Method and system for remote telephone calibration

[0002] This patent application is based on, and is a continuation-in-part, of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/593,953, filed on Jan. 30, 1996. Priority is hereby claimed to all material disclosed in this pending parent case.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to the calibration and adjustment of signal levels and noise removal in telephone equipment. More specifically, this invention relates to a method of adjusting microphone signal level, speaker volume, noise and echo cancellation and to do so remotely over the telephone lines. This invention is particularly adapted to the unique requirements of hands-free telephone headsets, in that it is designed to adapt to different ambient noise environments. This invention provides an accurate user-friendly means for calibrating hands-free telephone headsets to operate properly with most telephone base units.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] Various approaches are currently used to adjust headsets to be used with telephone base units. Typically, multi-position switches are provided for the user to set into different positions depending on the type of telephone base unit with which the headset is being used. A list of telephones cross referenced to switch positions may be provided. These approaches range from having six switch positions to over sixteen switch positions.

[0007] Other approaches employ special purpose electronics which are connected directly to the headset and are generally used to test the headset rather than calibrate it to a particular telephone base unit.

[0008] For general background material, the reader is directed to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,637,954, 4,071,704, 4,180,709, 4,273,970, 4,788,708, 4,807,274, 4,879,738, 4,937,850, 4,862,492, 4,887,288, 5,073,919, and 5,226,086 each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for the material disclosed therein.

[0009] It is desirable to provide a system for the calibration of telephone headsets, adapting said headsets to telephone base units, and to do so with an easy to activate remote procedure which communicates over the telephone lines to ensure an improved signal quality for the headset user.

[0010] It is the general objective of this invention to properly calibrate telephone headsets for use with most telephone base units.

[0011] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a method of calibrating telephone headsets remotely over the telephone lines.

[0012] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a telephone headset calibration method that includes the capability of adjusting the headset microphone signal level.

[0013] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a remote telephone calibration method that includes the capability of adjusting the transmit level of the telephone headset.

[0014] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a remote telephone calibration method that can customize the telephone headset such that it adapts to an individual user's preferences and to an individual user's environment.

[0015] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a remote telephone calibration method that is capable of adjusting noise cancellation and can be adaptable to different ambient noise environments.

[0016] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a remote telephone headset calibration method capable of fine tuning echo cancellation.

[0017] It is a further objective of this invention to provide a remote telephone calibration method that is accomplished easily and without any technical intervention by the user.

[0018] These and other objectives of this invention are achieved by a method comprising the steps of: the user calling the support center using the telephone headset, activating the headset, placing the headset in programming mode, setting the headset transmit level, fine tuning the headset to eliminate the “echo”, setting noise cancellation level, adjusting the frequency response, setting speaker gain, and storing the settings in the headset.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the method of this invention is accomplished with the aid of software programmed and stored in the headset circuitry. Also, in this preferred embodiment, the invention operates on a Jabra 1000 telephone headset with Earphone attachment. For the purposes of this disclosure, the Jabra 1000 telephone headset with Earphone attachment will be simply referred to as the Jabra 1000.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the top level steps of one preferred embodiment of the method of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a more detailed flow diagram of the initial steps of one preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the control keyboard used in the method of one preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a detailed flow diagram of the adjustment of transmit level step of one preferred embodiment of the process steps of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a detailed flow diagram of the adjustment of noise level step of one preferred embodiment of the process steps of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a detailed flow diagram of the adjustment of advanced audio parameters of one preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a depiction of the remote telephone calibration system showing the components used in a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 1 depicts the top level steps of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The first step of the method 101 is the receipt of a customer calibration request. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this step is initiated by a customer telephone call to customer service. While the customer service function may be handled by automated equipment, the current best mode involves a human customer service representative. Once the customer has contacted customer service the customer is instructed to use the headset (in the preferred embodiment a Jabra 1000). Once the customer calibration request is received 101, the customer's headset is initialized for remote control 102. In this way the headset is set for control by the customer service representative, remotely over the telephone lines. Next, customer service takes remote control of the headset 103. Once customer service has control of the headset calibration can begin.

[0028] A telephone headset has many adjustable audio qualities. This invention provides a process of making these adjustments in a simple reliable remote manner. Many telephone headsets will require some but not all of the possible adjustments or calibrations. This process therefore does not require that every quality or parameter be calibrated, rather customer service is provided the means for directly calibrating each quality or parameter without interfering with qualities or parameters that do not require calibration.

[0029] Step 104 provides the capability to adjust the transmission level of the headset. The transmission level involves the audio received from the customer via a microphone in the headset. Adjustment of transmission level 104 provides the appropriate volume to the receiver of a telephone call initiated by a headset telephone user.

[0030] Adjustment of noise reduction 105 involves the compensation for background noise. An objective of a well calibrated headset is the cancellation of background noise without deteriorating the quality of the user's voice.

[0031] A variety of audio parameters are adjustable in the adjustment of advanced audio parameters step 106. In the preferred mode of this invention these audio parameters include such audio qualities as: signal attenuation, speaker gain, echo, microphone circuit adjustments, speaker circuit adjustments, and audio filter control. In the preferred embodiment these qualities are adjusted by the transmission of parameter codes and preset variables to the control software operating within the headset electronics.

[0032] After the completion of calibration of the headset, the process of the invention provides for storing of the settings and parameters 107 in the headset memory circuitry. This storage of the settings and parameters 107 insures that the headset maintains the values and adjustments for the user after the user regains control of the headset.

[0033] The return to user control step 108 ends the calibration of the headset, permitting the user to employ the headset in normal telephone communications.

[0034] FIG. 1 further shows the addition of an audio feedback feature which is initiated 109 by the remote control function in the system of the invention. Once the customer service takes control of the head set a repeating musical tune is played through the head set. The addition of this audio feedback feature provides several novel and important enhancement to the operation of the system, including the customer is thereby informed that the unit is functioning and that the calibration process is continuing so that the customer is not tempted to intervene and halt the process (the customer can be instructed to take certain reset action should the tune not begin at the appropriate time or should it end without the customer service operator returning to the line); and the audio feedback tune masks the potentially undesirable sounds of audio signals used during the calibration process. The preferred embodiment of this portion of the invention is provided in the provided source code found at the end of the software source code section. The reader should note that alternative tunes, tones and signal attenuation can be used without departing from the essence of this portion of the invention. Moreover, the tune can alternatively be generated or altered by a process in the headset, as opposed to being transmitted from the customer service center.

[0035] Once the headset is calibrated, the repeating tone initiated in step 109 is ended in step 110.

[0036] FIG. 2 provides a more detailed view of the initialize headset for remote control 102 and the take control of headset step 103. Before the headset can be calibrated customer service must work with the customer to insure that the headset is correctly hooked up to the telephone base unit 201. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, using the Jabra 1000, the procedure for hooking up the headset is designated by icons on the base of the unit that show where each cord should be connected.

[0037] Once this is accomplished, customer service asks the customer to activate the headset 202. This is done in the preferred embodiment, using the Jabra 1000, by pressing on a button on the base of the headset unit. At this point, the customer puts on the Earphone and waits for approximately 45 seconds. During this, approximately 45 second, time period customer service should be able to take control of the headset 103, set the transmit level 104, enter a preset value using the adjust advanced audio parameters step 106 and to converse with the customer through the preferred Jabra 1000.

[0038] Taking control of the headset 103 in the preferred Jabra 1000 involves passing through a security mode and into the programming modes. The security mode consists to insure that inadvertent or unauthorized programming of the headset does not occur. In the preferred use of the Jabra 1000, the security mode is entered by pressing a button or combination of buttons on the control keyboard 301 to effect the entering of the security mode command 203. Once the security mode is accessed a short “machine gun” sound is produced 204 to inform customer service that the Jabra 1000 is now in security mode. An alternative means of entering security mode 203 is through a manual override, permitting the customer-user to activate security mode. Manual override is accomplished by having the customer rapidly press the activation button on the base of the Jabra 1000 a predefined number of times. An alternative method of entering manual override is by depressing the activation button a predetermined period of time. When manual override is successfully completed the “machine gun” sound is produced 203 to inform customer service that the Jabra 1000 is now in security mode. At this time, the customer will hear the Jabra 1000 vocalize “Jabra.”

[0039] Once the “machine gun” sound 203 has been heard customer service enters a programming mode code 205 after which a “pink” noise, a broadband waterfall like sound, is produced 206 to inform customer service that the Jabra 1000 has entered the programming modes.

[0040] The programming modes consist of the general mode and the expert mode. The general mode is where the transmit levels 104 and noise cancellation levels 105 are set. The Jabra 1000, when first installed, starts up in the general mode. It will not work until it is programmed. FIG. 3 shows the control keyboard 301 used in the programming modes. The keyboard 301 is configured in a manner similar to that of a touch-tone telephone, with twelve buttons, designated 1 (302), 2 (303), 3 (304), 4 (305), 5 (306), 6 (307), 7 (308), 8 (309), 9 (310), * (311), 0 (312), and # (313). The 1 (302), 2 (303) and 3 (304) keys are used to set the transmit level. Specifically, the 1 (302) key turns the transmit level down 3 dB and causes a burst of a test tone to be played. The 2 (303) key plays a burst of a test tone at the current transmit level. The 3 (304) key turns up the transmit level 3 dB and plays a burst of a test tone. These transmit level adjustments 104 change the volume of the audio produced by the customer-user through the headset to the outside telephone connection. The burst of test tone, in the preferred embodiment sounds similar to a waterfall and will last approximately or 1 or 2 seconds. If the transmit level has been adjusted to its limits, either high or low, a “machine gun” sound is produced to inform customer service that the transmit level cannot be lowered or raised respectively.

[0041] Noise cancellation level 105 is also set in the general mode. This is accomplished using the second row of keys on the control keyboard 301. Specifically, 4 (305), 5 (306), and 6 (307). Pressing the 4 (305) key sets the Jabra 1000 for the lowest amount of noise cancellation. The Jabra 1000 will play back two low frequency beeps to indicate reception of the 4 (305) key. Pressing the 5 (306) key sets the Jabra 1000 for a medium amount of noise cancellation. The Jabra 1000 will play back two medium frequency beeps to indicate reception of the 5 (306) key. Entering a 6 (307) sets the Jabra 1000 to high amount of noise cancellation. The Jabra 1000 will play back two high frequency beeps to indicate reception of the 6 (307) key.

[0042] Pressing a 0 (312) key from the general mode will return the Jabra 1000 to user control. After pressing a 0 (312) the word Jabra is vocalized.

[0043] Pressing a 7 (308) key queries the Jabra 1000 for a version number. The version number is returned as DTMF tones.

[0044] Pressing a 8 (309) key will transfer from the general mode to the expert mode.

[0045] Pressing a 9 (310) key from the general mode saves the current settings or adjustments.

[0046] Pressing the # (313) key toggles a speaker mute. A low beep sound is produced to indicate that the speaker is muted. A high beep sound is produced to indicate that the speaker is not muted.

[0047] The * (311) key is not used in the current embodiment of the invention.

[0048] FIG. 4 provides a detailed flow diagram of the process steps of adjusting the transmit level 104. A test of the transmit level is performed to determine if the level sounds correct 401. For the preferred Jabra 1000, the transmit level test is accomplished by pressing the 2 (303) key on the control keyboard 301. If the transmit level sounds correct the transmit level adjustment step is otherwise skipped, that is the process jumps to checking whether all calibrations are complete 406. If the transmit level is not correct, and therefore requires adjustments, a determination of whether the transmit level is high 402, and if not whether the transmit level is low 404 is performed. If the transmit level is too high, then the reduce transmit level command is entered 403. In the preferred embodiment using the Jabra 1000 is used, the reduce transmit level command is entered by pressing the 1 (302) key on the control keyboard 301. If the transmit level is too low, then the increase transmit level command is entered 405. The increase transmit level command, for the Jabra 1000 is the 3 (304) key. After either increasing 405 or reducing 403 the transmit level, it is again tested to determine whether the transmit level is high 402 or low 404. Once the transmit level is correct, a check as to whether all calibrations are complete 406 is performed. If all calibrations are complete the transmit level settings are stored 407 and control of the headset is returned to the customer-user 408. Storing of the settings 407 is accomplished with the Jabra 1000 by pressing the 9 (310) key of the control keyboard 301. Return to user control is accomplished by the pressing of the 0 (312) key of the control keyboard 301.

[0049] FIG. 5 provides a detailed flow diagram of the process steps of adjusting the noise cancellation level 105. A test of the noise level is performed to determine if the level sounds correct 501. If the noise level sounds correct the noise level adjustment step is otherwise skipped, that is the process jumps to checking whether all calibrations are complete 506. If the noise level is not correct, and therefore requires adjustments, a determination of whether the noise level is high 502, and if not whether the noise level is low 504 is performed. If the noise level is too high, then a high degree of noise cancelation command is entered 503. In the preferred embodiment using the Jabra 1000, the reduce noise level command is entered by pressing the 6 (307) key on the control keyboard 301. If the noise level is low, then a low degree of noise cancellation command is entered 505. The high noise cancellation command, for the Jabra 1000 is the 6 (307) key. The low noise cancellation command, for the Jabra 1000 is the 4 (305) key. After either increasing 505 or reducing 503 the noise cancellation level, it is again tested to determine whether the noise level is now high 502 or low 504. Once the noise level is correct, a check as to whether all calibrations are complete 506 is performed. If all calibrations are complete the noise level settings are stored 507 and control of the headset is returned to the customer-user 508. Storing of the settings 507 is accomplished with the Jabra 1000 by pressing the 9 (310) key of the control keyboard 301. Return to user control is accomplished by the pressing of the 0 (312) key of the control keyboard 301.

[0050] FIG. 6 provides a more detailed flow diagram of the adjustment of advanced parameters 106 step of the invention. The calibration process in this invention includes the capability to adjust a wide variety of specific advanced audio processing parameters in the headset. The defined list of these parameters will naturally depend on the headset being calibrated and on the programmability of the headset. The preferred embodiment of the invention in its current best mode of operation works with the Jabra 1000. Therefore, the advanced audio processing parameters the invention is capable of calibrating in the Jabra 1000 include: sample rate, noise cancellation, speaker gain adjustments, echo adjustments, filter adjustments and filter functions, attenuation adjustments, as well as diagnostics and write to memory functions.

[0051] Before any parametric calibrations may be done the headphone must be placed in expert mode 601. Expert mode is accessed by pressing the 8 (309) key on the control keyboard 301. An audio acknowledgment of entering expert mode is produced 602. In the Jabra 1000, this audio acknowledgment is a burst of audio tones. Once in the expert mode preprogrammed microcoded routines may be initiated, functions may be activated, and variable thresholds may be set. Each by entering the desired parametric code 603 as a numeric sequence. In the current best mode of the invention, these numeric sequences consist of three or four numbers. When entering the numeric sequences, in the expert mode, a low frequency acceptance tone is given after each number. A slightly higher tone is generated after the last number in the sequence is accepted. At that point, a decision is made to determine if all desired parametric calibrations have been completed 604. If additional calibrations are necessary, they may be entered. If all calibrations are completed the process continues 604 to the storage step 107.

[0052] The storage of the settings 107 is accomplished in preferred embodiment of the invention by entering a 999 or 998 code sequence from the expert mode. Audio tones are generated informing customer service that the settings have been stored into memory.

[0053] Hitting the 0 (312) key three times producing a 000 code exits the expert mode, plays a “pink” noise, and returns the headset to general mode, entering a final 0 (312) key returns the headset to user control 108. At this point the user may use the calibrated headset in normal telephone communications.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a drawing of the system in which the invention operates. A customer-user 709 is wearing a headphone 701. The headphone 701 is electrically connected with insulated conductors 702 to a base unit 703. The base unit 703 has an activation button 704 which the customer-user presses to initialize the headset 102. The base unit 703 is electrically connected by standard telephone conductors 705 to a standard telephone unit 706. Once the customer calibration request 101 telephone call is made to customer service, this standard telephone unit 706 is connected through the telephone communication system 707 to a control keyboard 301. The control keyboard 301 is electrically connected, through standard telephone conductors 708, to a telephone receiver or telephone headset 711 to a customer service representative 710. This customer service representative 710 employs the capabilities of the control keyboard 301 and the circuitry and programs inherent in the headphone base unit 703 to perform the steps of this calibration invention. Note please that in alternative embodiments of the invention the customer service representative 710 may be replaced by full automated test equipment and the headphone base unit 703 may become directly incorporated in the headphone 701 itself or in the standard telephone unit 706. Also, alternative embodiments of the control keyboard 301 device may be achieved by programmable automatic test equipment.

[0055] In the preferred embodiment, the method of the invention is performed on a Jabra 1000 that has a base unit with the necessary calibration and programmability capabilities to make full use of the steps of the invention. However, it is possible to implement the invention on various other headphone hardware configurations, though naturally the specific functions and commands transmitted during the steps of the invention would differ. The current best mode of the invention relies on the operation of software programmed into the Jabra 1000 base unit. The Software Appendix which is included as a part of the disclosure of this patent application shows in detail how the functional steps described above are performed once the commands are received by the Jabra 1000.

[0056] The following software source code is provide as this software is the embodiment of the current best mode of much of the method of this invention. For this invention to perform in the current best mode, the following software source code listing is compiled and stored in the Jabra 1000 base unit.

[0057] While this source code and this description of the hardware requirements of the best mode of this invention are provided to give a complete description of the function and use of the invention, it is, of course, contemplated that the inventive concept may be implemented through other techniques in other embodiments and the detailed steps of this invention as described in its current best mode of operation may also change without changing the essential inventive concept of the method, which is the remote calibration of a telephone headphone, to provide improved audio quality, in a reliable process, easy to employ by both the customer-user and the customer service representative. Also, while the current best mode use of this invention is in the calibration of a telephone headset, specifically a Jabra 1000, alternative uses of this invention can also be applied to calibrate other telephone communications equipment. All such other uses of the method of this invention should be considered covered by the scope of the claims.