Abstract:
A module for transferring a warning signal emitted by a communications device to a user of a media broadcasting device. In an embodiment, the module includes: a receiver for receiving the warning signal; a connection for interposing the module between the media broadcasting device and a head-phone; and a switch for transferring a received warning signal to the head-phone.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling a user to interrupt the supply of a service to the user. More particularly, the present relates to a method and apparatus for enabling a user to choose to listen to a telephone during an MP3 session. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    MP3 players are very much the device to have and users are often “plugged in” to listen to music. The music can be heard through headphones which are connected by a wire or cable to the MP3 player. When the user is plugged in and music is playing the user cannot hear things that are going on in the vicinity. 
         [0003]    In particular, if a mobile phone rings the user will not hear the ringing and may miss important calls. By setting ring volume as high as possible and reducing the MP3 volume it may be possible to hear the phone ring if it is close by. However, this is not usually what happens. 
         [0004]    There have been a number of attempts to solve this problem. For example, WO 03/034782 discloses a modular head set which has more than one operating mode, for instance, using Bluetooth and/or wired connections (Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries). For a user to benefit from the obvious advantages of the invention disclosed in WO 03/034782, they must purchase a new headset. This adds to the cost of having an MP3 player. Another disadvantage is that the substitution of one functionality for another as provided to the user requires a positive action from the user on a key pad. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus which solves at least some of the problems of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a module for transferring a warning signal, emitted by a communications device, to a user of a media broadcasting device, the module comprising: a receiver for receiving the warning signal; a connection for interposing the module between the media broadcasting device and a head-phone; and a switch for transferring a received warning signal to the head-phone. 
         [0007]    The present invention is further directed to a method for transferring a warning signal, emitted by a communication device, to a user of a media broadcasting device, wherein the method comprises: connecting a module for receiving the warning signal to the media-broadcasting device, attaching a head-phone to the media-broadcasting device, using the module as a connector between the head-phone and the media-broadcasting device, and providing the module with receiver and transfer means, for receiving the warning signal emitted by the communication device and for transferring the warning signal to the user, using the head-phone. 
         [0008]    Using the present invention, it is not necessary to change any existing equipment. It is necessary only to attach the module between the normal MP3 headphones and the MP3 player to enable the user to detect and react to any incoming telephone call. The module is simple and inexpensive and the user does not have to replace any existing equipment. 
         [0009]    In addition, the module knows when a telephone call is received and the user may then choose which action to take next, for example, to answer the call or not by picking up the phone. Alternately if the module includes a microphone the user may actually receive the call through the module. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the elements of the present invention in simplified terms. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a detailed diagram of the  FIG. 1  module illustrating the functionality of the invention in greater detail. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing the operation of the module in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an MP3 player  100 , which is used to provide an auditory medium to a user  110  through a headset  120 . The auditory medium may be music, audio for a video or any other source. The MP3 player  100  is merely an example and other media broadcasting devices with headphones are equally as relevant to the invention. The user  110  also has a mobile telephone  130  (or other device that provides a communication or telephony service or a similar wireless device) which has a Bluetooth earpiece or headset  140 . 
         [0014]    The present invention includes the use of a module  150 . The module  150  comprises a jack plug connector  160 , which can be connected into the MP3 player  100 . The connector  160  may be a different type if necessary as long as it corresponds within the headphone plug  170  for headphones  120  and can plug into device  100  (whatever type it might be). The headphone plug  170  is then plugged into a female connector  180  in the module  150 , thus re-establishing the audio connection between MP3 player  100  and the headphones  120 . The module  150  further includes a button  190 , the function of which will be described in greater detail with respect to the internal functioning of the module  150 . 
         [0015]    The module  150  may include a microphone on any surface thereof, to allow the user  110  to speak into the module  150 . Again the function of the microphone will be described in greater detail below. The module  150  may be of any shape, size, color or form. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , details of the internal logic of module  150  will be described. The module  150  includes Bluetooth logic block  220 , which is connected to switching logic block  230  and a Bluetooth communication block  240 . The function of each block will be described in greater detail below. The switch  190  is connected to the switching logic block  230  and the Bluetooth logic block  220  for activating, deactivating, or carrying out a particular function as will be described below. A microphone  260  may be included and connected to the Bluetooth logic and communication blocks  220 ,  240 . The switching logic block  230  operates a switch  250  which can change the headset connection  270  from the MP3 player connection  280  to the telephone connection  290 . 
         [0017]    The following description now sets out operation of the module  150 . Prior to or during listening to content from the MP3 player  100 , the Bluetooth logic communication function is synchronised with the telephone  130 . This is achieved by pushing button  190  in a first manner (e.g., two pushes might be used to synchronise the Bluetooth with the telephone  130 ). This is due to the fact that the module  150  only includes one button which has several functions. It can be possible to have more than one button each for a different function. 
         [0018]    Once the telephone  130  and the Bluetooth of the module  150  are synchronised, the user  110  can listen to or continue listening to the output from the MP3 player  100 . The switch  250  is set to the MP3 connection  280  and the user  110  listens to music or other content from the MP3 player  100 . When a telephone call is received at the telephone  130 , the telephone  130  notifies the Bluetooth in the module  150 . The Bluetooth logic and communication blocks  220 ,  240  activate the switching logic  230  to switch the switch  250  to the telephone connection  290 . In this way, the user  110  can now hear the telephone  130  ringing or hear a warning of a call instead of hearing the content from the MP3 player  100 . 
         [0019]    The user  110  now has a number of options, including:
   1. Pick up and answer the telephone  130 . The Bluetooth logic  220  may then activate the switch  250  back to the MP3 connection  280  to connect to the MP3 player  100 .   2. The user  110  can choose to ignore the warning signal and press button  190 . The pressing of the button  190  in a second manner in this circumstance being operable to inform the switching logic  230  to switch the switch  250  back to the MP3 connection  280 .   3. If the module  150  includes a microphone  260  the user  110  can press the button  190  in a third manner to receive the call at the module  150 . The Bluetooth makes the connection and transfers the audio from the telephone  130  via the headphones  120  to the user  110  and the voice from the microphone  260  to the telephone caller via the Bluetooth and telephone  130  in a known manner.   
 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an illustrative process for using the module  150  and for carrying out the invention is described. 
         [0024]    The MP3 player  100  is switched on and the module  150  connected ( 300 ). The Bluetooth of the module  150  is synchronised with the telephone  130  either during or before the user  110  listens to the MP3 content ( 302 ). The user  110  then continues to listen to the MP3 content ( 304 ). 
         [0025]    A telephone call is then received ( 306 ). The Bluetooth logic block  220  is notified by the Bluetooth communication block  240  and the switch  250  is turned to the telephone connection  290  ( 308 ). As a result, the user  110  can hear the ring of the telephone  130  ( 310 ). 
         [0026]    The user  110  then makes the decision of what to do ( 312 ). The user  110  may ignore the call ( 318 ) and manually switch the switch  250  back to the MP3 connection  280  ( 319 ) and continue listening to the MP3 content ( 304 ). The user  110  may stop listening to the MP3 player  100 , remove the headset  120  and pick up to telephone  130  ( 314 ). Once the telephone call is completed, the Bluetooth recognises there is no connection to the telephone  130  and the switch  250  is automatically switched back to the MP3 connection  280  ( 316 ). 
         [0027]    Alternatively, the user  110  can answer the call and communicate to the caller using the module  150  as a telephone or intermediary to the telephone  130  ( 320 ). The switch  250  is automatically switched back to the MP3 connection  280  after the call is completed ( 316 ). 
         [0028]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, and scope of the invention.