Abstract:
A hands-free kit for cell-phones combines the wireless capabilities of Bluetooth and the sound and visual functionalities of a tape player. A device that has a shape of a conventional magnetic cassette comprises a Bluetooth module. The module automatically detects a data communication initiated with the portable apparatus over a wireless network when the device is inserted in the tape player. Then the module automatically configures the apparatus to transmit to the device a low frequency signal representative of the communicated data. The device converts the received low frequency signal into a magnetic signal further communicated to the tape player for play out and/or display. Thus, when a cell-phone rings, a driver inserts the device in his tape player and the cell is picked up and the conversation played out loud on the loud speakers in the car.

Description:
REFERENCE TO CROSS RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Reference is made to copending application, Ser. No. ______, filed May 15, 2002 for “Bluetooth control device for mobile communication apparatus”, for the same assignee and same inventors (attorney docket US020149), herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a device for insertion into a tape player. The invention pertains in particular to Bluetooth-enabled hands-free cell-phone kits that make efficient use of sound systems readily available to users. The invention more specifically pertains to a Bluetooth enabled cassette-type device.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0003]    Cellular phones have gained wide acceptance among users and communicating over cell-phones outside the home and the office environments has created new needs. For example, the use of cell-phones in cars has raised several concerns such as security, convenience of use, sound quality and the like. Indeed, answering a phone call while driving has been proven to be distractive and drivers often loose their attention to the road, the traffic and to their surrounding. A driver may also find it unpractical to hold the cell-phone close to his ear when his hands are already busy steering the wheel or changing gears. In addition, the surrounding noise may disturb the user who may not hear well and/or may not be heard well. The resulting sound quality is poor and cars are thus not well suited for phone conversations.  
           [0004]    Several solutions have been released on the market to free the user from holding the cell-phone so that some of the issues mentioned above can be solved. Hands-free kits for cell-phones are widely available and some common ones comprise a microphone and a speakerphone connected to the phone. The microphone and the speakerphone may be integrated into one system that the user can place on his ear and/or head or, alternately, both may be mounted on the interior of the car close to the driver. These hands-free kits permit to partially free the user from having to hold the phone on one hand and they permit to improve the sound quality on the other hand. Other kits may comprise a microphone and a dummy tape connected to the phone. During a phone conversation, the driver inserts the tape in his car tape player and the voice conversation may be rendered through the audio system coupled to the tape player, e.g. speakerphones at the front and back of the car. Since tape players are present in most cars, such hand-free kits may be used with any cell-phone and these kits make great use of the existing audio systems of the car. However such hands-free kits often need to be physically connected to the cell-phone and may not be so convenient if the driver needs to connect the kit to the cell-phone before answering a phone call or if the driver needs to manipulate various buttons before being able to take an incoming call.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,850, herein incorporated by reference, proposes a live voice device adapted to utilize in its operation the acoustic loudspeakers already existing in vehicles and connected to a radio receiver apparatus thereof. This document discloses a dummy cassette comprising electronic means adapted to handle the low frequency signals of a cellular telephone apparatus, a microphone, a magnetic transducer facing the reading head of a tape player of the radio receiver apparatus. A suitably sized cord connects the dummy cassette to the cellular telephone apparatus. However, the document discloses that this cord, which is intended for transmission of signals, can also be implemented by radio waves. In a disclosed embodiment, a mini transmitter could be housed in an extension coupled to the cellular telephone apparatus connector. The mini transmitter is tuned on a given frequency pre-set in the car radio receiver so that, when a telephone call is received, it is sufficient to press the corresponding tuning button for receiving the telephone call in live voice from the loudspeaker system of the car radio receiver.  
           [0006]    A Bluetooth special interest group was formed to define and promote the Bluetooth technology. This group consists of employees of companies involved in Bluetooth who define together some of the technical requirements for Bluetooth products to ensure interoperability among products. Reference is made to one of the specification being drafted and reviewed by the Bluetooth SIG Car Profile Working Group, “Hands-Free Profile”, Oct. 22, 2002 by Jesus A G. Pulido, herein incorporated by reference. This draft seeks to define the protocols and procedures that shall be used by devices implementing the usage model of operating a phone via an in-car device. This working group is interested in all implementations of the hands-free profile that enable a car&#39;s embedded hands-free unit to be wirelessly connected to a cellular phone for the purposes of acting as the cellular phone&#39;s audio input and output mechanism, providing full duplex audio with possibly noise suppression, voice recognition and so on.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The solution of the dummy cassette disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,850 requires the user to connect the phone to an adapter in order to have the system capable of wirelessly forwarding the voice conversation to the loudspeaker associated with the tape player. Such a solution requires extra manipulation and extra hardware to function correctly and a user who would forget to set up his phone beforehand, i.e. connect the adapter to the phone or tune the radio receiver on the proper frequency, would not be able to take a phone call in time using this solution. In addition, such solution still requires substantial action by the user to forward a phone conversation from the cell-phone to the loudspeaker coupled to the tape player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,850 does not disclose any automatic recognition of the dummy cassette and the cell-phone that would enable automatic forwarding of calls from the phone to the loudspeakers.  
           [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide a more convenient solution to enable hands-free phone conversation advantageously using both the functionalities of existing tape players and the wireless capabilities of Bluetooth.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide a device for enhancing the security of users making phone calls while on the road.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a simple solution requiring minimal involvement of the user and thus simplifying the use of cell-phones in cars.  
           [0011]    It is yet another object of the invention to efficiently use sound systems coupled to tape players.  
           [0012]    To this end, a device of the invention is Bluetooth-enabled. The device comprises a Bluetooth module configured to automatically detect a presence of a Bluetooth-enabled apparatus in a receiving range of the device. Such an apparatus may be a Bluetooth-enabled cell-phone. The Bluetooth module is further configured to automatically detect a data communication initiated with the portable apparatus over a wireless network when the device is inserted in the tape player. The Bluetooth module is also configured to automatically configure the portable Bluetooth-enabled apparatus to transmit to the device a low frequency signal representative of the communicated data. The Bluetooth module is further configured to receive a low frequency signal. The device also comprises a circuit arrangement for converting the received low frequency signal into a magnetic signal; and a transducer for communicating the magnetic signal to the tape player.  
           [0013]    In the invention, a data communication carried with the apparatus will be partly or fully forwarded to the device when the device is inserted in the tape player. In the invention, data communication indicates any type of data transmission involving the apparatus and such data may be textual, audio or video. In an embodiment, the apparatus is a Bluetooth-enabled cell-phone and an incoming call received on a Bluetooth enabled cell-phone is forwarded to the device inserted in the tape player. Thus, when the Bluetooth cell-phone rings, the user does not have to look for it any longer. In order to answer the call, the user inserts the device into the tape player and the Bluetooth module automatically controls the cell-phone to accept the incoming call. The voice conversation is then forwarded to the device for play out by a sound system associated with the tape player. However the user still has the possibility of using the device and the user may still accept a phone call by pressing an acceptance button on the cell-phone itself. Bluetooth technology permits to delegate tasks to other devices having greater capabilities for the performance of specific functions than the device itself. In the invention, a phone call is not made through the cell-phone only and advantage is taken from other devices having greater audio capabilities than the cell-phone. The invention also minimizes the manipulation of devices and buttons that is required to take a phone-call and thereby the invention permits to minimize the user&#39;s disturbance. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0014]    The invention is explained in further details, by way of examples, and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a device of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is another embodiment of a device of the invention having a solar-rechargeable power source; and,  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is another embodiment of a device of the invention having a cigarette-lighter power source.  
         [0018]    Elements within the drawing having similar or corresponding features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 shows a system comprising a device  100  of the invention, an apparatus  200  and a car stereo  300  comprising a tape player  310 . The apparatus  200  may communicate text, audio or data signals over a wireless network  400 . In this embodiment, the apparatus  200  is a cell-phone and the network  400  is a cellular wireless network  400  based on one of the various standardized wireless communication protocols such as the UMTS, GSM or CDMA standards. Electronics and modules of the cell-phone  200  enabling communicating over the wireless cellular network  400  are not shown here. The cell-phone  200  comprises a Bluetooth chip  210  enabling the cell-phone  200  to communicate with another Bluetooth-enabled device when in the receiving range of the other device. The protocol used for the communication of audio and data signals between the cell-phone  200  and another Bluetooth device is specified in the Bluetooth specification and in the draft of October 2002, “Hands-Free Profile” of the Bluetooth SIG Car Profile Working Group as mentioned in a previous paragraph.  
         [0020]    The car stereo  300  comprises a control interface  320  with various control buttons, a display  330  and a tape player  310 . The tape player  310  is a conventional tape player comprising a cassette-slot where a magnetic tape may be inserted and the tape player  310  also comprises internal mechanisms and electronics for rendering or play out of data stored on a magnetic tape or for recording of data onto the magnetic band of the tape player. The internal mechanisms and electronics of the tape player  310  are not shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the car stereo is coupled to a sound system such as a set of loudspeakers.  
         [0021]    In this embodiment, the device  100  of the invention has a shape of a conventional magnetic tape. The device  100  is designed to be inserted in future or available conventional tape players such as the tape player  310  of the car stereo  300 . Like the cell-phone  200 , the device  100  comprises a Bluetooth module  130  for communicating over a Bluetooth network. The device  100  further comprises a transducer  110  configured to convert a low frequency signal  20  received by the Bluetooth module  130  over the Bluetooth network into a magnetic signal for rendering by the stereo  300  or another device coupled to the stereo  300 , e.g. the sound system as will be shown hereinafter.  
         [0022]    In the invention, a user may accept a call  10  received on the cell-phone  200  by inserting the device  100  in the tape player  310 . When the phone  200  notifies the user that the call  10  is received, e.g. by ringing or vibrating, the user inserts the device  100  in the tape player  310 . The device  100  comprises a detection module  135  that detects the insertion of the device  100  in the tape player  310 . In this embodiment, the module  135  is a mechanical trigger that gets depressed when the device  100  is inserted in the player  310 . In another embodiment of the invention, the detection module  135  is an electronic arrangement that gets connected to the car stereo  300  when the device  100  is inserted in the tape player  310 . It is to be noted that the invention encompasses any detection module configured to mechanically or electronically detect the insertion of the device  100  in a tape player. Upon detection, the module  135  informs and configures the Bluetooth module  130  to enable to take the incoming call  10  on the cell-phone  200 . The module  130  may transmit a configuration signal to the chip  210  to control the cell-phone  200  to accept the incoming call  10 . From there, the voice data associated with the call will be forwarded from the cell-phone  200  to the device  100  for play out by the car stereo  300 . To this end, the Bluetooth module  210  communicates a low frequency Bluetooth data signal  20  representative of the voice data received by the phone  200 . The Bluetooth chip  210  converts the radio frequency signal  10  into the low frequency signal  20  and communicates the signal  20  to the Bluetooth module  130 . The cell-phone  200  and the device  100  may have reciprocally identified each other and have exchanged protocol information upon detection of each other in their respective receiving range. Such identification allows both devices to interoperate using the Bluetooth protocol. Alternately both devices  100  and  200  may carry out such identification and probe/quest exchange upon insertion of the device  100  in the tape player  310 .  
         [0023]    The module  130  thereafter transmits the received Bluetooth data signal  20  to the transceiver  110 . The transceiver  110  is configured to convert a signal  30  received from the module  130  into a magnetic signal  40 . The magnetic signal  40  may be a magnetic field modulated by the voice data signal  30  representative of the original live voice data received by the cell-phone  200 . The tape player  310  is equipped with a magnetic head, not shown here, for reading conventional magnetic tapes. The transceiver  110  is embedded in the device  100  to face the magnetic head of the tape player  310  and the transceiver  110  communicates the magnetic signal  40  to the magnetic head for play out by loudspeakers of the car stereo  300 . Thus, a device  100  of the invention enables to automatically render the live voice data through the sound system associated with the tape player  310  when the device  100  is inserted in the tape player  310 . Such a device  100  of the invention provides an advantageous alternative to the poor sound quality of cell-phones when used in cars.  
         [0024]    It must be appreciated that the automatic transfer of data other than voice data from the Bluetooth chip  210  to the Bluetooth module  120  is also encompassed in the invention. Indeed, the chip  210  may be configured to forward to the device  100  data representative of voice mails, songs, emails and the like. For example, when a new voice mail is detected on the mailbox of the phone  200 , e.g. the cell-phone  200  just entered the wireless service zone of the network  400 , the Bluetooth chip  120  may automatically forward this voice mail to the device  100  upon insertion of the device  100  in the tape player  310  or upon detection of the new voice mail if the device  100  had been previously inserted in the tape player  310 .  
         [0025]    In another embodiment of the invention, the phone  200  may transmit other data to the device  100  in addition to the audio data representative of the live voice conversation. The Bluetooth chip  210  may be configured to transmit identification data to the Bluetooth module  120  representative of the identity of the caller or addresser of the data signal  10  received on the cell-phone  200 . For example, a phone number or a name of the person calling or the name or phone number of the person who left the new voice mail may be transmitted to the device  100  for display by the car stereo  300  onto display  330 .  
         [0026]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus  200  may be a laptop with wireless connection to the network  400 . The module  120  may be configured to control the Bluetooth chip  210  to forward any data signal received by the apparatus  200  over the wireless network. For example, when the apparatus  200  receives an email over the network  400 , the chip  210  may automatically forward data representative of the email to the module  120  for rendering by the car stereo  300 . Such representative data may be audio data for rendering by the loudspeakers associated with the car stereo  300  or text data to be displayed onto display  330  as mentioned previously. The apparatus  200  may comprise a Text-to-Speech application that generates an audio file representative of the email and this audio file is further converted into a Bluetooth signal for transmission by the chip  210  to the module  120 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show possible embodiment of the device  100  with different power sources. The device  100  comprises a rechargeable battery  120 . In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the battery  120  is solar-powered by way of a solar cell  150  mounted on a retractable tray  140 . Thus, advantage is taken of the fact that the device  100  would be left in the car while not in used. In this embodiment, the tray  140  is placed on the outer face of the device  100 , the one that faces the outside of the tape player  310  so that the cell  150  may still receive the natural light when inserted in the tape player  310 . The battery  120  may thus be charged when the device  100  is in use and inserted in the tape player  310 . The device  100  further comprises a charge indicator indicating a state of charge of the battery  120 . When the indicator  170  indicates a low charge of the battery  120 , the tray  140  may be opened to recharge the battery  120 . FIG. 5 shows another embodiment where the battery is recharged using a cigarette-lighter connector  160  such as the ones commonly available.  
         [0028]    It is also to be noted that the apparatus  200  is not necessarily a cell-phone as described previously. The invention also encompasses other Bluetooth devices, e.g. PDAs, MP3 players, pager, for which a received audio or text data signal will be forwarded to the device  100  and rendered by the tape player  310  or ancillary devices coupled to it when the device  100  is inserted in the tape player  310 .  
         [0029]    It is within the scope of the invention to consider alternative embodiments where the device  100  is inserted in the tape player  310  before any call is received on the phone  200 . Thus, for example once a call that was rendered using the device  100  of the invention is terminated, the user may leave the device  100  in the tape player  310 . In such case, a future incoming call received on the cell phone  200  will automatically be accepted by the device  100  of the invention and rendered through the device  100  unless specified otherwise by the user. Indeed, a user may interrupt or inactivate the automatic forwarding of phone calls to the device  100  by ejecting the device  100  from the tape player  310  or by inactivating the device  100 . The user may also accept the call through the cell-phone itself by pressing a “call accepting” button on the cell-phone  200 .  
         [0030]    It is also within the scope of the invention to consider an embodiment where several Bluetooth cell-phones or other Bluetooth-enabled consumer electronic devices, such as a PDA or an MP3 player, are within the receiving range of the Bluetooth module  130 . In such embodiment, any incoming audio data received by one of such devices will be rendered through the device  100  when inserted in a tape player according to a method of the invention.