Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Wireless headsets are popular devices for cell phone users. The portability and convenience of wireless headsets have convinced professional and amateur users alike to switch from wired headsets, conventional cell phone speakers and microphones. Wireless headsets generally may include one or more components for transmitting sound (e.g., a speaker) one or more components for receiving sound (e.g. a microphone), and one or more signaling components (e.g. a radio), the combination of these components enable a user to wirelessly listen to an audio message and/or participate in a conversation. 
     Conventionally, wireless headsets are used in conjunction with detached cell phones. A user may, for example, have a cell phone in his pocket, the cell phone being simultaneously in communication with both a cell tower and a wireless headset affixed to the user&#39;s ear or head. Even though cellular telephones have been reduced in size and are sleeker in design, they still constitute a weight that must be carried in a pocket, purse or on a belt. 
     If a user, however, wishes to enjoy the benefits of a cellular telephone without the inconvenience of carrying an extra weight in his pocket or on his belt, the existing solutions fall short. Furthermore, if a user wants to receive audio announcement information about an incoming call through his headset, again existing solutions fall short. Finally, if a user wants the ability to connect to a remote person or location using audio commands, headset solutions do not handle such commands in as simple and centralized a method as possible. 
     SUMMARY 
     It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Exemplary embodiments include a wireless telecommunications headset casing being detachably secured to a user&#39;s head and containing a speaker for providing audio to a user, a microphone for receiving an audio message from a user, a transceiver for communicating with a mobile telecommunication system and a processor for recognizing a command associated with the audio message and executing the command. 
     Exemplary embodiments provide a method to establish a communication by a headset. The method includes receiving an audio signal from a user at the headset via a microphone attached to the headset. An audio command is then derived from the audio signal, allowing the headset to establish a communication with the recipient over a mobile communication system based in part on the audio command. 
     In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, a computer readable medium is provided with instructions to receive an audio signal from a user via a microphone attached to the headset. An audio command is then derived from the audio signal, allowing the headset to establish a communication with the recipient over a mobile communication system based in part on the audio command. 
     Other apparatuses, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and Detailed Description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating functional components that may be found in a wireless telecommunications headset; 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram illustrating an optional embodiment including additional functional components that may be found in a wireless telecommunications headset; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary wireless telecommunications headset in communication with multiple remote devices and a telecommunications system; 
         FIG. 3A  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for initiating an outgoing phone call from a wireless telecommunications headset; 
         FIG. 3B  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for initiating an outgoing phone call from a wireless telecommunications headset utilizing remote devices; 
         FIG. 4A  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for receiving an incoming phone call using a wireless telecommunications headset; and 
         FIG. 4B  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for receiving an incoming phone call using a wireless telecommunications headset utilizing remote devices. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is directed to an apparatus and method for receiving and initiating telephone calls. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and which are shown, by way of illustration, using specific embodiments or examples. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements through the several figures, aspects of the apparatus and methods provided herein will be described. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating functional components that may be found in a wireless telecommunications headset  101 . Headset  101  may be wearable by a user. For example, headset  101  may be formed so as to affix to the head of a user by wrapping around an ear or inserting at least partially within the ear canal, or the headset may include a speaker for one or both ears and extend over or around the head as with conventional headphones. Headset  101  may also be separated into multiple physical components attached to each other using wired and/or wireless schemes (e.g. separate microphone or battery attached by a wire). Although represented here by distinct blocks for clarity, functional components of headset  101  may be combined into a single component (e.g. processor with on-board memory) and/or split into multiple components (e.g. multiple co-processors). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the headset  101  may include a processor  102 . Processor  102  may include a central processing unit, an embedded processor, a specialized processor (e.g. digital signal processor), or any other electronic element responsible for interpretation and execution of instructions, performance of calculations and/or execution of voice recognition protocols. Processor  102  may communicate with, control and/or work in concert with other functional components, including a microphone  105 , a speaker  106 , an antenna  109 , a battery  111  and a voice recognition module  114 . Communication between components may be facilitated by a bus  108 . Bus  108  may be inclusive of multiple buses and/or communication paths. Communication may be in the form of multiple parallel paths, a single serial path, or any other communication scheme. 
     Processor  102  may include a voice recognition module (“VRM”)  114 . VRM  114  may be any available voice recognition hardware, software or firmware allowing audio commands uttered by the user  201  to be transformed into electronic commands understandable by processor  102  or the other components of headset  101 . As an alternative, VRM  114  may reside on a remote device  202  or  205  capable of communicating with headset  101 . 
     RF transceiver  110  is capable of communicating wirelessly with a transponder of a telecommunications system  203  using antenna  109  or a second antenna, if desired. RF transceiver  110  may include multiple radios, each being specialized for different frequencies and/or reception and transmission. The telecommunications system  203  may be any telecommunications system including a mobile telecommunications system where the user may travel from base station-to-base station or hot spot-to-hot spot. A telecommunications system may be an analog or digital cellular telecommunications system. Moreover, the telecommunications system  203  may be a Personal Communication Service (PCS) in either of its analog and digital versions. The telecommunication system  203  may utilize Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) or Global System for Mobile (GSM) technologies. The telecommunication system  203  may be a satellite communication system. 
     Microphone  105  and speaker  106  may each include any form of transducer capable of converting audio waves into electrical signals (as with the microphone) and/or converting electrical signals into audio waves (as with the speaker). Ultimately, these components enable a user of headset  101  to participate in a telephonic conversation and may also enable the user to provide audio commands and receive audio. Microphone  105  and speaker  106  may be designed to also provide “speaker phone” capability for conference call use. 
     According to exemplary embodiments, each electronic component comprising headset  101  is powered by battery  111 . Battery  111  can be any type of battery commensurate with the manufacturer&#39;s ultimate design choices. As non-limiting examples, such a battery can be a rechargeable or disposable battery and can range from a ubiquitous AAA battery to a miniature lithium ion battery. If the headset  101  is disposable, the battery does not have to be replaceable. The composition of the battery is not essential to the subject matter being described herein as long as the power provided is sufficient to the manufacturer&#39;s ultimate design. Battery  111  can be integrated into the headset  101  or reside externally and provide power via an external cable. 
       FIG. 1B  is a block diagram illustrating an optional embodiment including additional functional components that may be found in a wireless telecommunications headset  101 . Headset  101 , wearable by a user, may also include a local transceiver  103 , a memory  104 , a transducer  107 , shielding  112  and a synchronizing connection  113 . 
     Local transceiver  103  is capable of communicating wirelessly with other local devices using electromagnetic frequencies broadcasted and received using antenna  109 . Transceiver  103  may include multiple radios. Local transceiver  103  may include transmitters and/or receivers capable of utilizing radio standards for communicating with remote devices. As an example, local transceiver  103  may be of limited range and be enabled to utilize a Bluetooth® radio standard. Radio standards may also include Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Wireless USB (WUSB), Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), WiMAX. WiBro, infrared, near-field magnetics, HiperLAN, and so forth. These short range radio standards will be referred to as the local network or local system. The local transceiver may also be an optical transceiver operating in commonly used spectra such as the infrared or ultraviolet spectra. Antenna  109  of the headset  101  may include multiple antennas, each being specialized for different frequencies and/or reception and transmission. 
     The headset  101  may include shielding  112  as protection for the user in order to directionally attenuate any RF energy being emitted from transceivers  103  and/or  110 . Shielding  112  may be constituted from any materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art as being suitable for such purposes now or in the future. 
     Memory  104  may be utilized for the storage of electronic data and electronic instructions for use by processor  102 . Memory  104  may include one or more types of computing memory, including volatile (powered) and non-volatile forms of memory. Volatile memory are most commonly comprised of integrated circuits and may include various forms of static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Non-volatile memory may include integrated circuit forms of memory such as flash memory, as well as other categories of memory including magnetic and/or optical forms of data storage. As above, memory  104  may be comprised of a single integrated circuit, or multiple components. Memory  104  may record multiple types of data also including ring tones, caller ID information, operational instructions and all types of databases. In the alternative, the memory  104  may be resident on a remote computing device  205  such as a nearby personal computer, which is accessible by the local transceiver  103 . Memory  107  may also contain VRM  114  or instructions associated with VRM  114 . 
     Transducer  107  may provide an additional input method for providing or prompting commands by the user. Transducer  107  may be a button, toggle, touchpad or other suitable device to convert mechanical energy into an electrical signal. Transducer  107  may include a touch sensor, a motion sensor, a sound sensor, or any other component capable of providing or prompting commands by the user. For purposes of headset  101 , the functionality of transducer  107  may be integrated with microphone  105  so as to enable vocal commands or prompts by the user. Transducer  107  can be comprised of a single multifunction transducer, multiple single purpose transducers that operate in conjunction or independently with each other and/or multiple multifunction transducers that operate in conjunction or independently with each other. If desired, multifunction transducer  107  can also be a single function transducer. Transducer  107  may be used to initiate any number of functions associated with headset  101 . Transducer  107  may be used to initiate a call, receive a call, send a call to voice mail, terminate a call, initiate/terminate speaker phone capability for microphone  105  and speaker  106  or select a phone number to call. The preceding list of functions controlled by transducer  107  is exemplary and may be expanded to include any and all functions of headset  101 . 
     Headset  101  may include synchronizing connection  113  (“sync connector”). Sync connector  113  may be used to receive and deliver updates and downloads via a computing device such as remote device  205 , for example. Sync connector  113  may communicate by a radio protocol (i.e. Bluetooth®), optics (i.e. infrared) by a cable connection or any other available communication medium. Updates and downloads may be also accomplished from telecommunications system  203 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts an example of wireless telecommunications headset  101  in use with telecommunication system  203 . User  201  may wear headset  101  over one ear. User  201  may speak such that microphone  105  can pick up the user&#39;s voice. A user  201  may hear synthesized audio feedback from headset  101 , via VRM  114 , as well as the voices of others via speaker  106 . User  201  may also prompt, or otherwise command headset  101 , using transducer  107  or by speaking audio commands into microphone  105  which are then converted to digital signals by VRM  114  and processor  102 . Via VRM  114 , audio commands may be used to control any and all functions of headset  101 . For example, such audio commands may direct processor  102  to connect RF transceiver  110  with telecommunication system  203  and dial a particular number. Such communication can use any radio standard used by the telecom provider. 
     Headset  101  may optionally be in wireless communication with one or more local remote devices  202  and  205 , simultaneously via a local network. Remote devices may include conventional telephonic devices in addition to other less conventional devices, including personal computers and video enabled phones. Wireless communication may be in the form of a Bluetooth® radio standard, or other wireless standards as discussed above. For example, when user  201  is at home, headset  101  may be connected to a home phone, such as the communication device  202  via a Bluetooth® wireless connection. User  201  may have already authorized headset  101  to communicate with the communication device  202  using an authentication process such as pairing. The communications device  202  may have wireless networking built in to communicate with headset  101  or the home phone may be connected through a wireless converter which converts wireless signals back and forth into conventional wired telephone signals. The communications devices  202  and  205  may include POTS phones, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), WiFi phones, computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). 
     In an exemplary embodiment, headset  101  acts as a conduit for audio signals, acting as a receiver and transmitter of a conversation between user  201  and remote user  204 . When user  201  speaks, audio waves are converted to analog electronic signals by microphone  105 . The analog signals may or may not be processed by processor  102  to convert them into digital signals, for example, by digital sampling of the analog signal. Either way, according to exemplary embodiments, signals are transmitted wirelessly by RF transceiver  110  directly to the telecommunications system  203  for communication with remote user  204 . Telecommunications system  203  may include, a packet switched data network such as the Internet, or any combination of networks used to distribute information such as voice and/or data signals. Likewise signals may return along the same or a different path through the same wireless connection for conversion to audio waves for user  201  to hear. 
     In other exemplary embodiments, headset  101  may interpret audio commands delivered verbally by user  201 . The user  201  may prompt headset  101  to make a call by either speaking a particular word or phrase, by manipulating transducer  107  or both. Headset  101  may then use speech recognition techniques, via VRM  114 , to interpret a verbal command provided by user  201 . The command may include a telephone number to be dialed or a name from an address book to be dialed from memory device  104 . Once the command is interpreted by processor  102 , headset  101  may act on the command by, for example, transmitting signals to telecommunications system  203  via RF transceiver  110 . 
     Once wireless headset  101  determines a phone number associated with the audio command, the phone number may be converted to an audio message to be delivered as feedback to user  201  prior to dialing, or it may be automatically dialed without providing feedback. An address book created by user  201  and stored in memory  104  may include a listing of names, other identification information and one or more telephone numbers associated with each of the names and/or other identification information. 
     If, in addition to headset  101 , user  201  also owns communication device  202 , then the user may wish to utilize wireless headset  101  in conjunction with the communication device  202 . Communication device  202  may be in communication with remote user  204  over telecommunication network  203 . User  201  may pair headset  101  with communication device  202 . In this fashion, headset  101  may be used either with the communication device  202  or with the telecommunication network  203 . When making an outgoing call using headset  101 , user  201  may have to indicate a choice to connect with either communication device  202  or with network  203  if both are in range of the headset. This indication may occur at the time of the call. Choice of connection may be signaled by depression of button  107  or by an audio command via VRM  114 . Alternatively, an indication of priority may have been previously provided thus making one remote device preferred over another when both are in range. A list of remote devices in a preferred access order may be stored in memory  104  of headset  101 . Another alternative may involve headset  101  weighing the relative strength of the wireless signal between both devices and using the device with the strongest signal to make the outgoing call. 
     When receiving an incoming call on either communication device  202  or telecommunication network  203 , headset  101  may announce the incoming communication, either through a generated voice, a particular sound, or the use of other feedback mechanisms such as text on an LCD display or LED lights. Such an announcement may include incoming caller information. For example, an audio announcement of an incoming call may be generated stating, “Headset is receiving a call from (202) 555-1212”. If user  201  is engaged with a call via a communication device (e.g., home phone  202 ), and an incoming call is received on headset  101  (e.g. from cellular network  203 ), then one of a number of actions may be taken. For example, headset  101  may notify the user about the call on the headset  101  using a VRM  114  generated voice such as, “receiving a call from (404) 555-4132”. Headset  101  may alternatively provide a simple audio prompt (such as a “beep”), to announce a new incoming call similar to a call waiting tone. Headset  101  may also ignore the incoming call, if so configured. If, user  201  is alerted to an incoming call, headset  101  may enable the user to place the current call on hold while handling the incoming call from the other device by enunciating a verbal command or manipulating transducer  107 . 
     Incoming call announcements may be utilized regardless of whether a current call is ongoing. Such announcements may be determined by announcing a name or other identification information associated with a call rather than the phone number. For example, the announcement of an incoming call may be, “headset is receiving a call from Joe Smith” or “headset is receiving a call from Dad”. The identification information may be pulled from standard Caller ID information associated with the incoming call by processor  102 . Identification information may also be determined by performing a reverse lookup of the incoming telephone number in an address book that could be stored in memory  104 . For example, if user  201  has an address book stored in memory  104  of headset  101 , the headset may analyze the incoming caller information and perform a lookup based on the incoming telephone number. Once an associated name or other identification information is determined, the identification information can be made part of the vocal announcement played out of speaker  106  on headset  101 . A user may then decide whether or not to answer the incoming call using an audio command spoken into microphone  105 , or by depressing button  107 , or by other known input methods. 
     Headset  101  may also be linkable with additional remote devices such as remote device  205 . Remote device  205  may have a wireless radio standard built in (e.g., Bluetooth® functionality included with the device). Headset  101  may utilize incoming call announcements for incoming calls associated with remote device  205 . Headset  101  may also utilize one of the priority schemes identified above when making outgoing calls in the presence of, for example, office phone  202  and device  205 . In a situation where both remote devices receive incoming calls at the same time, headset  101  may permit user  201  to choose which call to answer using transducer  107  or an audio command. Alternatively, the headset may utilize a priority scheme similar to the schemes described above, including having previously identified one device (e.g., communication device  202 ) as having priority over another (e.g. device  205 ) for incoming calls. Alternatively, headset  101  may simply compare the relative wireless signal strengths of the connections to both devices and choose the strongest signal when deciding which incoming call to connect. Remote device  205  may also act as a local server to store information and execute commands for headset  101 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a flow chart illustrating an example routine  300   a  for initiating an outgoing communication (e.g. a phone call) from wireless telecommunications headset  101 . The functional blocks displayed in this and other flowcharts are intended to suggest an order for completing a method. The blocks and their order, however, are not intended to provide the exact method for performing the method. Instead, functional blocks may be combined, split reordered, added and removed. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3A , a prompt is received by wireless telecommunications headset  101  from user  201  to initiate an outgoing call at operation  301 . The prompt may be in the form of a transducer  107  manipulation, an audio command (via VRM  114 ), or similar input. Upon receipt of the prompt, the RF transceiver  110  is energized by the battery  111  at process  305  or alternatively, the power level to the RF receiver  110  is increased. 
     At operation  307 , user  201  utters an audio message which is received via microphone  105  and may be stored digitally in memory  104 . The contents of the audio message may initially be unknown to headset  101  but at operation  308  processor  102  performs speech recognition analysis using VRM  114  on the stored audio message, thus achieving a level of recognition of what user  201  uttered. A command may be recognized, such as “work phone” and/or “Dial 2 0 2 5 5 5 1 2 1 2,” or “Dial Joe Smith Mobile.” Such speech recognition techniques are widely known, and may require that user  201  have previously trained headset  101  as to the peculiarities of the user&#39;s voice. 
     At decision point  309 , a determination is made as to whether the recognized command requires a phone number lookup, as with “Dial Joe Smith Mobile”. If so, a phone number associated with the name in the command is determined at process  310 . This determination may be achieved by processor  102  looking up the name in an address book stored in memory  104  within headset  101 . This lookup may look for an exact match, or it may use phonetic approximation to find the name which sounds closest to the recognized command. 
     At operation  311 , the resulting phone number is dialed by processor  102  in order that the call be initiated via telecommunications system  203 , at which point user  201  can converse wirelessly with remote user  204 . Routine  300   a  ends after user  201  begins his conversation via RF transceiver  110 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a flow chart illustrating an example routine  300   b  for initiating an outgoing communication from wireless telecommunications headset  101  with optional remote devices  202  and/or  205  included. In the example shown in  FIG. 3B , at operation  301 , a prompt is received by wireless telecommunications headset  101  from user  201  to initiate an outgoing call. The prompt may be in the form of a transducer manipulation, an audio command via VRM  114 , or similar input. At operation  302 , if multiple remote devices (e.g.  202  and  205 ) are within range and appropriately authorized, headset  101  determines which of the devices to use to initiate the call. At decision point  303 , a determination is made as to whether the call will be made directly from the RF transceiver  110  of the headset  101  to telecommunication system  203  or whether a local communication device, such as the devices  202  and  205 , will be used and selected in step  304  in which case the local transceiver  103  will be activated in step  306 . This determination may be made by user  201  manipulating transducer  107 , by user  201  uttering an audio command to processor  102  via microphone  105  or by a preconfigured set of rules. 
     An example of a rule may be to access a home phone first via local transceiver  103 , a work phone second via local transceiver  103 , and then to the headset third via RF transceiver  110  during daytime hours, but always use the headset after 7 pm. Other rules are certainly configurable. Headset  101  may use the remote device  202  having the strongest signal via local transceiver  103 . Another alternative is to have the headset  101  select a remote device based on the phone number being dialed. For instance, certain numbers may need to go out over the work phone (e.g., international calls), in which case local transceiver  103  would be used in conjunction with the work phone while other calls go out over the headset RF transceiver  110  (i.e. personal calls). Another alternative is to have user  201  select among the available remote devices. This selection may be made by audibly prompting user  201  to select a remote device  202  and awaiting a selection in the form of a vocal or other input or by manipulating transducer  107 . 
     At operation  307 , user  201  utters an audio message which is received via microphone  105  which may be stored digitally in memory  104 , via VRM  114 . The contents of the audio message may initially be unknown to headset  101  but at operation  308 , processor  102  performs speech recognition analysis on the audio message, achieving a level of recognition of what user  201  uttered. A command may be recognized by VRM  114 , such as “work phone” and/or “Dial 2 0 2 5 5 5 1 2 1 2,” or “Dial Joe Smith Mobile.” Such speech recognition techniques that may be used by VRM  114  are widely known, and may require that user  201  have previously trained headset  101  as to the peculiarities of the user&#39;s voice. 
     At decision point  309 , should the recognized command require a phone number lookup, as with“Dial Joe Smith Mobile”, a phone number associated with the name in the command is determined at operation  310 . This determination may be achieved by looking up the name in an address book stored in memory  104  within headset  101 . This lookup may look for an exact match, or it may use phonetic approximation to find the name which sounds closest to the recognized command. The number determination may also be performed with the assistance of a remote device, with headset  101  communicating with the remote device  202  or other devices. This communication may supply a text to a remote device which performs a lookup and returns the appropriate phone number or numbers. Communication with the helping remote device may also include other devices which can be used as backup lookups should an initial lookup fail. A remote device may also assist with the speech recognition process, sharing the work involved in recognizing a command. 
     At operation  311 , the resulting phone number is sent to one of the remote devices (e.g. device  202 ) or to headset  101  in order that it be dialed and the call initiated, at which point user  201  can converse wirelessly with remote user  204 . Once the remote device has been instructed to dial the phone number, routine  300   b  ends. 
       FIG. 4A  is a flow chart illustrating an example routine  400   a  for receiving an incoming communication (e.g. a phone call using wireless telecommunications headset  101 ). At operation  401 , headset  101  receives notification of an incoming telephone call. The notification may include a generated voice announcing the incoming call or maybe an audio prompt such as a beep or tone. At operation  402 , a decision is made as to the presence of caller ID information by processor  102 . At operation  403 , the caller ID information is detected as a part of the notification. If caller information is present, it may be used to notify the user  201  at operation  404 . This may involve identifying a calling phone number. In addition, a calling number may be used to perform a reverse look up in an address book stored in headset  101  in order to associate a name with the number. The detection of caller identification information at process  403  may use many of the same methods described with regard to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , above. At operation  403 , a text-to-speech algorithm associated with VRM  114  may be used to convert incoming caller information and other information (e.g., information indicating an initiator of the communication or information indicating which device is being called) into an audio message for presentation to user  201  via speaker  106 . For example, “Joe Smith is calling your cell phone,” or “Your home phone is ringing with phone number 202-555-1212.” 
     At operation  405 , headset  101  waits to see if user  201  wants to accept the incoming call. User  201  may signal his assent by speaking an audio command (e.g., “Pick Up”), or otherwise inputting his assent such as physically manipulating transducer  107 . If user  201  chooses to ignore the call, user  201  may decline to take the call by waiting a set period of time, manipulating transducer  107  or speaking an audio command (e.g. “cancel”) at operation  406 . If the user declines to answer the call at operation  405 , the call may be ignored or headset  101  may inform the source remote device to ignore the call. If user  201  chooses to accept the call he can further choose to send the call to voice mail at which point the call is connected at operation  407  by manipulating transducer  107  or speaking another audio command (e.g. “Voice Mail”). If the call is answered, then processor  102  connects the call to microphone  105  and speaker  106  and conversation can occur normally. Once a call is either connected to allow the user  201  to converse or is ignored, routine  400   a  ends. 
       FIG. 4B  is a flow chart illustrating an example routine  400   b  for receiving an incoming communication with a wireless headset  101  optionally utilizing remote devices. In the example shown in  FIG. 4B , at operation  401  headset  101  receives notification of an incoming telephone call. Notification may include a generated voice announcing the incoming call or an audio prompt such as a beep. At operation  402 , the presence of caller ID information is available. At operation  403 , caller ID information is detected as a part of the notification. If caller information is present, it may be used to notify the user  201  at operation  404 . Visual caller ID information may also be utilized. U.S. Pat. No. 7,085,358 describes the use of visual caller ID information and is incorporated here by reference in its entirety. 
     The use of caller ID information may involve identifying a calling phone number. A calling phone number may be used to perform a reverse look up in an address book stored in headset  101  in order to associate a name with the number. Determination of identifying information may use many of the same methods described with regard the methods discussed above. At operation  403 , a text-to-speech algorithm associated with VRM  114  may be used to convert incoming caller information and other information (e.g., information indicating an initiator of the communication or information indicating which device is being called) into an audio message for presentation to user  201  via speaker  106 . For example, “Joe Smith is calling your cell phone,” or “Your home phone is ringing with phone number 202-555-1212.” 
     At operation  405 , headset  101  waits to see if user  201  wants to accept the incoming call User  201  may signal his assent by speaking an audio command (e.g., “Pick Up”), or otherwise inputting his assent such as physically manipulating transducer  107 . If user  201  chooses to ignore the call, user  201  may decline to take the call by waiting a set period of time or speaking an audio command (e.g. “cancel”) at operation  406 . If the user declines to answer the call it may be ignored, or headset  101  may inform the source remote device to ignore the call. If user  201  chooses to accept the call he can further choose to send the call to voice mail at which point the call is connected at operation  407  by manipulating transducer  107  or by speaking another audio command (e.g. “Voice Mail”). If the call is accepted, then headset  101  picks up the call and conversation can occur normally. Once a call is either connected or ignored routine  400   b  ends. Alternatively, the user  201  may choose to send the call to another local communication device  202  by manipulating transducer  107 , speaking an audio command into headset microphone  105  (e.g. “transfer”). The user may then carry on the conversation on the local communication device  202 . 
     The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 5