WO2011128489A1

WO2011128489A1 - A communication device

Info

Publication number: WO2011128489A1
Application number: PCT/FI2010/050294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pasi Auranen; Hasse Sinivaara
Original assignee: Savox Communications Oy Ab (Ltd)
Priority date: 2010-04-12
Filing date: 2010-04-12
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: CN203301548U

Abstract

A communication device (101) according to the invention comprises a control circuitry (102) for retrieving identification information from an acoustical device (120) as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device. The acoustical device can be, for example, a headset that is connectable with a corded link to the communication device. The control circui-try is further arranged to adapt signal processing parameters of the communication device to correspond to the specific needs of the connected acoustical device on the basis of the identification information. Therefore, the capability of the communication device to operate with various types of acoustical devices is improved.

Description

A communication device

Field of the invention The invention relates to a method for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device. The acoustical device can be, for example but not necessarily, a headset. The invention further relates to a communication device, a communication system, and a computer program for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the com- munication device.

Background

Connecting an acoustical device, for example a headset, to a communication device may require a compromise in electrical interfacing values. The communication device can be, for example, a remote speaker microphone (RSM) having means for connecting to the headset, a mobile phone having means for connecting to the headset, or a command control device that may comprise a push-to-talk button and an interface between a land mobile radio and the headset. In general, these communication devices cannot distinct between different types of headsets which could be connected to the communication devices. The problem of using different types of headsets together with a communication device is that microphones, earpieces and other acoustical components of different headsets may be different, and therefore it is challenging to design the signal processing properties of the communication device so that all the usable headsets would work in a satisfactory manner. The sensitivity and spectral response of the microphones and earpieces may vary from a headset to a headset and thereby the user has to adopt the differences by adjusting e.g. volume, microphone position, and/or the loudness of his or her voice. Also the acoustic shock which is the maximum acoustical power delivered to the user's ears may, with some headsets, be all too high whereas some other headsets may deliver a too weak audio signal in similar conditions. Publication US2006166539 discloses a system where a connector has sockets accepting any of several different types of plugs associated with different types of noise cancellation headsets or aviation industry headsets including one, two, or three pin types. The system includes sensing components arranged to detect from the number of pins inserted, and the impedance and/or voltages sensed on those pins, the type of headset being used. With this identification, appropriate connec- tions to the audio source as well as to noise cancellation circuitry may be made to enable the headset to function correctly. However, there is still a compromise in electrical interfacing values when different headsets are being used.

Summary In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a new communication system comprising a communication device and an acoustical device, e.g. a headset, connectable to the communication device. The communication device comprises a control circuitry arranged to:

- retrieve identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device,

- determine values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and

- set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device.

The acoustical device comprises a circuitry for providing the identification information.

The signal processing parameters may relate to analog signal processing and/or to digital signal processing. A signal processing parameter related to analog signal processing may be e.g. a voltage value of an operating point of an amplifier, and a signal processing parameter related to digital signal processing may be e.g. a tap coefficient of a digital filter. As the signal processing parameters of the communication device are set to correspond to the specific needs of each acoustical de- vice, the need for compromises related to the electrical interfacing values between the communication device and the acoustical device can be reduced or even eliminated, and therefore the capability of the communication device to operate with various types of acoustical devices is improved.

The connection between the communication device and the acoustical device can be either a corded or a wireless link. A wireless link can be based on, for example, a short range radio link. The circuitry of the acoustical device for providing the identification information can comprise, for example, an identification resistor, a pre-determined pin connection pattern, and/or a digital memory for storing the identification information. The signal processing parameters may comprise, for example, the following parameters for the purpose of processing a signal transferred from the communication device to the acoustical device and/or for the purpose of processing a signal in the opposite direction from the acoustical device to the communication device: gain parameters, parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, and/or echo canceller parameters.

In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a new communication device comprising a control circuitry arranged to:

- retrieve identification information from an acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device,

In accordance with the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a new me- thod for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device. The method comprises:

- retrieving identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, and - determining values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and

- setting the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device. In accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a new computer program for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device, the communication device being ar- ranged to retrieve identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device. The computer program comprises computer executable instructions for configuring a programmable processor to: - determine values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and

- set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device. In accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a new computer readable medium that is encoded with a computer program according to the invention. The computer readable medium can be, for example, a CD-memory (Compact Disc) or a semiconductor memory device.

A number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described in accom- panied dependent claims.

Various embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. The verb "to comprise" is used in this document as an open limitation that neither requires nor excludes the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Brief description of the figures Embodiments of the invention presented in the sense of examples and their advantages are explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention, figure 2 illustrates a communication system according to another embodiment of the invention, and figure 3 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device.

Detailed description of the embodiments Figure 1 illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention. The communication system comprises a communication device 101 according to an embodiment of the invention and an acoustical device 120 that is connectable to the communication device. In the exemplifying case shown in figure 1 , the acoustical device 120 is a headset that comprises earpieces 122 and a microphone 121 , and the communication device 101 is a radio communication device that comprises a radio transmitter (TX) 106 and a radio receiver (RX) 107 connected to an antenna 1 10. It should be, however, noted that the communication device according to an embodiment of the invention is not necessarily a radio communication device. The communication device could be as well e.g. a line tel- ephone or a communication device of any other kind. Furthermore, it should be noted that the acoustical device is not necessarily a headset. The acoustical device could as well be e.g. a table station including a loudspeaker and a microphone. It is also possible that the acoustical device is a mere loudspeaker or earpiece unit because the communication device could itself contain a microphone, or that the acoustical device is a mere microphone unit because the communication device could itself contain a speaker or an earpiece. The acoustical device shown in figure 1 further comprises a corded link 123 and a galvanic connector 103. The communication device 101 comprises a counterpart 105 for the galvanic connector 103. The communication device comprises a control circuitry 102 for retrieving identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device. The acoustical device comprises a circuitry for providing the identification information to the communication device. In the exemplifying case shown in figure 1 , the circuitry for providing the identification information comprises an identification resistor 104 the resistance value of which is arranged to indicate the type of the acoustical device. The resistance value of the identification resistor is measurable from between poles of the galvanic connector 103. The control circuitry 102 is arranged to sense the resistance value of the identifying resistor and thereby to identify the type of the acoustical device. It is also possible that, instead of the mere identification re- sistor, there is another component e.g. a capacitor or a combination of different components and the control circuitry 102 is arranged to identify the acoustical de- vice on the basis of impedance measurable from between poles of the galvanic connector 103 of the acoustical device. It is also possible that the control circuitry 102 is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of a pin connection pattern of the galvanic connector 103. Furthermore, it is also possible that the acoustical device comprises a memory device storing the identification information in a form of digital data and the control circuitry of the communication device is arranged to retrieve the digital data from the acoustical device as a response to the situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device.

The control circuitry 102 of the communication device is arranged to determine values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and to set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device 120. A memory device (M) 109 is arranged to store the signal processing parameters values related to different types of acoustical devices connectable to the communication device. The control circuitry 102 is arranged to use the identification information for reading from the memory device 109 the particular signal processing parameter values which are related to the acoustical device which, in each case, has been connected to the communication device. The signal processing parameter values read from the memory device 109 are used for configuring a signal processing element 108 to correspond to the needs of the connected and identified acoustical device 120. The signal processing element 108 may comprise, for example, analog and/or digital circuitries for implementing a gain, an equalizer, a noise canceller, a peak value limiter, and/or an echo canceller for processing a signal that is transferred from the com- munication device to the acoustical device. Therefore, the signal processing parameters may comprise, for example, a gain parameter, parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, and/or echo canceller parameters for the purpose of processing the signal that is transferred from the communication device to the acoustical device. Correspon- dingly, for processing a signal in the opposite direction from the acoustical device to the communication device, the signal processing element 108 may comprise, for example, analog and/or digital circuitries for implementing a gain, an equalizer, a noise canceller, a peak value limiter, and/or an echo canceller. Therefore, the signal processing parameters may comprise, for example, a gain parameter, pa- rameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, and/or echo canceller parameters for the purpose of processing the signal that is transferred from the acoustical device to the communication device.

Figure 2 illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention. The communication system comprises a communication device 201 ac- cording to an embodiment of the invention and an acoustical device 220 that is wirelessly connectable to the communication device. In the exemplifying case shown in figure 2, the acoustical device 220 is a headset that comprises earpieces 222 and a microphone 221 , and the communication device 201 is a radio communication device that comprises a radio transmitter (TX) 206 and a radio receiver (RX) 207 connected to an antenna 210. The communication device comprises first radio equipment (TRX) 205 and the acoustical device comprises second radio equipment (TRX) 224 for providing a short range bidirectional radio link between the communication device and the acoustical device. It is also possible that the acoustical device is a mere loudspeaker or earpiece unit because the communica- tion device could itself contain a microphone. It is also possible that the acoustical device is a mere microphone unit because the communication device could itself contain a speaker or an earpiece. In this case, only a unidirectional radio link from the acoustical device to the communication device would be needed. The short range radio link can be, for example, a Bluetooth® radio link. The communication device comprises a control circuitry 202 for retrieving identification information from the acoustical device 220 as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device via the radio link. The acoustical device comprises a circuitry for providing the identification information to the communication device. In the exemplifying case shown in figure 2, the circuitry for providing the identification information comprises a memory device (M) 225 storing the identifying information in a form of digital data. The control circuitry 202 of the communication device is arranged to retrieve the digital data from the acoustical device after the radio link has been established between the acoustical device and the communication device. The control circuitry 202 of the communication device is arranged to determine values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and to set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device 220. In the exemplifying case illustrated in figure 2, the memory device 225 is arranged to store the values of the signal processing parameters that are suitable for configuring a signal processing element 208 of the communication device to correspond to the needs of the acoustical device 220. The control circuitry 202 is arranged to retrieve the values of the signal processing parameters via the radio link from the acoustical device. It is also possible that values of some of the signal processing parameters are stored in a memory device (not shown) located in the communication device and values of the other signal processing parameters are transferred from the acoustical device to the communication device. In the case in which the values of at least some of the signal processing parameters are transferred from the acoustical device to the communication device, one or more of the transferred signal processing parameter values can be arranged to represent also the identification data, and thereby separate identification data is not necessarily needed. The signal processing element 208 may comprise, for example, analog and/or digital circuitries for implementing a gain, an equalizer, a noise canceller, a peak value limiter, and/or an echo canceller for processing a signal transferred from the communication device to the acoustical device. Correspondingly, for processing a signal in the opposite direction from the acoustical device to the communication device, the signal processing element 208 may comprise, for example, analog and/or digital circuitries for implementing a gain, an equalizer, a noise canceller, a peak value limiter, and/or an echo canceller. Communication devices according to some advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below. A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a control circuitry arranged to:

- retrieve identification information from an acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communica- tion device,

- set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acous- tical device.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the control circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of impedance between poles of a galvanic connector of the acoustical device. In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the control circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of impedance of an identification resistor of the acoustical device.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the con- trol circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of a pin connection pattern of a galvanic connector of the acoustical device.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the control circuitry is arranged to retrieve digital data from the acoustical device as a response to the situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the commu- nication device, the digital data containing the identification information.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the control circuitry is arranged to extract the value of at least one of the signal processing parameters from the digital data retrieved from the acoustical device.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the sig- nal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal received from the acoustical device.

In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device. In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal received from the acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters. In a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters. A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a counterpart for a galvanic connector of the acoustical device. A communication device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises radio equipment (205) for one of the following: a unidirectional radio link from the acoustical device to the communication device, a bidirectional radio link between the communication device and the acoustical device. Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device. The method comprises:

- in the phase 302, retrieving identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is con- nected to the communication device - the 'YES'-branch of the decision phase 301 ,

- in the phase 303, determining values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and

- in the phase 304, setting the signal processing parameters of the communi- cation device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters are changed also in a case in which the acoustical device is changed during the operation of the communication device - the 'YES'-branch of the deci- sion phase 305.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the acoustical device is identified on the basis of impedance between poles of a galvanic connector for connecting the communication device to the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the acoustical device is identified on the basis of a pin connection pattern of a galvanic connector of the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, digital data is retrieved from the acoustical device as a response to the situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, the digital data containing the identification information. In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the value of at least one of the signal processing parameters is extracted from the digital data retrieved from the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal received at the communication device from the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal to be transmitted from the communication device to the acoustical device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal received from the acoustical device: parame- ters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device: pa- rameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

A computer program according to an embodiment of the invention comprises software modules for the purpose of adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device. The communication device is arranged to retrieve identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device. The software modules of the computer program comprise computer executable instructions for configuring a programmable processor to:

- set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device. A computer readable medium according to an embodiment of the invention is encoded with a computer program according to an embodiment of the invention. The computer readable medium can be, for example, a CD-memory (Compact Disc) or a semiconductor memory device. The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting. Therefore, the invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above.

Claims

1 . A communication device (101 , 201 ) comprising a control circuitry (102, 202) for retrieving identification information from an acoustical device (120, 220) as a re- sponse to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, characterized in that the control circuitry is further arranged to:

2. A communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of impedance between poles of a galvanic connector (103) of the acoustical device.

3. A communication device according to claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of impedance of an identification resistor (104) of the acoustical device.

4. A communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is arranged to identify the acoustical device on the basis of a pin connection pattern of a galvanic connector (103) of the acoustical device.

5. A communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry (202) is arranged to retrieve digital data from the acoustical device (220) as a response to the situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, the digital data containing the identification information.

6. A communication device according to claim 5, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to extract the value of at least one of the signal processing parameters from the digital data retrieved from the acoustical device.

7. A communication device according to any of claims 1 -6, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the pur- pose of processing a signal received from the acoustical device.

8. A communication device according to any of claims 1 -7, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device.

9. A communication device according to any of claims 1 -8, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal received from the acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

10. A communication device according to any of claims 1 -9, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

1 1 . A communication device according to any of claims 7-10, comprising a coun- terpart (105) for a galvanic connector of the acoustical device.

12. A communication device according to any of claims 7-10, comprising radio equipment (205) for one of the following: a unidirectional radio link from the acoustical device to the communication device, a bidirectional radio link between the communication device and the acoustical device.

13. A communication system comprising a communication device (101 , 201 ) and an acoustical device (120, 220) connectable to the communication device, the communication device comprising a control circuitry (102, 202) for retrieving identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, and the acoustical device comprising a circuitry for providing the identification information, characterized in that the control circuitry is further arranged to:

- determine values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device.

14. A communication system according to claim 13, comprising a corded link (123) and a galvanic connector (103) for connecting the acoustical device to the communication device via the corded link.

15. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the communication device comprises first radio equipment (205) and the acoustical device comprises second radio equipment (224) for one of the following: a unidirectional radio link from the acoustical device to the communication device, a bidirectional radio link between the communication device and the acoustical device.

16. A communication system according to any of claims 13-15, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal transferred from the acoustical device to the communication device.

17. A communication system according to any of claims 13-16, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the pur- pose of processing a signal transferred from the communication device to the acoustical device.

18. A communication system according to any of claims 13-17, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal transferred from the acoustical device to the communication device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

19. A communication system according to any of claims 13-18, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal transferred from the communication device to acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

20. A method for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device con- nected to the communication device, the method comprising (302) retrieving identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is (301 ) connected to the communication device, characterized in that the method further comprises: - determining (303) values of signal processing parameters of the communication device on the basis of the identification information, and

- setting (304) the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device.

21 . A method according to claim 20, wherein the acoustical device is identified on the basis of impedance between poles of a galvanic connector for connecting the communication device to the acoustical device.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the acoustical device is identified on the basis of a pin connection pattern of a galvanic connector of the acoustical device.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein digital data is retrieved from the acoustical device as a response to the situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communication device, the digital data containing the identifica- tion information.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the value of at least one of the signal processing parameters is extracted from the digital data retrieved from the acoustical device.

25. A method according to any of claims 20-24, wherein the signal processing pa- rameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal received at the communication device from the acoustical device.

26. A method according to any of claims 20-25, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise a gain for the purpose of processing a signal to be transmitted from the communication device to the acoustical device.

27. A method according to any of claims 20-26, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal received from the acoustical device: parame- ters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

28. A method according to any of claims 20-27, wherein the signal processing parameters of the communication device comprise at least one of the following for the purpose of processing the signal to be transmitted to the acoustical device: parameters of frequency response equalization, peak limitation parameters, noise canceller parameters, echo canceller parameters.

29. A computer program for adapting a communication device to an acoustical device connected to the communication device, the communication device being arranged to retrieve identification information from the acoustical device as a response to a situation in which the acoustical device is connected to the communi- cation device, characterized in that the computer program comprises computer executable instructions for configuring a programmable processor to:

- set the signal processing parameters of the communication device to the determined values so as to adapt the communication device to the acoustical device

30. A computer program readable medium, characterized in that the computer program readable medium is encoded with a computer program according to claim 29.