Abstract:
A data processing system comprises an audio processing means receiving data within said data processing system for converting the data into an analog signal with a first and a second analog channel components; an audio output means receiving the analog signal and providing a first and second output signal wherein the first output signal is provided for a loudspeaker and the output second signal is provided for a headset. The control of the audio processing means by a control signal providing an audio signal on the first or on the second channel or on both.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Data processing devices such as workstations or personal computers are or can be equipped with an audio card to provide audio input and output functions. Modern multi-media systems use such audio cards to support telephony services using a modem or a network connection rather than the traditional telephone network. Telephony functions using a modem can be either regular “analog”-telephone functions provided by a so-called voice modem, or telephony over data network using a modem or a network interface card to couple to data-networks, such as the Internet. 
     Today&#39;s multi-media workstations or personal computers (PC) support a wide variety of different complementary products to enhance these functions, such as loudspeakers, head-sets with microphones, etc. Nevertheless, in many environments, such as offices, it is often required to use a speaker for alerting (ringing the phone) and after connecting either a speaker phone mode for convenience or a handset to provide privacy of a phone call. As usual multi-media system providing telephone functions only use standard audio cards with a single (common) audio output, the user can either use speakers or a headset in the telephone environment. To select between either a headset and a loudspeaker an external switch-box is required. The user must remember to switch back to the speaker mode after the end of the call, to ensure that he can hear the ringing of the next call, depending on the relative sensitivities of the speaker and headset, a change of the volume setting may also be required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved audio input and output means for a data processing system with the capability of addressing either or both a headset or a loudspeaker. This object is achieved by a data processing system comprising an audio processing means receiving data within said data processing system for converting the data into an analog stereo signal with a first and a second analog channel; an audio output means receiving the analog stereo signal and providing a first and second output signal wherein the first output signal is provided for a loudspeaker and the output second signal is provided for a headset; the audio processing means upon a control signal either provide an audio signal on the first or on the second channel. This method still uses the usual audio soundcards found in most workstations or PC&#39;s. 
     Furthermore, a method provides the steps of: receiving a digital signal representing an audio signal; receiving a control signal; processing the digital signal to generate a two channel signal and upon the control signal providing the signal for either or both a first or a second audio channel, wherein the first signal is provided for a loudspeaker and the second signal is provided for a headset; converting said first and second signals into analog signals. 
     Upon receiving a ringing signal which can be presented to both the speaker and the headset or only to the speaker, the method allows the user to select either the headset or the loudspeaker as an output medium. The control signal can be generated by a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball or any other input device. 
     The method allows for independent setting of the output level (volume) for both the speaker and headset, there is no danger of the user being subjected to excessive sound level, when switching between the headset and speaker, or should the connection be left in the wrong state after the completion of a call (loud ringing through headset—or missing the call because the volume is to low). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a multi-media system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows details of a multi-media system according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows details of the audio system according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows details of the audio system according to a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a Alert-Box which can be displayed on a multi-media system according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a network  1 , such as the Internet, coupled with a variety of I/O devices. For example, a server  2  is coupled with a private branch exchange  3  (PBX) which can connect to a plurality of workstations  5  or telephone sets  4 . Also, an internet phone  6  can be directly coupled with the internet. More workstations  7 ,  12  can be coupled with the internet through a server  11  with the network  1 . Each workstation  7  may be a multi-media personal computer  7  with a respective sound card (not shown), speakers  8 , a headset  10 , and a microphone  13 . 
     If a telephone call is made from one of the telephone sets  4 ,  6  or workstations  5 ,  12  to workstation  7  using a packetized voice data stream, a ringing signal will be sent to workstation  7 . According to the present invention, the ringing will be output to the speaker  8 . In addition, the ring may be also applied to the headset. Together with the ringing a message may pop up on the screen of the workstation  7  asking the user to choose between a speakerphone function or a headset function. Instead, the user could also activate a predefined keyboard action, mouse click, etc. This could be known to the user and done without the screen pop-up menus. In case the user decides to use the speakerphone function the headset will be disabled and the incoming audio data will be directed to the loudspeaker  8 . In case the headset function is chosen, the loudspeaker  8  will be disabled and audio signals will be forwarded to the headset  10 . In both scenarios microphone  13  may be used as the input medium. If there are multiple audio inputs on the soundcard, it would be possible to use separate mic&#39;s for headset, speakerphone. This is an implementation choice, the selection of the desired microphone or the activating of the microphone could be tied to the selection of the desired audio device. 
       FIG. 2  shows details of the audio system within a multi-media workstation  7  according to  FIG. 1 . Workstation  7  comprises an input interface  71  which couples workstation  7  with network  1 . Input interface  71  is coupled with a digital signal processor (DSP)  72  which processes the packetized incoming data stream into a stereo audio signal and processes any audio signal from microphone  13  received through an A/D converter in audio card  73  into a packetized data stream which can be transferred over network  1 . A program control unit  74 , such as the central processing unit, receives data from a keyboard or mouse or any other input device and feeds a respective control signal to DSP  72 . DSP  72  generates a left and a right audio signal which is fed to an audio card  73 . Audio card  73  comprises D/A and A/D converter and respective amplifier stages to drive loudspeaker  8  and/or headset  10 . The audio card may also have additional input/outputs  14 , for example, for a second set of loudspeakers and/or additional microphones. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , DSP  72  manages incoming and outgoing data streams under the control of program control unit  74 . In this embodiment only one speaker  8  is used which is coupled to either the right or left output of audio card  73 . The other output of audio card  73  is connected to headset  10 . In case of an incoming call DSP  72  generates a ringing signal which is fed to the audio channel coupled with loudspeaker  8 . In another embodiment the ringing signal can be applied to both loudspeaker  8  and headset  10  with appropriate volume settings for each of the outputs. On the screen of workstation  7  an Alert-Box will be generated as for example shown in  FIG. 5 . Such an Alert-Box indicates in addition to the ringing signal that an incoming call is waiting to be picked up. The user can, for example in a window-based graphical user interface, move an arrow  104  to select one of three choices. The selection is done by clicking on a respective button or icon  101 ,  102 , or  103 . Clicking on button  101  selects a speaker phone function. In this mode all incoming audio data are processed by DSP  72  into a single digital audio signal which will be converted into an analog audio signal by means of audio card  73 . This single analog signal is then fed to speaker  8 . Clicking on button  102  selects the headset mode. In this mode DSP  72  generates the audio signal on the other audio channel which will be converted into a single audio signal by means of audio card  73  and fed to headset  10 . Clicking on button  103  cancels the incoming call. 
     Another embodiment could additionally allow for the sending of the audio outputs to both the speaker as well as the headset, for instance, for someone who is hard of hearing an needs higher volume. 
     Another embodiment of an audio subsystem according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . Again, a DSP  80  is provided which processes a digital data stream  88 , for example packetized audio data. DSP  80  is under control of a control signal  87 , for example, provided by a central processing unit of a workstation. DSP  80  generates a single audio signal which is converted into an analog signal by means of D/A converter  89 . The analog signal is fed to a switch  81  which operates under control of a control signal  82 . Switch  81  feeds the analog signal either to line  83  which connects to the input of amplifier stage  84  or to line  85  which connects to the input of amplifier stage  86 . Output of amplifier stage  84  is coupled with loudspeaker  8  and output of amplifier stage  86  is coupled with headset  10 . 
     In this embodiment only a single audio signal is generated. In case of an incoming call switch  81  couples the output of D/A-converter  89  with the input of amplifier stage  84  so that the ringing signal will be fed to the loudspeaker  8 . According to the selection made by the user, as shown in  FIG. 5 , switch  81  couples either loudspeaker  8  or headset  10  with the respective audio signal. 
       FIG. 4  shows a third embodiment which can be implemented in existing systems, for example, as an automatic external switch box. In this case a standard audio I/O card  90  is used within a personal computer. Audio I/O card  90  generates a stereo analog output signal which is fed to terminals  92  and  93 . External switch box  96  comprises two switches  94  and  95 . Switches  94  and  95  are controlled by a control signal  91 . Control signal  91  can be provided by audio I/O card  90 , or by a parallel or a serial output port, or any other suitable port of the respective workstation. Switches  94  and  95  either couple loudspeakers  8 ,  9  or headset  10  with terminals  92  and  93 , respectively. 
     In an other embodiment one output could be taken to a recording device and the other to a speaker or headset. The selection of the recorder output made using the screen, keyboard, mouse, etc. 
     In all cases the system will revert to a known state at the end of the call, ready to process the next incoming call Thus, the ringing signal cannot be missed by the user in case he does not wear the headset nor is there any danger of the user being exposed to excessive sound level, if he does not switchback prior to the next call. Implementation choices may also allow the user to switch between the speaker and headset modes at any time during the actual call. Upon selection, as described above in combination with  FIG. 5 , either the loudspeakers  8 ,  9  or the headset  10  is used as an output device.