coiled wire is drawn out, the apparatus controller  615  can activate a preset action of the mobile phone  61  according to the status thereof. For example, apparatus controller  615  controls operation of the cellular communication unit  617  and music player  619 , keypad  618 , and other functional units equipped in mobile phone  61 .  
         [0036]     Operations of mobile phone  61  can be controlled according to the status of the wire coiling unit  62 .  FIG. 7  illustrates operations of mobile phone  61  when detecting that the coiled wire is drawn out. In step S 71 , it is determined whether the coiled wire is drawn out, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 73 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 73 , it is determined whether an incoming call is received, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 74 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 75 . In step S 74 , a call session is initiated, the cellular network communication connection being established, audio signals related to the incoming call being transferred to the headset  65  via the wire  63 , and the mobile phone  61  is engaged in the call. In step S 75 , a list of preset applications is presented for selection. Here, a list comprising a dialing application and a music player application is presented. In step S 76 , it is determined whether the dialing application or the music player application is selected. If the dialing application is selected, the method proceeds to step S 78 , if the music player application is selected, the method proceeds to step S 771 . In step S 771 , it is determined whether the keypad lock is locked, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 773 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 775 . In step S 773 , the locked keypad lock is unlocked. In step S 775 , the music player application is performed according to instructions input by a user. In step S 78 , a keypad lock, if any, is unlocked. In step S 79 , a dialing application is performed according to instructions input by a user.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates operations of mobile phone  61  when wired headset is put back to its original position. When the wired headset is put back to its original position, actuator  64  is activated for coiling up wire  63 . In step S 81 , it is determined whether actuator  64  is activated for coiling up wire  63 , and if so, the method proceeds to step S 82 , otherwise the method returns to the beginning. In step S 82 , it is determined whether mobile phone  61  is currently engaged in a call, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 83 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 84 . In step S 83 , a current call is terminated. In step S 84 , it is determined whether mobile phone  61  is currently performing the music player application, and if so, the method proceeds to step S 85 , otherwise the method proceeds to step S 86 . In step S 85 , the music player application is stopped. In step S 851 , a keypad lock is locked. In step S 87 , a keypad lock is locked immediately after the current call is terminated. In step S 86 , a keypad lock is locked.  
         [0038]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of several embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.