System and method for wireless audio connectivity detection and routing of an incoming call

A method, comprising:

• establishing a standard short-range wireless connection between a primary controller communication device and a secondary responder communication device;
• generating an ultrasonic watermark signal by the primary controller communication device;
• sending the ultrasonic watermark signal from the primary controller communication device to the secondary responder communication device;
• playing out the ultrasonic watermark signal at a speaker of the secondary responder communication device;
• detecting the ultrasonic watermark signal at a microphone of the primary controller communication device;
• routing an incoming audio call to the speaker of the secondary responder communication device, in response to detecting the played out watermark signal;
• generating a variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal by the secondary responder communication device, wherein the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal is based on a predetermined operational characteristic shared between the primary controller communication device and the secondary responder communication device;
• playing out the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal at the speaker of the secondary responder communication device;
• periodically scanning to detect the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal at the microphone of the primary controller communication device;
• maintaining the routing of the incoming audio call to the speaker of the secondary responder communication device, in response to detecting the played out variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal at the microphone of the primary controller communication device;
• and
• automatically re-routing the incoming call for playout at the speaker of the primary controlling communication device in response to the played out variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal not being detected by the microphone of the primary communication device, while the short-range connection is maintained.

A communication system, comprising:

• a primary controller communication device comprising a primary processor, a primary audio system, a primary microphone, and a primary speaker;
• a secondary responder communication device comprising, a secondary processor, a secondary audio system, a secondary microphone, and a secondary speaker;
• the primary processor being configured to:
• establish a short-range wireless connection with the secondary processor using a standard short-range wireless profile;
• and
• send an ultrasonic watermark signal, over the short-range wireless connection, from the primary audio system to the secondary audio system;
• the secondary processor being configured to:
• receive the ultrasonic watermark signal at the secondary audio system;
• and
• playback the ultrasonic watermark signal over the secondary speaker;
• wherein the primary processor is further configured to:
• detect the playback of the ultrasonic watermark signal at the primary microphone;
• and
• route an incoming audio call, over the short-range wireless connection, to playout at the secondary speaker of the secondary responder communication device, in response to the playback of the ultrasonic watermark signal being detected at the primary microphone;
• and
• automatically re-route the incoming call for playout at the primary speaker in response to the playback of the ultrasonic watermark signal not being detected by the primary microphone, while the short-range wireless connection is maintained;
• and
• wherein the primary controller communication device further comprises:
• a user interface (UI), the UI presenting a user-selectable option comprising:
• a user-selectable option to re-route the incoming call back to the secondary speaker of the secondary responder communication device, wherein the user-selectable option is presented during the automatic re-routing and playout of the incoming call at the speaker of the primary communication device while the watermark is not being detected.

A communication system, comprising:

• a primary controller communication device comprising a primary processor, a primary audio system, a primary microphone, and a primary speaker;
• a secondary responder communication device comprising, a secondary processor, a secondary audio system, a secondary microphone, and a secondary speaker;
• the primary processor being configured to:
• establish a short-range wireless connection with the secondary processor using a standard short-range wireless profile;
• and
• send an ultrasonic watermark signal, over the short-range wireless connection, from the primary audio system to the secondary audio system;
• the secondary processor being configured to:
• receive the ultrasonic watermark signal at the secondary audio system;
• generate a variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal by the secondary responder communication device, wherein the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal is based on a predetermined operational characteristic shared between the primary controller communication device and the secondary responder communication device and
• playback the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal over the secondary speaker;
• wherein the primary processor is further configured to:
• periodically scan to detect the playback of the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal at the primary microphone;
• and
• route an incoming audio call, over the short-range wireless connection, to playout at the secondary speaker of the secondary responder communication device, in response to the playback of the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal being detected at the primary microphone;
• and
• automatically re-route the incoming call for playout at the primary speaker in response to the playback of the variation of the ultrasonic watermark signal not being detected by the primary microphone, while the short-range wireless connection is maintained.