111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US00713 0608B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Hollstrom et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`(54) METHOD OF USING A COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, A
`COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, A
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND AN
`ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR USE IN
`CONNECTION WITH A COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Magnus Hollstriim, Lund (SE);
`Anders Borgstrom, Skaniir (SE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Telefonaktiegolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm (SE)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 623 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/726,987
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 30, 2000
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2001/0041588 Al
`
`Nov. 15, 2001
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 3, 1999
`
`(EP)
`
`.................................. 99610075
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04Q 7122
`H04M 11725
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................... 455/403; 455/412.1; 455/466
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 455/3.01,
`455/3.03, 3.04-6.06, 412.1, 414.1, 414.4,
`455/518, 556.1, 556.2, 569.1, 575.2, 413,
`455/456, 466, 412.2, 414.3; 379/68, 85,
`379/87, 88.16, 88.19, 88.26, 88.22, 88.1,
`379/88.27
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,544,230 A * 8/1996 Megyesi .................... 379/67.1
`1111996 Schulhof et a!. ............ 364/514
`5,572,442 A
`5,841,979 A * 11/1998 Schulhof eta!. ............ 709/237
`5,914,941 A
`6/1999 Janky ......................... 370/313
`6,138,036 A * 10/2000 O'Cinneide ................. 455/557
`6,148,175 A * 11/2000 Freedland .................. 455/3.06
`6,167,251 A * 12/2000 Segal eta!. ................. 455/406
`6,192,340 B1 * 2/2001 Abecassis ................... 704/270
`6,366,785 B1 * 4/2002 Saarela et a!.
`.............. 455/466
`6,367,019 B1 * 4/2002 Ansell eta!. ............... 713/201
`6,381,452 I31 *
`4/2002 Tien eta!. .................. 455/344
`6,400,804 B1 * 6/2002 Bilder ......................... 379/76
`6,446,127 B1 * 9/2002 Schuster et al ............. 709/227
`6,473,630 B1 * 10/2002 Baranowski eta!. ........ 455/572
`6,502,194 B1 * 12/2002 Berman eta!. ............. 713/201
`6,546,241 B1 * 4/2003 Iyengar et al ............ 455/412.1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`EP
`3/1997
`0762 711 A2
`0 762 711 A2 *
`EP
`12/1997
`wo 99/03294
`wo
`111999
`wo 99/43136
`wo
`8/1999
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Simon Nguyen
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method of using a first communications device, such as a
`mobile telephone, together with at least one other commu(cid:173)
`nications device, such as a telephone, comprises the steps of
`playing back audio signals in the first communications
`device, transmitting the same audio signals to the other
`communications device, and playing back the audio signals
`in the other communications device. By transmitting the
`audio signals played back in the first communications device
`to the other device and playing them back there, shared
`audio listening is achieved and in this way the communica(cid:173)
`tions devices can be used also for the shared listening to e.g.
`music. Thus it is possible for two persons present at different
`locations to listen to the same audio signals simultaneously
`or at least almost simultaneously.
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`21 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`/
`
`~4
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`DEF0007842
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`SONOS 1024 - Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
`
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`DEF0007843
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`SONOS 1024 - Page 2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
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`14
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`DEF0007844
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
`
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`DEF0007845
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
`
`13
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`DEF0007846
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 7,130,608 B2
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`DEF0007847
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`US 7,130,608 B2
`
`1
`METHOD OF USING A COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, A
`COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, A
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND AN
`ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR USE IN
`CONNECTION WITH A COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`
`The invention relates to a method of using a first com- 10
`munications device together with at least one other commu(cid:173)
`nications device. The invention further relates to a commu(cid:173)
`nications system comprising a first communications device
`and at least one other communications device; a communi(cid:173)
`cations device adapted to be used in a communications
`system comprising at least one other communications
`device; and an accessory device for use in connection with
`a first communications device adapted to be used in a
`communications system comprising at least one other com(cid:173)
`munications device.
`Portable playback devices for use with e.g. audio cassettes
`or compact discs (CD's) have been known for many years
`and are widely used, because they allow a user to listen to
`music or other audio information at any place and during
`transport.
`Today, different methods of compressing digitized audio
`signals significantly are also known, and this situation has
`led to the fact that portable storage mediums, such as
`memory cards, of even limited size can store a considerable
`amount of audio information. Therefore, also portable play- 30
`back devices for such storage mediums have been made
`available. As an example, portable playback devices for
`audio files in MP3 format may be mentioned.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,979 discloses a portable digital audio
`storage and playback apparatus for reception, storage, D/A 35
`conversion and playback of digitized and compressed audio
`files. The compressed audio files may be received at a
`transfer rate that is at least twice the normal audible play(cid:173)
`back rate. A similar apparatus is known from U.S. Pat. No.
`5,914,941, which mentions that program material can be 40
`obtained either through a digital data storage cartridge,
`which may be removable, or through electronic data transfer
`from cable TV or similar sources.
`However, these devices are designed to be used exclu(cid:173)
`sively for playback of audio information. Many users have 45
`a need for other functions which these devices are not able
`to fulfil, and, thus, these users have to carry additional
`devices in order to have their needs fulfilled.
`It is also known, e.g. from WO 99/03294, to share a
`common headset between an audio device and a communi- 50
`cations device in the form of a radio telephone, such that the
`headset is used for telephone conversation when the tele(cid:173)
`phone is active, and switched to the audio device when the
`telephone is not active. The audio device and the telephone
`may also share a common housing as a single device, which 55
`is easier and lighter to carry than two individual devices
`separately. The audio device is either a receiver for public
`audio broadcast programs, or it is a compact disc player or
`a cassette player.
`Thus, this known device gives a user the possibility of 60
`using the same device for communicating with a conversa(cid:173)
`tion partner or for listening to audio signals such as e.g.
`music. However, many users often want to be able to listen
`to the audio signals during e.g. a telephone conversation and
`to allow the conversation partner to listen to the same audio 65
`signals simultaneously or at least almost simultaneously, or
`they just want to share the listening with the other person
`
`2
`without having a conversation. Today shared audio listening
`can only be done acoustically, i.e. the audio signals are
`reproduced by an audio speaker and the sound is coupled to
`the microphone of the telephone and thus transmitted to the
`other person as a part of the voice conversation signals.
`Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a method
`of communicating of the above-mentioned type, allowing
`two persons present at different locations to listen to the
`same audio signals simultaneously or at least almost simul(cid:173)
`taneously.
`According to the invention, this is achieved in that the
`method comprises the steps of playing back audio signals in
`the first communications device, transmitting the same audio
`15 signals to the other communications device, and playing
`back said audio signals in the other communications device.
`By transmitting the audio signals played back in the first
`communications device to the other device and playing them
`back there, shared audio listening is achieved and in this way
`20 the communications devices can be used also for the shared
`listening to e.g. music.
`Although the method may be used with any type of
`communications devices, expedient embodiments, which
`are stated in claims 2 and 3, are achieved when the first
`25 communications device is a mobile telephone and the at
`least one other communications device is a telephone.
`When, as stated in claim 4, the method further comprises
`the steps of establishing a connection through a network
`between the mobile telephone and the other telephone,
`establishing a telephone conversation by transmitting voice
`signals through a channel in the connection in the network,
`and transmitting said audio signals from the mobile tele(cid:173)
`phone to the other telephone through the connection in the
`network, i.e. using a connection established for the trans(cid:173)
`mission of voice conversation signals for the transmission of
`the audio signals, a solution is obtained in which the
`transmission and the play back of the audio signals in the
`other telephone can be controlled from the first communi-
`cations device, i.e. the mobile telephone.
`When, as stated in claim 5, the method further comprises
`the steps of mixing said voice signals and said audio signals,
`and transmitting the mixed voice and audio signals from the
`mobile telephone to the other telephone through a common
`channel in the connection in the network, a solution is
`obtained in which no extra transmission capacity is needed
`for the audio signals. The common channel may be a normal
`telephone voice channel as stated in claim 6, or it may be a
`data channel as stated in claim 7.
`Alternatively, as stated in claim 8, the method may
`comprise the steps of transmitting the voice signals through
`a normal telephone voice channel in the connection in the
`network, and transmitting said audio signals from the mobile
`telephone to the other telephone through a data channel
`parallel to said voice channel in the connection in the
`network. This allows the audio signals to be treated differ(cid:173)
`ently during transmission than the voice conversation sig(cid:173)
`nals, thus optimizing the transmission of the two types of
`signals.
`In another embodiment, which is stated in claim 9, the
`method further comprises the steps of establishing a con(cid:173)
`nection through a network between the mobile telephone
`and the other telephone, establishing a telephone conversa(cid:173)
`tion by transmitting voice signals through a channel in the
`connection in the network, transmitting said audio signals
`from a service provider via the network to the mobile
`telephone, and transmitting the same audio signals from the
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`US 7,130,608 B2
`
`3
`service provider via the network to the other telephone. In
`this way no extra signals need to be transmitted between the
`two telephones.
`In an expedient embodiment of the invention, which is
`stated in claim 10, the audio signals are transmitted in the
`form of a digitized and compressed audio file. In those cases
`where a data channel is used for the transmission of the
`audio signals this embodiment reduces the needed transmis(cid:173)
`sion capacity significantly. As stated in claim 11, the digi(cid:173)
`tized and compressed audio file is compressed in the MP3 10
`format, which is a widely used and efficient compression
`format.
`As mentioned, the invention further relates to a commu(cid:173)
`nications system comprising a first communications device
`and at least one other communications device. When, as 15
`stated in claim 12, the system is adapted to play back audio
`signals in said first communications device, transmit the
`same audio signals to the other communications device, and
`play back said audio signals in the other communications
`device, a system having the same advantages as mentioned
`above for the method is achieved.
`As mentioned, the invention further relates to a commu(cid:173)
`nications device adapted to be used in a communications
`system comprising at least one other communications
`device. When, as stated in claim 13, the device comprises
`means for playing back audio signals, and means for initi(cid:173)
`ating transmission of the same audio signals to the other
`communications device, such that said audio signals can be
`played back in the other communications device, a device
`providing the above-mentioned advantages is achieved.
`As stated in claim 14, the communications device may be
`a mobile telephone, and in a preferred embodiment, which
`is stated in claim 15, the mobile telephone may be adapted
`for use in a public network, such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE or
`WCDMA.
`Alternatively, as stated in claim 16, the communications
`device may be adapted for use in a wireless shortlink, such
`as Bluetooth or an infrared connection.
`Although the means for playing back audio signals may
`also be a separate device, such as a cassette player or the
`like, connectable to the communications device, a preferred
`embodiment is obtained, when, as stated in claim 17, the
`means for playing back audio signals is an audio device
`integrated in the communications device.
`As mentioned, the invention further relates to an acces(cid:173)
`sory device for use in connection with a first communica(cid:173)
`tions device adapted to be used in a communications system
`comprising at least one other communications device.
`When, as stated in claim 18, the accessory device comprises
`means for playing back audio signals through the first
`communications device, and means for initiating transmis(cid:173)
`sion of the same audio signals to the other communications
`device, such that said audio signals can be played back in the
`other communications device, a device providing in com-
`bination with the first communications device the above-
`mentioned advantages is achieved.
`The invention will now be described more fully below
`with reference to the drawing, in which
`FIG. 1 shows an example of how a cellular telephone can
`be used also for audio playback,
`FIG. 2 shows another example of how a cellular telephone
`can be used also for audio playback,
`FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of shared audio listen(cid:173)
`ing,
`FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of shared audio
`listening,
`
`4
`FIG. 5 shows downloading of audio files through the
`network to which the telephone is connected, and
`FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of shared audio listen(cid:173)
`ing.
`FIG. 1 shows an example of a system 1 for providing a
`cellular telephone 2 with a combination of portable hands(cid:173)
`free and hi-fi audio stereo playback. In the example, the
`telephone 2 is a GSM phone, and through its built-in antenna
`it communicates with a GSM base station 16 connected to a
`GSM network 14. It is shown that also other base stations,
`such as the base station 17, and other GSM phones, such as
`the phone 18, are connected to the network 14. Thus, the
`telephone 2 can be used like any other normal GSM phone
`for two-way communication with other telephones.
`In the figure an accessory device in the form of a plug-in
`device 8 is connected to the phone 2 galvanically at the
`bottom end of the phone. A sound reproducing unit in the
`form of a headset 10 is connected to the accessory device 8,
`but it could just as well be connected directly to the
`20 telephone 2. Further, the device 8 has a slot for insertion of
`a portable storage medium in the form of a memory card or
`Multi-Media Card 7 on which digitized and compressed
`audio files are stored, e.g. in MP3 format. The accessory
`device 8 is adapted to decompress or decode the compressed
`25 audio files and playback the resulting audio signals through
`the headset 10.
`It should be noted that the functions of the accessory
`device 8 may just as well be integrated into the cellular
`telephone 2 such that one single device contains the tele-
`30 phone as well as the functions described above and below.
`If audio contents (e.g. music) are played in the headset
`and an incoming call appears, the audio playback will be
`halted or softened, i.e. the sound level reduced, while the
`conversation is going on. The speech signals received during
`35 the conversation are now reproduced in the headset that was
`used before the call for playback of the audio files stored on
`the card 7. When the conversation is finished, the audio
`playback is resumed.
`The accessory device 8 also consists of control and
`monitoring electronics, but it has no Man Machine Interface
`(MMI), because this part is taken care of by the telephone
`(display and keyboard) by e.g. using so-called dynamic
`menues. The phone 2 and the accessory device 8 have an
`45 active communication on a serial link. The accessory device
`8 can drive most hi-fi headsets on the market, and it also
`allows routing of a microphone signal for the uplink voice
`path as well as downlink voice to the headset from the GSM
`network.
`As mentioned, the MP3 audio files are delivered to the
`accessory device 8 via e.g. a Multi-Media Card that is
`inserted in a slot in the accessory device 8. An MMC of
`today may have 32 Mbytes of flash memory, which corre(cid:173)
`sponds to about 30 minutes of hi-fi music or several hours
`of high quality voice audio.
`The figure also shows how to get the compressed audio
`files into the card 7. A dedicated server 13 belonging to a
`service provider of compressed audio files is connected to
`the Internet 12, and the audio content is downloaded from
`60 the Internet via a reasonably fast, wired link to a personal
`computer 3. From the computer 3 it is handed over to the
`card 7 via an adapter 6 using a normal drag-and-drop
`manoeuvre on the screen of the personal computer. Alter(cid:173)
`natively, the content can be automatically transferred from
`65 the network and onto the card. The personal computer is
`connected to the Internet via a normal modem or a faster
`Ethernet line.
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`5
`The compressed audio files can also be generated in the
`personal computer without being downloaded from the
`Internet. As shown, a compact disc 4 may be inserted into a
`slot in the computer, and the MP3 content is then obtained
`by converting from CD format in the personal computer 3 by
`means of special software. This process is also known as
`"ripping".
`The adapter 6 is any MMC adapter on the market and it
`can be connected to the personal computer through an
`RS-232 port, a diskette port, a PC card port, a parallel port
`or an USB port.
`In the example the telephone and the corresponding
`network are of GSM type, but of course any other cellular
`system (e.g. WCDMA) may be used as well.
`FIG. 2 shows an alternative way of getting the audio
`information to the telephone 2 or the accessory device 8. A
`receiver 23 for a wireless shortlink, such as Bluetooth or
`infrared, is connected to the phone 2 for reception of
`digitized and compressed audio files, e.g. in MP3 format.
`Storage media, e.g. in the form of flash memory in the size 20
`of 32 Mbytes, on which the digitized and compressed audio
`files are stored, will be either built-in or removably con(cid:173)
`nected to the device 8. The audio files are downloaded to the
`personal computer 3 in the same way as shown in FIG. 1, but
`from the computer the audio content is handed over to a
`wireless shortlink transmitter 20 using a normal drag-and(cid:173)
`drop manoeuvre on the screen of the personal computer.
`Alternatively, the content can be automatically transferred
`from the network and to the transmitter. The personal
`computer is connected to the Internet via a normal modem 30
`or a faster Ethernet line.
`It should be mentioned that instead of the wireless short
`link communication between the transmitter 20 and the
`receiver 23, communication via a wire could be used just as
`well.
`As an alternative to storing the digitized and compressed
`audio files in a built-in or removable storage medium, the
`audio content may be "streamed down", which means that
`the audio signals are received, decompressed and played
`back continuously. In this case no storage memory is needed.
`The parts of FIG. 2 not described above are identical to
`those of FIG. 1.
`FIGS. 1 and 2 have illustrated how the mobile telephone
`2 may be used also for playback of audio signals such that
`the user can listen to e.g. music between telephone calls or 45
`even in the background during a telephone call. However,
`many users also want to be able to share the audio listening
`with their conversation partner during a telephone call or
`just to share the listening with the other person without
`having a conversation.
`FIG. 3 shows an example of how this can be done. A user
`25 is having a telephone conversation with another person
`26. The mobile telephone 2 and the accessory device 8
`correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, while the telephone 27
`used by the other person 26 may be any type of telephone, 55
`mobile or not. The network 28 connecting the two tele(cid:173)
`phones 2 and 27 could represent the GSM network 14
`(including the base stations 16 and 17) of FIGS. 1 and 2, but
`it could also be a combination of several different networks
`connected together, which would be the case if the telephone
`27 is of a type different from that of the telephone 2.
`The audio playback unit 29 in the accessory device 8
`generates the audio signals as described above. The acces(cid:173)
`sory device 8 also comprises two mixers 30 and 31. The
`mixer 30 ensures that the voice conversation signals
`received from the other telephone 27 is mixed with the audio
`signals from the audio playback unit 29, such that the user
`
`6
`25 is able to listen to both signals simultaneously. The mixer
`31, on the other hand, combines the audio signals from the
`audio playback unit 29 with the voice conversation signals
`coming from the user 25, and the combined signal is taken
`to the mobile telephone 2 instead of the voice conversation
`signal alone. In the mobile telephone 2 the combined signal
`is passed through a speech codec as usual and transmitted as
`a normal conversation signal via the network 28 to the other
`telephone 27, in which it is reproduced for the other person
`10 26. This person is thus able to listen to the voice signals
`coming from the user 25 as well as the audio signal coming
`from the audio playback unit 29. An advantage of this
`solution is that no extra transmission capacity is needed in
`15 the network, which is used without any modifications.
`Actually, the mixer 31 is the only additional component
`needed in order to provide the facility of shared audio
`listening.
`FIG. 4 shows an alternative solution. Instead of mixing
`the audio signals and the voice conversation signals in the
`mixer 31, the audio signals from the audio playback unit 29
`are transmitted on a separate data charmel parallel to the
`normal voice channel all the way through the network to the
`other telephone 27. In the telephone 27 or in an accessory
`25 device 32 connected thereto the data channel and the voice
`channel are combined in a mixer 33, so that the person 26
`may listen to both signals. In this case the audio signals are
`transmitted in digitized form and this opens up the possi-
`bility of also compressing the audio data before transmis(cid:173)
`sion. This reduces the needed transmission capacity consid(cid:173)
`erably. The accessory device 32 or the telephone 27 must
`then include means for decompressing or decoding the
`compressed data before they can be mixed with the voice
`signals in the mixer 33. These means may e.g. be similar to
`35 the audio playback unit 29 in the accessory device 8. A
`suitable compressing format is MP3. It should be noted that
`in this solution the voice charmel may alternatively be
`removed and the voice sent as data as well. The solution may
`also be used even without a voice conversation taking part,
`40 i.e. the two persons just listen to the same audio signals
`without talking together.
`An alternative to FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG. 5.
`Instead of obtaining the audio files through a personal
`computer, the wireless public network (i.e. in the shown
`example the GSM network) already used by the cellular
`telephone 2 for the standard two-way communication, is
`used also for the transfer of the audio files to the telephone.
`Thus the network is used for digital real time voice conver-
`so sation as well as downloading of Internet non-real time
`audio signals (music, news, weather, books, etc.). The audio
`files downloaded through the GSM network (or other type of
`cellular network) may come from a dedicated server 13
`connected to the Internet 12, as described above, or they may
`come from a WAP server connected directly to the GSM
`network. In the latter case the telephone must support WAP.
`Again in this situation, the digitized and compressed
`audio files may either be stored in a memory for subsequent
`decompression and playback, or they may be "streamed
`60 down", as described above.
`This solution is preferably used with networks providing
`relatively high data transmission rates. The bandwidth of the
`faster links in the public wireless network will allow even
`hi-fi music to be downloaded in reasonable times. As an
`65 example, MP3 files require 128 kbps. EDGE provides 384
`kbps corresponding to 60 seconds per track, while WCDMA
`provides 2 Mbps corresponding to 120 seconds per track for
`
`DEF0007850
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`SONOS 1024 - Page 9
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`US 7,130,608 B2
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`7
`a compact disc. A possibility oflistening on-line, i.e. stream(cid:173)
`ing, will also be possible. This will provide real mobile
`"on-demand" service.
`When the audio signals are downloaded from a server to
`the mobile telephone through the network as shown in FIG.
`5, a different embodiment of shared audio listening is
`possible. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, and it will be
`seen that the server 35 downloads the same audio signals to
`the two telephones 2 and 27. The downloading is initiated by
`the user 25 and he instructs the server to download the same 10
`data to the other telephone as well. In this case the accessory
`device 8 does not send the audio signals back to the
`telephone 2 but only via the mixer 30 to the user 25.
`Although not shown, the accessory device 32 will have
`audio playback means which could be similar to the audio 15
`playback unit 29. The audio signals transmitted from the
`server 35 will typically be compressed, and again a suitable
`compressing format is MP3. It should be noted that also in
`this solution the voice channel may alternatively be removed
`and the voice sent as data as well. The solution may also be 20
`used even without a voice conversation taking part, i.e. the
`two persons just listen to the same audio signals without
`talking together.
`Finally, it should be noted that while the transmission of
`the audio files to the other telephone 27 in the above 25
`mentioned examples is taking place through the public
`network to which the phones are connected, a different
`transmission path may also be used. Au example is shown in
`FIG. 5 in which the GSM phone 2 communicates with
`another telephone 21 via a Bluetooth link. This means that 30
`the audio files are downloaded to the telephone 2 through the
`Internet and the GSM network and then retransmitted from
`the telephone 2 to the telephone 21 via the Bluetooth link.
`Although preferred embodiments ofthe present invention
`have been described and shown, the invention is not
`restricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways
`within the scope of the subject-matter defined in the follow(cid:173)
`ing claims.
`
`40
`
`8
`simultaneously transmitting stored audio signals from the
`audio playback unit of the first mobile terminal over the
`communications network to the at least one other
`mobile terminal.
`3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to
`operate in a GSM network.
`4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to
`operate in a GPRS network.
`5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to
`operate in an EDGE network.
`6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, adapted to
`operate in a WCDMA network.
`7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising
`using a digital audio player as the audio playback unit of the
`first mobile terminal.
`8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising
`transmitting the audio signals in a form of a digitized and
`compressed audio file.
`9. A method of using a first mobile terminal together with
`at least one other mobile terminal, the method comprising:
`configuring an audio playback unit in a first mobile
`terminal to receive, store and play audio signals;
`receiving and converting into digital form in the first
`mobile terminal, contemporaneous voice signals;
`mixing the contemporaneous voice signals and the stored
`audio signals; and
`modulating and transmitting the mixed contemporaneous
`voice and stored audio signals from the first mobile
`terminal to at least one other mobile terminal through
`a common channel in a connection in over a commu(cid:173)
`nications network.
`10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the common
`channel comprises a normal telephone voice channel.
`11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the common
`35 channel comprises a data channel.
`12. A method of using a first mobile terminal together
`with at least one other mobile terminal, the method com(cid:173)
`prising:
`establishing a connection through a network between the
`first mobile terminal and at least one other mobile
`terminal;
`establishing a telephone conversation by transmitting
`contemporaneous voice signals between a first mobile
`terminal to at least one other mobile terminal over a
`channel in a connection in a communications network;
`transmitting audio signals received by an audio playback
`unit in the first mobile terminal from a service provider
`via the communications network to the at least one
`other mobile terminal; and
`transmitting the same audio signals from the service
`provider via the communications network to the at least
`one other mobile terminal.
`13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the audio
`signals are transmitted in a form of a digitized and com(cid:173)
`pressed audio file.
`14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the digitized
`and compressed audio file is compressed in a MP3 format.
`15. A communications system, comprising:
`a mobile telephone having an audio playback unit adapted
`to receive, store and play audio signals and a module
`adapted to receive, convert into digital form, modulate
`and transmit contemporaneous voice signals;
`at least one other communications device
`the audio playback unit operable to audibly play back
`stored audio signals and the mobile telephone operable
`to transmit the stored audio signals over a communi(cid:173)
`cations network to the at least one other communica-
`
`45
`
`The invention claimed is:
`1. A method of using a first mobile terminal together with
`at least one other mobile terminal over a communications
`network, the method comprising:
`configuring an audio playback