Pervasive voice handset system

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to mobile telephone communications, and more specifically, to mobile voice communications for improving communications using conferencing, Internet, and cellular technology and for recognizing when a party to a call has been disconnected.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] During mobile voice communications, various problems and difficulties may occur which can interrupt or delay communication. For example, in cellular (“cell”) phone services, cell phone coverage and service delivery may be intermittent and varied due to the large number of cellular telephone companies providing service.

[0006] Further, air-time charges are expensive, and at times it is difficult to hear certain cell phone callers. Moreover, many cellular telephone handsets do not feature headset jacks, thereby making some communications inconvenient.

[0007] Moreover, cellular phone coverage is nonexistent inside many office buildings and cell phone service is often interrupted during calls due to building obstructions, terrain, etc. Cell phone drop-offs (or faulty “hand-offs”) are annoying, particularly because parties may not be notified of a failing connection. When a connection is broken, time is required to reestablish the flow of conversation because the party talking is unaware at which instant the signal failed.

[0008] Reestablishing a phone connection can also be awkward. Telephones typically remain busy for some period after a call fails (e.g., the parties typically remain on the line hoping the service interruption ends and it is unclear as to who (e.g., calling party or called party) should be actively reestablishing the connection). Moreover, there is a likelihood that reluctant participants to a mobile telephone call are unavailable for further communication in the event a calling connection fails.

[0009] With regard to Internet phones, the phone service does not normally ring (e.g., activate an audio alarm), and therefore the Internet telephone requires the establishment of an appointed time for communicating.

[0010] Furthermore, Internet phone service is jittery because of the inherent nature of a loaded packet switched network and, as a result, the phone service is unreliable. Internet phone service also can be interrupted during a call and reestablishment is unwieldy because of busy signals and a lack of established etiquette.

[0011] A further difficulty arises with the modem being used, as business people often have many different phone lines with different numbers, making it difficult to remember and select the correct number.

[0012] Further, in regards to land-line phone service, voice terminals are often incompatible and without a call-waiting feature, must be off in order to ring.

[0013] The above problems are exacerbated in a conferencing environment where there are a plurality of participants, and frustration arises and time is wasted when a conferencing operation fails and faulty reestablishment of the connections occur. Further, conventional systems involve high costs and offer no backup connections.

[0014] In view of the foregoing and other problems, disadvantages, and drawbacks of the conventional methods and structures, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and structure in which existing wireless (e.g., Internet and cellular technologies) and land-line service connections can more easily and reliably be linked in a conference call.

[0015] A further object of the invention is to provide a system for improving the availability and reliability of mobile voice service using cellular, conferencing, and Internet technologies. The object is to allow for a smooth transition to an environment where phones are replaced by voice-activated Internet-based solutions.

[0016] In a first aspect of the present invention, a system for linking wireless and land line communications media includes means for connecting a communications medium to a second communications medium and means for alerting a user of the state of a connection.

[0017] With the present invention, a mobile voice communication system is configured so that persistent, polite (e.g., electronic voice messaging, such as, “I'm sorry, Mr. X has temporarily dropped off the call. Let me try to reestablish it.”) phone calls become available with a much richer tradeoff space for cost and quality, and much higher maximum quality.

[0018] The invention recognizes that some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are more loaded than other, and that some ISPs have fewer hops to the destination than others. Thus, preferably, the invention uses multiple ISPs to improve Internet telephone service, providing a smooth path (e.g., a path with a low chance of failure and low jitter because it is less loaded and needs fewer hops to the destination) while using voice over Internet Protocol (IP) with improved quality of service guaranteed during transition (e.g., voice from land-to-Internet and wireless (cellular)-to-Internet, similarly to a cellular phone handoff) enabling substitution of wireless bandwidth and land-line circuits.

[0019] The invention preferably uses a handset with a 10BaseT (e.g., currently standard for computer phone calls in a work environment), Ethernet® port via Dynamic Host Communication Protocol (DHCP), various wireless protocols (e.g., such as those for various cordless telephones, GSM, CDMA 1900 MHZ 3G, blue tooth, radio, sonar, laser, optical, etc.), and a universal telephone port to connect to an audio conference room. Diverse cost structures (e.g., from zero connect charges to several simultaneous wireless/satellite sessions) and service levels are supported by the present invention.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a communication link is broken, a new link is initiated. The connected party remains connected to a persistent “virtual” conference room while the severed communication link gets reestablished. Preferably, the connected party is connected to the “conference room” via more than one link so that one link acts as a primary and another link acts as a secondary/standby link. Thus, with the invention, existing wireless and land line connections can participate in a conference including multiple cellular phones using different protocols.

[0021] The foregoing and other purposes, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an overview of a conference space accessed by various media;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a handset for use with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a touch screen device with multiple input connection terminals for use with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a receiving signal path 40A and a sending signal path 40B in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a user with multiple cell phone inputs and outputs; and

[0027] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a portable personal computer with a teleconferencing capability.

[0028] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the method and structure according to the present invention.

[0029] Before examining the structure and operation of the present invention in detail, the general environment of the invention and its benefits will be described.

[0030] Briefly, during calls, an audio conference space (e.g., virtual conference space) 1 persists even if one of the callers is temporarily dropped. This allows the call to be reestablished without a busy signal being generated because non-dropped parties remain connected and any busy signal is muted. When a caller drops off, a sound is chimed indicating which caller has dropped off. The chime signals to the other participants that someone has dropped off the call. This allows the group involved in a conference to know where in the conversation the interruption took place and to be able to restart the conversation at the appropriate place when the connection is reestablished. The invention is not limited to a chime. For instance, in a two-party call, a robotic announcement can be made.

[0031] In FIG. 1, an overview of conferencing system 100 is shown in which many different types of voice communication links are established in a virtual conference space 1. The system includes links for cellular phone connections 2, land lines 3, and communications via the Internet/Ethernet 4 and various wireless protocols.

[0032] Multiple cell phones 2 can be used to call into the conference space 1 by a single participant so that if one is dropped off, the other(s) remains connected on the call. This will overcome “spotty” coverage and the problem of drop-offs.

[0033] In the system shown in FIG. 1, the audio conference space 1 persists even if one of the callers is temporarily dropped. Thus, the calling party that was dropped can reestablish a connection without a busy signal being generated.

[0034] This is achieved because the old link can persist even as a new link is established for the dropped party. The old link does not get dropped for the non-dropped party in the new system. “Polite” reestablishment can be performed via tailored software and standard hardware, each of which would be well within the grasp of one of ordinary skill in the art taking the present application as a whole.

[0035] In the system 100, when a caller drops off, a distinctive sound (e.g., chime, coded sounds, buzzing, and/or a predetermined number of beeps to identify a caller, etc., as set up in the system software) is generated indicating which caller has dropped off by the CPU hosting the call. A different chime may be associated with each individual caller, depending upon the order of the calls, so that, for example, a first calling party would have a deeper tone than a later calling party or vice versa.

[0036] The chime (or other alarm species) signals to the other participants that someone has dropped off the call. This allows the group involved in a conference to know where the interruption took place (e.g., based on the distinctive chime associated with a particular party) and to be able to restart the conversation when the connection is reestablished.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention provides a wireless handset 20, having a universal telephone port 21 for a standard land line. The handset may feature an optional retractable cord 24 for use in land line connections.

[0038] The handset may also have a 10BaseT Ethernet port 22. Moreover, duplicate ports may be provided to support the use of standard land line or Ethernet terminals concurrently, or to pass through the connection when the handset is not in use.

[0039] In this embodiment, intuitive controls can be used to change the handset's land line and network settings to preset numbers (e.g., “9” to dial out at the office, “8” at a hotel, no number required for an outside line at home, fixed IP at work, and DHCP over cable modem through a “fire wall” at home). Further, a spinner 25 may be provided to dial preset numbers automatically by turning the spinner to the appropriate location designation (e.g., home, hotel, work, etc.).

[0040] In another aspect of the invention, a “handset” can be a touch screen device 30 with a network card and a voice modem, as shown in FIG. 3. Such a touch screen device may have a universal telephone port 31 and a 10BaseT Ethernet port 32 similar to the handset in FIG. 2 and include an audio out section 33 and a microphone for voice communication. Standard handsets for voice or cellular could also be used. If in a hotel, legacy protocols such as robotic voice and advanced voice recognition can be used to connect to the system.

[0041] Other network protocols and ports can be supported such as token rings, Infrared (IR), wireless Local Area Network (LAN), etc. can be supported with minimal change. Similarly, third generation cellular (3G) standards can be added with little modification, including new RF hardware and software compliant with the 3G standards.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a receiving signal path 40A and a sending signal path 40B in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The elements of the receiving signal path 40A include ear 41, speaker 42, digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 43, CPU 44 including a concentrator and analog-to-digital converter (unreferenced), and an adaptor/interface 45A-45C coupled to a computer network 46A, a PSTN 46B, and/or an Ethernet connection 46C. The elements of the sending signal path 40B include the user's mouth 41′, a microphone (MIC) 42′, analog-to-digital converter 43′, a splitter 44′ and the adaptor/interface 45A-45C coupled to a computer network 46A, a PSTN 46B, and/or an Ethernet connection 46C.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of cell phones can also be used at the same time by a same caller (e.g., one over each ear), with inputs shown at 51A, 51B, and outputs shown at 52A, 52B. This concept of the present invention can also bemused to improve the persistence and reestablishment of Internet calls by using, for example, analog cell technology on one phone and PCS technology on the other.

[0044] Alternatively, two simultaneous connections can be established for a single device. The audio conference room also enables multiple connections over the Internet.

[0045] If the recipient's cell phone is out of range as determined by a signal received by the system server, it may be problematic to initiate a call. In such an instance, a handset having access to an Ethernet port can register, via DHCP for example, and transmit the IP number to a cell phone service provider and receive Internet phone calls while out of cell phone range. A conventional, commercially-available software package (e.g., phonefree.com; net meeting; net2phone; etc.) may be purchased allowing the handset to ring. Alternatively, the existing technology software can be used on another Internet voice terminal.

[0046] Additionally, a caller may have difficulty navigating a hotel phone extension or an unfamiliar office phone extension, or the user's land line number may be experiencing a problem receiving calls. In such cases, it may be easier to establish a persistent low bandwidth connection via the Internet 4 and initiate an outgoing call to the audio conference room on the land line 3 when a call is pending.

[0047] This alternative embodiment provides a high quality solution for incoming cell phone calls and also overcomes the incompatibility problem of land line terminals. Additionally, it allows a land line to remain active for other calls unlike a persistent audio conference.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, a communication device can be a standard portable personal computer with a voice modem, a mono audio in jack 62, a stereo out jack 63, and ports for an analog communication device 61, or, alternatively, other devices 62 (e.g., Ethernet port).

[0049] It is noted that on the system server side, standard audio conferencing software will handle the bulk of the overhead. Custom redialing software can be added with automatic “politeness” features. Further, timers and recorded messages can be added to close a call after a waiting period if a connection was dropped. Further, the invention can be interfaced such that dynamic real time prices can be broadcast on a carrier channel (e.g., similar to conventional call-ins to a conference call in which each participant pays their own air time).

[0050] Thus, with the unique and unobvious features of the invention, during calls, an audio conference space 1 persists even if one of the callers is temporarily dropped. As a result, the call can be reestablished without busy signals. Further, the identity of the caller dropped off can be easily established by the other parties to the call since a predetermined sound, uniquely associated with each caller, has been established in advance.

[0051] Thus, the caller dropped off can be easily established, and the sound clearly indicates to the other participants that someone has dropped off the call, so that the parties involved in a conference know precisely where the interruption took place and be able to restart the conversation when the connection is reestablished.

[0052] With multiple connection options available at various dynamic quality levels, it is possible to trade off cost and quality. If a handset can potentially connect to an audio conference via land line, Internet and multiple wireless protocols, dynamic tradeoffs of cost versus quality can occur. This can lead to selecting high quality transmissions/receptions during important calls and low quality transmissions/receptions when economy is desired (e.g., a long distance call is dialed whenever the Internet becomes jittery or cellular begins to experience static). This can be combined into an integrated communications solution with one common number to dial for land line, wireless or Internet media.

[0053] The whole system enables a smooth transition to voice over IP. Further, it conserves the resource of wireless bandwidth or land line connections when pricing is favorable.

[0054] Additionally, a method of linking periodically connected communication devices is provided as discussed above, and such a method can be stored on a medium (optical, magnetic, etc.) as a series of program steps executable by a digital data processing system (e.g., CPU 44).

[0055] While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.