Communication system including eavesdropping

The disclosure presents a method and a communication system comprising; an audio gateway including; a first wireless interface configured to transmit and receive an audio signal via a first communication link, a processing unit configured to transfer the audio signal into an audio streaming signal, a second wireless interface configured to transmit the audio streaming signal via a second communication link, a plurality of communication units comprising a master communication unit and at least a first slave communication unit, wherein each of the communication unit comprises: a first wireless interface configured to receive the audio streaming signal via the second communication link and to communicate with a communication unit, a speaker configured to sound the audio streaming signal received from the audio gateway, a memory unit, and wherein the master communication unit is configured to transmit a pairing request via the second communication link to the audio gateway, and the audio gateway transmits then an encryption key to the master communication unit, and the first slave communication unit is configured to request the encryption key by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the first slave communication unit to the master communication unit via a first internal communication link, and the master communication unit transmits then the encryption key relating to the second communication link to the first slave communication unit based on an access criteria, and the first slave communication unit is then configured to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link between the audio gateway and the master communication unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a communication system where at least a first slave communication unit is configured to eavesdrop an audio streaming signal between an audio gateway and a master communication unit.

BACKGROUND

The technical field of the present disclosure is within communication system for telephone conference.

It is known in today solutions that if using a smartphone as your audio gateway it is only possible to pair the smartphone, via for example Bluetooth, to a single communication unit, for example a speakerphone.

This problem has been solved by a communication system which is based by Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). Thereby, multiple users are able to join a telephone conference.

However, the disadvantage of this VoIP based systems is that the system demands several of highly expensive communication units, such as a smartphone with internet connection or a laptop with internet access. A further disadvantage is the high latency between the voice being captured by the microphone of the smartphone and played by the speakers in the smartphone and the other communication units configured to the communication system.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a communication system which allows a slave communication unit to eavesdrop a communication between an audio gateway, such as a smartphone, a computer, a tablet or any telecommunicating device, and a master communication unit.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a solution to the previous object which allows the audio gateway to establish multiple communication links between the master communication unit and between the slave communication unit.

Objects of the present disclosure are achieved by the present disclosure described in the accompanying claims and as described in the following.

An object of the present disclosure is achieved by a communication system comprising an audio gateway including a first wireless interface configured to transmit and receive an audio signal via a first communication link, a processing unit configured to transfer the audio signal into an audio streaming signal, a second wireless interface configured to transmit the audio streaming signal via a second communication link, a plurality of communication units comprising a master communication unit and at least a first slave communication unit. Furthermore each of the communication unit comprises a first wireless interface configured to receive the audio streaming signal via the second communication link and to communicate with another communication unit, a speaker configured to sound the audio streaming signal received from the audio gateway, a memory unit, and wherein the master communication unit is configured to transmit a pairing request via the second communication link to the audio gateway, and the audio gateway transmits then an encryption key to the master communication unit, and the first slave communication unit may be configured to request the encryption key by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the first slave communication unit to the master communication unit via a first internal communication link, and the master communication unit transmits then the encryption key relating to the second communication link to the first slave communication unit based on an access criteria, and the first slave communication unit may then be configured to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link between the audio gateway and the master communication unit.

The communication system may for example be used in a telephone conference, where the audio gateway may be a laptop or a smartphone connected to an internet network or a telephone network via the first communication link. The audio gateway may then be connected to a first slave communication unit via the second communication link, wherein the first slave communication unit may be a speaker-microphone unit or a speakerphone which can be placed on a table and connected to the audio gateway via the second communication link. The second communication link could be a Bluetooth link or a DECT link or any link based on a short range communication protocol. The table could be a 4 to 6 meter long table surrounded by several people wanting to join the telephone conference.

The speaker in the first slave communication unit may not be able to reach out to all of the people sitting around the table, i.e. around the first slave communication unit, and thereby, some of the people may then not be able to hear the output from the speaker. In order to avoid this, a first slave communication unit may then be applied on the table in order to improve the ability of the people, which were not able to hear the telephone conversation. The first slave communication unit is then the master communication unit, since the first slave communication unit has established a paired communication to the audio gateway A first slave communication unit is then placed on the table, and the first slave communication unit transmits the request of the encryption key to the master communication unit. The master communication unit transmits the encryption key, and the first slave communication unit is then able to eavesdrop on the second communication link, and thereby, the second slave communication unit is then able to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal which comprises the voice or voices of the people speaking on the other end of the first communication link. The first slave communication unit has established a none-paired communication to the audio gateway

For example, the second communication link is based on Bluetooth protocol, and due to the configuration of the Bluetooth protocol communication between the audio gateway and multiple communication units, simultaneously, is not allowed. With the present disclosure, it is not necessary for the audio gateway to be paired with both the master communication unit and the at least first slave communication unit in order for the first slave communication unit to receive the audio streaming signal from the audio gateway. In this example, the first slave communication unit is able to listen to the second communication link without the audio gateway noticing and which is provided by the none-paired communication link to the second communication link, i.e. the first slave communication is then configured to eavesdrop the second communication link.

The audio gateway may for example be a smartphone, a computer, a laptop, a tablet or any telecommunicating device which may be configured to communicate via a telephone network, internet, IP-telephone or any other telecommunicating device which is configured to communicate via a long-range communication network.

The communication unit, which can either be a master or a slave communication unit, may be a headset, a headphone, a speakerphone which is a table-microphone unit, or any speaker-microphone unit which is not a hearing aid which is configured to compensate for a hearing loss of a user, i.e. a hearing impaired.

The essence of the present disclosure is to solve a problem of improving the listening of the people being in a situation where a speaker of a communication unit configured to output an telephone conversation is not able to play the telephone conversation in a way that every people are able to hear the telephone conversation. The solution is to distribute the audio streaming signal between the audio gateway and the master communication unit via eavesdropping which is allowed by sharing, for example an encryption key between the communication units.

When the communication units are headphones, then the advantage of the present disclosure is that an audio signal comprising music or any sound can be easily distributed between the communication units.

A major advantages of the system is that the latency of the audio streaming signal being played in the multiple communication units is reduced to nothing. In a system where each of the communication units are paired directly to the audio gateway will experience a latency between the communication units, meaning that the audio streaming signal is being played on the communication units with a time delay in between the communication unit.

The audio signal being transmitted via the first communication link may comprise speech or speeches from one or more users of another audio gateway connected to the other end of the first communication link. Alternatively, the audio signal may comprise music. In this example, the music may then be played on the communication units simultaneously.

The audio streaming signal may comprise a mono audio signal or a stereo audio signal.

The first communication link may be a telephone link in a telephone network, or a communication link in an IP-telephony network or in a Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) network,

The second communication link, the first internal communication link, and the second internal communication link may all be based on a short range communication protocol, such as Bluetooth, DECT or any kind of short range communication protocol having a communication frequency range between 1.88 GHz to 5.5 GHz, or between 2.45 GHz to 5.5 GHz.

The master communication unit may be configured differently than the slave communication unit. The master communication unit may act as a communication gateway of the slave communication units to the audio gateway. The master communication unit may be configured to allow the communication unit to join the communication between the master communication unit and the audio gateway.

The pairing process may be configured to a short range communication protocol, such as Bluetooth, DECT or any kind of short range communication protocol having a communication frequency range between 1.88 GHz to 5.5 GHz, or between 2.45 GHz to 5.5 GHz. The pairing request may be configured to the pairing process of the short range communication protocol.

The encryption request includes the identification of the communication unit transmitting the encryption request. The identification may be a serial number, an IP number or any number identifying the communication unit

The communication unit may comprise a microphone configured to receive a voice of a user and provide a first microphone signal including the voice of one or more users, and wherein the first wireless interface may be configured to transmit the first microphone signal via a third internal communication link and/or to receive a second microphone signal via the third internal communication link. The communication unit may further comprise a combiner unit configured to combine the first microphone signal with at least the second microphone signal, and wherein the master communication unit is configured to combine the first microphone signal with at least the second microphone signal from the first slave communication unit into a combined microphone signal, and wherein the master communication unit is then configured to transmit the combined microphone signal via the second communication link to the audio gateway.

The combiner unit may be a mixer. The communication unit may comprise a compressor.

The advantage of combining the microphone signals into the combined microphone signal and then transmit it via the second communication link to the audio gateway via the master communication unit, is that the latency between the microphone signals is reduced significantly compared to a situation where the second microphone signal of the first slave communication unit and the first microphone signal of the master communication unit are transmitted directly to the audio gateway.

A further advantage is that the latency between the voice being captured by the microphone and played by the speakers in the communication system is significantly less compared to VoIP based communication system.

The access criteria may be based on a comparison between the identification received by the master communication unit and one or more identifications stored in an identification list in the memory unit of the master communication unit. Then if the comparison fulfils a matching criteria then the master communication unit transmits the encryption key to the respective slave communication unit. The matching criteria may be a complete match between the two compared identifications.

The identification list may include a primary sub-list and a secondary sub-list, wherein the communication units which its identification is part of the primary sub-list are configured differently than the communication units which its identification is part of the secondary sub-list. The primary sub-list may comprise identification of communication units which have been allowed to eavesdrop and to be part of the communication via the microphone on the respective communication unit. Furthermore, the communication units being part of the primary sub-list is configured to take over the role of the master communication unit, if the master communication unit somehow is no longer part of the communication to the audio gateway. The communication unit being part of the secondary sub-list may not be able to use its microphone if any, or the communication unit is not able to take over the role of the master communication unit, if the master communication unit leaves the communication to the audio gateway.

Additionally, the user of the audio gateway or the master communication unit may be able to classify the communication between the master communication unit and the audio gateway to be subject to a certain security constraint. The communication units being part of the primary sub-list are able to eavesdrop the communication on the second communication link, and where the communication units being part of the secondary sub-list are not able to eavesdrop on the communication between the master communication unit and the audio gateway.

The sub-lists or the identification list may be predetermined and pre-stored by the manufacture of the communication unit, or the sub-lists or the identification list may be transmitted by the audio gateway unit and the second communication link and then stored on the memory unit in the communication unit.

The advantage of having sub-lists is that the user of the audio gateway or the master communication unit is able to control who and how much a user of a slave communication unit can attend the conversation via the second communication link.

A slave communication unit being able to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link means that the slave communication unit is able to listen to the audio streaming signal.

The audio streaming signal may be communicated to the master communication unit via a first channel in the second communication link, and the first slave communication unit is configured to eavesdrop a second channel of the second communication link.

The master communication unit or the audio gateway may be configured to decide which of the communication units should play which channels.

By dividing the second communication link into multiple channels allows the possibility of controlling the eavesdropping from either the master communication unit, the audio gateway or any other controlling unit, such as a computer, a server etc. The controlling of the eavesdropping may for example include restricting the eavesdropping to none confidential audio contain in the audio streaming.

The communication system may comprise a second slave communication unit configured to request the encryption key by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the second slave communication unit either by directly communication to the master communication unit via a second internal communication link, or indirectly communication to the master communication unit via the second internal communication link, to the first slave communication unit and then via the first internal communication unit. The master communication unit is further configured to transmit the encryption key, based on the access criteria, either by directly communication to the second slave communication unit via the second internal communication link, or directly communication to the second slave communication unit via the first internal communication unit, to the first slave communication unit and then via the second internal communication link, and wherein the second slave communication unit is then configured to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link between the audio gateway and the master communication unit.

The communication system may comprise multiple communication units, for example at least 2, 4, 10, or 20 communication units.

The advantage of having the indirect communication between the master communication unit and the second slave communication unit is that the wireless interface of the communication unit, i.e. in this example the second slave communication unit, and/or the internal communication links to the master communication unit will not become unstable when the communication system comprises several communication units, such as 5 to 10 or more communication units.

The first communication link may be a long range communication link in a telephone network, an internet network, a wide area network etc.

The second communication link and/or any of the internal communication links between the communication units, may be a short range communication link, such as Bluetooth, DECT or any short range communication link which has a frequency between 1.88 GHz and 5.5 GHz or between 2.45 GHz and 5.5 GHz.

The internal communication links may be the first internal communication link, the second internal communication link, the third internal communication link and/or the fourth internal communication link.

The second slave communication unit may be configured to either transmit a third microphone signal directly to the master communication unit via a fourth internal communication link or indirectly to the master communication unit via the fourth internal communication link, to the first slave communication unit and then via the third internal communication link.

When the third microphone signal of the second slave communication unit is transmitted via the first slave communication unit to the master communication unit, then the first slave communication unit is configured to combine the third microphone signal of the second slave communication unit and the second microphone signal of the first slave communication unit into a new microphone signal being transmitted to the master communication unit.

The communication unit may be a headset, a speaker phone or a headphone.

The audio gateway may be a smartphone, a laptop, a PC or a tablet.

A further object of the present disclosure is achieved by a method of providing a communication system where at least a first slave communication unit is configured to eavesdrop an audio streaming signal between an audio gateway and a master communication unit. The method comprising receiving an audio signal at the audio gateway via a first communication link, transferring the audio signal into an audio streaming signal, transmitting a pairing request by the master communication unit to the audio gateway, receiving an encryption key at the master communication unit transmitted by the audio gateway, transmitting the audio streaming signal from the audio gateway to the master communication unit via the second communication link, transmitting an encryption request by the first slave communication unit to the master communication unit, where the encryption request includes an identification of the first slave communication unit, transmitting the encryption key relating to the second communication link by the master communication unit to the first slave communication unit based on an access criteria, and wherein the first slave communication unit is then configured to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link between the audio gateway and the master communication unit.

A second slave communication unit may be configured to request the encryption key by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the second slave communication unit either by communicating directly to the master communication unit via a second internal communication link, or communicating indirectly to the master communication unit via the second internal communication link, to the first slave communication unit and then via the first internal communication unit. The master communication unit is then configured to transmit the encryption key, based on the access criteria, either by communicating directly to the second slave communication unit via the second internal communication link, or communicating indirectly to the second slave communication unit via the first internal communication unit, to the first slave communication unit and then via the second internal communication link, and wherein the second slave communication unit is then configured to eavesdrop the audio streaming signal being communicated via the second communication link between the audio gateway and the master communication unit.

Each of the communication unit receiving a voice of a user via a microphone and providing a first microphone signal including the voice of one or more users, and wherein the first wireless interface is transmitting the first microphone signal via a third internal communication link and/or receiving a second microphone signal via the third internal communication link, combining the first microphone signal with at least the second microphone signal via a combiner unit, and wherein the master communication unit is configured to combine the first microphone signal with at least the second microphone signal from the first slave communication unit into a combined microphone signal, and wherein the master communication unit is then configured to transmit the combined microphone signal via the second communication link to the audio gateway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follows.

FIGS. 1aand 1bshow the communication system1including an audio gateway2which comprises a first wireless interface3aconfigured to transmit and receive an audio signal11via a first communication link8. TH audio signal11is then processed in a processing unit configured7and transferred into an audio streaming signal12. After the processing, then a second wireless interface3bwill transmit the audio streaming signal12via a second communication link9to a master communication unit5. The communication system1comprises a plurality of communication units (4a,4b) comprising the master communication unit5and at least a first slave communication unit6. Both communication units (4a,4b,5,6) comprises a first wireless interface13configured to receive the audio streaming signal12via the second communication link9and to communicate with another communication unit (4a,4b,5,6). Furthermore, the communication unit comprises a speaker16configured to sound the audio streaming signal12received from the audio gateway2and a memory unit15. In order for the master communication unit5to communicate with the audio gateway2, then the master communication unit5shall transmit a pairing request via the second communication link9to the audio gateway2, and the audio gateway2transmits then an encryption key to the master communication unit5. In order for the first slave communication unit to eavesdrop on the second communication link9, then the first slave communication unit6requests the encryption key20by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the first slave communication unit6to the master communication unit5via a first internal communication link17. In response to the encryption request the master communication unit5transmits then the encryption key20relating to the second communication link9to the first slave communication unit6based on an access criteria. The first slave communication unit6is then configured to eavesdrop18the audio streaming signal12being communicated via the second communication link9between the audio gateway2and the master communication unit5.

InFIG. 1bthe audio streaming signal12is communicated to the master communication unit5via a first channel19ain the second communication link9and the first slave communication unit6is configured to eavesdrop18a second channel19bof the second communication link9.

The master communication unit5or the audio gateway2is configured to decide which of the communication units (4a,4b,5,6) should play which channels (19a,19b).

FIGS. 2aand 2bshow the communication system1including a second slave communication unit (6b). The second slave communication unit6bis configured to request the encryption key20by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the second slave communication unit6beither by directly communication to the master communication unit5via a second internal communication link21, see specificallyFIG. 2a, or by indirectly communication to the master communication unit5via the second internal communication link21, to the first slave communication unit (6,6a) and then via the first internal communication unit (17), see specificallyFIG. 2b. The master communication unit5is configured to transmit the encryption key20, based on the access criteria, either by directly communication to the second slave communication unit6bvia the second internal communication link21, see specificallyFIG. 2a, or by indirectly communication to the second slave communication unit6bvia the first internal communication unit17, to the first slave communication unit6aand then via the second internal communication link (21), aww specificallyFIG. 2b. The second slave communication unit6bis then configured to eavesdrop18the audio streaming signal12being communicated via the second communication link9between the audio gateway2and the master communication unit5.

The access criteria is based on a comparison between the identification received by the master communication unit5and one or more identifications stored in an identification list in the memory unit15of the master communication unit5, then if the comparison fulfils a matching criteria then the master communication unit5transmits the encryption key20to the respective slave communication unit (6a,6b).

The identification list includes a primary sub-list and a secondary sub-list, wherein the communication units (4a,4b,5,6a,6b) which its identification is part of the primary sub-list are configured differently than the communication units (4a,4b,5,6a,6b) which its identification is part of the secondary sub-list.

The second communication link (9) and/or any of the internal communication links (17,21) between the communication units (4a,4b,5,6a,6b), is a short range communication link, such as Bluetooth, DECT or any short range communication link which has a frequency between 1.88 GHz and 5.5 GHz or between 2.45 GHz and 5.5 GHz.

FIGS. 3aand 3bshow the communication system1, where the communication units (5,6a,6b) comprises a microphone30. The microphone30is configured to receive a voice of a user and provide a first microphone signal31aincluding the voice of one or more users. The first wireless interface13is configured to transmit the first microphone signal31avia a third internal communication link32and/or to receive a second microphone signal31avia the third internal communication link32. The communication units comprises a combiner unit40configured to combine the first microphone signal31awith at least the second microphone signal31b. The master communication unit5is configured to combine the first microphone signal31awith at least the second microphone signal31bfrom the first slave communication unit6ainto a combined microphone signal31c, and wherein the master communication unit5is further configured to transmit the combined microphone signal31cvia the second communication link9to the audio gateway2.

InFIG. 3b, the second slave communication unit6bis configured to either transmit a third microphone signal31ddirectly to the master communication unit5via a fourth internal communication link33, or indirectly to the master communication unit5via the fourth internal communication link33, to the first slave communication unit6aand then via the third internal communication link32.

In all examples of the communication system1, the communication unit (4a,4b,5,6a,6b) is a headset, a speaker phone or a headphone, and the audio gateway2is a smartphone, a laptop, a PC or a tablet.

FIG. 4illustrates a flow diagram of a method50of providing a communication system1where at least a first slave communication unit (6a,6) is configured to eavesdrop18an audio streaming signal12between an audio gateway2and a master communication unit5, wherein the method comprising;(50a) receiving an audio signal11at the audio gateway2via a first communication link8,(50b) transferring the audio signal2into an audio streaming signal12,(50c) transmitting a pairing request by the master communication unit5to the audio gateway2,(50d) receiving an encryption key20at the master communication unit5transmitted by the audio gateway2,(50e) transmitting the audio streaming signal12from the audio gateway2to the master communication unit5via the second communication link9,(50f) transmitting an encryption request by the first slave communication unit (6a,6) to the master communication unit5, where the encryption request includes an identification of the first slave communication unit (6a,6),(50g) transmitting the encryption key20relating to the second communication link9by the master communication unit5to the first slave communication unit (6a,6) based on an access criteria, and
wherein the first slave communication unit (6a,6) is then configured to eavesdrop (18,50h) the audio streaming signal12being communicated via the second communication link9between the audio gateway2and the master communication unit5.

Optionally, (50i) a second slave communication unit6bis configured to request the encryption key20by transmitting an encryption request including an identification of the second slave communication unit6b, and wherein the master communication unit5is then configured to transmit the encryption key20to the second slave communication unit6b, based on the access criteria. The second slave communication unit6bis then configured to eavesdrop18the audio streaming signal12being communicated via the second communication link9between the audio gateway2and the master communication unit5.