EP0663129A1 - Dispositif de communication pour ordinateur - Google Patents

Dispositif de communication pour ordinateur

Info

Publication number
EP0663129A1
EP0663129A1 EP94921430A EP94921430A EP0663129A1 EP 0663129 A1 EP0663129 A1 EP 0663129A1 EP 94921430 A EP94921430 A EP 94921430A EP 94921430 A EP94921430 A EP 94921430A EP 0663129 A1 EP0663129 A1 EP 0663129A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
computer
interface
voice signals
telephone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94921430A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0663129A4 (fr
Inventor
Tommyca Freadman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plantronics Inc
Original Assignee
Sparkomatic Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sparkomatic Corp filed Critical Sparkomatic Corp
Publication of EP0663129A1 publication Critical patent/EP0663129A1/fr
Publication of EP0663129A4 publication Critical patent/EP0663129A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/21—Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
    • H04M1/215—Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/725—Cordless telephones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/06—Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
    • H04M11/066—Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to an accessory for a computer and, more particularly, to a communications device that serves either as a telephone handset to enable a human operator to communicate over a telephone line connected to the computer, or as a control center to enable the operator to communicate by voice with the computer.
  • Still another object of this invention is to share a telephone line conventionally used for transmitting facsimile messages, electronic mail, or data bank information with voice signals.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to allow a computer operator to remain at his or her workstation while answering a telephone call.
  • An additional object of this invention is to provide a computer peripheral device which functions not only as a telephone handset, but also as a computer audio control center.
  • a communications device for a computer connected to a telephone line.
  • the device includes a housing accessible to a human operator; means, e.g., a microphone, for converting sounds spoken by the operator into outgoing voice signals; and means, e.g., a speaker and/or headphones, for converting incoming voice signals into sounds heard by the operator.
  • the device also includes an interface operatively connected to the housing, the computer and the telephone line, as well as control means for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the telephone line in a telephone mode of operation in which the housing serves as a telephone handset, and for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the computer in an audio control mode of operation in which the housing serves as a computer control center.
  • the operator while working on his or her computer can, in a telephone mode of operation, learn of the presence of an incoming telephone call (either by hearing an audible alarm emitted from the housing, the interface, the computer or elsewhere, or by seeing a visible graphic symbol on the computer screen, e.g., a flashing telephone icon) , and answer the telephone call (by speaking directly into the microphone on the housing and by hearing sounds emitted from the speaker or headphones) — all without leaving the computer workstation or diverting his or her attention from the monitor.
  • the telephone line which heretofore conducted digital signals constituting facsimile messages, electronic mail or data bank information is now also employed to conduct voice signals.
  • the device functions as a computer control center, wherein voice commands uttered by the operator are conducted via the microphone to the computer to control various functions and/or to input data.
  • the computer emits voice signals reproduced by the speaker or headphones on the housing to be heard by the operator, thus completing the audio control system.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a communications device in accordance with this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to still another embodiment of this invention.
  • reference numeral 10 generally identifies a communications system including a portable housing 12 and an interface 14.
  • the interface includes an external connector 16, preferably an RS232 connector, for direct connection to a computer, as well as a socket for reception of a plug connected to a telephone line 18.
  • the interface 14 is either hard-wired to the housing 12 by a cable 20 (see also FIG. 2) , or is connected by a wireless link with the aid of antennae 22,24 (see FIGs. 3 and 4), as described in detail below.
  • the housing 12 includes a microphone 26 operative for converting sounds uttered by a human operator into outgoing electrical voice signals, a speaker 28 and sockets 30 for headphones, each operative for converting incoming electrical voice signals into audible sounds to be heard by the operator, a manually actuatable control key 32 operative for selecting at the operator's option whether to listen to the sounds emitted by the speaker 28 or the headphones, and a keyboard 34 having multiple, manually actuatable keys for placing a telephone call or selecting various functions.
  • a microphone 26 operative for converting sounds uttered by a human operator into outgoing electrical voice signals
  • a speaker 28 and sockets 30 for headphones each operative for converting incoming electrical voice signals into audible sounds to be heard by the operator
  • a manually actuatable control key 32 operative for selecting at the operator's option whether to listen to the sounds emitted by the speaker 28 or the headphones
  • a keyboard 34 having multiple, manually actuatable keys for placing a telephone call or selecting various functions.
  • incoming voice signals on the telephone line 18 are digitized and processed in a telephone line interface module 36.
  • the digitized signals are conducted to a microprocessor or microcontroller 38 and to an audio controller 40, having an auxiliary audio input and an auxiliary audio output, prior to being conducted along cable 20 to the speaker 28 (via an amplifier) or the headphones 30, as selected by control key 32.
  • the sounds uttered by the operator are detected by the microphone 26, conducted along cable 20 to the audio controller 40 and, after being digitized and processed, to the microcontroller 38 and the interface module 36.
  • the digitized signals can be output to the interface connector 16, to the telephone line 18 or to the auxiliary output of the audio controller 40 depending upon the mode of operation.
  • FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment analogous to that of FIG. 2, except for the following differences.
  • a wireless link is established between the housing 12 and the interface 14.
  • a radio frequency transceiver 42 is mounted within the housing for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals via antenna 22 to antenna 24 on the interface.
  • the audio controller 40 of FIG. 2 is configured as a radio frequency transceiver 44, and the operation of the FIG. 3 embodiment is as described for the FIG. 2 embodiment
  • FIG. 4 depicts still another embodiment analogous to that of FIG. 3, except for the following differences.
  • the control key 32 is depicted in FIG. 4 and is connected to a key controller 46 which, in turn, is connected to a radio frequency transceiver 42 in FIG. 3.
  • operation of the control key can be remotely communicated to the interface 14.
  • the computer operator once alerted to a telephone call, can answer via the microphone 26, and hear via the speaker 28 or headphones 30.
  • Such outgoing and incoming voice signals are conducted via the telephone line 18, or over auxiliary audio lines.
  • the computer operator can utilize the microphone 26 and the speaker 28/headphones 30 to communicate with and control the computer itself.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif informatique périphérique (10) sert de combiné téléphonique dans un mode de fonctionnement téléphonique et de centre de commande audio dans un mode de fonctionnement à commande vocale.
EP94921430A 1993-07-02 1994-06-30 Dispositif de communication pour ordinateur Withdrawn EP0663129A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8668193A 1993-07-02 1993-07-02
US86681 1993-07-02
PCT/US1994/007377 WO1995001698A1 (fr) 1993-07-02 1994-06-30 Dispositif de communication pour ordinateur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0663129A1 true EP0663129A1 (fr) 1995-07-19
EP0663129A4 EP0663129A4 (fr) 2005-02-09

Family

ID=22200171

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94921430A Withdrawn EP0663129A4 (fr) 1993-07-02 1994-06-30 Dispositif de communication pour ordinateur

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0663129A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPH08501198A (fr)
CA (1) CA2143666C (fr)
WO (1) WO1995001698A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0778689A1 (fr) * 1995-12-06 1997-06-11 WILHELM, Siegfried E Terminal de télécommunication
GB2308269A (en) * 1995-12-16 1997-06-18 Anthony John Buxton Microphone and earpiece for combined speech recognition and telephone use
GB2313977A (en) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-10 Chairman International Limited Telephone set
FI103559B (fi) * 1996-08-05 1999-07-15 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M Menetelmä ja laitteisto äänen siirtämiseksi

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4799144A (en) * 1984-10-12 1989-01-17 Alcatel Usa, Corp. Multi-function communication board for expanding the versatility of a computer
US4873714A (en) * 1985-11-26 1989-10-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Speech recognition system with an accurate recognition function
US4739128A (en) * 1986-11-10 1988-04-19 American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories Thumb-controlled, hand-held joystick
JPH0284900A (ja) * 1988-09-20 1990-03-26 Nec Corp カード型圧電発音体
US5086510A (en) * 1988-12-16 1992-02-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Multi-choice information system for a motor vehicle
US4972457A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-11-20 Spectrum Information Technologies, Inc. Portable hybrid communication system and methods
US5173936A (en) * 1990-05-08 1992-12-22 The Goeken Group Corporation Telephone handset holder assembly

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
No further relevant documents disclosed *
See also references of WO9501698A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0663129A4 (fr) 2005-02-09
WO1995001698A1 (fr) 1995-01-12
JPH08501198A (ja) 1996-02-06
CA2143666A1 (fr) 1995-01-12
CA2143666C (fr) 2004-02-24

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Legal Events

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Owner name: SPARKOMATIC CORPORATION

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Inventor name: FREADMAN, TOMMYCA

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