Patent ID: 8190217

Claim:
An electronic headset for mounting proximate a human ear of a user, the headset comprising: a housing including a power source; a first microphone mounted within said housing to receive a first audio input provided by the user; a second microphone mounted within said housing to receive a second audio input provided by one or more audio sources other than the user; a controller converting said first audio input into a first electronic signal when said controller operates in a first operational mode and converting said second audio input into a second electronic signal when said controller operates in a second operational mode; a first output system active in said first operational mode to communicate said first electronic signal to a second electronic device separate and distinct from the electronic headset; a second output system active in said second operational mode and including a sound generator to convert said second electronic signal into an audible generated audio signal for sensing by the human ear; and a mode control coupled to said controller for setting said controller into one of said operational modes; wherein in said first operational mode speech from said first microphone is transmitted to said second electronic device from said first microphone; and wherein in said second operational mode audio information external to the wearer from said second microphone is provided into the human ear; and further comprising a receiver for receiving a third electronic signal from said second electronic device with said third electronic signal including an audio communication for the user; wherein said mode control is automatic and responsive to a state of communication between the headset and said second electronic device to set said operational mode for said controller, said controller in said first operational mode when said state of communication between the headset and said second electronic device is active and said controller in said second operational mode when said state of communication between the headset and said second electronic device is inactive.