as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2002/0160820 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Oct. 31, 2002
`
`Winkler
`
`US 20020160820A1
`
`(54)
`
`ENHANCE MOBILITY OF A BLUETOOTH
`HEADSET BEYOND THE REACH
`SUPPORTED BY BLUETOOTH
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Thomas Winkler, Vancouver (CA)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Docket Clerk
`P.O. Box 802432
`Dallas, TX 75380 (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/846,073
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 30, 2001
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`(52)
`
`Tint, C17 ieee eestessteseesseeseeneens HO04M 1/00
`US. C1. cece cseeeeecssesteseseesesseneneens 455/568; 455/41
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Acommunications system such as a local area data network
`is equipped with a plurality of access points each capable of
`emulating either a phone mated with a wireless headset, the
`wireless headset, or both and establishing a link between
`access points emulating the phone and the headset. When the
`phone is within range of an access point and the wireless
`headset movesout of range with the phone but within range
`of an access point, the access point within range of the phone
`emulates the headset, the access point within range of the
`headset emulates the phone, and a communications path is
`established (if necessary) between the access points. In this
`manner, the effective range of the headset with respect to the
`associated phone is extended beyond a distance limit for a
`wireless communications protocol,
`such as Bluetooth,
`employed for the headset and phone.
`
`203a
`
`/
`
`
`
`
`Headsetprofile -
`phone
`(Cordless phone
`profile)
`
`203b
`
`
`
`Headsetprofile -
`headset
`
`
`Lt
`
`
`
`200
`
`201
`
`
`
`
`
`LAN access
`profile
`
`
`202
`
`LAN interface
`
`APPLE 1102
`APPLE 1102
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct.31, 2002 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2002/0160820 A1
`
`104
`103a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LAN Access
`Point
`
`
`
`
`Point
`
`
`
`
`
`103n
`
`[
`
`
`
`
`LAN Access
`Point
`
`202
`
`LANinterface
`
`
`
`©)
`
`100
`
`LAN Access
`
`103c
`
`/
`
`LAN Access
`Point
`
`203a
`
`
`
`Headsetprofile -
`phone
`(Cordiess phone
`profile)
`
`<>
`
`-—>
`
`200
`/
`
`Core
`
`201
`
`mnone
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`203b
`
`
`
`Headsetprofile -
`headset
`
`
`
`103n
`
`FIGURE 2
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 31,2002 Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 2002/0160820 A1
`
`
`
`Phonew/i range
`access point
`
`301
`
`yes
`
`eadset w/i range
`of phone?
`
`no
`
`
`
`
`of access point?
`
`
` eadset w/i range
`
`
`yes
`v
`
`304
`[
`
`connection
`
`Initiate emulation/
`
`FIGURE 3A
`
`3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct.31, 2002 Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 2002/0160820 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`Same access
`point as phone?
`
`
`U7~<308%
`310
`eadsetmovedw,
`eadsetmove
`|
`yes—
`
`
`
`
`out of range w/
`range of phone’
`accesspoint?
`
`
`es
`
`y
`
`2
`
`no
`
` eo CQ io
`
` oNggvess point?
`connection Terminate emulation/
`
`
`
`
`
`yes
`
`312
`eadset move
`out of range w/
`
`SY
`
`
`
`yes>{
`
`|
`
`yes
`x
`Uo307
`Headset wii
`range of another > — 208
`«no—"
`“access point?nw1...
`309 !
`: Transfer emulation/
`
`
`
`|
`
`connection
`
`FIGURE 3B
`
`4
`
`

`

`US 2002/0160820 Al
`
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`ENHANCE MOBILITY OF A BLUETOOTH
`HEADSET BEYOND THE REACH SUPPORTED BY
`BLUETOOTH
`
`TECHNICAT. FIET.D OF THE INVENTION
`
`in general, to
`[0001] The present invention is directed,
`connectivity for wireless telephone headsets and, more spe-
`cifically, to improving the mobility of wireless headsets with
`regard to associated phones despite distance constraints for
`direct wireless connection of the headset and phone.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The Bluetooth specification, promulgated by the
`Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG,Inc.) and
`available at www.bluetooth.com, relates to wireless connec-
`tivity of various devices, such as computers, personaldigital
`assistants (PDAs), wireless telephones, and the like. Gen-
`erally speaking, Bluetooth is a short-range radio frequency
`(RF)
`technology which enables features such as cable
`replacement (with wireless connections), wireless local area
`network (LAN) access within a short distance, and ad-hoc
`networks between several devices.
`
`[0003] The Bluetooth specification includes a “core,”
`which specifies components such as the radio, baseband,
`link manager, service discovery protocol, transport layer,
`and interoperability with different communication protocols,
`and “profiles,” which specify the protocols and procedures
`for different types of applications.
`
`[0004] Bluetooth normally supports distances of up to 10
`meters. As a result, wireless headset users must remain
`within 10 meters of the phone with which the headset is
`associated, for example by carrying the (mobile) phone as
`well as the headset or by remaining within the proximity of
`the (stationary) phone.
`
`the problems associated
`[0005] For stationary phones,
`with the distance limitation are self-evident. Even for mobile
`
`phones, however, the constraint on distance separating the
`headset and phone is problematic. For example, many users
`will customarily remove their phones from the belt clip
`while in their office or work space, place the phone on a desk
`or table (for example, in a charging cradle), then forget the
`phone whenleaving their immediate work space. Movement
`significantly outside the user’s work space will quickly
`separate the phone and headset by a distance larger than 10
`meters, causing the user to miss incoming calls and be
`unable to place outgoing calls.
`
`the phone—especially a media
`[0006] Alternatively,
`phone or a phone with an integral personal digital assistant
`and/or personal computer-type application capabilities (such
`as the Nokia 9210 Communicator)—may be in use (ie.,
`connected to a projector to display some data), preventing
`the user from carrying the phone when moving outside their
`workspace or a meeting location.
`
`[0007] There is, therefore, a need in the art for extending
`the operational range of wireless headsets and improving the
`mobility of such headsets with regard to associated phones.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the
`prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to
`
`provide, for use in a communications system such as a local
`area data network, a plurality of access points each capable
`of emulating either a phone mated with a wireless headset,
`the wireless headset, or both and of establishing a link
`between access points emulating the phone and the headset.
`Whenthe phone is within range of an access point and the
`wireless headset moves out of range with the phone but
`within range of an access point,
`the access point within
`range of the phone emulates the headset, the access point
`within range of the headset emulates the phone, and a
`communications path is established (if necessary) between
`the access points. In this manner, the effective range of the
`headset with respect to the associated phone is extended
`beyond a distance limit for a wireless communications
`protocol, such as Bluetooth, employed for the headset and
`phone.
`
`[0009] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the fea-
`tures and technical advantages of the present invention so
`that
`those skilled in the art may better understand the
`detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional
`features and advantages of the invention will be described
`hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the inven-
`tion. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may
`readily use the conception and the specific embodiment
`disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other struc-
`tures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
`invention. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such
`
`equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and
`scope of the invention in its broadest form.
`
`[0010] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIP-
`TION OF THE INVENTIONbelow,it may be advantageous
`to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used
`throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and
`“comprise, ” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion
`without
`limitation;
`the term “or” is inclusive, meaning
`and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated there-
`with,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include,
`be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained
`within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communi-
`cable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proxi-
`mate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, or the
`like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or
`part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such
`a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or
`some combination of at least two of the same. It should be
`noted that the functionality associated with any particular
`controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally
`or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are
`provided throughout
`this patent document, and those of
`ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions
`apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as
`future uses of such defined words and phrases.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present
`invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now
`madeto the following descriptions taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers desig-
`nate like objects, and in which:
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a system for extending the range of
`a wireless headset beyond the distance supported by an
`applicable wireless communications protocol according to
`one embodimentof the present invention;
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 2002/0160820 Al
`
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`FIG.2 illustrates in greater detail the logical con-
`(0013]
`struction of a LAN access point employed for extending the
`range of a wireless headset beyondthe distance supported by
`an applicable wireless communications protocol according
`to one embodimentof the present invention; and
`
`a local area network without a wired connection utilizing a
`Bluetooth LAN access point, and thereby access the Internet
`through the local area network. Still another defined profile
`is a cordless phoneprofile, in which a telephoneis wirelessly
`coupled to a base station directly connected to a landline.
`
`[0014] FIGS. 3A-3B are a high level flow chart for a
`process of extending the range of a wireless headset beyond
`the distance supported by an applicable wireless communi-
`cations protocol according to one embodimentof the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`{[0015] FIGS. 1 through 3, discussed below, and the
`various embodiments used to describe the principles of the
`present invention in this patent document are by way of
`illustration only and should not be construed in any way to
`limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will
`understand that the principles of the present invention may
`be implemented in any suitably arranged device.
`
`[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a system for extending the range of
`a wireless headset beyond the distance supported by an
`applicable wireless communications protocol according to
`one embodiment of the present invention. The system 100
`includes a phone 101, which is depicted as a mobile (wire-
`less) telephone but which mayalternatively be a stationary
`(landline) telephone. A wireless headset 102 is associated
`with the phone 101, allowing the user to communicate (i.e.,
`conduct voice conversations) over the phone without utiliz-
`ing the microphone and earpiece (or speaker) conventionally
`integrated within telephones. In the exemplary embodiment,
`headset 102 and phone 101 preferably communicate via the
`Bluetooth protocol, but may alternatively communicate via
`any other similar and/or suitable protocol allowing wireless
`communication between headset 102 and phone 101. For
`example, a custom wireless communications configuration
`may be employed for headset 102 and phone 101.
`
`[0017] As noted above, the Bluetooth protocol is generally
`limited to communication over distances of ten meters or
`less. Alternative protocols for communications between
`headset 102 and phone 101 are likely to also be subjected to
`distance constraints. The present invention allows headset
`102 to be employed in conjunction with phone 101 at
`distances (between headset 102 and phone 101) greater than
`the applicable distance (or range) limit.
`
`In describing the invention below,reference will be
`{0018]
`made solely to the Bluetooth protocol. Those skilled in the
`art, however, will recognize that the principles of the present
`invention may be readily adapted and/or extended to any
`wireless communications system having the requisite capa-
`bilities for implementing the present invention.
`
`[0019] As noted above, Bluetooth supports a number of
`“profiles,” protocols and procedures for different types of
`wireless communications applications. Amongthe profilesis
`a headset profile, a mode of operation by which a Bluetooth
`enabled wireless headset (e.g., headset 102) may be con-
`nected to a Bluetooth enabled telephone (e.g., phone 101)
`without wires, regardless of whether the phone is mobile/
`wireless or stationary/landline. Another profile defined by
`Bluetooth is a LAN access profile, a mode of operation by
`whichany device, including a phone or computer, can access
`
`[0020] The present invention employs a numberof Blue-
`tooth-compliant LAN access points 103a-103n, where “n”
`represents any positive integer number of LAN access
`points. Each LAN access point 103a-1037 is a device similar
`to a router or bridge, and supports Bluetooth, with the LAN
`access profile, on one side and provides a LAN interface
`(e.g., an Ethernet interface) on the other. I.AN access points
`103a-103n are preferably integrated into data processing
`systems(e.g., desktop workstations) coupled to a local area
`network backbone 104—that
`is, coupled to or installed
`within workstations for an enterprise local area network. In
`this manner, support for extending the range of a Bluetooth-
`compliant headset may be readily implemented without a
`significant amount of specialized or dedicated infrastructure;
`existing infrastructure employed for data communication
`over the local area network backbone 104 may simply be
`reused for wireless voice communications. In general, how-
`ever, LAN access points 103a-1037 may be mounted any-
`where within a building or public area.
`
`[0021] While the phone 101 and headset 102 are normally
`“mated” for wireless communications, in the present inven-
`tion LAN access points 103a-103 emulate the phone and
`headset functions normally supported by the phone 101 or
`headset 102. One LAN access point 1034, which is physi-
`cally proximate to (ie., within the applicable range or
`distance limit) the phone 101, mates with the phone 101 and
`pretends to be the headset 102. Another LAN access point
`1034, which is physically proximate to the headset 102,
`mates with the headset 102 and pretendsto be the phone 101.
`
`FIG.2 illustrates in greater detail the logical con-
`([0022]
`struction of a LAN access point employed for extending the
`range of a wireless headset beyond the distance supported by
`an applicable wireless communications protocol according
`to one embodiment of the present invention. LAN access
`point 103”, representative of all LAN access points 103a-
`103”,
`includes a Bluetooth core 200 which provides link
`management, service discovery, transport layer control, and
`interoperability control. Core 200 is coupled, via a LAN
`accessprofile 201, to a LAN interface 202 (e.g., an Ethernet
`network interface card and associated communications driv-
`ers or applications). LAN access point 103” also supports
`both portions 203a@ and 2035 of the headset profile, one
`portion 203a@ emulating the phone 101 in communicating
`with headset 102 and the other portion 203b emulating the
`headset 102 in communicating with phone 101. The profile
`2036 communicating with the phone 101 may alternatively
`be a cordless phone profile. Sclection of the appropriate
`profile 203a or 203b within a given LAN access point
`103a-103n is controlled by core 200.
`
`[0023] Referring back to FIG. 1, each LAN access point
`1034-103supports detection of both phone 101 and headset
`102, as well as the status of wireless communications
`between phone 101 and headset 102. For example, assume
`that headset 102 is initially within range of phone 101, and
`both are within range of access point 1034. When headset
`102 is within range of phone 101, LAN access points
`103a-103n are not involved in communications between
`
`6
`
`

`

`US 2002/0160820 Al
`
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`phone 101 and headset 102. However, when headset 102 is
`movedout of range of phone 101, and within range of access
`point 1035, an access point 103a@ within range of phone 101
`and an access point 1035 within range of headset 102 replace
`the wireless connection between phone 101 and headset 102
`with emulations of such a connection, with the two access
`points 103a@ and 103b coupled over LAN 104. Forinstance,
`where LAN 104 is an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a
`voice-over-IP (VoIP) connection is established between
`access points 103a and 103d. No elaborate VoIP capabilities
`are required, so the implementation may be fairly light-
`weight.
`
`[0024] For the present invention to operate as described,
`phone 101 and headset 102 should both be within range of
`a LAN access point 103a-103n. LAN access points 103a-
`103” then need only determine when headset 102 moves out
`of range of phone 101 but into range with one of LAN access
`points 103-1037. The emulation of the headset 102 within
`one LAN access point 103¢ and of phone 101 within the
`another LAN access point 103b may then be initiated. An
`intermediate communications channel between the two
`access points may also be established.
`
`[0025] To allow the user to roam in betweencalls, but not
`during calls, LAN access points 103a-103” need not have
`overlapping or coterminal “coverage” areas. Instead,
`the
`areas within the range of adjacent LAN access points may be
`separated by gaps, with wireless communications to headset
`enabled on a opportunistic basis, whenever the user (and
`headset 102) moves within range of an access point 103a-
`103” (while remaining outside the range of phone 101). In
`such an implementation, “handoff” between access points is
`simplified, since each access point 103a, 1035, ... , 103”
`need only service the headset 102 while the headset 102 is
`within range of the respective access point. When the
`headset 102 movesoutside the range of an original access
`point, service to the headset 102 may be simply terminated
`until the headset 102 moves within range of another access
`point (or back into range with the original access point).
`
`[0026] Alternatively, the coverage areas of adjacent LAN
`access points may be overlapping or coterminal, in which
`case handoff procedures for establishing a point-to-point
`connection between the access point mated with the phone
`and the new access point mating with the headset should be
`supported. More complicated implementations would allow
`the user to roam within the coverage areas of various access
`points during a call to keep an existing conversation active,
`not simply in between calls (i.e., remaining within the
`coverage area of one access pointfor the duration of a call).
`
`[0027] Even with the simpler implementation limiting
`user roaming to the intervals between calls, special cases
`need to be considered,
`including: making/placing calls;
`taking/answering calls; and terminating calls. These func-
`tions involve call control features normally available only on
`the phone. However, existing headset designs may bereadily
`modified to incorporate basic call control features, either
`through physical switches (e.g., buttons), voice tagging/
`voice recognition, or some combination thereof.
`
`[0028] Rather than a local area data network as employed
`in the exemplary embodiment, the present invention may
`alternatively be implemented in conjunction with a private
`branch exchange (PBX) telephone system, where eachtele-
`phone within the PBX serves as an access point.
`
`[0029] FIGS. 3A and3B are a high level flow chart for a
`process of extending the range of a wireless headset beyond
`the distance supported by an applicable wireless communi-
`cations protocol according to one embodimentof the present
`invention. The process 300 is triggered by a phone mated to
`a wireless headset moving within range of an access point of
`the type described above (step 301). A determination is then
`made (step 302) of whetherthe headset is within range of the
`phone. If so, the process simply continuesto poll the status
`of the headset with respect to the phone.
`
`If the headset moves out of range with the associ-
`[0030]
`ated phone, however, a determination is made (step 303) of
`whetherthe headsetis within range of an access point within
`a communications system equipped with a plurality of
`access points for extending the range of wireless headsets
`with respect
`to associated phones. The communications
`system may be a local area [P-protocol data network as
`described above.
`
`Ifthe headset is not within range of an access point,
`(0031]
`the process continues polling the status of the headset with
`respect to the phone and with respect to each of the access
`points. If the headset is within range of an access point,
`however, emulation of the phone is initiated within the
`access point within range of the headset, emulation of the
`headset is initiated within the access point within range of
`the phone, and a connection (e.g., VoIP) is established, if
`necessary, between the access point emulating the phone and
`the access point emulating the headset (step 304).
`[0032] Once emulation of the phone-headset mating is
`initiated, a determination is made (step 305) of whether the
`phoneand the headset are within range of the same access
`point (although not within range of each other). If not, a
`determination is made (step 306) of whether the headset has
`moved out of range with the access point to which the
`headset is coupled. If not, the process continued polling for
`movement of the headset out of range with the access point
`emulating the phone and mated with the headset.
`
`If the headset moves out of range of the access
`[0033]
`point mated with the headset, an optional determination may
`be made(step 307) of whether the headset is within range of
`another access point. Thus, a simple handoff scheme may be
`implemented wherein the headset remains mated with an
`access point until it moves out of range of that access point,
`at which time any access point within range of the headset
`begins emulating the phone and becomes mated with the
`headset.
`
`If the headset is within range of another access
`[0034]
`point, the emulation of the phone and connection with the
`access point emulating the headsetis (optionally) transferred
`to the new access point (step 308). If the determination of
`whether the headset has moved within range of another
`headset is not implemented, or if the headset is not within
`range of another headset(e.g., the coverage areas of adjacent
`access points arc scparated by gaps or the headsct moves
`outside the overall coverage area of the access points taken
`in aggregate), the emulation of the phone and headset within
`the respective access points and the connection,
`if any,
`between access points is terminated (step 309). The process
`then returns to polling whether the headset is within range of
`either the phone or an access point.
`[0035] Referring back to step 305, if the access point
`within range of the headset is the same access point within
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 2002/0160820 Al
`
`Oct. 31, 2002
`
`range of the phone (although the phone and headset are not
`within range of each other), a determination is instead made
`(step 310) of whether the headset has moved within range of
`the phone. If so, the emulation of the phone and headset
`within the access point is terminated. If not, however, a
`determination is made of whether the headset has moved out
`of range of the access point (step 312).
`
`Ifnot, the process continues polling for movement
`[0036]
`of the headset within range of the phoneor out of range with
`the access point. Otherwise the process may proceed to an
`optional determination, similar to step 307, of whether the
`headset
`is within range of another access point. In the
`example shown, however,
`the process simply proceeds
`directly to terminating the emulation of the phone and
`headset within the access point and polling to determine
`whether the headset is within range of either the phone or an
`access point.
`
`[0037] The present invention allows a wircless hcadsct to
`be employed past the distance from an associated phone
`whichis supported by a wireless communications protocol
`coupling the headset and phone. In addition to solving the
`problems identified above, the present invention allows a
`mobile phoneto be positioned within a buildingat a location
`in which sufficient signal strength exists (e.g., near a win-
`dow) and left at that location while the user employs a
`headset to place or receive calls through the phone.
`
`[0038] Although the present invention has been described
`in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various
`changes, substitutions and alterations herein may be made
`without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
`it its broadest form.
`
`Whatis claimed is:
`
`1. For use in a communications system, a system for
`extending the range of a wireless headset comprising:
`
`a phone;
`
`a wireless headset associated with said phone, said wire-
`less headset capable of communicating directly with
`said phone utilizing a wireless communications proto-
`col having a distance limit;
`
`a communications system; and
`
`a plurality of access points each coupled to said commu-
`nications system at one of a plurality of dispersed
`locations, each access point capable of selectively
`
`emulating said phoneutilizing said communications pro-
`tocol,
`
`emulating said headset utilizing said communications
`protocol
`
`communicating with said phone within said finite distance
`from said phone utilizing said communications proto-
`col,
`
`communicating with said headset within said finite dis-
`tance from said headset utilizing said communications
`protocol, and
`
`interfacing with said communications system,
`
`wherein said access points are capable of selectively
`establishing a communications path within said com-
`munications system between an access point emulating
`said phone and an access point emulating said headset,
`if necessary, to provide communications between said
`phone and said headset when said phone and said
`headset are separated by a distance greater than said
`distance limit.
`
`8
`
`