Abstract:
A communication system includes a headset including a microphone and an audio speaker installed on the headset, the headset including an RF transceiver configured to perform wireless communication with a two-way radio having a push-to-talk communication channel. The RF transceiver is further configured to perform wireless communication with an information handling system. The headset includes processing electronics configured to process an input signal from the microphone and output a first processed signal to the RF transceiver and to process an input signal from the RF transceiver and output a second processed signal to the speaker. A remote control unit is configured to perform wireless communication with the headset, the remote control unit including a remote control unit interface disposed thereon for selectively configuring the headset to function as an audio interface for the push-to-talk communication channel and an audio interface for the information handling system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 14/601,815, filed Jan. 21, 2015, which claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/933,612 filed Jan. 30, 2014. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a communication system and, in particular, to a communications interface for a commercial, off-the-shelf two-way radio and an information handling system such as a life support system, weapon video display, laser range finder, or the like. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one aspect, a communication system includes a headset including a microphone and an audio speaker installed on the headset, the headset including an RF transceiver configured to perform wireless communication with a two-way radio having a push-to-talk communication channel. The RF transceiver is further configured to perform wireless communication with an information handling system. The headset includes processing electronics configured to process an input signal from the microphone and output a first processed signal to the RF transceiver and to process an input signal from the RF transceiver and output a second processed signal to the speaker. A remote control unit is configured to perform wireless communication with the headset, the remote control unit including a remote control unit interface disposed thereon. The remote control unit selectively configures the headset to function as an audio interface for the push-to-talk communication channel and an audio and/or data interface for the information handling system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are partially exploded views illustrating an exemplary push-to-talk (PTT) system used in connection with a life support system. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of the system appearing in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates some of the exemplary voice commands for controlling the life support system via the push-to-talk system herein and audible alerts or prompts output by the push-to-talk system. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are partially exploded views illustrating an exemplary push-to-talk system used in connection with a weapon system such as a weapon laser system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of the system appearing in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  illustrates some of the exemplary voice commands for controlling the weapon system via the push-to-talk system herein and audible alerts or prompts output by the push-to-talk system. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are exploded views of an exemplary push-to-talk system used in connection with a weapon video display system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring now to the drawings, there appears exemplary push-to-talk system which provides an interface between a two-way radio and a remote, user controlled computer- or processor-based information handling system. Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there appears a first exemplary communication system  100 , wherein the information handling system is a life support system  110 . The life support system  110  may be a hybrid breathing system which is selectively operable in a self-contained breathing system (SCBA) mode in which breathable air/gas is provided by a self-contained air supply  112  such one or more air tanks or cylinders, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) mode of operation, in which filtered ambient air is drawn with blower assistance through one or more air filters or purifiers  114  and delivered to the user, and a non-powered air-purifying respirator (APR) mode of operation, in which in which the air is drawn through the air purifying via the user&#39;s negative inhalation pressure. The life support system  110  may be as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,927, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0013]    The life support system includes an air quality monitor  116  which samples the ambient air to detect toxic or unfilterable constituents in the ambient environment. The air quality monitor  116  may be integral with the system  110  or remote therefrom and in communication with the life support system  110  via a wired or wireless link. An air pressure sensor  118  is provided to sense the pressure level present in the tanks  112 . A low battery detection circuit  120 , which may be for example a circuit for monitoring the voltage level of a power supply which provides electrical power for operation of the life support system. A SCBA/PAPR mode readout sensor  122 , such as a switch, position indicator, etc., is provided to determine the current operating mode of the life support system  110 . A GPS receiver  124  may be provided to detect positional information of the user. A vital sign monitoring system  126  is provided to sense one or more vital signs of the wearer, such as heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, and so forth. 
         [0014]    The communication system  100  includes a two-way radio  130 , which may be a portable, e.g., handheld, two-way radio. The two-way radio  130  may be a commercial off-the-shelf radio of the type configured to transmit and receive audio signals, e.g., as digital or analog modulated RF signals, to another communication system, which may be another two-way radio, a base station, or a communication network. The radio  130  includes an RF transceiver circuit coupled to an audio circuit which may include including an amplifier, microphone, audio speaker, volume control, and so forth. The transceiver circuit may include a manual and/or automatic frequency tuner for tuning the transceiver to a desired frequency channel. The radio  130  may include an integral push-to-talk button  132 . 
         [0015]    A headset  150  is associated with the two-way radio  130  and includes an audio speaker  152  and a microphone  154 . The microphone may be positioned at the end of a boom  156  configured to position the microphone near the user&#39;s mouth and an ear hook  158  for securing the head set to the user&#39;s ear. Alternatively, the boom  156  could comprise an acoustic wave guide for transmitting audio waves to a microphone located elsewhere in the headset. In alternative embodiments, the ear hook  156  may be replaced with a head band for securing the headset over the user&#39;s head, ear loop, in-ear bud, and so forth. In other embodiments, the headset could be integrated with headgear worn by the user, such as a protective helmet. The headset  150  communicates with the radio  130  via a wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, or other RF protocol. 
         [0016]    The communication system  100  further includes a wireless push-to-talk device  170  wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The wireless PTT device  170  includes a remote control interface, for example, at least one push button  172  as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Multiple functions may be performed in the illustrated, single-button embodiment using multiple button press events or types, such as single tap, double tap, press and hold, etc. In the preferred embodiment, a single press of the button  172  cues the microphone  154  for PTT operation of the radio  130  and a double press of the cues the microphone  154  for receiving voice commands for controlling operation of the life support system  110 . Alternatively, multiple functions may be accommodated by providing multiple buttons on the unit  170 . 
         [0017]    Predetermined voice commands are configured to control operation of the life support system  110  via an adapter interface  190  which is plugged into a data port  128  on the life support system  110 . The adapter  190  is wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The adapter  190  is coupled to the life support system  110  via a cable  192  which plugs into a complementary data port  194  on the life support system. Power to operate the adapter  190  may also be supplied by a power supply of the life support system via the cable connection  192 . 
         [0018]    The wireless adapter  190  includes an RF transceiver for receiving signals representative of voice commands for controlling operation of the life support system  110  and outputting signals representative of one or more voice alerts, warnings, or prompts, and/or transmitting data to the headset  150  for transmission to the radio  130  for transmission to a like radio system, base station, or over a communication network. 
         [0019]    Exemplary voice commands include, for example, mode selection commands, data transmit commands, receive/display data, and life support system status data output commands, such as data representative of tank air pressure in a source of breathable gas. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mode selection voice command allows the user to use a spoken command to switch the mode of operation of the life support system, e.g., to toggle between SCBA, PAPR, and APR modes. Send data voice commands allow the user to use a spoken command to trigger output of life support system data via the adapter  190 , such as GPS positional data or vital sign data representative of one or more of the user&#39;s vital signs. The data is output to the headset  150 , which, in turn, is transmitted the radio  130  for transmission to a communications system, which may be other like radio systems, a base station, or to a communication network using the transceiver circuitry of the radio  130 . 
         [0020]    Receive/Display Data commands may also be provided to cue the radio  130  to receive data from a team member employing a like system, such as team member GPS positional data or data representative of a team member&#39;s vital signs. Such data can be received using the transceiver circuitry of the radio  130  and retransmitted to the headset  150  for output as an audible signal via the speakers  154 , and/or output to an associated human viewable display (not shown). 
         [0021]    The adapter  190  is configured to output a signal representative of an audible alert to the headset  150  for audible output via the audio speaker  152 . The alert signals may comprise prerecorded and stored digitized spoken word alerts, synthetic speech alerts, e.g., generated using a text-to-speech converter, and so forth. It will be recognized that some of the alerts or prompts may also be implemented as audible sounds representative of a given status or condition of the life support system  110 . 
         [0022]    The voice alerts may include an audible low pressure warning when the air pressure sensor  118  detects that the air pressure in the source of compressed breathing gas falls below some predetermined threshold value. Another alert includes a low battery warning, which is triggered when the low battery detector  120  determines that the battery level of the life support system power supply has fallen below some predetermined threshold. 
         [0023]    Still another alert may be provided when the air quality monitor  116  detects a toxic constituent in the ambient air which cannot be filtered or removed using the filtration elements of the life support system  110 . A mode selection readout alert outputs the selected mode of operation of the life support system, e.g., responsive to a change in the mode of operation. An audible air pressure alert may be provided based on a signal from the air pressure sensor  118  representative of the current pressure in the air supply  112 , e.g., at periodic intervals during operation and/or responsive to a voice command. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-8 , there appears a second exemplary communication system  200 , wherein a push-to-talk system is incorporated with a weapon system  210 . The weapon system  210  may be a weapon laser system include a range finding and/or pointing device  212 , such as laser/optical range finder, targeting module providing one or more lasers for aiming and/or target designation, a combined laser range finder/designator, or the like. The range finder/designator device  212  is of a type intended to be mounted to a firearm  214  having a weapon rail interface  216 , such as a MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail interface, RIS/RAS accessory rail interface, and STANAG-4694 accessory rail interface, among others. The rail interface  216  is preferably a powered rail having integrated electrical contacts and electrical conductors for routing power and/or data signals to various locations on the rail. Alternatively, a nonpowered rail interface is contemplated, wherein power and/or signals may be transmitted between devices on the rail via a cabled connection. A GPS receiver  224  may also be provided in the device  212  for determine the user&#39;s geographical position. 
         [0025]    The weapon system  210  also includes a handgrip  220  adapted for attachment to the forearm portion of the firearm  214 . The handgrip  220  may include one or more manually actuatable buttons or switches  222  for controlling operation of the device  212 . 
         [0026]    The communication system  200  further includes a two-way radio  130  and headset  150 , which may be as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the handgrip  220  is configured as a wireless push-to-talk device, and is wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The one or more push buttons or switches  222  are configured to selectively cue the microphone  154  for PTT operation of the radio  130  and cues the microphone  154  for receiving voice commands for controlling operation of the range finder/designator  212 . 
         [0027]    Predetermined voice commands are configured to control operation of the device  212  via an adapter interface  190  which is plugged into a data port on the device  212 . The adapter  190  is wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The adapter  190  is coupled to the device  212  via a cable  192  which plugs into a complimentary data port  294  on the weapon system  212 . Power to operate the adapter  190  may also be provided, via the cable connection  192 , from a power supply within the device  212  or from a power supply or other powered device electrically coupled to the powered rail interface  216 . 
         [0028]    The wireless adapter  190  includes an RF transceiver for receiving signals representative of voice commands for controlling operation of the device  212  and outputting signals representative of one or more voice alerts, warnings or prompts, and/or transmitting data to the headset  150  for transmission to the radio  130  for further transmission to a like radio system, base station, or communication network. 
         [0029]    Exemplary voice commands include, for example, range target commands, mode selection commands, data transmit commands, send current GPS location to team/home base, send range to target commands. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the range target command allows the user to use a spoken command to actuate a range finding function of the device  212 . 
         [0030]    A mode selection command allows the user to use a spoken command to switch the mode of operation of the device  212 , e.g., to switch between a range finding function and a pointing or designator function, to switch between laser of different wavelength, e.g., between a visible pointing laser and an IR pointing laser, and so forth. A send GPS location command allows the user to use a spoken command to trigger output of the user&#39;s GPS coordinates from the GPS receiver  224  via the adapter  190 . The data is output to the headset  150 , which, in turn, is retransmitted to a communications system, which may be other like radio systems, a base station, or to a communication network using the transceiver circuitry of the radio  130 . 
         [0031]    A send range to target voice command allows the user to use a spoken command to trigger output of data representative of a calculated distance to a designated target as determined using a range finding function of the device  212 , which data is output to the headset  150  which transmits the range to target data to the radio  130 , which, in turn, transmits the data to a communications system, which may be other like radio systems, a base station, or a communication network, using the transceiver circuitry of the radio  130 . 
         [0032]    The adapter  190  is also configured to output a signal representative of audible prompts or alerts to the headset  150  for audible output via the audio speaker  152 . The alert signals may comprise prerecorded and stored digitized spoken word alerts, synthetic speech alerts, e.g., generated using a text-to-speech converter, and so forth. 
         [0033]    The voice alerts may include an audible, spoken word representation of a range to target as determined by a range finding function of the device  212 . Another voice prompt may include a spoken word representation of the user&#39;s geographical position as determined by the GPS receiver  224 . Another voice prompt may be a spoken word representation of a team member&#39;s geographical or GPS position transmitted by the team member to the user&#39;s radio  130  and output in audible form via the headset  150 . Another voice prompt may include a spoken word indication of the currently selected mode of operation of the device  212 . Yet another alert may include a low battery warning triggered when a low battery detector  226  determines that the battery level of the power supply providing power to the weapon system has fallen below some predetermined threshold. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and with continued reference to  FIG. 7 , there appears a third exemplary communication system  300 , wherein a push-to-talk system is incorporated with a weapon video display system  310 . The system  310  may optionally be used in conjunction with the range finder/designator device  212  and/or handgrip  220 , the above description of which is applicable here. 
         [0035]    The weapon video display system  310  may include a display screen  312 , which, in turn, may include a touch screen overlay for providing input for controlling operation of the weapon video display  310 . Alternatively or additionally, a keypad  314  comprising one or more push buttons or the like may be provided for controlling operation of the weapon video display  310 . 
         [0036]    The communication system  300  further includes a two-way radio  130  and headset  150 , which may be as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the handgrip  220  is configured as a wireless push-to-talk device, and is wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The one or more push buttons or switches  222  are configured to selectively cue the microphone  154  for PTT operation of the radio  130  and cues the microphone  154  for receiving voice commands for controlling operation of the range finder/designator  212 , as described above, and/or weapon video display system  310 , as described below. 
         [0037]    Predetermined voice commands are configured to control operation of the weapon video display system  310  via an adapter interface  190  which is plugged into a data port on the device  310 . The adapter  190  is wirelessly coupled to the headset  150 . The adapter  190  is coupled to the device  310  via a cable  192  which plugs into a complimentary data port  394  on the device  310 . Power to operate the adapter  190  may also be provided, via the cable connection  192 , from a power supply within the device  310  or from a power supply or other powered device electrically coupled to the powered rail interface  216 . 
         [0038]    The wireless adapter  190  includes an RF transceiver for receiving signals representative of voice commands for controlling operation of the video device  310  and outputting signals representative of one or more voice alerts, warnings or prompts. The wireless adapter  190  is also configured to transmit data to the headset  150  for further transmission via the radio  130  to a communication system, such as a like two-way radio system, a base station, or a communication network. 
         [0039]    Exemplary voice commands may include the voice commands described above for the range finder/targeting device system  212  as described above. Exemplary voice commands may also include voice commands for controlling operation of the weapon video display system  310 . For example, a mode selection command allows the user to use a spoken command to switch the mode of operation of the device  310 , e.g., to switch between a video or camera display providing a video from an associated camera (not shown) and other graphical user interface mode provided by the device  310 , e.g., an on-screen interface using menus and/or objects for controlling operation of attached devices. Where multiple cameras are provided, such as a daytime camera and a nighttime or low lux camera, a voice command may be provided for toggle between the multiple camera sources. 
         [0040]    In certain embodiments, a targeting display mode may also be provided and selected via a voice command using the headset. For example, a ballistics computer function may be provided, e.g., using a processor in the range finder  212  or the weapon video display system  310 , to provide an on screen reticle on the display screen  312  using range information and, optionally, other ballistics factors to assist the user in aligning the weapon to cause a fired projectile to hit a desired spot. 
         [0041]    Send GPS location and send range to target commands may also be provided as described above. In certain embodiments, a send data voice command may be provided to transmit still image data and/or video data acquired by a camera associated with the weapon video display to the two-way radio via the headset for transmission over a communication network. 
         [0042]    The adapter  190  is also configured to output signals representative of audible prompts or alerts to the headset  150  for audible output via the audio speaker  152 . The alert signals may comprise prerecorded and stored digitized spoken word alerts, synthetic speech alerts, e.g., generated using a text-to-speech converter, and so forth. 
         [0043]    The voice alerts may include an audible, spoken word representation of a range to target as determined by a range finding function of the device  212 . Another voice prompt may include a spoken word representation of the user&#39;s geographical position as determined by the GPS receiver  224 . Another voice prompt is a spoken word representation of a team member&#39;s geographical position transmitted by the team member to the user&#39;s radio  130  and output via the headset  150 . Another voice prompt includes a spoken word indication of the currently selected mode of operation of the device  212 . Yet another alert includes a low battery warning triggered when the low battery detector  226  determines that the battery level of the power supply providing power to the weapon video display has fallen below some predetermined threshold. 
         [0044]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.