Patent ID: 8838184

Claim:
A system comprising: a wireless communication device (WCD) worn by a near-end participant during a telephone call with a far-end participant, wherein the WCD includes a microphone array, a WCD wireless radio, and a WCD processor configured to execute control, transmission, and audio processing algorithm; a telephony gateway remote to the WCD and including a-gateway processor coupled to a gateway wireless radio that forms an audio channel with the WCD, wherein the WCD processor is configured to electronically detect and pair, using the WCD wireless radio, with at least one other WCD within a pre-specified range of the WCD, and wherein the WCD processor is configured to pair, using the WCD wireless radio, with the telephony gateway; and wherein the gateway processor generates a first audio signal from signals received from the WCD, wherein the telephony gateway comprises a connection component coupled to the gateway processor and to a network carrying the telephone call, wherein the connection component couples the first audio signal to the network for transmission to the far-end participant, wherein the connection component receives a second audio signal from the far-end participant; and a speaker coupled to the connection component and outputting the second audio signal.