as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication (0) Pub. No.: US 2005/0037818 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Feb. 17, 2005
`
`Seshadriet al.
`
`US 20050037818A1
`
`(54) PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL WIRELESS
`HEADSET
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Nambirajan Seshadri, Irvine, CA
`(US); James D. Bennett, San
`Clemente, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`GARLICK HARRISON & MARKISON LLP
`P.O. BOX 160727
`
`AUSTIN, TX 78716-0727 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/856,430
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May28, 2004
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/473,967,filed on May
`28, 2003.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Ente C07 caccccsssssssssssnssessesnstsnssnstsevee H04Q 7/20
`(SL)
`(52) US. Ch.
`ceecccsscsse 455/569.1; 455/575.2; 455/41.2
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Providing of a universal wireless headset begins for an
`incoming call by determining whether a piconet can be
`established between an initiating device and the wireless
`headset. If a piconet cannot be established, the processing
`continues by determining whether the headset can establish
`a piconet with a device coupled to a network. The network
`may be a local area network, which includes wireless
`devices and/or wired devices. Whenthe wireless headset can
`establish the piconet with a device coupled to the network,
`the piconet is established. Once the piconet is established,
`the processing continues by establishing a logical connec-
`tion between the initiating device and the device coupled to
`the network. As such, the incoming communication is sup-
`ported via the logical connection and the piconet.
`
`
`Can
`Piconet Be
`
`
`Established
`With Initiating
`Device
`
`
`
`
`Establish
`
`Piconet
`
`
`
`
`
`
`144
`146
`148
`
`
`Can
`Piconet Be
`
`
`Establish
`
`
`Established
`Establish
`Logical
`With Network
`
`
`Piconet
`Connection
`Coupled
`Device
`
`Headset Out
`Of Range
`
`150
`
`APPLE 1039
`
`APPLE 1039
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 2005/0037818 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 2005/0037818 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 2005/0037818 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 2005/0037818 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`
`Can
`
`
`Piconet Be
`
`Established
`Establish
`
`
`
`
`
`With Initiating
`
`
`144
`146
`148
`
`
`Can
`Piconet Be
`
`
`Establish
`
`
`
`Established
`Establish
`
`Logical
`With Network
`
`
`
`Piconet
`Connection
`Coupled
`
`Device
`
` Device
` Headset Out
`
`150
`
`Of Range
`
`FIG. 6
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Transmit Request To
`Establish Piconet
`
`160
`
`162
`
`Did Host
`Device Respond?
`
`Yes
`
`Establish Piconet With
`Host Device
`
`164
`
`No
`
` Transmit Request To
`
`
`Establish Piconet To
`
`Network Coupled Devices
`
`
`166
`
`168
`
`
`
`Did Network
`Coupled Device
`
`
` Respond?
`
`
`No
`
`170
`
`Yes
`
`Establish PiconetWith
`Network Coupled Device
`
`Headset Out Of Range
`
`174
`
`172
`
`
`
`Establish Logical
`|Connection Between Host
`
`Device And Network
`
`
`Coupled Device
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 17,2005 Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Monitor Signal Strength Of
`Communications Within Piconet
`
` Unfavorable
`
`
`
`Comparison?
`
`
`
`Establish Piconet With Identified
`Device Coupled To The Network
`
`180
`
`184
`
`186
`
`
`
`
`Identify Another Device Coupled
`To The Network
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Feb. 17, 2005
`
`PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL WIRELESS HEADSET
`
`[0001] This invention is claiming priority under 35 USC §
`119(e) to a provisionally filed patent application having the
`sametitle as the present patent application,a filing date of
`May 28, 2003, and an application number of Ser. No.
`60/473,967.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Technical Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] This invention relates generally to wireless com-
`munications and more particularly to wireless communica-
`tions via a headset.
`
`[0004]
`
`2. Description of Related Art
`
`[0005] As is known,the Bluetooth specification provides
`a platform for establishing a personal wireless point-to-point
`network that supports data and/or voice communications.
`Depending on the version of Bluetooth being implemented,
`data may be conveyed at 1 megabits-per-second (Mbps), 2
`Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, or 11 Mbps. The Bluetooth specification
`also provides a headset profile that defines protocols and
`procedures for establishing a wireless headset for operation
`in conjunction with a device (e.g., cellular telephone, per-
`sonal computer, laptop). When wirelessly coupled, the head-
`set acts as the device’s audio input and output. The wireless
`communications between the headset and the device may be
`secured in accordance with an authentication procedure
`and/or encryption as specified by the Bluetooth standard.
`
`[0006] While the Bluetooth headset profile provides for
`basic wireless headset operations,
`it also provides some
`restrictions. The restrictions include that
`the headset
`is
`
`assumed to be the only use case active between the two
`devices, audio data is transmitted as monophonic, only one
`audio connection at a time is supported between the headset
`and the device, and multiple calls at the device are not
`supported.
`
`is
`the headset
`In addition to these restrictions,
`[0007]
`operationally tied to one device, thus the mobility of the
`device and the range of the wireless coupling limit move-
`mentof the user while engaged in a communication. Accord-
`ingly, if the headset is outside the range of the wireless
`coupling, it cannot function as the headset for the device.
`
`[0008] Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus
`of providing a universal headset that extends the mobility of
`the user, extends the range of headset use, and expands
`headset functionality.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0009] The providing of a universal wireless headset of the
`present invention substantially meets these needs and others.
`In one embodiment, a universal wireless headset is sup-
`ported by determining, for an incoming communication,
`whether a piconet can be established between an initiating
`device and the wireless headset. The incoming communica-
`tion may be voice data for a telephone communication(i.e.,
`playback audio data,etc.). Ifa piconet cannot be established,
`the processing continues by determining whetherthe headset
`can establish a piconet with a device coupled to a network.
`The network may be a local area network, which includes
`wireless devices and/or wired devices. For instance,
`the
`network may support wireless LANs (local area networks)
`
`in accordance with IEEE802.11(a), (b) or (g) and/or support
`Ethernet connections. When the wireless headset can estab-
`
`lish the piconet with a device coupled to the network, the
`piconet is established. Once the piconet is established, the
`processing continues by establishing a logical connection
`between the initiating device and the device coupled to the
`network. As such, the incoming communication is supported
`via the logical connection and the piconet. With such a
`universal wireless headset, mobility of its user is extended,
`the range of use is extended as well as functionality.
`[0010]
`In another embodiment, a universal wireless head-
`set is supported for outgoing communications by having the
`headset transmit a request to establish a piconet with one of
`a plurality of its host devices. A host device may be a cellular
`telephone, wire line telephone, personal computer, laptop,
`personaldigital assistant (PDA), access point into a wireless
`LAN,et cetera. If none of the host device provides a
`response to the request for a piconet, the headset transmits
`a request to establish a piconet with a device coupled to the
`network. In other words, if the headset is outside of the
`coverage area of one of its host devices, it communicates
`with a device within its coverage area. The process then
`continues by establishing a logical connection between one
`of the host devices and the device coupled to the network to
`support the outgoing communication. Such a process pro-
`vides a universal wireless headset that extends the mobility
`of the user, extends the range of the headset and expands the
`headset functionality.
`[0011]
`In yet another embodiment, a method for support-
`ing a universal wireless headset for ongoing communica-
`tions begins by monitoring signal strength of communica-
`tions within a piconet that includes the headset and a device
`coupled to the network. The device coupled to the network
`may be one of the host devices of the headset or any other
`device in the network. If the signal strength compares
`unfavorably with a threshold(e.g., signal strength is below
`an acceptable signal strength level of, approximately -80dB
`or -85 dB), another device coupled to the network is
`identified. Once the other device is identified, a piconet is
`established between the device and the headset. In addition,
`a logical connection may be established between the new
`device and a host device supporting the communication.
`Accordingly, a universal wireless headset is provided that
`extends the mobility of the user, extends the range of the
`headset and expandsonits functionality.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless
`geographic area coupled to a wireless local area network in
`accordance with the present invention;
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a local area
`network that includes a host site in accordance with the
`present invention;
`[0014]
`FIG.3 is a schematic block diagram of a local area
`network supporting an incoming communication in accor-
`dance with the present invention;
`[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a local area
`network supporting an outgoing communication in accor-
`dance with the present invention;
`[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a local area
`network supporting roaming of the headset in accordance
`with the present invention;
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Feb. 17, 2005
`
`FIG.6 is a logic diagram of a method for support-
`[0017]
`ing a universal wireless headset
`in accordance with the
`present invention;
`
`range and further includes baseband processing to modulate
`and demodulate data that is transceived over the correspond-
`ing wireless communication link.
`
`FIG.7 is a logic diagram of an alternate method for
`[0018]
`supporting a universal wireless headset in accordance with
`the present invention; and
`
`[0024] Contrasting the functionality of the piconet RF
`interfaces with the wireless LAN RFinterfaces, the piconet
`RF interfaces allow point-to-point communication between
`the associated devices, while the wireless LAN RF inter-
`[0019] FIG.8is a logic diagram of yet another method for
`faces enable the associated devices to communicate indi-
`supporting a universal wireless headset in accordance with
`rectly via the access point 24. For example, via piconet RF
`the present invention.
`interface 34 and piconet RF interface 36, laptop 16 can
`communicate directly with cellular telephone 24. In contrast,
`via wireless LAN RF 46 and wireless LAN RFinterface 48,
`laptop 16 communicates indirectly, via the access point 24,
`with cellular telephone 22. In general, the coverage area of
`a piconetis significantly smaller than the coverage area of a
`wireless LAN. Thus, for example, if laptop 16 and cellular
`telephone 22 were unable to establish a piconet connection
`via piconet RF interfaces 34 and 36 due to distance between
`the devices,
`they would be able to establish a wireless
`communication link via the wireless LAN RFinterfaces 46
`and 48 and access point 24.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless
`geographic area 10 that is coupled to a wireless local area
`network (WLAN). The wireless geographic area 10, which
`may correspond to an office, multiple offices, or any other
`limited space area, includesa local area network connection
`50 and an access point 24 to provide wireless coupling to the
`local area network. Within the wireless geographic area 10,
`a plurality of devices 14-22 may be included as well as a
`universal wireless headset 12. The devices 14-22 may
`include a wire line telephone 14, a laptop computer 16, a
`personal computer (PC) 18, a personal digital assistant
`(PDA) 290, and a cellular telephone 22. The telephone 14
`may be a standard cordless telephone or an Internet packet
`(IP) based telephone.
`
`[0021] The universal wireless headset 12 includes an
`earpiece, microphone, input module (e.g., keypad), and an
`associated piconet radio frequency (RF) interface 26. In one
`embodiment, the headset 12 may be constructed in accor-
`dance with co-pending patent application entitled “MODU-
`LAR WIRELESS HEADSET”having an attorney docket
`number of BP 2755. The piconet RF interface 26 may be
`constructed in accordance with one or more versions of the
`
`Bluetooth specification. Accordingly, the piconet RF inter-
`face 26 includes a radio frequency transmitter that operates
`at 2.4 gigahertz and associated baseband processing to
`modulate and demodulate data and/or voice in accordance
`with one or more versions of the Bluetooth specification
`and/or other point-to-point wireless communication proto-
`col. Typically, via the corresponding piconet RF interfaces,
`a synchronous connection orientated (SCO) link will be
`established between the headset 12 and one of the devices
`14- 22 and/or with the access point 24 to create the piconet.
`
`[0022] As such, each of the devices 14-22 also includes a
`piconet RF interface 28-36. The piconet RF interface 28-36
`may be constructed to support one or more versions of the
`Bluetooth specification. As such, each of the piconet RF
`interfaces 28-36 include a radio frequency transceiver that
`operates at 2.4 gigahertz and baseband processing for modu-
`lating and demodulating data that is transceived within a
`piconet. As such, the universal wireless headset 12 may be
`in a piconet with any one of the devices 14-22 and actas the
`headset therefore.
`
`[0023] Devices 16-22 may further include a wireless LAN
`(WLAN)RFinterface 42-48. The wireless LAN RFinter-
`faces 42-48 may be constructed in accordance with one or
`more versions of IEEE802.11 (a), (b), and/or (g) or other
`WLAN protocol. Accordingly, each of the wireless LAN RF
`interfaces 42-48 include an RF transceiver that operates in
`the 2.4 gigahertz range and/or in the 5.25 or 5.75 gigahertz
`
`[0025] The universal wireless headset 12 may establish a
`piconet with any one of the devices 14-22 or with access
`point 24, which includes a wireless LAN RF interface 40
`and a piconet RF interface 38. As such,
`the universal
`wireless headset 12 may function as the headset for the wire
`line telephone 14,
`the personal digital assistant 20,
`the
`personal computer 18, the laptop computer 16 and/or the
`cellular telephone 22 provided a piconet can be established
`with the device. In accordance with the present invention,if
`a piconet cannotbe established with the particular device, an
`extended network may becreated utilizing the wireless LAN
`connectivity and at least one corresponding piconet.
`
`[0026] For example, if a communication is to be processed
`via the wire line telephone 14 (ie., the host device for this
`example), but the headset 12 is at a distance such that a
`piconet cannot be established between their piconet RF
`interfaces 26 and 28. However, for example, the headset 12
`is in a rangeto establish a piconet with cellular telephone 22.
`In this instance, the piconet RF interfaces 26 and 36 of the
`cellular telephone 22 and the headset 12 would establish a
`piconet, which may be established in accordance with the
`Bluetooth specification. With this piconet established, the
`cellular telephone 22, via its wireless LAN RFinterface 48,
`establishes a wireless connection with access point 24.
`Access point 24 then establishes a communication link with
`the wire line telephone 14. Thus, a logical connection is
`established between the universal wireless headset 12 and
`the wire line telephone 14 via the cellular telephone 22 and
`access point 24. Note that the wire line telephone 14 may be
`directly coupled to the local area network connection 50 or
`coupled to a private branch exchange, which in turn is
`coupled to access point 24. Accordingly, within the wireless
`geographic area 10,
`the range of the universal wireless
`headset 12 may be extended utilizing the wireless local area
`network within the geographic area. As such, the universal
`headset of the present invention extends the mobility of its
`user, extends the range of headset use and expands on
`headset functionality.
`
`[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a local area
`network 60 that includes a plurality of sites (site #2-#n and
`home site 64). In this illustration, each site includes an
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Feb. 17, 2005
`
`device A to establish the piconet with headset 12. In addi-
`access point D, H,P, and L, wherein the coverage area of the
`tion,
`the administrative controller provides a request
`to
`access point D, H,P, or L establishes the correspondingsite
`devices A andCto establish a wireless connection via access
`boundaries. In addition, each site includes a plurality of
`devices. The devices may be one or more of the devices
`point D. Once the piconet is established between device A
`and headset 12 and a wireless connection is established
`illustrated in FIG. 1, which include, but are not limited to,
`wire line telephones 14, personal digital assistants 20, per-
`between devices A and C through access point D, headset 12
`sonal computers 18, laptop 16 and cellular telephones 22.
`may function as the headset for device C.
`The numberof devices in each site may range from a single
`device to any number of devices. In this illustration, each
`site includes 3 devices. As shown,site 2 includes devices M,
`N, O, site 3 includes devicesI, J, K, site 4 includes devices
`E, F, G and homesite 64 includes devices A, B and C.
`
`[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of local area
`network 60 in which the universal wireless headset 12 is
`located in anothersite, i.e., not in its home site. In this
`example, device C of homesite 64 is receiving an incoming
`communication. Upon receiving the incoming communica-
`tion, device C attempts to establish a piconet with the
`universal wireless headset 12. Since headset 12 is outside of
`
`[0028] Each of the access points D, H, P and L are coupled
`via a local area network connection to an administrative
`controller 62. The administrative controller provides the
`interconnectivity of the access points to create the local area
`network 60 and also provide coupling to other networks
`including wide area networks (WAN),
`the Internet,
`the
`public switch telephone network (PSTN), et cetera.
`
`[0029] Homesite 64 is illustrated to be the homesite for
`the universal wireless headset 12. For example,
`if the
`universal wireless headset 12 belongs to a particular indi-
`vidual, the homesite 64 may correspond to this individual’s
`office and immediate surrounding area. For example, device
`A may correspond to the individual’s cellular telephone,
`device B may be the individual’s personal computer and
`device C may be the individuals wire line telephone. The
`affiliation of the universal wireless headset to the individual,
`the individual to the homesite 64 and the affiliation of
`devices A, B and C to the individual are recorded in tables
`by the administrative controller 62. The administrative con-
`troller also maintains tables that affiliate devices E, F and G
`with site N via access point H, devices M, N,0 with site 2
`via access point P and devicesI, J, K with site 3 via access
`point L. Accordingly, the administrative controller 62 main-
`tains topographical information of the local area network 60.
`In addition, the administrative controller 62 maintains a
`table which identifies each device and/or access point that
`the universal wireless headset 12 could establish a piconet
`with. This last point will be subsequently discussed in
`greater detail.
`
`[0030] As long as the universal wireless headset 12
`remains within the homesite 64,
`it may function as the
`wireless headset 12 for devices A, B or C as discussed with
`reference to FIG. 1. The coordination of functioning as the
`wireless headset for devices A, B or C within the homesite
`64 maybe controlled by access point D, the headset 12, a
`master host device (e.g., the wire line telephone), and/or by
`the administrative controller 62. For example, while the
`universal wireless headset 12 is within homesite 64 and an
`
`incoming call is received via device C, device C would
`attempt to establish a piconet with the universal wireless
`headset 12. If a piconet could not be established, device C
`would communicate with the administrative controller 62
`via the access point D to initiate an extended range useofthe
`universal wireless headset 12. In responseto the notice from
`device C, the administrative controller 62 would determine
`which of the other devices within homesite 64 the universal
`wireless headset 12 could establish a piconet with. If, for
`example, the administrative controller 62 determines that
`device A could establish a piconet with the universal wire-
`less headset 12, the administrative controller 62 provides a
`commandto device A via the access point D, which instructs
`
`the range of the homesite, the piconet fails. Upon deter-
`mining that the piconet has failed, device C provides a
`request 66 to the administrative controller 62 to establish a
`link with the universal wireless headset 12.
`
`[0032] Upon receiving the request 66, the administrative
`controller 62 determines the location of the universal wire-
`less headset 12. This may be done by accessing a table that
`includes a listing of each device and access point that the
`universal wireless headset 12 may establish a piconet with.
`In addition, the administrative controller 12 may access a
`table that identifies the particular site location of the devices
`with which the universal wireless headset 12 may form a
`piconet with. Note that the population of the table that
`indicates which devices and/or access points the universal
`wireless headset 12 may form piconets with may be done
`periodically by having the universal wireless headset estab-
`lishes test piconets. In response to forming a test piconet
`with the headset 12, the corresponding device and/or access
`point provides a message to the administrative controller 62
`indicating that it has formed a test piconet with the headset.
`In response to this message, the administrative controller
`updates the table corresponding to the possible piconets of
`the headset.
`
`In this example, the administrative controller 62
`[0033]
`determines that the universal wireless headset 12 is in site
`#n. Accordingly, the administrative controller 62 sends a
`command 68 to access point H, wherein the command 68
`corresponds to a request to establish a piconet with the
`wireless headset 12. The command will also identify the
`particular device or access point that is to establish the
`piconet. In this illustration, two example piconets are pro-
`vided. If, a piconet can be directly established between the
`headset 12 and the access point H, the command 68 requests
`that access point H establish the piconet. Once the piconet
`is established, the administrative controller 62 coordinates
`the generation of a link between access point H and access
`point D and instructs access point D to establish a wireless
`connection with device C. Once this logical connection
`between device C and access point H is established, the
`universal wireless headset 12 may function as the wireless
`headset for device C even though it is some distance from
`device C.
`
`If the administrative controller 62 determines that
`[0034]
`device E is to establish the piconet with the universal
`wireless headset 12,
`the command 68 indicates such a
`request. The access point H receives command 68 and
`provides it via the transmit tower to device E. Uponreceiv-
`ing the command 68, device E establishes the piconet with
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Feb. 17, 2005
`
`In addition, command 68 also
`the wireless headset 12.
`requests that access point H establish a wireless connection
`with device E. Once this connection is in place in site n, the
`administrative controller 62 establishes a logical connection
`between access point H and access point D. Further, access
`point D is instructed to establish a wireless connection with
`device C. Once this is complete,
`the universal wireless
`headset 12 may function as the headset for device C.
`
`[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of local area
`network 60 where the universal wireless headset 12 is in
`anothersite. In this example, an outgoing communication is
`being initiated via the universal wireless headset 12. In this
`example,
`the user of the universal wireless headset 12
`initiates an outgoing communication request. In response to
`the outgoing communication request, the universal headset
`12 attempts to establish a piconet with ones of its host
`devices. The particular host device the headsetfirst attempts
`to establish the piconet with may be arbitrarily established
`via a list contained within the headset 12, where thelist is
`prioritized by the user or by default. For instance, the list
`mayprioritize the wire line telephone, over the PC, over the
`cellular telephone,et cetera. As such, the headset 12 willfirst
`attemptto establish a piconet with thefirst host device in the
`list, when that fails, the headset 12 will attempt to establish
`a piconet with each device in the list in sequential order.
`Whenthe headset 12 fails to establish a piconet with any of
`its host devices, it then attempts to establish a piconet with
`a device, or access point, within its range. Accordingly,
`when the universal wireless headset 12 generates its test
`piconets to indicate which devices it can affiliate with, it too
`stores this information. Alternatively, the headset 12 may
`access its list of viable piconets, i.e.,
`the devices it can
`establish piconets with, and, if a host device is not included
`in the list, it automatically attempts to establish a piconet
`with a non-host device.
`
`Ifthe headset 12 can establish a piconet with access
`[0036]
`it does so. If, however,
`the headset 12 cannot
`point H,
`establish a piconet with access point H,
`it establishes a
`piconet with one of the devices affiliated with the access
`point H. Once the piconet is established, in this example
`with device E, the headset 12 provides a notice 70 regarding
`the outgoing communication. Device E provides the notice
`to access point H via a wireless connection between device
`E and device H where access point H routes the notice 70 to
`the administrative controller 62. The notice 70 includes the
`identification of the universal wireless headset 12, access
`point H and may further include identity of device E, if
`device E is involved in the communication.
`
`[0037] The administrative controller 62, based on the
`content of notice 70, determines the home site of the
`universal wireless headset 12. In addition to determining the
`homesite, the administrative controller 62 determines the
`preferred device within the home site for supporting the
`outgoing communication. Accordingly,
`the administrative
`controller 62 includesa userdefine list, system define list, or
`default list that prioritizes the use of the devices and home
`site 64 for supporting outgoing communications.
`
`Once a logical connection between device E and device C
`has been-established via access points H and D, the outgoing
`communication is placed and the universal wireless headset
`12 functions as the headset for device C regarding the
`outgoing communication and subsequent ongoing commu-
`nication. As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, if
`device C is directly connected to the local area network,the
`request 72 may be directly provided to device C.
`
`[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of local area net-
`work where the universal wireless headset 12 roams from
`one site to another while a communication is ongoing. As
`shown,for a first portion of the ongoing communication,the
`universal wireless headset 12 has a piconet established with
`access point H. Access point H in turn, has a logical
`connection with device C to support the ongoing commu-
`nication. However, over time, the universal wireless headset
`12,
`i.e.,
`the user thereof, may roam from site n to, for
`example site 3. Eventually, the ongoing communication will
`be handed off from access point H to either access point L
`or, as shown, device K in site 3.
`
`[0040] The determination of when to handoff an ongoing
`communication may be based on the signal strength of
`wireless communications within the currently established
`piconet. Accordingly, the wireless headset 12 may monitor
`the signal strength of signals received from access point H.
`In addition to or alternatively, access point H may monitor
`the signal strengths of signals received from wireless head-
`set 12. When the signal strength drops below a desired
`threshold (e.g., -80 to -85dB), the administrative controller
`determines that the ongoing communication needs to be
`handed off. Having made this determination, the adminis-
`trative controller 62 then determines, from the correspond-
`ing tables, which device, or access point,
`to hand the
`communication off to. In this example, it will determine that
`device K is to facilitate the ongoing communication. In this
`instance, prior to ending the piconet with access point H,the
`universal wireless headset 12 establishes a piconet with
`device K. With the piconet established with device K, and/or
`simultaneously with the establishment of the piconet, the
`administrative controller 62 establishes a new link between
`
`device K and device C. Once the new link and new piconet
`are established, the communication is switched to the new
`link and new piconet and the old link and old piconet are
`deactivated.
`
`In an alternate example, while not shown in FIG.
`(0041]
`5, the handoff may occur from onedevice, or access point to
`another within the same site. For example, assume that the
`universal wireless headset 12 has a piconet established with
`access point H. As the signal strength of the signals trans-
`mitted there between decreases to a point where a handoff is
`needed, the administrative controller 62 may determine that
`a handoff to device E, F or G may be appropriate. In this
`instance, a piconet would be established with the appropriate
`device within the same site and a wireless connection
`
`between that device and access point H would be generated.
`Once these new connections are in place,
`the ongoing
`communication would be transferred thereto.
`
`[0038] Having determined the homesite and appropriate
`host device,
`the administrative controller 62 provides a
`request 72 to access point D of homesite 64 to establish a
`wireless communication link with the host device. In this
`
`example, the host device has been selected to be device C.
`
`[0042] As yet another example, handoff may occur when
`the wireless headset and corresponding device wereinitially
`out of range of the local area network 60 and come into
`range. For example,
`if a user is engaged in a cellular
`telephone call on his or her way to the office, the cellular
`
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`US 2005/0037818 Al
`
`Feb. 17, 2005
`
`telephone and hence the wireless headset 12 may be out of
`range of the local area network. Whenthe userarrives at the
`office, the cellular telephone communication may be trans-
`ferred, via a call transfer request provided backto the central
`office, to a wire line telephone connection. In addition to
`establishing the call transfer from the cellular system to the
`wire line system, the wireless headset may be transferred
`from the cellular telephone to the wire line telephone. Once
`the backend transfer has occurred,i.c., the transfer from the
`cellular system to the wire line system, at the central office
`and the piconet is established between the headset and the
`wire line telephone, the call is handed off to device C and the
`ongoing communication continues.
`
`FIG.6 is a logic diagram of a method for support-
`[0043]
`ing a universal wireless headset. The method begins at Step
`80 where a determination is made as to whether a piconet
`can be established between an initiating device and the
`universal wireless headset for an incoming communication.
`The e