WO2000045526A1

WO2000045526A1 - Speaker-microphone having automatic notification feature

Info

Publication number: WO2000045526A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/002036
Authority: WO
Inventors: David F. Mears
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc
Current assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 1999-01-28
Filing date: 2000-01-27
Publication date: 2000-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2001-07-28
Also published as: AU2739000A

Abstract

A method for providing automatic notification within a system including a plurality of wireless speaker-microphones wherein a notification is generated from a first wireless speaker-microphone upon entry into the coverage area of a second wireless speaker-microphone. Upon detection of the notification at the second wireless speaker-microphone, an indication is provided to the user of the second wireless speaker-microphone of the notification from the first wireless speaker-microphone. An additional indication may be provided when a determination is made that the first wireless speaker-microphone is no longer detected by the second wireless speaker-microphone.

Description

SPEAKER-MICROPHONE HAVING AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION FEATURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless speaker-microphones, and more particularly, to a wireless speaker- microphone having the ability to automatically notify other speaker-microphones when coming within a predetermined range. Description of Related Art The development of wireless speaker-microphone technologies have provided the ability for a small separate device which acts as a speaker and a microphone to be wirelessly linked with a more powerful radio transmitter unit. In this way auser may carry a lighter weight speaker/microphone in a position closer to their head enabling easier communication via the device and carry the heavier radio transmitter either stored at their waist or in fixed location which is always near the user. This provides the user with a great deal of flexibility and freedom since bulky, constricting cables interconnecting the speaker/microphone with the radio transmitter unit are not necessary.

The development of wireless speaker-microphones have provided the potential for a wide variety of new applications. Some of these applications include the ability to detect similar units within a selected range of the wireless microphone. Some way to beneficially use this ability would be a great benefit to groups utilizing wireless microphone technology in large groups such as law enforcement personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with a wireless speaker microphone which includes transceiver circuitry for receiving and transmitting between multiple wireless speaker microphones. In response to an indication of a presence of an additional wireless speaker microphone, detection circuitry within a first wireless speaker microphone generates a detection signal indicating the entry or exit of an additional wireless speaker microphone into or out of the coverage area of the first wireless speaker microphone. The detection signal activates generation of an indication to a user of the additional wireless speaker microphone so that the user may know that an additional wireless speaker microphone has either entered or exited the coverage area of the first wireless speaker microphone.

The detection circuitry may further include first and second modes of operation. In the first mode of operation, the wireless speaker microphone will generate an indication to the user each time an additional wireless speaker microphone either enters or exits the coverage area of the wireless speaker microphone. In a second mode of operation, the wireless speaker microphone only generates an indication totheuser when a very first unit enters its coverage area. The entry of any subsequent wireless speaker microphones does not cause an indication to the generated. Additionally, a user is only provided with an indication that a wireless speaker microphone unit has left its coverage area when the very last wireless speaker microphone leaves the coverage area.

Power circuitry may also be included within the wireless speaker microphone to control the effective range of the coverage area of the wireless speaker microphone. The output power and consequently the coverage area of the unit may be manually controlled by the user or automatically controlled in response to the detection of additional wireless speaker microphones in the coverage area. The output power of the wireless speaker microphone may be incrementally increased from a base level up to a maximum level until one other wireless speaker microphone is detected . Alternatively, when multiple wireless speaker microphones are detected, the coverage area of the wireless speaker microphone may be decreased by incremental steps down to the base level until only a single wireless speaker microphone is detected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a system utilizing wireless speaker-microphone technology;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a wireless speaker-microphone operating according to the present invention; and

FIGURES 3(a)-3(d) illustrate various examples of the operation of the wireless speaker-microphone of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a system implementing a wireless speaker-microphone technology. The system consists of radio transmitter units 15 communicating with wireless speaker-microphones 20 via a wireless communication link 25. It should be noted that the first wireless communication link 25 and the second wireless communication link 30 may utilize the same or different frequencies. Thus, the voice and data communication may use the same or different frequencies. Voice communications are transmitted between the wireless speaker- microphone 20 and its associated radio transmitter unit 15 via the wireless communication link 25 such that communications may take place between various radio transmitter units 15. The above described system may operate with any wireless technology (RF, IR, etc.) in accordance with the described embodiments of the present invention.

In addition to enabling wireless communications with its own radio transmitter unit 15, the wireless speaker-microphone 20 may also communicate with other wireless speaker-microphones 20 or radio transmitter units 15 over a second wireless communications link 30. The second wireless communications link 30 enables the detection of other wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) and radio transmitter units 15(b) within the detection range of a wireless speaker-microphone 20(a). Thus, information concerning the presence or absence of additional wireless speaker-microphone units 20(b) and radio transmitter units 15(b) may be determined by the detection of location information at a first wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(a) over the second wireless communications link 30. By utilizing the information received over the second wireless communications link 30 indicating the presence or absence of a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) or radio transceiver unit 15(b), a wireless speaker-microphone system 10 may implement a number ofbeneficial functionalities to enhance the uses of wireless speaker-microphones systems 10. Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated one such beneficial implementation wherein a wireless speaker-microphone 20 includes circuitry enabling the beneficial use of the detection of additional wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) or radio transceiver units 15(b) within the range of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a).

Automatic notification circuitry 30 may consist of hard-wired circuitry within the wireless speaker-microphone 20 or in a preferred embodiment may include software programming within an associated processor that controls the functions of the wireless speaker-microphone 20. A location function 35 enables the detection of additional wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) or radio transceiver units 15 (b) within the range of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a). Detection results from the interception of signals transmitted from the wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) or the radio transceiver unit 15(b).

The location function 35 determines the presence or absence of additional wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) in response to signaling received through the transceiver circuitry 50. The transceiver circuitry 50 transmits signals from the wireless speaker- microphones 20 or receives signals from other wireless speaker-microphones or radio transmitter units 15 in a known manner. In response to the detection of additional wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) or radio transmitter units 15(b), the location function 35 generates activation signals to either one or both of a visual indicator 40 or an audio indicator 45. The visual indicator 40 may consist of one or multiple LEDs that indicate to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) that an additional speaker-microphone 20(b) has come into range. The visual indicator 40 may consist of a green LED or other colored LED providing single or multiple flashes to indicate the presence of the second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b).

The audio indicator 45 generates an audible tone indicating the presence of a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) in response to the activation signal from the location function 35. The purpose of both the visual indicator 40 and audio indicator 45 is to provide the user of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) a notification that an associated speaker-microphone 20(b) or radio transmitter unit 15(b) has come into range. It should be realized that the audio and visual indications may be used together or independently depending on the needs of the user. Additionally, the location function 35 may generate a second activation signal when a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) or radio transmitter unit 15 (b) presently within the range of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) leaves the range of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a). In this case, a second activation signal is generated by the location function 35 to either one or both of the visual indicator 40 and audio indicator 45. Both the visual indicator 40 and audio indicator 45 would provide a different visual or audio indication to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) to indicate that the second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) had left its detection range.

The location function 35 may also receive signals from the transceiver circuitry 50 indicating identifying information regarding a wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) that has been detected. The location function 35 interprets the identifying information and provides information for display to a user via a display 55. The identifying information may describe various unit specific information for the wireless speaker-microphone 20 such as user group, frequency, unit ID number, etc. With this data, the user may know in particular which wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) and associated radio transmitter unit 15 (b) has been detected and may optionally scroll through the various wireless speaker-microphones which may be within the range of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) using a scroll key associated with a user interface 60 to display the various microphone identifiers on the display 55. The identifying information may also comprise encoded indicators specially transmitted between wireless speaker microphones. The encoded indicators could provide different audio or visual indicators to a receiver in response to inputs from the user interface 60 at the transmitting unit.

The location function 35 may operate in two differing modes of operation. Mode " 1" 65 causes the location function 35 to operate in such a manner that each time a wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) enters the range of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a), an audio and/or visual indication is provided to the user. Also, when any wireless speaker- microphone 20(b) leaves the coverage area of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a), the user is again provided with an audio or visual indication that the second wireless speaker-microphone unit has left the coverage area. This type of notification system wherein each entry and exit of a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) from a coverage area of a first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) can be unwieldy in a situation where a large number of users are operating within a limited area. Thus, a mode "2 " 70 of operation may also be implemented by the location function 35. In mode "2" 70 operation, a visual or audio indicator signal to the visual indicator 40 or audio indicator 45 are only generated in response to the first time a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) enters the coverage area of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a). A subsequent entry of additional second wireless speaker-microphones 20(b) into the coverage area does not cause the generation of an audio or visual indication. Thus, the user of the wireless speaker- microphone 20(a) provides an initial notification to indicate that the user is no longer alone within the coverage area. A notification that a second wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) has left the coverage area of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) is only provided when the last wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) leaves the coverage area of the first wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) such that the first wireless speaker-microphone is again alone. This enables the user of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) to be notified when they are alone and all other associated units have left the immediate coverage area.

The automatic notification circuitry 30 may additionally include a power control function 65 enabling the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) to dynamically control the effective detection range of the wireless speaker-microphone in order to preserve unit power. The effective range of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) is controlled by limiting the output power of the unit. The power control function 65 increases the output power of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) from a starting point by incremental levels until another wireless speaker-microphone 20(b) is detected. At this point, increasing by additional incremental levels is discontinued until the detected unit leaves the present detection range. At this time, the output power of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) may be again incrementally increased until either a single additional wireless speaker- microphone unit 20(b) is again detected or the maximum power output level is reached. At the maximum output power level of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a), the detection range will be approximately 100 meters. Additionally, the power control function 65 may incrementally reduce the output power of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) when multiple wireless speaker- microphone units 20(b) are within the detection range. In this case, the output power is incrementally decreased from its present level until either a minimum level is reached or only a single wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) is detected within the detection range. Optionally, the detection range of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) may be manually controlled via the power control function 65 in response to user input through the user interface 60.

In a situation where the output power of the wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) is maintained at a constant level, the RS SI (received signal strength indicator) function 70 may use an RSSI signal to indicate the distance to a detected wireless speaker-microphone unit

20(b) from the detecting unit 20(a). Depending upon the range to a detected wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) determined by the RS SI function 70, various patterns of audio or visual indications may be provided by the visual indicator 40 and the audio indicator 45 to indicate differing ranges. Referring now to FIGURE S 3 (a)-3 (d), there are illustrated various situations which may be encountered by a wireless speaker-microphone operating according to the present invention when in the mode "2" 70 of operation. FIGURE 3(a) illustrates a situation wherein three wireless speaker-microphone units 20 are each sufficiently separated such that their coverage areas 85 do not overlap, and the units 20 are not able to detect each other. Each of the wireless speaker-microphone units 20 would provide an indication that they are alone.

FIGURE 3 (b) illustrates a situation wherein two of the wireless speaker-microphone units 20(b) and 20(c) have moved close enough to each other such that their coverage areas 85 overlap and they are able to detect each other and exchange information. In response to the detection, wireless speaker-microphone units 20(b) and 20(c) would each provide audio and/or visual indications to indicate the detection of a wireless speaker- microphone unit 20 within its coverage area 85. Wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(a) is still unable to detect the presence of a second unit 20. Thus, its state remains unchanged. FIGURE 3 (c) illustrates that wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) has now moved into the coverage area 85 of wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b). At the time of detection, wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(a) will provide an indication that it has detected an additional wireless speaker-microphone unit and that it is no longer alone. Wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) remains silent in the mode "2" 70 of operation since it has already detected wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(c). If wireless speaker- microphone unit 20(a) moves back into its previous position as shown in FIGURE 3(b), wireless speaker-microphone 20(a) will again provide an audio and/or video indication when the signal from wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) is lost since the unit would now be alone. In this case wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) will remain silent since it would still detect wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(c).

Referring now to FIGURE 3(d) there is illustrated an exchange of information between multiple wireless speaker-microphone units 20 resulting in more complicated situations. The wireless speaker-microphone units in this example are all within the same trunk system. However, the wireless speaker phone units 20 belong to three different trunk groups. Only the group three wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) is indicating that it is alone. Each of the other wireless speaker-microphone units have detected at least one other member of their group . The group three wireless speaker-microphone unit 20(b) senses all of the other units, but none of them belong to this unit's talk group, so the unit is effectively alone. In an emergency situation, an emergency mode of operation may enable the speaker microphone 20 to communicate with any other unit.

Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for providing automatic notification within a system including a plurality of wireless speaker-microphones, comprising the steps of: generating a notification from a first wireless speaker-microphone; detecting the notification at a second wireless speaker-microphone; and providing an indication to a user of the second wireless speaker-microphone of the detection of the notification from the first wireless speaker-microphone.

2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing a visual indication to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing an audio indication to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone.

4. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the step of generating further comprises the step of generating data identifying the first wireless speaker-microphone.

5. The method of Claim 4, wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of displaying an identification of the first wireless speaker-microphone in response to the identifying data.

6. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting encoded indicators, between the first and second wireless speaker microphones.

7. The method of Claim 1 further including the steps of: determining the first wireless speaker-microphone has left a detection range of the second wireless speaker- microphone; and providing a second indication to a user of the second wireless speaker- microphone when the first wireless speaker-microphone leaves the detection range of the second wireless speaker-microphone.

8. The method of Claim 7, wherein the first indication comprises a first tone and the second indication comprises a second tone.

9. The method of Claim 1 further including the step of adjusting an output power of the second wireless speaker-microphone to control a range at which the first wireless speaker-microphone may be detected.

10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises the steps of: altering the output power of the second wireless speaker-microphone at a level such that only one other wireless speaker-microphone is detected.

11. The method of Claim 9 further comprising the step of: increasing the output power of the second wireless level up to a maximum level if no other wireless speaker-microphone is detected.

12. The method of Claim 1 further including the steps of: determining a distance between the first wireless speaker-microphone and the second wireless speaker- microphone and the second wireless speaker-microphone based on a received signal strength indicator.

13. A wireless speaker-microphone, comprising: transceiver circuitry for receiving signals indicating the presence of at least one other wireless speaker-microphone; detection circuitry for generating a detected signal in response to a receipt of signals indicating the presence of at least the one other wireless speaker-microphone or a loss of a signal indicating the presence of at least one other wireless speaker-microphone; and an indicator for providing an indication to a user of the wireless speaker- microphone in response to the detected signal.

14. The wireless speaker-microphone of Claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises an LED for providing a visual indicator.

15. The wireless speaker-microphone of Claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises a speaker for providing an audio display.

16. The wireless speaker-microphone of Claim 13 further comprising power circuitry for controlling a range at which the transceiver circuitry may receive signals from the at least one other wireless speaker-microphone.

17. The wireless speaker-microphone of Claim 16, wherein the power circuitry incrementally increases the output power of the wireless speaker microphone until the signals indicating the presence of at least one other wireless speaker microphone is received.

18. The wireless speaker microphone of Claim 13 , wherein the power circuitry decreases the output power until all but one signal indicating the presence of at least one wireless speaker microphone remains.

19. The wireless speaker microphone of Claim 13, wherein the detection circuitry only generates a signal in response to receipt of a first signal indicating the presence of at least one other wireless speaker microphone or the loss of a last signal indicating the presence of at least one other wireless speaker microphone.

20. A method for providing automatic notification within a system including a plurality of wireless speaker microphones, comprising the steps of: generating a notification from a first wireless speaker microphone; detecting the notification at a second wireless speaker microphone; determining whether the second wireless speaker microphone is operating in a first or second mode of operation; if the second wireless speaker microphone is in the first mode of operation, providing an indication to a user of the second wireless microphone of the detection of the notification from the first wireless speaker microphone; if the second wireless speaker microphone is operating in the second mode of operation, determining if at least one other wireless speaker microphone is presently detected by the second wireless speaker microphone; if at least one other wireless speaker microphone is not presently detected by the second wireless speaker microphone, providing an indication to the user of the second wireless speaker microphone of the detection of the notification from the first wireless speaker microphone.

21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing a visual indication to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing an audio indication to the user of the wireless speaker-microphone.

23. The method of Claim 20, wherein the step of generating further comprises the steps of generating data identifying the first wireless speaker-microphone.