Technical Field

The invention relates to a headset base unit comprising

a base housing,

a first connection device, by means of which the headset base unit is connectable to at least one telecommunication device, such as a desk phone or a PC phone,

a second connection device, by means of which the headset base unit is connectable to the headset,

a device holder for holding a mobile communication device with a device user interface, and a third connection device, by means of which the headset base unit is connectable to the mobile communication device.

Background Art

Today there are many different ways of communicating via modern technology, such as PSTN telephony, IP telephony and mobile telephony, SMS, instant messaging (chat), video conferencing, voice-mail, presence information etc. It is common for people to have both a mobile phone, and a desk phone/soft phone. A mobile phone is very practical when the user is away from his desk, but when he is working at his desk he may in many cases prefer to use a desktop phone or a soft phone. He may also prefer to use a headset, as this allows him to simultaneously operate his computer, write on a paper, looking in drawers with both hands etc. It may also be desirable that the user's presence status on computer or

telecommunications network is updated, when the user arrives at his desk. Presence status is real time information about a person's ability and willingness to communicate. Other persons on the same network or connected to the same presence service provider can be updated real time with presence status of his contacts. All this relates to what is termed "unified communications". An example of a unified communications system is Microsoft Lync.

A headset base unit is a unit, which is arranged between a headset and one or more telecommunication devices, such as a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) desk phone, and IP (Internet Protocol) desk phone, an IP soft phone (installed on a computer) and a mobile phone. The headset base unit normally comprises a headset holder for holding the headset when not in use. The headset comprises one or two earphones and a microphone. The headset base unit is typically placed on a desk beside a telephone and/or a PC. When the user wants to use the headset, he picks up the headset and arranges in on his ear or head. The headset can be connected to the headset base unit by a wire or wirelessly. I both cases the user's hands are free for other purposes such as using the computer or handling papers while communicating via the headset. A mobile communication device is a broad group of devices comprising mobile phones, smart phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), media players, tablet computers etc.

US 2010/0081473 discloses a headset base unit with holder for mobile communication device.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved headset base unit with a holder for a mobile communication device. The headset base according to the invention is characterised in control means, by means of which an audio channel can be opened between the headset base unit and a selected one of the telecommunication devices, and that the headset base unit is adapted to receive control commands from the mobile communication device for controlling the selected telecommunication device connected to the first connection device, whereby a user can control the telecommunication device by means of the device user interface. In this way, the user can utilize the user interface of his mobile communication for telecommunication via other channels while working at his desk, and at the same time presence status etc. can be updated. The headset base unit may preferably comprise a headset holder for holding the headset.

The headset base unit may be simultaneously connectable to more than one

telecommunication device. Preferably, one or more of headset speaker volume, microphone volume, microphone mute and speaker equalisation can be adjusted by means of the device user interface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second connection device comprises a first transceiver for wireless connectivity to the headset, which headset is wireless and comprises a headset transceiver.

According to another embodiment, the third connection device comprises a second transceiver for wireless communication with the mobile communication device comprising a corresponding transceiver.

The invention also relates to a headset base system comprising a headset base unit as described above and a mobile communication device with a device user interface.

The user interface of the mobile communication device may comprise a display.

The display is preferably a touch-screen display.

The display may be adapted to display a keypad for entering a telephone number. Preferably, a connected telecommunication device can be selected by touching a device icon representing the telecommunication device.

According to an embodiment, a caller identity icon is shown on the display when there is an incoming call on a connected telecommunication device.

If the headset is wireless, the display may be adapted to show battery status of the headset.

The invention also relates to a headset system comprising a headset base unit as described above and a headset.

The invention also relates to a communication system comprising a headset system as described above and at least on connected telecommunication device, wherein the headset base unit is adapted to be able to instruct a connected telecommunication device to initiate an outgoing call.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawing illustrating embodiments of the invention and in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a headset system according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the headset system according to the first embodiment of the invention with a smart phone placed in the holder,

Fig. 3 is a communication system comprising the first embodiment of the headset base system according to the invention and a desk phone and a laptop computer, Fig. 4 is the communication system of figure 3 the headset system is disclosed diagrammatic,

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a headset system according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of a smart phone held by a headset base unit according to he invention, and Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing a basic use of a headset base unit according to the invention.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention

It should be noted, that the drawings are schematic and only elements most essential for the explanation of the invention are disclosed here. Many details , which are well known and easy to implement for a skilled person are left out for clarity reasons. The same reference signs are, in several instances, used for the same or corresponding parts.

Figures 1 and 2 disclose a headset system 14 comprising a base unit 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention and a headset 4. The headset base unit 1 comprises a base housing 2, a headset holder 3, a device holder 10 and a device connector 20. The headset holder 3 is shaped as a post for receiving the headset 4. In figures 1 and 2, the headset 4 is received by the headset holder 4. The headset 4 comprises a circular earphone 40, a microphone arm 30, a headband 28 and an end piece 29. It is not visible on the drawing but a charging terminal on the holder 3 is in electrical contact with a corresponding charging terminal on the earphone 40, when the headset 4 is held by the headset holder 3. The base housing 2 comprises a device holder 10 for holding a mobile communication device, such as a smart phone 11. The device holder 10 is provided as a recess in the top surface of the base housing 2 and a connector 20 is provided in the recess 10. In figure 2, a smartphone 11 is arranged in the recess 10 such that the connector 20 is engaged with a corresponding connector on the smart phone 11. In this embodiment, the connector 20 is a Micro-B USB connector. However, other types of connectors could be used.

The smart phone 11 comprises a touch screen display 12, which is easy to watch and touch due to the inclined position of the smart phone 11. The touch screen display 12 is, off course, works as a user interface for controlling the functions of the smart phone. However, the touch screen display 12 of the smart phone 11 may according to the invention also be utilized for controlling functions not directly related to the smart phone 11, which will be explained further in the following.

Figure 3 discloses a communication system 46, where the headset base unit 1 according to the first embodiment is connected to a desk phone 6 by means of a cable 31 and to a laptop computer 7 by means of a cable 32. The desk phone 33 is by means of a connection 33 connected to an external communications network 35. In addition, the laptop 7 is by means of a connection 34 connected to the external communications network 35. The external communications network 35 is a world-wide network comprising the public switched telephone network (PSTN), which is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks including fixed as well as mobile phones, and the Internet, which is the network of the world's public IP-based packet-switched networks. The smart phone 11 is also connected to the external communications network 35 by means of a GSM link 14.

A so-called "app" (application) is installed on the smart phone 11 in order to expand it with added functionally to cover functions not directly related to the smart phone. Thus, the added functionality comprises call management relating to calls on the desk phone 6 and soft phone calls on the laptop computer 7. The headset base unit 1 itself is adapted to handle calls on the desk phone 6 and the laptop computer 7, but the user may manage these calls by means of the touch-screen display 12 of the smartphone 11. When the user sits at his desk with the desk phone 6, the laptop 7 and the headset system 14 with his smart phone 11 docked in the headset base unit 1, he may use the headset 4 for telephone calls via the desk phone 6, the laptop 7 and the smart phone 11. He may as an example manage calls in the following ways: The headset base unit 1 detects, that the smart phone 11 is docked, and the communication software on the laptop is informed that the user is "present" at the desk. Thus, the softphone on the laptop may be set to be

automatically selected for outgoing calls. If the user enters a phone number by means of the touch-screen display, the outgoing call is executed as an Internet Protocol call by the soft phone on the laptop 7. The user will communicate via the wireless headset 4 and may not care about, whether the call is a desk phone call, a soft phone call or a mobile phone call. If there is an incoming call on any of the desk phone 6, the laptop 7 and the smart phone 11, the user may put on the headset 4 and accept the call by touching an "accept call" soft button on the touch-screen display 12. If the user is having a call on his smart phone 11 using the headset 4 and wants to leave the office, he may dock the headset 4 on the headset holder 3, pick up the smartphone 11 from the device holder 10 and continue the call while leaving the office. If the user is in a call on either the desk phone 6 or the laptop 7 and wants the leave the office, he may touch a soft button on the display 12 for transferring the call to his smart phone 11, before he is docking the headset 4 and picking up the smart phone 11. When he takes the smart phone 11 out of the device holder 10, the communications software on the laptop 7 is informed that the user is "not present" and all incoming calls to the soft phone may be set to be transferred to the smart phone.

Figure 4 discloses a diagram of the headset system 14. As earlier mentioned, the headset base unit 1 comprises a base housing 2, a headset holder 3, a device holder 10 with a device connector 20. The headset base unit 1 also comprises a processor 9, a first connection device 5, a second connection device 8, a headset holder terminal 21 and a third connection device 13 comprising the device connector 20. The headset holder terminal 21 is in electrical contact with a headset terminal 23, whereby a rechargeable headset battery 49 can be charged when the headset 4 is docked. The second connection device 8 comprises a DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) transceiver 15 and a DECT antenna 41 for wireless communication with the headset 4. The headset base unit 1 and the headset 4 may be provided with transceivers and antennas according to the Bluetooth or other radio standards instead of the DECT standard. The headset base unit 1 is connected to the desk phone 9 by means of a 4 wire phone cable 31 and to the laptop 10 by means of a USB cable 32.

The headset 4 comprises besides the already mentioned headset terminal 23 and headset battery 49 a headset processor 22, a speaker 24, a microphone 24, a DECT transceiver 16 and a DECT antenna 42. The mechanical parts, such as the headband 4 and the microphone arm 30 are not shown.

Figure 5 disclose a diagram of a headset system 14 according to a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the device holder is simply a flat surface 10 on which the smart phone 11 can be placed. Furthermore, the headset base unit 1 and the smart phone 11 is not electrical connected when the smart phone 11 is docked. Instead, the headset base unit 1 is provided with an inductive charging transmitter circuit 36 and the smart phone 11 is provided with a corresponding inductive charging receiver circuit 37. Furthermore, the headset base unit 1 and the smart phone 11 are provided with Bluetooth antennas 43, 44 and Bluetooth transceivers 17, 18 for wireless communication via a Bluetooth link 39. A base sensor 27 detects docking of the smart phone 11 and activates charging and Bluetooth communication. Otherwise, the headset base unit 1 may work in the same manner as the first embodiment.

Figure 6 discloses a front view of the smart phone 11 when held by a headset base unit 1 and when the app for call management is activated. The touch screen display 12 discloses a smart phone icon 47, a desk phone icon 18 and a laptop icon 19. An incoming call icon 48 flashes and indicates that there is an incoming call on the desk phone 6. The user may accept the call by simply undock the headset 4 or if it is already undocked touching the desk phone icon 18 on the touch screen display 12 of the smart phone 11. The touch screen display 12 may also show a list of contacts, call lists etc. Furthermore, contact lists may be synchronized with the desk phone 6 and the laptop 7 when the smart phone 11 is docked.

Figure 7 discloses a flow diagram showing a basic use of a headset base unit according to the invention. The user may arrive at his desk and dock his smart phone in the device holder of the headset base unit. The headset and/or the smartphone senses this, where after the smart phone is instructed to enter control mode and start the installed app. Now, the user is able to manage calls on the desk phone and laptop by means of the touch screen display of the smart phone.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above. Thus, the use of a smart phone may be replaced by the use of a more traditional mobile phone with a numerical key pad, a tablet computer, such as an iPad ^® or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 ^® , a personal PDA (personal digital assistant), a media player etc.

The headset and the headset base unit may communicate wirelessly according to the Bluetooth, DECT or Wi-Fi standards or even other radio standards. Also, the headset may be a corded headset which is connected by a wire to the headset base unit.

List of reference signs:

1 headset base unit 25 headset microphone

2 base housing 26 GSM antenna

5 3 headset holder 30 27 base sensor

4 headset 28 head band

5 first connection device 29 end piece

6 desk phone 30 microphone arm

7 laptop computer 31 wired connection

10 8 second connection device 35 32 wired connection

9 control means 33 connection

10 device holder 34 connection

11 mobile communication device / smart 35 external communications network phone 36 inductive charging transmitter circuit

15 12 device user interface 40 37 inductive charging receiver circuit

13 third connection device 38 first radio link (DECT)

14 headset base system 39 second radio link (Bluetooth)

15 first transceiver 40 earphone

16 headset transceiver 41 DECT antenna

20 17 second transceiver 45 42 DECT antenna

18 device icon 43 Bluetooth antenna

19 device icon 43 Bluetooth antenna

20 device connector 45 GSM link

21 headset holder terminal 46 communication system

25 22 headset processor 50 47 device icon

23 headset terminal 48 incoming call icon

24 headset speaker 49 headset battery