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US 11,689,933 B2Granted
Face mask communication system with an embeddable microphone
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorJoseph Glenn Davies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for a face mask communication system. The face mask communication system includes a removable microphone that can be installed in a face mask to allow the wearer to clearly and privately communicate with another user over a Bluetooth enabled mobile device such as a cell phone. In illustrated examples, a microphone unit is deformable to enable the microphone unit to form a custom fit over the nose bridge to seal the mask on the user's face. The face mask communication system includes an application program operating on the mobile device that allows a user to initiate and secure private conversations with other users.
Claims12
A method of communicating with a mobile device while wearing a face mask, comprising:
- providing a conversation application for execution on a first mobile device;
- connecting to a mask microphone unit embedded in a face mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to connect and communicate with a second mobile device of a second user through the connected mask microphone unit;
- initiating and securing a conversation with the second user that allows the first user and second user to converse over a communication network;
- and
- configuring microphone unit settings;
- wherein the second user is a new converser and initiating and securing a conversation with the second user further comprises:
- prompting the second user on a second user's mobile device to start a conversation with a conversation name;
- broadcasting over a communications interface a new conversation with an open invitation;
- on a second user's mobile device, providing a prompt for the second user to join the new conversation;
- on the first mobile device, providing a prompt to the first user to select the second user to join a new conversation;
- negotiating security and exchanging authentication keys to authenticate the first user's and second user's mobile devices;
- showing names joined in the new conversation on the first user and second user's mobile devices;
- and
- supporting the first user and second user having a private conversation.
11 more elements
A method of communicating with a mobile device while wearing a face mask, comprising:
- providing a conversation application for execution on a first mobile device;
- connecting to a mask microphone unit embedded in a face mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to connect and communicate with a second mobile device of a second user through the connected mask microphone unit;
- initiating and securing a conversation with the second user that allows the first user and second user to converse over a communication network;
- and
- configuring microphone unit settings;
- wherein the second user is a previous converser and initiating and securing a conversation with the second user comprises:
- prompting the first user on a first user's mobile device to start a conversation with a conversation name;
- prompting the first user to select a name from a list of previous converser's names;
- broadcasting via Bluetooth a new conversation with a closed invitation;
- on a second user's mobile device, providing a prompt for the second user to join the new conversation, and in response to an indication the second user selected to join, joining the second user in the conversation;
- using previously negotiated security keys to authenticate the first user's and second user's mobile devices;
- showing names joined in the conversation on the first user's and second user's mobile devices;
- and
- supporting the first user and second user having a private conversation.
11 more elements
A method of communicating with a mobile device while wearing a face mask, comprising:
- providing a conversation application for execution on a first mobile device;
- connecting to a mask microphone unit embedded in a face mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to connect and communicate with a second mobile device of a second user through the connected mask microphone unit;
- initiating and securing a conversation with the second user that allows the first user and second user to converse over a communication network;
- and
- configuring microphone unit settings;
- wherein configuring microphone unit settings comprises:
- providing a user interface button for selecting settings;
- retrieving current stored settings;
- providing a prompt to make changes to the stored settings, in response to an indication the first user made changes to the settings, saving changes made by the first user;
- and
- in response to an indication the first user made changes to the settings, sending the changed settings to the mask microphone unit via a Bluetooth connection.
8 more elements
A face mask communication system comprising:
- a mask microphone unit removably insertable into a face mask, the mask microphone unit comprising;
- a microphone;
- a deformable housing allowing the mask microphone unit to form a custom fit over a user's nose bridge;
- a receiver/transmitter in the housing with a communication interface connected to the microphone;
- a battery receptacle in the housing for a battery providing power to the receiver;
- and
- a conversation application comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control a mobile device to:
- connect the conversation application to the mask microphone unit embedded in a mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to converse with a second user;
- and
- initiate and secure a conversation with the second user;
- wherein the second user is a new converser and initiating and securing a conversation with the second user further comprises:
- prompting the first user on first user's mobile device to start a conversation with a conversation name;
- broadcasting via Bluetooth a new conversation with an open invitation;
- on a second user's mobile device, providing a prompt for the second user to join the new conversation;
- on the first user's mobile device, providing a prompt to the first user to select the second user to join the new conversation;
- showing names joined in the conversation on the first user and second user's mobile devices;
- and
- supporting the first user and second user having a private conversation.
15 more elements
A face mask communication system comprising:
- a mask microphone unit removably insertable into a face mask, the mask microphone unit comprising;
- a microphone;
- a deformable housing allowing the mask microphone unit to form a custom fit over a user's nose bridge;
- a receiver/transmitter in the housing with a communication interface connected to the microphone;
- a battery receptacle in the housing for a battery providing power to the receiver;
- and
- a conversation application comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control a mobile device to:
- connect the conversation application to the mask microphone unit embedded in a mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to converse with a second user;
- initiate and secure a conversation with the second user;
- wherein the second user is a previous converser and initiating and securing a conversation with the second user comprises:
- prompting the second user on a second user's mobile device to start a conversation with a conversation name;
- prompting the second user to select a name from a list of previous converser's names;
- broadcasting via Bluetooth a new conversation with a closed invitation;
- on a second user's mobile device, providing a prompt for the second user to join the new conversation, and in response to an indication the second user selected to join, joining the second user in the conversation;
- using previously negotiated authentication keys to authenticate the first user and second user's mobile devices;
- showing names joined in the conversation on the first user and second user's mobile devices;
- and
- supporting the first user and second user having a private conversation.
15 more elements
A face mask communication system comprising:
- a mask microphone unit removably insertable into a face mask, the mask microphone unit comprising;
- a microphone;
- a deformable housing allowing the mask microphone unit to form a custom fit over a user's nose bridge;
- a receiver/transmitter in the housing with a communication interface connected to the microphone;
- a battery receptacle in the housing for a battery providing power to the receiver;
- and
- a conversation application comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control a mobile device to:
- connect the conversation application to the mask microphone unit embedded in a mask wearable by a first user to allow the first user to converse with a second user;
- initiate and secure a conversation with the second user;
- and
- configure microphone unit settings, wherein configuring microphone unit settings comprises:
- providing a user interface button for selecting settings;
- retrieving current stored setting for the microphone unit;
- providing a prompt to make changes to the stored settings, in response to an indication the first user made changes to the settings, saving changes made by the first user;
- and
- in response to an indication the first user made changes to the settings, sending the changed settings to the mask microphone unit via a Bluetooth connection.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.