Abstract: A mobile phone stations is disclosed. In general, in one aspect, the mobile phone station connects to a smartphone for sending and receiving data therebetween. Further, the mobile phone station includes a dial pad for placing outgoing calls via the smartphone and answering incoming calls received at the smartphone. Also, the mobile phone station includes a charging mechanism for charging the smartphone. In use during an active call at the smartphone, the mobile phone station allows a user to seamlessly switch between two or more of a handset, a speakerphone, and a headset without requiring any user interaction with the smartphone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 11, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Philip Sherburne, John B Ledingham, Jacob T Meyberg Guzman, Brent John Thorington, John Gary Mihelic, Michael David Rhoads, Robert Benjamin Foster, David Andrew Sauerhaft
Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a multi-cable positioning device and a headset with multi-cable positioning device. The device comprises at least a fastening portion for removable attachment to clothing, and a cable management portion. The cable management portion comprises at least a first cable receptacle for a first cable, and a second cable receptacle for a second cable, wherein the cable receptacles are adapted for rotational and translational locking of the cables to increase comfort and stability.
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for heart rate detection are described. In one example, a headphones apparatus and method includes emitting a first light in a first light direction directed at a left ear location from a left ear light emitter, and detecting a detected first light at a left ear light detector following interaction of the first light with a left ear tissue. The method includes emitting a second light in a second light direction directed at a right ear location from a right ear light emitter, the right ear location different from the left ear location. The method further includes detecting a detected second light at a right ear light detector following interaction of the second light with a right ear tissue, and estimating a heart rate from the detected first light and the detected second light.
Abstract: Scene changes that are done pleasingly and without user input or control. Based on the number of speakers and changes in speakers, either to a different individual or movement by the same speaker, based on the locations of the speakers and based on the overlap of the current and intended scenes, a decision is made whether to perform a smooth transition or do a cut. It has been determined that the decision on cut versus smooth transition is preferably based on the location of the center of the intended new scene versus the boundaries of the current scene, a cut used if the center is outside the boundaries and a smooth transition if inside. If a smooth transition, an easing function, such as ease in ease out, is performed to change the scene. A preferred value for the smooth transition is to perform the transition over 80 frames.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Rommel Gabriel Childress, Jr., Alain Elon Nimri, Stephen Paul Schaefer
Abstract: A head-worn audio device is provided with a circuit for voice signal enhancement. The circuit comprises at least a plurality of microphones, arranged at predefined positions, where each microphone provides a microphone signal. The circuit further comprises a directivity pre-processor and a blind source separation processor. The directivity pre-processor is connected with the plurality of microphones to receive the microphone signals and being configured to provide at least a voice signal and a noise signal. Directivity pre-processing increases the mutual independence of the signals provided to the blind source separation processor and thus improves processing by blind source separation. The blind source separation processor receives at least the voice signal and the noise signal, and is configured to conduct blind source separation on at least the voice signal and the noise signal to provide at least an enhanced voice signal with reduced noise components.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 6, 2019
Publication date:
September 10, 2020
Applicant:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Shridhar K. Mukund, Pamornpol Jinachitra
Abstract: A method of presenting a soundscape in an environment space using a plurality of controllable speakers arranged the space is provided. A spatial audio engine may access a spatial audio file defining a digital representation of the soundscape, including (a) a plurality of sound elements to be output in the space over time, (b) sound playback location information defining location(s) for each sound element to be output, and (c) timing information defining time(s) for each sound element to be output. The spatial audio engine may also access speaker location information for each speaker in the space. For each sound element to be played in the space over time, the spatial audio engine may correlate the sound playback location information with the speaker location information to identify one or more of the speakers to be controlled to output audio signals associated with the respective sound element.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 3, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 1, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Chase Emerson Cummings, Collin Robert Brown
Abstract: Headphones include an earbud, including a knob-shaped body, an earbud tip extending from the knob-shaped body and configured to enter an ear canal of a listener, a harness strap interface disposed on the knob-shaped body and configured to removably accommodate a detachable harness strap.
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for managing user density in wireless communications are described. In one example, a method includes receiving at a central controller device a plurality of link data associated with a plurality of wireless links between a plurality of first communication devices and a plurality of second communication devices. The method includes identifying a global system performance from the plurality of link data utilizing a link quality parameter. The method further includes, responsive to the global system performance, generating one or more modified link settings for a first wireless link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method further includes transmitting from the central controller device to the first communication device or the second communication device the one or more modified link settings for the first wireless link for implementation at the first communication device and/or the second communication device.
Abstract: A method is disclosed for wireless density-based on-the-fly codec and radio frequency link type selection. The method includes storing a link quality value, and scanning a plurality of timeslots across a plurality of wireless carriers. The method also includes calculating, based on the scanning, an average radio frequency density level for a time period. Still yet, the method includes calculating a current density level based on the link quality value and the average radio frequency density level. Further, the method includes selecting, based on the current density level, a codec from a plurality of stored codecs. The selected codec is associated with a link type. Moreover, the method includes receiving a command to open a wireless link, and, in response to the command, opening the wireless link using the selected codec and the associated link type.
Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a multi-cable positioning device and a headset with multi-cable positioning device. The device comprises at least a fastening portion for removable attachment to clothing, and a cable management portion. The cable management portion comprises at least a first cable receptacle for a first cable, and a second cable receptacle for a second cable, wherein the cable receptacles are adapted for rotational and translational locking of the cables to increase comfort and stability.
Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing extension mobility via a headset connection. The method includes receiving a headset identifier from a headset. Also, the method includes, in response to receiving the headset identifier, sending the headset identifier to a device management server. Further, the method includes receiving a call control user identifier from the device management server, and sending, to a call control server, the call control user identifier. Still yet, the method includes receiving, from the call control server, a configuration profile associated with the call control user identifier. One or more settings of a desk phone are configured using the configuration profile.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 4, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Joe Burton, Cary Bran, Shantanu Sarkar, Philip Sherburne
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset neckbands and earloops are described. In one example, a neckband for use with a headset is described. The neckband includes a first neckband end for coupling with a left earloop and a second neckband end for coupling with a right earloop. The neckband includes a neckband length along an x-axis between the first neckband end and the second neckband end. The neckband length has a variable height in a y-axis direction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 28, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Matthew J. Mainini, Chase Patrick Bailey, Bowman Wang
Abstract: A communication device for a communication system is disclosed, which communication device comprises at least an I/O interface for connection with one or more audio sources to at least receive an input audio signal, a user audio output, an audio processor to provide an output audio signal to the user audio output from the input audio signal, and a reporting module. To improve the acoustic safety for a user of the communication device, the reporting module is configured to analyze the input audio signal and to determine, whether an acoustic safety incident is given, upon which the reporting module is configured to generate metadata of the acoustic safety incident.
Abstract: Connection switching for Bluetooth headsets is disclosed. A Bluetooth headset includes a Bluetooth transceiver configured to receive a message from a first Bluetooth device over a first Bluetooth connection with the first Bluetooth device. The message includes a command to establish a second Bluetooth connection with a second Bluetooth device. The Bluetooth headset also includes a processor configured to cause the Bluetooth transceiver to (i) release the first Bluetooth connection and then (ii) establish the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device responsive to the Bluetooth transceiver receiving the message. Computer-readable media for the Bluetooth devices is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2020
Assignee:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Bart Trip, Rik Koops, Eddie Klaassens, Kem Gallione, John B Ledingham, Dick de Jong
Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying and indicating open space noise are described. In one example, a method includes receiving an audio sensor data from a plurality of microphones disposed at known locations throughout an open space. The method includes generating a three-dimensional sound map data from the audio sensor data. The method further includes generating an augmented reality visualization of the three-dimensional sound map data, which includes capturing with a video camera at a mobile device a video image of the open space, displaying the video image on a display screen of the mobile device, and overlaying a visualization of the three-dimensional sound map data on the video image on the display screen.
Abstract: Bone conduction headphones include a transducer and a neck band. The transducer is configured to convert an electrically provided audio signal into mechanical vibrations. The neck band includes a curved base section and two leg sections extending from the curved base section, providing a substantially U-shaped space to accommodate a listener's head between the two leg sections. The transducer is disposed on the neck band at a distal end of one of the leg sections, and the neck band applies a clamping force on the listener's head. The clamping force establishes a mechanical interface for transmission of the mechanical vibrations from the transducer to a cranial bone of the listener's head. The bone conduction headphones also include a clamping force adjuster enabling an adjustment of the clamping force of the neck band.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 21, 2018
Publication date:
June 25, 2020
Applicant:
Plantronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Bowman Wang, Terry M. Carr, Jeremy Jacob D'Ambrosio