US 2012/0237053 A1Published application

Multi-Protocol Wireless Audio Client Device

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsZulfigar Alam, Brian Bilodeau, Dennis Tom, Carlos Manzanedo

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A wireless audio client device such as a headset worn by a user allows the user to talk with multiple other devices using different communication protocols. In one approach, the wireless audio client device is a slave device which pairs with multiple master devices such as a game console and cell phone. The wireless audio client device uses a common set of peripherals such as a speaker, microphone, RF antenna, battery, status lights and control buttons. Processing circuitry is provided in one or more chips, to handle the different communication protocols. The wireless audio client device can automatically interrupt a game chat to allow the user to accept an incoming phone call, or can prompt the user to accept the call. Or, the wireless audio client device can play audio from the cell phone while the game chat continues.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wireless audio client device, comprising:

a set of peripherals, the set of peripherals includes a microphone, a speaker and an RF antenna;
processing circuitry in communication with the set of peripherals, the processing circuitry concurrently synchronizes to a clock of a first master device and to a clock of a second master device, and uses the set of peripherals to allow a user to bi-directionally and wirelessly communicate audio data with the first master device using a first communication protocol, and to bi-directionally and wirelessly communicate audio data with the second master device using a second communication protocol which is incompatible with the first communication protocol;
a microphone multiplexer including an input path to a microphone, and output paths to the processing circuitry, the microphone multiplexer is controllable based on a control mode of the processing circuitry;
and
a speaker multiplexer including an output path to a speaker, and input paths from the processing circuitry, the speaker multiplexer is controllable based on the control mode of the processing circuitry.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/048,657Filed 15 Mar 2011
Published: 20 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H04L 12/00
Data switching networks
H04R 5/04
Stereophonic arrangements: circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker…
H04W 4/00
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks
H04M 1/6066
Involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone: including a wireless connection