Plantronics, Inc.

Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc.

Plantroncis, Inc.

Douglas Kenneth Rosener

Ken Kannappan

Jeffrey Siegel

William Owen Brown

Edward Lester Reuss

Luis Villasenor

Jonathan Lee Sullivan

Barry J Lee

Jacob T Meyberg

Stephen V Cahill

Gregor Daniel Magnusson

Joseph P Watson

Peter K Reid

Andrew Knowles

Thomas R Trumbull

Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise a microphone configured to produce audio; a mute control configured to select a microphone open selection or a microphone muted selection; a processor configured to identify the audio produced during the microphone open selection as primary audio, and to identify the audio produced during the microphone muted selection as secondary audio; and a transceiver configured to transmit the primary audio over a first link and the secondary audio over a second link different than the first link.

Collection and analysis of muted audio

Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise a microphone configured to produce audio; a mute control configured to select a microphone open selection or a microphone muted selection; a processor configured to identify the audio produced during the microphone open selection as primary audio, and to identify the audio produced during the microphone muted selection as secondary audio; and a transceiver configured to transmit the primary audio and the secondary audio.

Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise a microphone configured to produce audio; a hold control configured to select a connected selection or a hold selection; a processor configured to identify the audio produced during the connected selection as primary audio, and to identify the audio produced during the hold selection as secondary audio; and a transceiver configured to transmit the primary audio and the secondary audio.

Collection and analysis of audio during hold

A method is disclosed for sensing, reporting, and correcting microphone proximity for a headset. The method includes determining a current proximity of a headset microphone to a face of a user. The method also includes storing the current proximity of the headset microphone as a calibrated microphone proximity value, and selecting, based on the calibrated microphone proximity value, a range of microphone proximities. Further, the method includes sensing a new proximity of the headset microphone, and comparing the new proximity of the headset microphone with the range of microphone proximities. Still yet, the method includes generating a message for the user in response to determining, based on the comparison, that the new proximity of the headset microphone is outside the range of microphone proximities.

Headset position sensing, reporting, and correction

A system for determining a location of a user is provided that comprises a plurality of transmitters, each associated with a predefined physical location and each comprising a light source to provide an optical location signal; and at least one head-worn locator device with an optical receiver for receiving at least one of the optical location signals. To allow the determination of a location of a user that is wearing the head-worn locator device, each transmitter is configured to provide location information in the respectively provided optical location signal, wherein said location information corresponds to said predefined physical location of the respective transmitter.

System for determining a location of a user

A headset having corresponding computer-readable media comprises: a first portion, wherein the first portion comprises a microphone; a second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled with the first portion; one or more sensors, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to sense a current difference angle between the first portion and the second portion; a controller configured to generate a message responsive to the current difference angle being outside a range of difference angles, wherein the range of difference angles is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; wherein the headset is configured to provide the message responsive to the controller generating the message.

Methods and computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform functions comprise: obtaining one or more indications of a sound level produced by a group of users of audio communication devices; and adjusting sidetone gains of the audio communication devices based on the one or more indications of the sound level produced by the group of users.

Sidetone-based loudness control for groups of headset users

Methods and systems for secure pass-set entry are disclosed. In one example, an authenticator device is configured to generate a pass-set menu to output in visual format on the display. An I/O device is configured to output audio corresponding to the pass-set menu to the user. A user input interface is configured to receive user actions to navigate the pass-set menu and receive user menu selections.

Methods and systems for secure pass-set entry

A method for real time digital instant messaging includes monitoring a condition of a wireless headset, estimating a potential for the user to receive and immediately respond to a real time digital message, such as an instant communications or a VoIP message, and then selectively directing a real time digital message, when received, to the user via the headset when the estimated potential indicates that the user is reasonably likely to immediately respond to the real time digital message. A sensor in the headset may be used to determine if a recent action of the user was don the headset by putting it on, doff the headset by taking it off, dock the headset by placing it in a charging station, move while wearing the headset, leave the headset on a desktop or other surface or carry the headset.

Headset-derived real-time presence and communication systems and methods

Methods and apparatuses for capacitive sensing are disclosed. In one example, a capacitive sensor includes a floating sense electrode disposed within proximity of an outward facing surface adapted to be brought in proximity to or touch a user skin surface. An interior electrode is disposed in proximity to the floating sense electrode, where the interior electrode and floating sense electrode form a capacitor.

Floating plate capacitive sensor

Methods and apparatuses for capacitive sensing are disclosed. In one example, a conductive material is arranged on the mobile device exterior surface outside of a capacitive coupling area undesirably coupling underlying electrodes beneath the surface.

Separation of capacitive touch areas

A user authentication system and method are disclosed. The user authentication system includes an authentication device which can be donned and doffed by the user, a sensor to determine whether the authentication device is donned or doffed by the user, and an authentication server to receive information from the sensor and to authenticate the user based on whether the authentication device is donned by the user.

User authentication system and method

A touch activated control useful for incorporation into, e.g., a DON/DOFF sensor of a communications headset or a touch pad for a cell phone, includes a weakly conductive electrode and a sensor coupled to the electrode and operative to detect a change in parasitic capacitance caused by a change in the proximity of a body to the electrode. The electrode may include a covering made of a weakly conductive material. The weakly conductive property of the electrode enables the prevention of undesirable electrostatic discharge (ESD), user skin irritation and electrode corrosion caused by direct contact between the electrode and the user's skin and also exhibit's a substantially higher sensitivity than electrodes covered with an insulative material.

Touch sensitive controls with weakly conductive touch surfaces

Methods and systems for delivering audio content to a headset are disclosed. A user taps a close proximity data exchange headset onto an device to download audio content. The audio content is played at the headset. In another embodiment, a user can record audio content with a headset and save the content onto a close proximity data exchange device. Other parties may then use the close proximity data exchange device to retrieve the audio content. Security techniques could be implemented to ensure only an authorized person can store or retrieve audio content. The close proximity data exchange headset may be a near field communication (NFC) headset, and the close proximity data exchange device may be an NFC device.

Audio delivery system for headsets

A voice activity detection apparatus having a capacitive sensor and a voice activity detector sensor. The voice activity detector sensor detects vibration of human tissue associated with user speech. Utilization of the voice activity detector sensor output is tied to the output of the capacitive sensor, where the capacitive sensor detects whether it is in contact with user skin.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Douglas Kenneth Rosener