Abstract:
Apparatus for interfacing with a personal communication device having at least one device transceiver. The apparatus includes a first portion having a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting incoming communication data from the communication device to a user through the first portion. The apparatus also includes a second portion having a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a second wireless connection maintained simultaneously to the first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting outgoing communication data from the user to the communication device through the second portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to accessories for use with personal communications devices and, more particularly, to a earpiece and mouthpiece that wirelessly communicate with a personal communications device, such as a phone. 
         [0002]    At least some known personal communications devices, such as cellular phones, are configured to communicate with accessory devices that include an earpiece and a microphone to facilitate hands free use of such communications devices. For example, at least such known accessory devices are designed as a traditional headset that includes a boom microphone. Such a headset may include a single earpiece sized to fit over a user&#39;s ear, or may include two earpieces to cover both ears. The microphone extends outward from the headset and extends towards the user&#39;s mouth. The headset may be worn over the user&#39;s head or may extend only partially across the user&#39;s head. 
         [0003]    Moreover, such accessory devices may be designed as a more compact solution including a single earpiece and a boom microphone that extends only partially towards the user&#39;s mouth. The earpiece may be sized to be partially inserted into the user&#39;s ear canal while extending outward from the ear to enable the microphone to extend towards the user&#39;s mouth. Alternatively, the earpiece may include a portion that wraps around the top of the user&#39;s ear to secure the earpiece and microphone. 
         [0004]    However, such accessory devices are conspicuous, may be cumbersome to insert and remove, and may be uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time. As such, an apparatus is desirable that may be worn comfortably for an extended period and is discrete and inconspicuous during use. Moreover, an apparatus is desirable that communicates wirelessly with the user&#39;s cellular phone or other personal communications device, without any physical connection. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for interfacing with a personal communication device having at least one device transceiver. The apparatus includes a first portion having a first wireless transceiver that is configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting incoming communication data from the communication device to a user through the first portion. The apparatus also includes a second portion having a second wireless transceiver that is configured to communicate with the device transceiver using a second wireless connection maintained simultaneously to the first wireless connection to facilitate transmitting outgoing communication data from the user to the communication device through the second portion. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a method of interfacing with a personal communication device having at least one device transceiver using an interface device is provided. The method includes receiving, by a first wireless transceiver, incoming communication data from the device transceiver via a first wireless connection, wherein the first wireless transceiver is part of a first portion of the interface device, and processing the incoming communication data to form an incoming audio signal to be audibly output to a user by the first portion. The method also includes detecting an outgoing audio signal using a second portion of the interface device, processing the outgoing audio signal to form outgoing communication data, and transmitting, by a second wireless transceiver within the second portion, the outgoing communication data to the device transceiver using a second wireless connection. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a personal communication system is provided, including a communication device having a transceiver that is configured to communicate using multiple simultaneous wireless connections, and an interface apparatus. The interface apparatus includes a first portion and a separate second portion, and is configured to receive input communication data via a first wireless connection from the communication device using a first wireless transceiver within the first portion and to transmit output communication data to the communication device via a second wireless connection using a second wireless transceiver within the second portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The embodiments described herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus for interfacing with a personal communication device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of another exemplary apparatus for interfacing with a personal communication device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary personal communication system that includes the interface apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a second exemplary personal communication system that includes the interface apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart that illustrates an exemplary method of interfacing with the personal communication device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  using the interface device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
         [0015]    To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an” and “the” arc not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims. 
         [0016]    As used herein, the terms “wireless communication” and “wirelessly communicate” generally refers to a transmission of communication signals, such as voice signals and/or data signals, between devices. For example, as described herein, a first portion of a user interface device, such as an earpiece, may wirelessly communicate with a personal communication device, such as a cellular phone. In addition, as used herein, the term “wireless communication protocol” refers generally to a communications protocol that facilitates transmitting and receiving communications signals over a wireless connection. Examples of wireless communication protocols include Bluetooth®, Wi-fi, and ZigBee® (Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., Bellevue, Wash., USA, and ZigBee® is a registered trademark of ZigBee Alliance Corporation, San Ramon, Calif., USA). However, various embodiments of the invention may utilize alternative protocols. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus  100  for interfacing with a personal communication device (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), such as a cellular phone, that includes a wireless transceiver capable of forming multiple simultaneous wireless connections. In the exemplary embodiment, apparatus  100  includes a first portion  102  and a separate second portion  104 . First portion  102  includes a wireless transceiver  106 , a processor  108 , and a speaker  110 . More specifically, processor  108  is operatively coupled to wireless transceiver  106  and speaker  110 . Moreover, second portion  104  includes a wireless transceiver  112 , a processor  114 , and a microphone  116 . More specifically, processor  114  is operatively coupled to wireless transceiver  112  and microphone  116 . In the exemplary embodiment, wireless transceivers  106  and  112  are configured to transmit and/or receive incoming communication data using a Bluetooth(t communication protocol. However, alternative embodiments may be configured to transmit and/or receive incoming communication data using different protocols, such as ZigBee®. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, first wireless transceiver  106  is configured to communicate wirelessly with second wireless transceiver  112  rather than with the personal communication device. In such an embodiment, second wireless transceiver  112  is configured to communicate wirelessly with the personal communication device and with first wireless transceiver  106 . In an alternative embodiment, first wireless transceiver  106  is configured to communicate wirelessly with the personal communication device and with second wireless transceiver  112 , and second wireless transceiver  112  is configured to communicate wirelessly only with first wireless transceiver  106 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, first portion  102  is sized to be inserted into the user&#39;s ear canal. Moreover, in one embodiment, second portion  104  may be applied to the user&#39;s throat using a strap and/or an adhesive (neither shown). In an alternative embodiment, second portion  104  may be applied to an article of the user&#39;s clothing, such as a shirt collar, using an adhesive and/or a pin. In another alternative embodiment, second portion  104  may be applied to the user&#39;s jaw bone. In such an embodiment, microphone  116  is a vibration microphone that, when applied to a bone, such as a jaw bone, detects sounds based on vibrations that are caused by speech. 
         [0020]    During use, the personal communication device transmits communication data using a communication protocol to first portion wireless transceiver  106  using a first wireless connection. Wireless transceiver  106  receives the communication data and transmits the communication data to first portion processor  108 . Based on the communication data, processor  108  generates an audio signal and transmits the audio signal to speaker  110 . The audio signal is then output by speaker  110  to the user. To facilitate increasing the user&#39;s comfort, first portion  102  is sized to be inserted into the user&#39;s ear canal. 
         [0021]    When the user responds to the audio signal output by speaker  110 , a user-generated audio signal is detected by microphone  116 . Microphone  116  transmits the audio signal to second portion processor  114 . Based on the audio signal, processor  114  generates user-generated communication data and transmits the communication data to second portion wireless transceiver  112 . Wireless transceiver  112  then transmits the communication data to the personal communication device using a second wireless connection. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the personal communication device transmits communication data using a communication protocol to second wireless transceiver  112 , which then transmits the communication data to first wireless transceiver  106 . First processor  108  generates an audio signal for output to the user via speaker  110 , as described above. When the user responds to the audio signal output by speaker  110 , microphone  116  detects the audio signal and second processor  114  generates related communication data as described above. Second wireless transceiver  112  then transmits the communication data to the personal communication device. In an alternative embodiment, the personal communication device transmits communication data to first wireless transceiver  106 , and the communication data is processed and output to the user as described above. When the user responds, outgoing communication data is detected and processed as described above. The outgoing communication data is then transmitted by second wireless transceiver  112  to first wireless transceiver  106 , and then by first wireless transceiver  106  to the personal communication device. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus  200  for interfacing with a personal communication device (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), such as a cellular phone, that is not capable of forming multiple simultaneous wireless connections. In the exemplary embodiment, apparatus  200  includes first portion  102  and second portion  104  as described above. Moreover, apparatus  200  includes a third portion  118  that is communicatively coupled to the personal communication device. Third portion  118  may be coupled, such as removeably coupled, to the personal communication device. For example, third portion  118  may include a clasp that physically couples third portion  118  to the personal communication device in such a way that third portion  118  may be coupled to the device and/or de-coupled from the device by the user. Moreover, third portion  118  includes a wireless transceiver  120  that receives communication data from the device and transmits the communication data to first portion  102 . Third portion wireless transceiver  120  also receives communication data from second portion  104  and transmits the communication data to the personal communication device. Third portion  118  may be used when, for example, the personal communication device is unable to form more than one wireless connection that uses the chosen wireless communication protocol. Moreover, third portion wireless transceiver  120  may be communicatively coupled to the personal communication device using a wired connection or using a wireless communication protocol. 
         [0024]    During use, the personal communication device transmits communication data using a communication protocol to third portion wireless transceiver  120 . The personal communication device may transmit the communication data via a wired connection or via a first wireless connection. Third portion wireless transceiver  120  then transmits the communication data to first portion wireless transceiver  106  via a second wireless connection. As described above, wireless transceiver  106  receives the communication data and transmits the communication data to first portion processor  108 . Based on the communication data, processor  108  generates an audio signal and transmits the audio signal to speaker  110 . The audio signal is then output by speaker  110  to the user. 
         [0025]    When the user responds to the audio signal output by speaker  110 , a user-generated audio signal is detected by microphone  116 . Microphone  116  transmits the audio signal to second portion processor  114 . Based on the audio signal, processor  114  generates user-generated communication data and transmits the communication data to second portion wireless transceiver  112 . Wireless transceiver  112  then transmits the communication data to third portion wireless transceiver  120  using a third wireless connection. Third portion wireless transceiver  120  then transmits the communication data to the personal communication device via the first wireless connection or via a wired connection. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary personal communication system  300  that includes interface apparatus  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, system  300  includes personal communication device  302 , which may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a cellular phone. Personal communication device  302  includes a wireless transceiver  304  that communicates with both first portion wireless transceiver  106  and second portion wireless transceiver  112  using a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth®. As such, wireless transceiver  304  is capable of forming multiple simultaneous wireless connections. 
         [0027]    During operation, personal communication device  302  transmits communication data, via device wireless transceiver  304 , using a communication protocol and a first wireless connection to first portion wireless transceiver  106 . The communication data is processed as described above, wherein the communication data is used to generate an incoming audio signal that is output to the user via speaker  110 . Microphone  116  detects an outgoing audio signal, such as audible speech, from the user. The outgoing audio signal is used to generate outgoing communication data, which is then transmitted to device wireless transceiver  304  by second portion wireless transceiver  112  using a second wireless connection. 
         [0028]    In an alternative embodiment, personal communication device  302  transmits communication data, via device wireless transceiver  304 , using a communication protocol and a first wireless connection, to second portion wireless transceiver  112 . Second portion wireless transceiver  112  then transmits the communication data to first portion wireless transceiver  106  via a second wireless connection. The communication data is processed and output to the user as described above. Microphone  116  detects an outgoing audio signal from the user, and the outgoing audio signal is used to generate outgoing communication data, which is then transmitted by second portion wireless transceiver  112  to device wireless transceiver  304  using the first wireless connection. As such, in this embodiment, interface apparatus  100  and personal communication device  302  need only form a single wireless connection. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a second exemplary personal communication system  400  that includes interface apparatus  200 . More specifically, in this embodiment, apparatus  200  includes third portion  118 . As described above, third portion  118  is communicatively coupled to personal communication device  302  and, more specifically, to a wireless transceiver  304  within personal communication device  202 . Alternatively, third portion  118  may be communicatively coupled to a processor (not shown) within personal communication device  302 . Moreover, third portion  118  may be coupled, such as removeably coupled, to personal communication device  302 . Further, third portion  118  includes a wireless transceiver  120  that receives communication data from device  302  via a first wireless connection or a wired connection and transmits the communication data to first portion  102  using a second wireless connection. Third portion wireless transceiver  120  also receives communication data from second portion  104  via a third wireless connection and transmits the communication data to personal communication device  202  via the first wireless connection or the wired connection. Third portion  118  may be used when, for example, personal communication device  302  is unable to form more than one wireless connection that uses the chosen wireless communication protocol. Moreover, third portion wireless transceiver  120  may be communicatively coupled to personal communication device  302  using a wired connection or using a wireless communication protocol. 
         [0030]    In another alternative embodiment, third portion wireless transceiver  120  is configured to communicate wirelessly with first portion wireless transceiver  106  via one wireless connection, and personal communication device  302  is configured to communicate wirelessly with second portion wireless transceiver  112  via a different wireless connection. In yet another alternative embodiment, third portion wireless transceiver  120  is configured to communicate wirelessly with second portion wireless transceiver  112  using one wireless connection, and personal communication device  302  is configured to communicate wirelessly with first portion wireless transceiver  106  over a different wireless connection. 
         [0031]    During operation, personal communication device  302  transmits communication data using a communication protocol to third portion wireless transceiver  120  using a first wireless connection or a wired connection. Wireless transceiver  120  receives the communication data and transmits the communication data to first portion wireless transceiver  106  using a second wireless connection. Wireless transceiver  106  receives the communication data and transmits the communication data to first portion processor  108 . Based on the communication data, processor  108  generates an audio signal and transmits the audio signal to speaker  110 . The audio signal is then output by speaker  110  to the user. 
         [0032]    When the user responds to the audio signal output by speaker  110 , a user-generated audio signal is detected by microphone  116 . Microphone  116  transmits the audio signal to second portion processor  114 . Based on the audio signal, processor  114  generates user-generated communication data and transmits the communication data to second portion wireless transceiver  112 . Wireless transceiver  112  then transmits the communication data to third portion wireless transceiver  120  using a third wireless connection. Wireless transceiver  120  transmits the communication data to personal communication device  302  using the first wireless connection or the wired connection. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart  400  that illustrates an exemplary method of interfacing with personal communication device  302  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) using an interface apparatus, such as apparatus  100  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or apparatus  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In the exemplary embodiment, apparatus  100  receives  502  incoming communication data from personal communication device  302 . More specifically, first portion wireless transceiver  106  receives incoming communication data from personal communication device wireless transceiver  304  via a first wireless connection (both shown in  FIG. 3 ). Apparatus  100  processes  504  the incoming communication data in order to form an incoming audio signal, and outputs  506  the incoming audio signal to a user. More specifically, first portion wireless transceiver  106  transmits the incoming communication data to first portion processor  108  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). First portion processor  108  generates the incoming audio signal based on the incoming communication data and transmits the incoming audio signal to speaker  110  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Speaker  110  then outputs the incoming audio signal to the user in the form of audible output. 
         [0034]    Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, when the user speaks, apparatus  100  detects  508  an outgoing audio signal, such as the user&#39;s voice. More specifically, microphone  116  detects the outgoing audio signal and transmits the outgoing audio signal to second portion processor  114  (both shown in  FIG. 3 ). Apparatus  100  then processes  510  the outgoing audio signal in order to form outgoing communication data. More specifically, second portion processor  114  processes the outgoing audio signal in order to form the outgoing communication data, and transmits the outgoing communication data to second portion wireless transceiver  112  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Apparatus  100  then transmits  512  the outgoing communication data to personal communication device  302  using a second wireless connection. More specifically, second portion wireless transceiver  112  transmits the outgoing communication data to personal communication device wireless transceiver  304  using the second wireless connection. 
         [0035]    In an alternative embodiment, personal communication device wireless transceiver  304  transmits incoming communication data to third portion  118  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of apparatus  200  via a first wireless communication protocol or a wired connection. Third portion wireless transceiver  120  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) then transmits the incoming communication data to first portion wireless transceiver  106  using a second wireless connection. The incoming communication data is transmitted by first portion wireless transceiver  106  to first portion processor  108 , which processes the incoming communication data to form an incoming audio signal. First portion processor  108  transmits the incoming audio signal to speaker  110 , which audibly outputs the incoming audio signal to the user. 
         [0036]    Moreover, in the alternative embodiment, microphone  116  detects an outgoing audio signal. Microphone  116  transmits the outgoing audio signal to second portion processor  114 , which forms outgoing communication data based on the outgoing audio signal. Second portion processor  114  transmits the outgoing communication data to second portion wireless transceiver  112 , which transmits the outgoing communication data to third portion wireless transceiver  120  using a third wireless connection. Third portion wireless transceiver  120  then transmits the outgoing communication data to personal communication device wireless transceiver  304  using the first wireless connection or wired connection. 
         [0037]    The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein facilitate interfacing with a personal communication device, such as a cellular phone, using an interface apparatus that may be worn by the user in an inconspicuous manner. Such an interface apparatus may also be comfortably worn for longer periods of time. 
         [0038]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.