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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A variety of systems have been developed over time for enabling mobile communications. Two-way radios, “walkie talkies”, and the like, were the first widespread wireless devices that allowed individuals located remote from one another to share voice communications. Each user tunes their device to a dedicated frequency, where half-duplex transmissions are shared. Prior to the development of cellular networks, communication via two-way radios was limited by the strength of the transmission signal from the device and the particular frequency used, among other factors. Cellular networks have been able to overcome these obstacles by employing a set of distributed stations, each having a transmitter. As the user&#39;s radio device moves between coverage areas of adjacent stations, transmissions from and to the radio device are handled by the transmitter/receiver of the closest distributed station. In the case of a cellular telephone network, the distributed station or “base station” is connected with a telephone network switch so that both half-duplex and full-duplex transmissions from a mobile cellular telephone may be carried across the telephone network backbone. 
     With the advances made in mobile communications technology, users are now demanding more robust features for their wireless devices. For instance, there is a desire to facilitate voice communications among a group of individuals who are engaged in certain sporting activities. While modern mobile telephones and telephone network-based radio devices are typically small enough for the user to carry or place in their pocket, there can difficulty in initiating a communications transmission depending on the current activity of the user (e.g., a skier or snowboarder in motion) and the gear worn by the individual (e.g., an insulated coat and gloves). This can have a detrimental effect on the spontaneity of a communications session, as the user often has to remove some of their gear or otherwise break from their current activity in order to access their communications device. Furthermore, if the user does not realize a transmission from another user has been received on their device, or is not in a position to “answer” the communication, the requesting user is only left to speculate as to why the non-answering user is not available for a communications session. Thus, there is a desire to provide requesting users with additional information as to why a particular user being requested for a communications session is unavailable. Furthermore, there is a desire to monitor the movement performance of an individual engaged in a sporting activity and share such performance data with others. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The system and methods embodied herein facilitate mobile communications for individuals. In particular, 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, 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. 
     In one aspect, a wearable communications enabling device includes components integrated with an article of clothing, including a push-to-talk switch. Specifically, the article of clothing has a containment portion for receiving a mobile communications device, and a wiring arrangement extending from the push-to-talk switch to the containment portion. The push-to-talk switch becomes electrically coupled with the mobile communications device via the wiring arrangement, enabling the user to initiate voice transmissions from their mobile communications device without having to access the mobile device in the containment portion. Furthermore, in an embodiment, one or more speakers and a microphone are integrated with the article of clothing and are electrically coupled with the wiring arrangement. In this way, when the mobile device is stored in the containment portion of the clothing article, the user realizes increased audio fidelity in their communication session as compared to utilizing the speaker and microphone devices on the stored device itself. 
     In another aspect, movement performance monitoring is facilitated. According to one method, movement sensing data originating with a remote sensing device is received by a mobile telecommunications device. The remote device is coupled to a sport implement experiencing the movement that is sensed, and utilizes a wireless communications protocol to communicate with the mobile telecommunications device when the remote device is associated with the personal area network of the mobile telecommunications device. Thereafter, the moving sensing data may be presented on the display of the mobile telecommunications device or transmitted from the mobile telecommunications device to a network location. Such a network location may be a centralized database that other authorized users may access, and such moving sensing data may be transmitted to other users who are also engaged in an activity where movement performance monitoring is taking place. Further, a system facilitates movement performance monitoring through the use of the wearable communications enabling device coupled with the remote sensing device. In such a system, the remote sensing device may be coupled with a sport implement, or otherwise positioned relative to the wearable communications enabling device and within a common local area network. 
     In another aspect, a method is provided for communicating an availability condition for a first mobile communications device user to another inquiring second mobile communications device user. According to the method, a first mobile communications device receives a push-to-talk communication transmission from a second mobile communications device. The first mobile communications device registers movement activities sensed by a remote device associated with the personal area network of the first mobile communications device. A wireless communications protocol is utilized by the remote device to communicate the sensed data to the first mobile communications device. If the movement activities are of a specific type, the first mobile device generates and transmits a preselected message to the second mobile communications device indicating that the first user is not available for a communications session. For instance, if a certain amount of accelerations are measured by the remote sensing device, the preselected message sent to the inquiring second mobile communications device user may indicate that the first user is engaged in sporting activity and cannot reply at this time. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in a description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an exemplary mobile communications device and network environment suitable for use in implementing the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a wearable communications enabling device coupling with a remote sensing device for supporting performance monitoring; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a portion of the wearable communications enabling device showing a push-to-talk switch integrated with an article of clothing; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view generally in the region identified by the numeral  4  in  FIG. 2 , showing a wiring arrangement and interfacing plug for coupling together the push-to-talk switch with a mobile communications device held within a containment portion of the wearable communications enabling device; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the remote sensing device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connote different components of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary mobile communications device  100  is illustrated. The mobile communications device  100  operates on both a long range wireless network  1000  (such as a cellular telephone network) and within a personal area network (PAN)  2000 . As one example, communications within the PAN  2000  are conducted by a wireless communications protocol, such as by Bluetooth® format. However, it should be appreciated that other radio-frequency formats may be selected. Optionally, the mobile device  100  may forgo operating on the long range wireless network  1000  and simply engage in public frequency radio transmissions, such that the mobile device  100  is configured to have a robust signal strength for communicating with other devices across a larger geographic region than the PAN  2000 . The mobile device  100  may primarily perform the function of a traditional wireless communications device (e.g., a mobile cellular phone) or may also function as a general or special purpose computing device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or any other type of electronic device. 
     One suitable arrangement for a set of functional components of the mobile communications device  100  is provided in  FIG. 1 , though it is contemplated that other functional components not shown may be included in the mobile device  100  dependent on the operational aspects of and features provided by the device  100 . Additionally, less than all of the functional components may be needed in the mobile communications device  100  if certain functionalities are not desired. Included in the mobile communications device  100  are a processor  102 , a memory  104 , a display  106 , and certain input/output means. The memory  104  generally includes both volatile memory (e.g., RAM) and non-volatile (e.g., ROM, memory cards, etc.). In one embodiment, an operating system  108  is resident in the memory  104  and executes on the processor  102 . One or more application programs  110  are loaded into the memory  104  and run on the operating system  108 . A notification manager  112 , for handling notification requests from the applications  110 , may also be loaded into the memory  104  for execution on the processor  102 . The processor  102  may alternatively be in the form of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), e.g., for mobile cellular phone communications, so that applications  110  reside on the processor  102 . The mobile communications device  100  also has a power supply  114  which may be implemented as one or more internal batteries and/or as an external power source, such as through an AC adapter, a powered docking cradle, or an external battery. 
     Input and output for the mobile communications device  100  is made through various components. A transceiver  116  (acting as a receiver), a position sensor  118  (e.g., a GPS sensor for geolocation of the device  100 ), a microphone  120  and a keypad  122  receive input, with an audio generator  124  (e.g., a speaker), a vibration device  126 , one or more LEDs  128 , as well as the display  106  and the transceiver  116  (acting as a transmitter) generating or handling output, each component being coupled with a bus  130  for communication with the processor  102  and other components (e.g., memory  104 ) and for receiving power from power supply  114 . The transceiver  116  transmits and receives signals for communication with the long range wireless network  1000  components (a cellular base station, a satellite, etc.), another robust radio transceiver (e.g., for public frequency radio transmissions), and with PAN  2000  associated devices. One particular PAN  2000  associated device is a remote sensing device, as explained in further detail below with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , and continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , a wearable communications enabling device  200  and associated remote sensing device  202  are depicted. The wearable device  200  utilizes the conventional mobile communications device  100  for both communicating in a push-to-talk type fashion and for displaying and/or relaying information regarding movement performance data generated by the remote sensing device  202  located within the PAN  2000  common to the mobile device  100  and the sensing device  202 . 
     The wearable device  200 , as seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , is formed by a wearable article  204 , such as a clothing item (e.g., a jacket) or other wearable item (e.g., a backpack), a push-to-talk switch  206  integrated with the article  204 , and a wiring arrangement  208  extending from a containment portion  210  of the article  204  to the push-to-talk switch  206 . Further, the wiring arrangement  208  has a first terminal end  212  formed as a plug or other multi-conductor protrusion for mating with a receptacle  132  formed as a communications jack of the mobile communications device  100 . Distal to the plug  212 , the wiring arrangement  208  branches into individual conductive wires  214 . Each of the conductive wires  214  provides a conductive pathway (via the first terminal end  212 ) to one of the conductive contacts of the communications jack  132  of the mobile device  100 . Specifically, one of the conductive wires  214  extends to each of a microphone  218 , a left channel speaker  220 , a right channel speaker  222 , and the push-to-talk switch  206 , enabling signal transmission to the communications jack  132  of the mobile device  100 . Thus, the user can initiate a voice transmission by traditional half-duplex communication methods on the mobile device  100  by engaging the push-to-talk switch  206 , with audio input captured by the microphone  218  and converted to sound data for handling by the mobile device  100 . In the case of the wearable article  204  being a clothing item, the push-to-talk switch  206  may be located on the chest or sleeve of the item, as examples, so that the switch is easy to reach. Physically impacting the push-to-talk switch  206  begins the particular voice transmission through the mobile device  100  coupled with the wiring arrangement plug  212 , and a subsequent impact on the switch  206  ends the particular voice transmission. Upon ending the transmission, the mobile device  100  sends any voice communication received from other mobile devices as sound data through the appropriate conductive wire  214  to the speakers  220  and  222  for audio output. The wiring arrangement  208  also allows the microphone  218  and speakers  220  and  222  to function in a full-duplex operational mode without the push-to-talk switch  206 , for traditional cellular phone calling activity where a call is made to a dedicated telephone number with the mobile device  100 . It should be understood that other methodologies may be implemented in activating the push-to-talk switch  206  to mimic the depression of a push-to-talk button on a conventional mobile communications device (e.g., depression of the switch  206  for a certain period of time, or a certain number of consecutive times, to begin or end a discrete voice transmission). 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , one particular assembly arrangement for integrating the push-to-talk switch  206  with the wearable article  204  is depicted. The push-to-talk switch  206  may be sandwiched between material layers  224  of the article  204 , and the layers  224  sewn or otherwise attached together to cover the switch  206  and maintain the generally fixed position of the switch  206  on the article  204 . This structure provides protection for the push-to-talk switch  206  from the outside environment. The push-to-talk switch  206  is formed as a pressure or touch sensitive switch, and preferably has the capability of being calibrated depending on the type of wearable article  204  with which the switch  206  is integrated and material layers that are surrounding the switch  206 , to control the sensitivity of the switch  206  to touch. In a similar fabrication method, the microphone  218  and left and right channel speakers  220  and  222  may be sewn to a fabric layer or between overlapping fabric layers of the wearable article  204 . Alternatively, the microphone  218  and speakers  220  and  222  may be adhered or otherwise attached with the article  204  by any known method. In the case of the article being a backpack or similar item, the push-to-talk switch  206 , the microphone  218  and the speakers  220  and  222  may be located on or within the shoulder straps of the backpack, or any other location thereon. 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the containment portion  210  of the wearable article  204  provides a generally secure location for holding the mobile communication device  100  while utilizing the capabilities of the wearable device  200 . The containment portion  210  may be formed as an internal pocket of the article  204 , with a channel  226  extending from the pocket through which the wiring arrangement  208  is threaded to reach the push-to-talk switch  206 , the microphone  218  and the speakers  220  and  222 . Such a channel  226  also locates the wiring arrangement plug  212  for ease of connection with the communications jack  132  of the mobile device  100 . Optionally, an external battery functioning as power supply  114  may be located within the containment portion  210 , for connecting with another receptacle  134  of the mobile device  100 . Although the containment portion  210  is shown as a pocket-type structure, the portion  210  may take any structural form for holding a mobile device  100 , such as an elastic strap as one example. 
     An understanding of how the wearable communications enabling device  200  and associated remote sensing device  202  interact will now be explained with particular reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 . Devices  200  and  202  combine to form a mobile system  300  for supporting performance monitoring when the sensing device  202  is located within the PAN  2000  common to the mobile communication device  100  and the sensing device  202 . The remote sensing device  202  may be coupled with a sport implement  400  for performance monitoring, or located with any object utilized or otherwise secured to the user associated with the wearable device  200 . As examples, the sport implement may be a snow board (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ), water or snow ski, a bicycle, or any other type of sporting gear or tool. 
     A set of functional components of the remote sensing device  202  are shown in particular in  FIG. 5 . The sensing device  202  utilizes acceleration sensors  228 , or accelerometers to determine when movement of the user, specifically, the sport implement  400  or similar object, is taking place. The acceleration sensors  228  may measure linear accelerations in three dimensions, as well as rotational accelerations for pitch, roll and yaw. The sensors  228  may also measure less than three degrees of both linear and rotational acceleration. Signals generated by the sensors  228  are processed by a processor  230  to create movement data. The processor preferably takes the form of an ASIC processor with memory and applications residing on the processor  230 . A clock timer  232  is coupled with the processor  230 . The clock timer  232  facilitates integration of the acceleration signals over time by the processor  230  to determine velocities in associated linear and rotational directions. Additionally, the clock timer  232  enables periodic acceleration measurements and movement data transmission by the sensing device  202  to the mobile communication device  100  in order to conserve power and for the purpose of determining an availability condition for a communication session by the user of the mobile system  300 . The sensing device  202  also includes a power supply  234  in the form of one or more batteries or similar functional items, and a transceiver  236  for transmitting the movement data and receiving a polling signal from the mobile device  100  requesting that a performance monitoring session commence. Alternatively, the transceiver  236  may simply provide transmission capabilities (without a receiver) to send the movement data across the PAN  2000  to the associated mobile device  100 . 
     In use, the user places their mobile communication device  100  within the containment portion  210  of the wearable article  204  and secures the plug  212  of the wiring arrangement  208  with the communications jack  134  of the mobile device  100 . The user also makes a request on the mobile device  100  to find any communication devices within the PAN  2000  of the device  100 , such as by a Bluetooth® radio-frequency format transmission. Such a PAN request is a conventional step, as known to those of skill in the art. Upon the mobile device  100  recognizing the remote sensing device  202 , the user can being various movement or sporting activities. Based on the sensed movements, the sensing device  202  measures and transmits the movement data to the mobile device  100 . At the mobile device  100 , the movement data may be presented on the display  106  of the device  100 , such as in the form of acceleration or velocity values. Additionally, the movement data may be transmitted by the mobile device  100  across the long range wireless network  1000  to other mobile device  100  users, such as in the form of a text message identifying the particular mobile device  100  user and their movement or performance data. The particular user engaged in a performance activity can create on their mobile device  100  a preselected list of identifying addresses (e.g., phone numbers or email addresses) to which the movement data is automatically transmitted after it is received by the mobile device  100  from the sensing device  202 . Still further, such transmitted data may be routed to a central location on the network  1000 , such as a database, where it may be accessed by authorized users to learn the performance characteristics of various mobile system  300  users. In one embodiment, the database may be an Internet-accessible database. 
     Another method of use of the mobile system  300  is to provide an availability condition for a user of the mobile system  300  and to communication such an availability condition to another mobile system  300  user, or merely to any user of a mobile communication device having push-to-talk communications capability. Upon the mobile communications device  100  receiving a push-to-talk transmission from another mobile communications device, the device  100  either polls the sensing device  202  for movement data or check for recent transmissions of movement data received by the device  100  and stored in memory. Depending on the type of activity represented by the movement data, the mobile device  100  may generate a “non-available” message for transmission to the inquiring mobile communications device. For instance, if the sensing device  202  is measuring rapid changes in acceleration of a significant amplitude, this may indicate that the mobile system  300  user is engaged in strenuous sporting activities and would likely not be available to engage in a communication session by transmitting a reply signal (e.g., push-to-talk transmission or a specific telephone network call) back to the inquiring mobile communications device. The mobile device  100  user can create a preestablished message that is automatically transmitted along the dedicated push-to-talk frequency upon the device  100  receiving the inquiring mobile communications device user&#39;s push-to-talk transmission and the requirements for the “non-available” condition being met. Additionally, when the “non-available” condition is met, the mobile device  100  may disengage signal transmission and reception through the communications jack  134  to the components of the wearable communications enabling device  200 , so that the mobile system  300  user is not distracted by hearing the push-to-talk transmission through the speakers  220  and  222 . Alternatively, the mobile device  100  may transmit the preestablished “non-available” message without disengaging any wearable device  200  components. On the other hand, if the sensing device  202  is currently measuring or has most recently measured less severe accelerations in terms of frequency or amplitude, the mobile device  100  receiving the movement data avoids the step of generating and transmitting the “non-available” message, allowing unencumbered push-to-talk communications to take place. It should also be understood that process of determining whether the movement data represents sensed activity sufficient enough for the “non-available” condition to be valid may be performed by the sensing device  202  itself in one embodiment, and by the mobile device  100  in an alternative embodiment. In the case of the sensing device  202  handing the determination of availability for a communications session, the associated processor  230  is preprogrammed to monitor the signals generated by the acceleration sensors  228  to determine if such signals are outside of an acceptable range of amplitude, frequency, or other relevant characteristic, and if so, transmit to the mobile device  100  the indication of the “non-available” condition along with the movement data. Alternatively, the sensing device  202  may merely pass on to the mobile device  100  the movement data as processed form the acceleration sensor signals. In such a case, the processor  102  of the mobile device is itself responsible for the determination of whether the movement data includes acceleration or velocity values (or changes therein) that are outside of an acceptable range, and thus determining the “non-available” condition. No matter the process for determining the “non-available” condition, new push-to-talk transmissions received by the mobile system  300  will again cause the system  300  to make a determination of the availability of the system  300  user for a communication session. However, the mobile system  300  may be configured such that the validity of the “non-available” condition is only examined over a preset timeframe (e.g., every few seconds, each minute, etc.), and not instantaneously for each new push-to-talk transmission received. As an example, if a snowboarder utilizing the mobile system  300  takes a break from strenuous movement activities on a snow slope, they may not want to be available for a conversation if such a break is only for a few seconds. The snowboarder may find the voice transmissions received in such a situation to be distracting to their sporting activity. However, if the snowboarder is stationary or otherwise sensed to be moving slowly or infrequently for some time, the preset timeframe will pass and the “non-available” condition can be reexamined to determine availability for the mobile system  300  to communicate. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that various embodiments of the system and methods of the present invention facilitate mobile communications for individuals, and further provide for movement performance monitoring and reporting by an associated mobile communications device. The aforementioned system and methods have been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Since certain changes may be made in the aforementioned system and methods without departing from the scope hereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.