United States Patent [19J
`Puthuff
`
`[54] PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Steven H. Puthuff, 13001 Saratoga
`Sunnyvale Rd., Saratoga, Calif. 95070
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/890,930
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jul. 10, 1997
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 1111111111 11111 1111111111111111111 IIII
`US006112103A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,112,103
`Aug. 29, 2000
`
`5,452,361
`5,479,522
`5,488,668
`5,590,417
`5,751,820
`5,983,100
`6,021,207
`
`9/1995 Jones .
`12/1995 Lindemann et al. .
`1/1996 Waldhauer.
`12/1996 Rydbeck ................................... 455/90
`5/1998 Taenzer ..................................... 455/66
`9/1996 Johansson ............................... 455/426
`3/1997 Puthuff et al. .......................... 455/575
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`4321304 Al
`
`3/1995 Germany ......................... H04Q 9/00
`
`[63] Continuation of application No. 08/758,365, Dec. 3, 1996.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ....................................................... H04Q 7/32
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ........................... 455/557; 455/550; 455/563
`[58] Field of Search .................................. 455/68, 69, 70,
`455/90, 575, 403, 550, 563, 568, 569, 66,
`557; 379/67.1, 88.01, 88.02, 90.01, 93.05,
`93.07, 93.15, 110.01; 381/312, 314, 315,
`316, 330, 328; 704/275
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,882,761 11/1989 Waldhauer.
`4,882,762 11/1989 Waldhauer.
`8/1990 Ishii et al. ............................... 455/563
`4,949,374
`4,975,654 12/1990 Becker et al. .
`8/1992 Graupe et al. .
`5,140,640
`5,278,912
`1/1994 Waldhauer .
`5,353,376 10/1994 Oh et al. ................................... 381/46
`5,363,444 11/1994 Norris ..................................... 379/430
`5,390,254
`2/1995 Adelman .
`
`Primary Examiner-William G. Trost
`Assistant Examiner-Jean A. Gelin
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis
`L.L.P.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A communication system provides two-way wireless com(cid:173)
`munication between a user and at least one remote device.
`The communication system comprises at least one earpiece
`worn by the user and a personal communication device for
`receiving and transmitting signals over a wireless link to and
`from the earpiece. The personal communication device
`includes voice recognition circuitry which recognizes and
`interprets voice commands of the user. The personal com(cid:173)
`munication device is configured to determine a remote
`device to receive each of the voice commands, and transmits
`the appropriate voice commands to the remote device,
`accordingly.
`
`6 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`302
`1 ✓ d/ I
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`310
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`Page 1 of 12
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`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1015
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`Aug. 29, 2000
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`Page 7 of 12
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`

`

`6,112,103
`
`1
`PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`The present application is a continuation of U.S. appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 08/758,365, filed Dec. 3, 1996, and entitled
`"PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE", the priority
`of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`link to and from the earpiece. The personal communication
`device includes voice recognition means which recognizes
`and interprets voice commands of the user. The personal
`communication device is configured to determine a remote
`5 device which is to receive each of the voice commands. The
`voice commands are used to control the remote device, and
`the user can communicate with a third party via the remote
`device.
`According to one embodiment of the present invention,
`10 the personal communication device is connected to one
`remote device at a time, either directly or via an adaptor. The
`adaptor universally connects the personal communication
`device to a variety of remote devices. The personal com(cid:173)
`munication device is configured to determine voice com-
`15 mands that are to be sent to the remote device and sends
`these commands to the remote device, accordingly.
`According to a second embodiment of the present
`invention, the personal communication device is connected
`to a plurality of remote devices at the same time or at
`20 different times, via, for example, a universal adaptor. The
`personal communication device is configured to determine
`which remote device the voice commands are to be sent to,
`and sends the commands to the appropriate remote device,
`accordingly.
`
`25
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention is directed to a communication
`system for two-way wireless communication. More
`particularly, the present invention is directed to a commu(cid:173)
`nication system including a personal communication device
`which is universally adaptable to at least one remote device
`for two-way wireless communication between a user and the
`remote device.
`2. State of the Art
`Two-way wireless communication systems are well
`known. For example, one known two-way wireless commu(cid:173)
`nication system is described in copending U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 08/479,629, filed on Jun. 7, 1995 in the name
`of Jim Anderson, and entitled "Hearing Aid With Wireless
`Remote Processor", the contents of which are herein incor(cid:173)
`porated by reference in their entirety. In this system, audio
`signals are picked up by a microphone in an earpiece worn
`by a user, transmitted over a wireless link to a remote
`processor in which they can be processed to enhance the
`signal quality and then: (1) returned to the earpiece for
`output to the wearer; or (2) processed for transmission to a 30
`secondary unit (e.g., a cellular phone network). In a similar
`manner, signals from the secondary unit can be received by
`the remote processor, processed, and then transmitted to the
`earpiece.
`A problem with this known system is that it is not
`universally adaptable to any type of secondary unit. Con(cid:173)
`necting a particular secondary unit to the remote processor
`requires special adaptation circuitry. This makes it prohibi(cid:173)
`tively expensive and complex to connect the remote pro-
`cessor to many different types of secondary units.
`Thus, there is a need for a communication system which
`permits two-way wireless communication between a user
`and at least one remote device which is universally adapt(cid:173)
`able to a variety of remote devices, and which can be
`connected to a single remote device or to a plurality of
`different remote devices at the same time or at different
`times in a simple manner.
`
`The objects and advantages of the present invention will
`be understood by reading the following detailed description
`in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like elements are
`identified by like reference numbers, and wherein:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system according to a
`first embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a communication system according to a
`35 second embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates in detail an exemplary universal adapter
`which can be implemented in the communication system
`shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a personal communication device which
`can be implemented in the communication system shown in
`FIGS. 1 and 2;
`FIG. 5 illustrates in detail an exemplary Kernel Operating
`System which can be implemented in the personal commu(cid:173)
`nication device shown in FIG. 4; and
`FIG. 6 illustrates in detail an exemplary Data 1/0 Manager
`Buffer which can be implemented in the personal commu(cid:173)
`nication device shown in FIG. 4.
`
`45
`
`40
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`50
`
`The present invention is directed to a two-way wireless
`communication system between a user and at least one
`remote device which is universally adaptable to a variety of
`remote devices. Further, the present invention is directed to
`a two-way wireless communication system between a user 55
`and a plurality of remote devices which can be connected to
`the plurality of remote devices at the same time or at
`different times in a simple manner. In addition, the present
`invention is directed to a two-way wireless communication
`system between a user and at least one remote device which 60
`enables the user to control the remote device and/or to
`communicate with a third party via the remote device.
`According to exemplary embodiments of the present
`invention, the foregoing objects, as well as other objects are
`met by a communication system comprising at least one 65
`earpiece worn by a user and a personal communication
`device for receiving and transmitting signals over a wireless
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system according to
`one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
`1, a personal communication device, referred to as a per(cid:173)
`sonal communication node (PCN) 100, is connected via
`wireless links to earpieces 400 and 402 worn by a user. The
`wireless links can, for example, be radio frequency links
`such as that described in the above-referenced U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/479,629. Further, the earpieces 400
`and 402 can, for example, be configured as described in the
`aforementioned copending U.S. patent application.
`Although two earpieces are shown and can be worn by the
`user, one skilled in the art will appreciate that it may be
`desirable for the user to wear only one earpiece.
`The PCN 100 permits a user to control at least one remote
`device and communicate wirelessly with a third party via the
`remote device simply by issuing voice commands. The PCN
`
`Page 8 of 12
`
`

`

`6,112,103
`
`3
`100 recognizes and interprets the voice commands of the
`user, determines whether the commands are to be sent to a
`given remote device to which it is connected, and forwards
`the voice commands to the appropriate remote device,
`accordingly. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the PCN 100
`can be coupled to several different types of remote devices,
`either directly or through a universal adapter 200.
`For example, the PCN 100 can be connected directly to a
`cellular telephone 300 that is adapted for connection to the
`PCN. As shown in FIG. 1, the cellular telephone 300 has no
`keyboard or LED display and is instead controlled solely by
`voice commands from the user as described in more detail
`below. Alternately, the PCN 100 can be connected to a
`cellular telephone or pager 302 via an adapter 200. FIG. 1
`also shows the PCN 100 connected directly to a cellular
`phone 312 that is adapted for connection to the PCN 100.
`The cellular phone 312 can be used in a normal manner by
`entering commands via a keyboard or in response to voice
`commands forwarded by the PCN 100. Using the PCN 100
`connected to the cellular telephones 300, 302, and/or 312 the 20
`user can answer calls, initiate calls, receive or send
`messages, and so on, simply by issuing voice commands.
`The PCN 100 can also be connected via the adapter 200
`to a fixed wireline telephone 304. The adapter 200 is
`connected between the handset of the telephone 304 and the 25
`telephone body. Alternately, the PCN 100 can be connected
`directly to a fixed wireline telephone 306 that is adapted to
`be connected to the PCN. With the PCN 100 connected to
`the fixed wireline telephones 304 or 306, the user controls
`the TIP and RING functions of the telephone to dial a
`number to initiate a call or to answer a call, respectively,
`simply by issuing voice commands.
`The PCN 100 can also be connected to a personal com(cid:173)
`puter 308 via the adapter 200 through a parallel or serial port
`on the personal computer 308. Alternately, the PCN 100 can
`be connected directly to a personal computer 310 that
`includes 1/0 jacks for connection to the PCN. With the PCN
`100 connected either directly or via the adapter 200, the user
`can use the personal computers 308 and 310 for Internet
`applications, to update schedules, to input data, to control
`calls, to dictate information, for intelligent applications, and
`so on, simply by issuing voice commands.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a communication system according to a
`second embodiment of the present invention. As in FIG. 1, 45
`the PCN 100 is connected via wireless links to earpieces 400
`and 402 worn by a user. In FIG. 2, however, the PCN 100
`is connected to a plurality of different remote devices at the
`same time or at different times through a universal adapter
`200. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the PCN 100 can be 50
`connected to a cellular telephone 302, a fixed wireline
`telephone 304, and a personal computer 308 at the same time
`or at different times via the universal adapter 200. The
`connection of the adapter 200 to these remote devices is the
`same as that described above with reference to FIG. 1. The 55
`PCN 100 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to determine which
`of the remote devices a voice command is to be sent to and
`forwards the voice command to the appropriate device,
`accordingly. This is described in more detail below.
`Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the PCN 100 connected to 60
`remote devices directly or through an adapter 200, the PCN
`100 can also be connected to the remote devices directly or
`through an adapter 200 via another device such as a LAN,
`a bidirectional FM device, or an infrared device. Such
`devices extend the distance through which the PCN 100 can 65
`communicate with or control remote devices. In addition,
`although the PCN 100 and the adapter 200 are shown in
`
`4
`FIGS. 1 and 2 as separate devices, they can be incorporated
`into a single device.
`FIG. 3 illustrates in detail an exemplary universal adapter
`which can be implemented in the communication system
`5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The universal adapter 200 is
`connected to the PCN 100 via a connector 280. The con-
`nectar 280 includes ports Pl-P7 connected to respective
`ports PCN1-PCN7 of the PCN 100. For example, port Pl is
`connected to a positive voltage port PCNl, port P2 is
`10 connected to a ground port PCN2, port P3 is connected to a
`voice out port PCN3, port P4 is connected to a voice in port
`PCN4, port PS is connected to a data 1/0 port PCN5, port P6
`is connected to a control port PCN6, and port P7 is con(cid:173)
`nected to a clock port PCN7. Remote devices configured for
`15 connection directly to the PCN 100 are connected through
`the ports PCN1-PCN7 of the PCN 100.
`The universal adapter 200 also includes various ports for
`connection to remote devices. For example, the universal
`adapter 200 includes ports 220 and 230 for connection to a
`telephone handset IN and OUT. These ports can include, for
`example, standard RJ-11 connectors. The universal adapter
`200 also includes a Serial Adapter port 240 for connection
`to a serial port of a CPU, and ports 250 and 252 for
`connection to cellular telephone control and a cellular tele(cid:173)
`phone audio 1/0 jack, respectively.
`The universal adapter 200 includes an 1/0 Control Unit
`210 for controlling the flow of data and control signals
`through the adapter between the PCN 100 and the remote
`devices in response to, for example, voice commands
`received via connector 280. Control and clock signals for the
`CPU received via PCN ports P6 and P7 are transferred under
`the control of the 1/0 Control Unit 210 directly to the CPU
`via the Serial Adapter port 240. Control and clock signals for
`the telephone handset are transmitted from the 1/0 Control
`Unit 210 to the TIP/RING Unit 260 which controls the
`TIP/RING functions of the telephone handset in response to,
`for example, voice commands received via connector 280.
`Control and clock signals for the cellular telephone are also
`transmitted from the 1/0 Control Unit 210 to the cellular
`telephone via the port 250.
`The universal adapter 200 receives and transmits digital
`data from and to the PCN 100 via the ports PCN5 and PS.
`Digital data is transmitted to and received from the CPU via
`the 1/0 control unit 210 and the Serial Adapter port 240.
`The universal adapter 200 receives digital voice informa(cid:173)
`tion from the PCN 100 via the ports PCN3 and P3 and
`transmits digital voice information from a remote device to
`the PCN 100 via the ports P4 and PCN4. Voice data received
`at port P3 is processed in a voice output circuitry 292 (e.g.,
`an analog operational amplifier with adjustable feedback
`resistance) and transmitted to the cellular phone via the
`audio 1/0 jack 252, to the telephone handset via the port 230,
`and/or to the CPU via the Serial Adapter port 240. Voice data
`received from the cellular phone via audio 1/0 jack 252,
`from the telephone handset via the port 220, and from the
`CPU via the Serial Adapter port 240 is processed by the
`voice input circuitry 290 (i.e., similar to the voice output
`circuitry), and delivered to the PCN 100.
`According to an exemplary embodiment, the universal
`adapter 200 need not include an internal power supply, but
`rather can be connected to an external AC power supply 410
`via an AC/DC Adapter 400. The universal adapter 200
`includes a voltage regulator 270 and a decoupling capacitor
`272 for this purpose. The voltage regulator 270 regulates
`voltage supplied to the PCN 100 via the ports Pl and PCNl.
`In the case of a PCN 100 connected directly to a remote
`
`30
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`35
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`40
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`6,112,103
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`5
`
`30
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`5
`device, the voltage regulator 270 and decoupling capacitor
`272 can be included in the PCN 100, as shown in FIG. 4
`below.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a personal communication node accord(cid:173)
`ing to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`For illustrative purposes, the PCN 100 is depicted in FIG. 4
`as connected to a single remote device, the cellular tele(cid:173)
`phone 312, adapted for connection directly to the PCN 100.
`Referring to FIG. 4, the PCN 100 processes signals
`received via the earpiece(s) worn by the user, including
`voice commands to control the cellular telephone 312 as
`well as voice data to be conducted over the cellular tele(cid:173)
`phone network, and transmits appropriate signals to the
`cellular telephone 312. The PCN 100 also processes signals
`from the telephone 312 and transmits these signals to the
`earpiece(s). To perform these functions, the PCN 100
`includes a Kernel Operating System 110, an Audio Digital
`Signal Processing (DSP) Algorithms Unit 120, a Data Input/
`Output (1/0) Manager (Mgr) Buffer 130, a Voice Recogni(cid:173)
`tion Command Manager 140, a Sound Processing System
`150, Data 1/0 Buffers 160 and 162, an Adaptive Speech
`Filtering and Noise Cancellation Unit 180, and a Memory
`Unit 190.
`The Kernel Operating System 110 includes software for
`scheduling software tasks, handling interrupt requests,
`scheduling data input/output, and allocating memory for
`various applications in the PCN 100. FIG. 5 illustrates in
`detail an exemplary Kernel Operating System which can be
`implemented in the personal communication device shown
`in FIG. 4. A Status and Control Manager (Mgr) 115 of the
`Kernel Operating System 110 handles status (clock) and
`control information received from and transmitted to the
`Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130. Scheduling of data input/output
`from various elements in the PCN 100 is handled by the FIG.
`5 1/0 Data Handler 114 under the control of the Status and
`Control Mgr 115. The Memory Management Handler 113
`allocates memory from the Memory Unit 190 for various
`tasks in the PCN 100 under the control the Status and
`Control Mgr 115. Memory is allocated and data 1/0 is 40
`scheduled according to software task and interrupt requests.
`Software task requests from various elements in the PCN
`100, such as the FIG. 4 Audio DSP Algorithms Unit 120, are
`handled by the FIG. 5 Software Task Handler 112. The
`Software Task Handler 112 issues software task instructions 45
`under the control of the Status and Control Mgr 115.
`Interrupt requests from various elements in the PCN 100,
`such as the FIG. 4 Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130 and the Audio
`DSP Algorithms Unit 120, are handled by the FIG. 5
`Interrupt Handler 111, which issues interrupt instructions
`under the control of the Status and Control Mgr 115. The
`Interrupt Handler 111 includes a prioritized list of
`applications, which indicates which applications can inter(cid:173)
`rupt other applications. As those skilled in the art will
`appreciate, this list can be selectively prioritized in any
`manner desired by the user. For example, the Interrupt
`Handler 111 can assign higher priority to incoming data
`from a CPU than to processing of an ongoing telephone call
`(or vice versa). Thus, when the Interrupt Handler 111
`receives a request to interrupt from the FIG. 4 Data 1/0 Mgr
`Buffer 130 based on receipt of data from the CPU, the
`Interrupt Handler responds by interrupting operation of the
`Sound Processor 150. The Interrupt Handler 111 bases
`interrupt instructions on idle time reports from the Idle Time
`Unit 116, and does not issue interrupt instructions if the
`reports indicate that the PCN 100 is idle. The Idle Time Unit
`116 bases the idle time reports on information from the 1/0
`
`6
`Data Handler 114 which indicates the schedule of data 1/0
`at a given time.
`Referring again to FIG. 4, the Sound Processing Unit 150
`includes basic software used, for example, in a hearing aid
`to enhance signal quality. The Sound Processing Unit 150
`can be implemented with a remote processor such as that
`described in the above-referenced copending U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/479,629.
`The Voice Recognition Command Manager 140 includes
`10 software which interprets voice commands from the user.
`For example, a voice command can be interpreted as a
`command to direct the cellular telephone 312 of FIG. 4 to
`perform a certain function. The Voice Recognition Com(cid:173)
`mand Manager 140 can be implemented with any conven-
`15 tional voice recognition software, such as Motorola's Lexi(cid:173)
`cus Microbrain or the Voice Dialer, Model VCS 2060 of
`Voice Control Systems Inc. in Dallas, Tex. The Voice
`Recognition Command Manager 140 is "trained" ahead of
`time during a set up phase to recognize the voice of a specific
`20 user. For example, the user simply speaks a series of selected
`words, and the Voice Recognition Command Manager 140
`becomes programmed (i.e., trained) in known fashion to
`recognize any word spoken by the user based on these
`selected words. The Voice Recognition Command Manager
`25 140 can, for example, be language-independent. That is, it
`can be trained to recognize a user's voice in any language.
`Once the Voice Recognition Command Manager 140 is
`trained to the voice of the user, it need not be trained again.
`The Voice Command Manager 140 matches a voice
`command to a particular control function in a library or
`look-up table of memory 190. The voice command is also
`matched, via the look-up table, to a particular remote device.
`After matching the voice command to a particular control
`35 function and a particular remote device, the Voice Recog(cid:173)
`nition Command Manager 140 then issues an appropriate
`control code to, for example, control gating of commands
`and/or data to one or more remote devices via the FIG. 4
`Kernal Operating System and, where the adapter 200 is
`used, the FIG. 31/0 control 210. If the voice command does
`not match a control function in the library or look-up table,
`no control code is issued. Also, if the voice command
`corresponds to a remote device to which the PCN 100 is not
`connected, no control code is issued.
`The Audio DSP Algorithms Unit 120 provides digital
`sound processing algorithms for the Voice Recognition
`Command Mgr 140 and the Sound Processing Unit 150
`under the control of the Kernel Operating System 110. The
`Audio DSP Algorithms Unit 120 can be implemented in
`50 accordance with features described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,
`522 (Lindemann et al.), the contents of which are hereby
`incorporated by reference in their entirety.
`The Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130 temporarily stores data,
`voice, and control signals. FIG. 6 illustrates in detail an
`55 exemplary Data 1/0 Manager Buffer which can be imple(cid:173)
`mented in the personal communication node shown in FIG.
`4. The Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130 includes input and output
`buffers 131 and 132 for outputting and receiving,
`respectively, digital data, digital voice information, and
`60 clock and control signals to and from the Kernel Operating
`System 110. Digital data from the Output Buffer 132 is
`converted into serial form in a Parallel to Serial Converter
`134 and delivered to the remote device via the port PCN5.
`Digital data from the remote device is converted into parallel
`65 form in the Serial to Parallel converter 137 and delivered to
`the Kernel Operating System 110 via the Input Buffer 131.
`The digital voice data is transmitted across, for example, 8
`
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`7
`to 16 bit buses. Digital voice data is delivered from the
`Output Buffer 132 to an 8 to 16 bit register 135, converted
`into analog form in the DIA converter 192, and transmitted
`to the remote device. Digital voice data received from the
`remote device is converted into digital form in the AID
`converter 194, stored in the 8 to 16 bit register 136, and
`delivered to the Input Buffer 131 for output to the Kernel
`Operating System 110. The Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130 also
`includes a Status Buffer 133 for storing clock and control
`information transferred between the Kernel Operating Sys-
`tern 110 and the remote device.
`Referring again to FIG. 4, the personal communication
`device also includes an Adaptive Speech Filtering and Noise
`Cancellation Unit 180 which enhances signal quality by
`filtering and cancelling noise in the signal. The Adaptive
`Speech Filtering and Noise Cancellation Unit 180 can be 15
`implemented in accordance with, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
`5,140,640 (Graupe et al.) and/or U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,361
`(Jones) entitled "Reduced VLF Overload Susceptibility
`Active Noise Cancellation Headset" assigned to Noise Can(cid:173)
`cellation Technology (NC1), the contents of which are 20
`hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
`In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the PCN 100
`need not include a power supply, but rather can be connected
`to an external AC power supply 410 via a voltage regulator
`and decoupling unit 164. Although shown as a separate 25
`element, the AC power supply 410 can, for example, be the
`same power supply used to power the cellular telephone 312.
`The voltage regulator and decoupling unit 164 can include
`the voltage regulator 270 and the decoupling capacitor 272
`shown in FIG. 3. Power is supplied from the external power 30
`supply and regulated by the voltage regulator and decou(cid:173)
`pling unit 164 in the same manner described above with
`reference to FIG. 3.
`In an exemplary embodiment, the PCN 100 communi(cid:173)
`cates wirelessly with the earpiece(s), although wired com- 35
`munication can of course be used. In the FIG. 4
`embodiment, the PCN 100 receives signals from the ear(cid:173)
`pieces via the Receiver 170 and stores the signals in a Data
`1/0 Buffer 160, and the PCN 100 transmits signals to the
`earpiece(s) after being stored in the Data 1/0 buffer 162 via
`the Transmitter 172. Signals are converted into analog form
`and forwarded to the cellular telephone 312 via the DIA
`converter 192. Signals are received from the cellular tele(cid:173)
`phone 312 and converted into digital form in the AID
`Converter 194. The Data 1/0 Buffers 160 and 162, the 45
`Receiver 170, the Transmitter 172, and the converters 192
`and 194 can be implemented with any suitable conventional
`devices.
`According to an exemplary embodiment, the PCN device
`100 operates in the following manner. When the cellular 50
`telephone 312 rings to indicate an incoming call, the ring
`signal can be transmitted directly to the user, for example via
`the microphone in the earpiece(s), or transmitted to the user
`via the PCN 100 and the earpiece(s). If the ring signal is an
`audible signal, the user can, of course, respond to it by 55
`commanding that the telephone be picked up. However, if
`the user has a hearing impairment, the audible ring signal
`can be transmitted via the earpiece microphone and speaker.
`That is, the audible ring of the telephone can be detected by
`the earpiece(s) and passed to the user (e.g., a hearing 60
`impaired user) after signal enhancement is performed by the
`PCN 100. Alternately, if the ring signal is a non-audible
`signal, it can be transmitted by the PCN 100 to the earpiece.
`In such a case, the analog ring signal is converted into digital
`form in the AID converter 194 and forwarded to the Data 1/0 65
`Manager Buffer 130 which temporarily stores the ring
`signal.
`
`8
`The Data 1/0 Mgr Buffer 130 forwards the ring signal to
`the Audio DSP Algorithms Unit 120 and the Sound Pro(cid:173)
`cessing Unit 150 via the Kernel Operating System 110. The
`Sound Processing Unit 150 processes the ring sign