I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 111111111111111 IIIII IIIII IIIIII IIII IIII IIII
`US007343177B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Seshadri et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,343,177 B2
`Mar. 11, 2008
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(54) MODULAR EAR-PIECE/MICROPHONE
`(HEADSET) OPERABLE TO SERVICE VOICE
`ACTIVATED COMMANDS
`Inventors: Nambirajan Seshadri, Irvine, CA
`(US); James D. Bennett, San
`Clemente, CA (US); Jeyhan Karaoguz,
`Irvine, CA (US)
`Assignee: Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA
`(US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 444 days.
`
`( *)
`
`Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/120,900
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 3, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0252470 Al
`
`Nov. 9, 2006
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 1100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................................... 455/563; 455/575.2
`(58) Field of Classification Search ..................... None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,714,233 B2 * 3/2004 Chihara et al .............. 455/566
`2004/0001588 Al*
`1/2004 Hairston ..................... 379/419
`
`Primary Examiner-Thanh Cong Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Garlick Harrison &
`Markison; Robert A. McLauchlan
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides a modular headset operable
`to support both voice communications and voice activated
`commands. This may involve the use of multiple voice
`CODECs to process voice communications and voice acti(cid:173)
`vated commands. The modular headset includes both a
`microphone and wireless earpiece. The earpiece may further
`include an interface, a processing circuit, a speaker, a user
`interface, a pairing circuit, and a registration circuit. The
`interface allows the earpiece to communicate with the base
`unit that couples the modular headset to a servicing network.
`This coupling to the servicing network and base unit only
`occurs when the headset is successfully registered to the
`base unit. The pairing circuit and registration circuit allow
`the exchange of pairing or registration information between
`various components. The pairing circuit allows the wireless
`earpiece and microphone to exchange pairing information
`which is then compared to determine whether or not a
`successful pairing can be achieved. Analog to digital con(cid:173)
`verts (ADCs), which may be located within either the
`microphone or earpiece are operable to process the trans(cid:173)
`duced voice communications in accordance with either a
`voice CODEC or voice recognition CODEC depending on
`the selected mode of operation.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`26 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 11, 2008
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`Sheet 12 of 13
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`start
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`information
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`no
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`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 11, 2008
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
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`US 7,343,177 B2
`
`start
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`information
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`to digital commands
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`commands
`
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`
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`US 7,343,177 B2
`
`1
`MODULAR EAR-PIECE/MICROPHONE
`(HEADSET) OPERABLE TO SERVICE VOICE
`ACTIVATED COMMANDS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`HEADSET ELEMENT FOR CELLULAR/MOBILE/POR(cid:173)
`TABLE PHONES AND AUDIO PLAYBACK DEVICES,"
`by Josephus A. Van Engelen, et al., filed on May 3, 2005,
`which claims priority under 35 USC§ 119(e) to Provisional
`5 Application No. 60/646,465 filed on Jan. 24, 2005, all of
`which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety
`for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This Application is related to the following applications:
`application Ser. No. 10/981,418 entitled "UNIVERSAL
`WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA DEVICE," by Nambirajan 10
`1. Field of the Invention
`Seshadri, et al., filed on Nov, 4, 2004, which is a continu(cid:173)
`This invention generally relates to wireless communica(cid:173)
`ation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/856,430 entitled
`tions and more particularly to the servicing of voice acti(cid:173)
`"PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL WIRELESS HEADSET,"
`vated commands within a modular headset operable to
`by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al., filed May 28, 2004 which
`support voice communications.
`claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to Provisional 15
`2. Background of the Invention
`Application No. 60/473,967 filed on May 28, 2003; and
`Wireless communications offer users the ability to be
`application Ser. No. 10/981,418 is also a continuation-in(cid:173)
`"wired" from almost anywhere in the world. Cellular tele(cid:173)
`part of application Ser. No. 10/856,124 filed May 28, 2004
`phones, satellite telephones, wireless local area networks,
`which claims priority under 35 USC§ 119(e) to Provisional
`personal digital assistants (PD As) with radio frequency (RF)
`Application No. 60/473,675 filed May 28, 2003; application 20
`interfaces, laptop computers with RF interfaces and other
`Ser. No. 10/976,300 entitled "MODULAR WIRELESS
`such devices enable these wireless communications. Such
`MULTIMEDIA DEVICE," by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al.,
`wireless communications have been extended to personal
`filed on Oct. 27, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of
`wireless networks, such as these defined by the Bluetooth
`application Ser. No. 10/856,124 entitled "MODULAR
`specification. Not only have cellular telephones become
`WIRELESS HEADSET AND/OR HEADPHONES," filed 25
`very popular, but Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN)
`May 28, 2004 which claims priority under 35 USC§ 119(e)
`devices have also proliferated. One standard for wireless
`to Provisional Application No. 60/473,675, filed on May 28,
`networking, which has been widely accepted, is the Speci(cid:173)
`2003; and application Ser. No. 10/976,300 is also a continu(cid:173)
`fication of the Bluetooth System, v. 1.0 ("Bluetooth Speci(cid:173)
`ation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/856,430 filed May
`fication").
`28, 2004 which claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to 30
`The Bluetooth Specification enables the creation of small
`Provisional Application No. 60/473,967 filed May 28, 2003;
`personal area networks (PAN's) where the typical operating
`application Ser. No. 11/120,765 entitled "MODULAR EAR(cid:173)
`range of a device is 100 meters or less. In a Bluetooth
`PIECE/MICROPHONE THAT ANCHORS VOICE COM(cid:173)
`system, Bluetooth devices sharing a common channel
`MUNICATIONS," by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al., filed on
`May 3, 2005, which claims priority under 35 USC§ 119(e) 35 sequence form a piconet. Two or more piconets co-located
`in the same area, with or without inter-piconet communica(cid:173)
`to Provisional Application No. 60/656,828 filed on Feb. 25,
`tions, is known as a scatternet.
`2005; application Ser. No. 11/122,146 entitled "HAN(cid:173)
`The Bluetooth Specification supports voice communica(cid:173)
`DOVER OF CALL SERVICED BY MODULAR EAR(cid:173)
`tions between Bluetooth enabled devices. When a pair of
`PIECE/MICROPHONE BETWEEN SERVICING BASE
`40 Bluetooth devices supports voice communication, the voice
`PORTIONS," by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al., filed on May
`communications must be wirelessly supported in a continu(cid:173)
`3, 2005, which claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to
`ous fashion so that carried voice signals are of an acceptable
`Provisional Application No. 60/653,234 filed on Feb. 15,
`quality. One popular use of personal wireless networks
`2005; application Ser. No. 11/120,903 entitled "BATTERY
`couples a wireless headset(s) with cellular telephone(s),
`MANAGEMENT IN A MODULAR EARPIECE MICRO(cid:173)
`45 personal computer(s), and laptop(s), etc. The Bluetooth
`PHONE COMBINATION," by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al.,
`Specification provides specific guidelines for providing such
`filed on May 3, 2005, which claims priority under 35 USC
`wireless headset functionality. Additionally, pairing and
`§ 119(e) to Provisional Application No. 60/646,270 filed on
`registration protocols are desirable to maintain privacy and
`Jan. 24, 2005; application Ser. No. 11/120,904 entitled
`security.
`"PAIRING MODULAR WIRELESS EARPIECE/MICRO(cid:173)
`Bluetooth provides a headset profile that defines protocols
`PHONE (HEADSET) TO A SERVICED BASE PORTION 50
`AND SUBSEQUENT ACCESS THERETO," by Nambira(cid:173)
`and procedures for implementing a wireless headset to a
`device private network. Once configured, the headset func(cid:173)
`jan Seshadri, et al., filed on May 3, 2005, which claims
`tions as the device's audio input and output. As further
`priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to Provisional Application
`No. 60/646,437 filed on Jan. 24, 2005; application Ser. No.
`defined by the Bluetooth Specification, the headset must be
`11/120,902 entitled "MANAGING ACCESS OF MODU(cid:173)
`55 able to send AT (Attention) commands and receive resulting
`codes, such that the headset can initiate and terminate calls.
`LAR WIRELESS EARPIECE/MICROPHONE (HEAD(cid:173)
`SET) TO PUBLIC/PRIVATE SERVICING BASE STA(cid:173)
`The Bluetooth Specification also defines certain headset
`TION," by Nambirajan Seshadri, et al., filed on May 3,
`profile restrictions. These restrictions include an assumption
`2005, which claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to
`that the ultimate headset is assumed to be the only use case
`Provisional Application No. 60/646,235 filed on Jan. 24,
`60 active between the two devices. The transmission of audio is
`based on continuously variable slope delta (CVSD) modu(cid:173)
`2005; application Ser. No. 11/120,676 entitled "EARPIECE/
`lation. The result is monophonic audio of a quality without
`MICROPHONE (HEADSET) SERVICING MULTIPLE
`INCOMING AUDIO STREAMS," by Nambirajan Seshadri,
`perceived audio degradation. Only one audio connection at
`et al., filed on May 3, 2005, which claims priority under 35
`a time is supported between the headset and audio gateway.
`65 The audio gateway controls the synchronous connection
`USC § 119(e) to Provisional Application No. 60/646,272
`filed on Jan. 24, 2005; application Ser. No. 11/120,455en(cid:173)
`orientated (SCO) link establishment and release. The head(cid:173)
`titled "INTEGRATED AND DETACHABLE WIRELESS
`set directly connects and disconnects the internal audio
`
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`3
`stream upon SCO link establishment and release. Once the
`link is established, valid speech exists on the SCO link in
`both directions. The headset profile offers only basic inop(cid:173)
`erability such that the handling of multiple calls or enhanced
`call functions at the audio gateway is not supported. Another 5
`limitation relates to the manner which Bluetooth devices
`service only single channel audio communications. In most
`cases, the Bluetooth device is simply a replacement for a
`wired headset. Such a use of the Bluetooth device, while
`providing benefits in mobility of the user, provides little
`additional benefit over wired devices. In fact, privacy and
`security associated with these devices can be less than that
`offered by wired devices. Because wired solutions provide
`many current Bluetooth devices, that service voice commu(cid:173)
`nications, the use of such devices may be questioned.
`Thus, there is a need for improved security and privacy
`operations by WLAN devices servicing audio or multimedia
`communications that provide additional user functionality
`and improved service quality.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Embodiments of the present invention are directed to
`systems and methods that are further described in the
`following description and claims. Other features and advan(cid:173)
`tages and features of embodiments of the present invention
`may become apparent from the description, accompanying
`drawings and claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless headset in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of another modular wireless headset
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of a wireless headset operable to
`couple to various devices in accordance with one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-channel wireless
`headset in accordance with one embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an access point in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of wireless earpiece
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a wireless micro(cid:173)
`phone in accordance with one embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless micro(cid:173)
`phone in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless micro(cid:173)
`phone in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating operation of a
`wireless headset in performing call management;
`FIG. 11 is a diagram of a modular communication device
`in accordance with one embodiment of the present inven- 60
`tion; and
`FIG. 12 is a logic diagram of a method for servicing voice
`communication with a headset in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 13 is a logic diagram of a method for servicing voice 65
`communication with a headset in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`US 7,343,177 B2
`
`4
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a modular wireless headset 10
`wirelessly coupled to base unit 16 that includes wireless
`earpiece 12 and wireless microphone 14. Wireless earpiece
`12 communicates wirelessly with microphone 14. However,
`wireless earpiece 12 and wireless microphone 14 may also
`physically couple to exchange information establishing
`10 trusted pair relationships or establish an alternate commu(cid:173)
`nication pathway. Accordingly, earpiece 12 and microphone
`14 may be separate communication devices. A shaped bat(cid:173)
`tery may be used as the framework of the headset and
`removably couple to earpiece 12. Those devices may indi-
`15 vidually communicate with base unit 16 via separate com(cid:173)
`munication pathways or through a single wireless interface
`contained either in the earpiece or microphone. As shown,
`earpiece 12 and microphone 14 may both communicate with
`base unit 16, which may be a cellular telephone, wire line
`20 telephone, laptop computer, personal computer, personal
`digital assistant, etc., using transceiver (transmitter and/or
`receiver) 13 of FIG. 2 via a first communication pathway 18.
`Base unit 16 may also directly couple the headset to voice
`communication networks such as radio, cellular, wireless
`25 voice or packet data, public switched telephone networks
`(PSTN), private branch exchanges or others known to those
`skilled in the art.
`Although shown as being external to earpiece 12, trans(cid:173)
`ceivers 13 and 15 may be integrated within earpiece 12 and
`30 microphone 14. Base unit 16 is operable to establish a
`wireless pathway to earpiece 12 and/or microphone 14. This
`pathway may be direct or via another wireless component
`and pathway, such as pathway 21. For example, wireless
`microphone 14 may communicate via base unit 16 through
`35 a wireless pathway between earpiece 12 and base unit 16.
`Similarly, wireless earpiece 12 could communicate with
`base unit 16 through wireless microphone 14. Microphone
`14 may communicate with the base unit 16 or earpiece 12
`using transceiver (or transmitter) 15 of FIG. 2 via commu-
`40 nication pathway 20 or 21, respectively. Either or both
`earpiece 12 and microphone 14 may have a user interface
`22. If the communication pathways are established in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the Bluetooth specification, communication
`resources 18, 20, and 21 may be different timeslot alloca-
`45 tions on the same synchronous connection orientated (SCO)
`link, or may be separate SCO links.
`Earpiece 12 and microphone 14 both contain a pairing
`circuit. These pairing circuits are operable to pair the wire(cid:173)
`less earpiece and microphone when pairing information
`50 associated with the individual earpiece 12 and microphone
`14 compare favorably. If the pairing information associated
`with the individual earpiece 12 and microphone 14 com(cid:173)
`pares unfavorably, these individual components may not
`pair to form a modular wireless headset. Pairing allows the
`55 microphone and earpiece, after the wireless earpiece and
`microphone are successfully paired, to establish a wireless
`connection between them. Also in the event that one of the
`modular components needs to be added or replaced to the
`modular wireless headset 10, this component would have to
`pair to the other components present.
`Pairing quite simply is the act of introducing two wireless
`devices to one another so that they can then communicate.
`Pairing enables the two or more wireless devices to join and
`become a trusted pair. Within a trusted pair, each device
`recognizes the other device(s). Then, each device can auto(cid:173)
`matically accept communication and bypass the discovery
`and authentication process that normally happen during an
`
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`5
`initial wireless interaction between devices. Once the trusted
`pair is established, some embodiments may require user
`authentication before other devices are allowed to enter into
`the trusted pair. This prevents, for example, a second wire(cid:173)
`less earpiece, not of the trusted pair, from establishing 5
`communications with wireless headset 10. This could result
`in an untrusted earpiece eavesdropping on the voice com(cid:173)
`munication serviced by modular wireless headset 10. Thus,
`pairing enables security and privacy for voice communica(cid:173)
`tions serviced by modular wireless headset 10. Additionally,
`some embodiments may only pair when a discoverability
`function associated with the wireless device is enabled. For
`example, the device may pair when physically coupled or
`when a user toggles a pairing switch located on user inter(cid:173)
`face 22. When the discoverability/pairing function is not
`enabled, the wireless devices will not accept communica(cid:173)
`tions from unknown devices.
`Standards such as the 802.11 standard may specify a
`common medium access control (MAC) Layer, operable to
`provide a variety of functions that support the operation
`wireless local area networks (LANs). In general, the MAC
`Layer manages and maintains communications between
`wireless components (i.e. radio network cards and access
`points) by coordinating access to a shared radio channel and
`utilizing protocols that enhance communications over a
`wireless medium. Often viewed as the "brains" of the
`network, the MAC Layer may use a Physical (PHY) Layer,
`such as 802.lln, 802.llg, 802.llb or 802.lla, to perform
`the tasks of carrier sensing, transmission, and receiving of
`frames. The pairing and registration circuits may implement
`MAC layer security with software code executed within the
`various wireless components. For example, the authentica(cid:173)
`tion process of proving identity specified by the 802.11 35
`standard includes two forms: Open system authentication
`and shared key authentication. Open system authentication
`is mandatory, and it's a two step process. A network inter(cid:173)
`face card (NIC) first initiates the process by sending an
`authentication request frame to the access point or base 40
`station. The access point or base station replies with an
`authentication response frame containing approval or dis(cid:173)
`approval of authentication. Shared key authentication is an
`optional four step process that bases authentication on
`whether the authenticating device has the correct WEP
`(wired equivalent privacy) key. The wireless NIC starts by
`sending an authentication request frame to the access point.
`The access point or base station then places challenge text
`into the frame body of a response frame and sends it to the
`radio NIC. The radio NIC uses its WEP key to encrypt the 50
`challenge text and then sends it back to the access point or
`base station in another authentication frame. The access
`point or base station decrypts the challenge text and com(cid:173)
`pares it to the initial text. If the text is equivalent, then the
`access point assumes that the radio NIC has the correct key. 55
`The access point finishes the sequence by sending an authen(cid:173)
`tication frame to the radio NIC with the approval or disap(cid:173)
`proval.
`Once authenticated, the radio NIC must associate with the
`access point or base station before sending data frames.
`Association is necessary to synchronize the radio NIC and
`access point or base station with important information, such
`as supported data rates. The radio NIC initiates the associa(cid:173)
`tion by sending an association request frame containing
`elements such as SSID and supported data rates. The access
`point responds by sending an association response frame
`containing an association ID along with other information
`
`6
`regarding the access point. Once the radio NIC and access
`point complete the association process, they can send data
`frames to each other.
`User interface 22 may also allow a user to initiate call
`functions or network hardware operations. These call func(cid:173)
`tions include call initiation operations, call conferencing
`operations, call forwarding operations, call hold operations,
`call muting operations, and call waiting operations. Addi-
`10 tionally, user interface 22 allows the user to access network
`interface functions, hardware functions, base unit interface
`functions, directory functions, caller ID functions, voice
`activated commands, playback commands and device pro(cid:173)
`gramming functions. User interface 22 can be any combi-
`15 nations of a visual interface as evidenced by display 24,
`tactile interface as evidenced by buttons 26, and/or an audio
`interface.
`Each of these devices, earpiece 12, microphone 14 and
`base unit 16, may support one or more versions of the
`20 Bluetooth Specification or other wireless protocols. A Blue(cid:173)
`tooth "scattemet" is formed from multiple "piconets" with
`overlapping coverage. A user of modular wireless headset 10
`may establish communications with any available base unit
`16. Wireless headset 10 may have a minimal user interface
`25 22 where a single authenticate or register button initiates
`registration. Modular wireless headset 10 includes a regis(cid:173)
`tration circuit. This registration circuit needs to reside in
`either or both the wireless microphone and wireless ear(cid:173)
`piece. The registration circuit receives and exchanges reg-
`30 istration information with base unit 16. Once this informa-
`tion is exchanged, the modular wireless headset, as well as
`base unit 16, compares their registration information with
`the exchanged information to determine whether or not
`modular wireless headset 10 is authorized to use base unit
`16. Authorization will occur when the registration informa(cid:173)
`tion within the modular wireless headset compares favorably
`to that of the base unit. This may involve accessing a
`third-party database in order to confirm where the base unit
`establishes communications between a servicing network,
`such as a cellular or public switch telephone network
`(PSTN) network, or a local authentication via a local data(cid:173)
`base that may compare biometric, password user interface,
`YRS voice pattern recognition, encryption key/Donegal, in
`order to allow modular wireless headset 10 to access
`45 resources available through base unit 16.
`Registration may determine what resources the headset
`may access. For example, access may be granted to an
`available one cellular network but not a wireless packet data
`network. Registration may require physically coupling
`modular wireless headset 10 to base unit 16 or establishing
`wireless communications. In the case where wireless com-
`munications are established, this may require additional user
`input or proximity testing to authenticate and register the
`modular wireless headset to the base unit. The base unit, as
`well as the modular wireless headset, may access memory
`either local or via server or network to validate the regis-
`tration information associated with the other component.
`Thus, both the base unit needs to compare the registration
`information and result in a favorable comparison, as well as
`60 the modular wireless headset comparing the registration
`information in order to result in a favorable comparison. For
`example, where fees are required for access, the user may
`not authenticate registration to avoid the fee. Registration
`allows communications to be automatically exchanged
`65 between the modular wireless headset and the base unit. This
`improves both security and privacy for communications
`serviced using the modular wireless headset.
`
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`US 7,343,177 B2
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`7
`Wireless headset 10 may reside within the service cov(cid:173)
`erage area of multiple base units. Thus, when headset 10
`enters (or powers up in) an area with more than one
`functioning wireless network, a user may depress authenti(cid:173)
`cate button 26, use a voice command or other means to start 5
`the authentication/registration process. With the button
`depressed, the wireless headset attempts to establish com(cid:173)
`munications with base unit 16. Subsequent authentication
`operations are required to have the wireless headset join the
`selected network. These subsequent operations may include 10
`prompting the user for selection of the network, requiring
`that an entry be previously made in an access list to allow
`wireless headset 10 to join or otherwise complete the
`authentication operations (registration).
`Once wireless headset 10 joins a respective network, 15
`headset 10 may service voice communications with the base
`unit via respective WLAN links. Such calls will be received
`and managed by base unit 16 or headset 10. Management
`duties for the calls may be divided between base unit 16 and
`headset 10. For example, upper level portions of the cellular 20
`protocol stack may be supported by the headset while the
`lower level portions are supported by the base unit. Inte(cid:173)
`grated circuits in either headset 10 or base unit 16 support
`call functions. These call functions include, but are not
`limited to, call initiation and termination, call conferencing 25
`operations, call forwarding operations, call hold operations,
`call muting operations, or call waiting operations, and may
`be initiated through user interface 22.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a modular wireless headset that
`includes earpiece 12, microphone 14. This headset may also 30
`include display/camera 17, and portable touch-screen/white(cid:173)
`board 19 to support net-meetings. Microphone 14, earpiece
`12, display/camera 17 and portable touch-screen/whiteboard
`19 may each be a separate physical device that communi(cid:173)
`cates wirelessly when paired to form a modular wireless 35
`headset. Earpiece 12 is a separate device from microphone
`14, that together function to provide the modular wireless
`headset shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, earpiece 12, micro(cid:173)
`phone 14, display/camera 17, and a portable touch-screen/
`whiteboard 19 are separate communication devices that may 40
`individually communicate with base units via separate or
`shared communication pathways. A single communication
`pathway using time division may be used to communicate
`between earpiece 12, microphone 14, display/camera 17,
`portable touch-screen/whiteboard 19 and base units (base 45
`units 30-37 or access point 21). These communications are
`secured by both pairing and registration. Encryption, vali(cid:173)
`dation, or other like methods known to those skilled in the
`art may also be used and support one-way or two-way audio,
`video or text communications. One way communications 50
`allow the headset to act as receivers to broadcast informa-
`tion, while two-way communications allow real-time voice
`communications, such as phone or radio communications,
`which may be augmented with data, text and video to
`support interactive net-meetings.
`Earpiece 12, once paired to form a modular wireless
`headset and registered to a base unit, may automatically
`communicate with base unit 16 and attached resources. FIG.
`3 depicts those resources as a cellular telephone network,
`wire line telephone, Ethernet telephone, laptop computer, 60
`personal computer, personal digital assistant, etc, using
`transceiver (or receiver) 13 via a first communication path(cid:173)
`ways 18. Base unit 16 may establish a wireless pathway to
`earpiece 12 or mi