Desktop Telephone System Wireless Control Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing desktop telephone systems lack flexibility in handling ambiguous and conflict situations, particularly when used with mobile phones or other mobile devices that can be taken out of range, requiring complex configuration procedures to switch between devices and networks.

Innovation Solution

A desktop telephone system with a wireless control network that allows seamless switching between sound interface devices during calls, using a control device to manage audio connections and system control signals, enabling users to freely choose sound interfaces and handle device changes without manual configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a headset system is connectable to multiple telecommunication devices simultaneously, then the adaptability and versatility of the system is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of handling ambiguous situations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectability to multiple devicesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary that manages connections between the headset and multiple telecommunication devices. The control device receives system control signals from gateway devices and determines which sound interface device should handle incoming calls, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and resolving ambiguous connection situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where gateway devices provide system control signals to the control device, which then determines the appropriate sound interface device for handling calls. This feedback loop enables automatic resolution of connection ambiguities and reduces the need for manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual configuration procedures are required to switch between devices and networks, then the reliability of connections is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidswitching convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically manage connections without requiring manual user configuration. The control device autonomously determines which sound interface device should handle incoming calls based on system control signals from gateway devices, eliminating the need for users to manually switch between devices and networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices are taken outside wireless ranges, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the reliability of wireless connections deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile device mobilityVSAvoidwireless connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device acts as an intermediary that manages the transition between wireless and non-wireless operation modes. When mobile devices are outside wireless range, the control device receives appropriate system control signals from gateway devices and determines the optimal sound interface device for maintaining call connectivity, thereby preserving connection reliability despite mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3108645B1Desktop telephone system
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 GN AUDIO AS
  • EP3108645B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3108645B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3108645B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) and to a method for operating a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) and may advantageously be utilized in voice communication systems connected to telephone networks (7, 11, 67). The present invention provides a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) that can handle a number of ambiguous or complex situations that can occur in daily use of known headset systems. The desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) comprises two or more sound interface devices (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) each providing a sound interface to a user during telephone conversations and two or more gateway devices (2, 3, 62, 63) each serving as a telephone gateway between a telephone network (7, 11, 67) and each sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) during telephone conversations. Each gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) provides a call announcement signal (21, 41) in response to detecting an incoming telephone call (20, 40) from a telephone network (7, 11, 67), and each sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) comprises an action detector (22, 30) providing a user accept signal (23, 31) in response to detecting a predefined accept action performed by the user. At least one gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) provides the call announcement signal (21, 41) to a wireless control network (18), and at least one sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) provides the user accept signal (23, 31) to the wireless control network (18). The desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) further comprises a control device (19, 52) adapted to receive a first call announcement signal (21, 41) and a first user accept signal (23, 31), at least one of these from the wireless control network (18), to determine a first gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) as source of the first call announcement signal (21, 41), to determine a first sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) as source of the first user accept signal (23, 31), to determine a relationship between the first call announcement signal (21, 41) and the first user accept signal (23, 31), and to cause the desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) to establish an audio connection (15, 16, 17, 44, 47, 48) between the first gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) and the first sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) in dependence on the determined relationship.