Providing hands-free service to multiple devices
AssigneeRawles LLC
InventorMenashe Haskin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques for providing audio services to multiple devices are described. For instance, connections between a hands-free unit and multiple wireless devices are established. The connections are themselves used to establish active communication channels, such as active audio communication channels, between the hands-free unit and the wireless devices, such as during a phone call. Upon establishment of an active communication channel with one of the wireless devices, the connections to the other wireless devices are disconnected—and/or additional connections refused—for the duration of the active communication channel. Furthermore, a routing module in various embodiments permits multiple hands-free units to route active communication channels to each other depending on user location.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a microphone;
- a speaker;
- one or more processors;
- and
- a hands-free module executable by the one or more processors to:
- establish a first hands-free service connection to a first wireless device and a second hands-free service connection to a second wireless device, wherein the hands-free module provides hands-free functions, including at least initiating phone calls and answering phone calls via the first hands-free service connection and the second hands-free service connection;
- utilize the first hands-free service connection to establish an active audio communication channel with the first wireless device;
- disconnect the second hands-free service connection at least partly in response to establishment of the active audio communication channel with the first wireless device, the hands-free module refraining from re-establishing the second hands-free service connection with the second wireless device during a time that the active audio communication channel with the first wireless device is active;
- transmit, to the first wireless device and via the active audio communication channel, audio data generated based, at least in part, on input provided by the microphone;
- and
- cause the speaker to produce sound based, at least in part, on audio data received via the active audio communication channel to the first wireless device;
- and
- a hands-free routing module executable by the one or more processors to route the active audio communication channel to another apparatus having a second microphone and a second speaker at least partly in response to receiving an indication from the other apparatus that a first user associated with the first wireless device is closer to the other apparatus than to the apparatus.
A method comprising:
- establishing a first connection between a first computing system and a first wireless device and a second connection between the first computing system and a second wireless device, the first connection and the second connection configured to support establishment of an active communication channel with the first wireless device and the second wireless device, respectively;
- establishing, based at least in part on the first connection, the active communication channel with the first wireless device;
- disconnecting the second connection at least partly in response to establishment of the active communication channel with the first wireless device;
- and
- routing the active communication channel from the first computing system to a second computing system based on at least one of a first proximity of a user associated with the first wireless device to the second computing system or on a second proximity of the first wireless device to the second computing system.
Non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by one or more processors to:
- establish an active audio communication channel to a first wireless device in response to receipt of a phone call to the first wireless device or initiation of a phone call from the first wireless device;
- refuse a second control connection to a second wireless device during the active audio communication channel to the first wireless device;
- and
- select, based at least in part on a location of the first wireless device or a user associated with the first wireless device, one of a plurality of speakers on which to output sound associated with audio received from the first wireless device via the active audio communication channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.