Method and system for providing backup push-to-talk function in stuck microphone condition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10887451-B2
Application number	US-201816173349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Oct 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

A method and system provide a backup push-to-talk (PTT) function for a transmitter in a stuck microphone condition. The method determines whether a stuck microphone condition exists in the transmitter, and if the stuck microphone condition exists, the method alerts a user that the stuck microphone condition exists. The method then enables a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function. The method alerts the user when the backup PTT function is activated, and sends a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a backup push-to-talk (PTT) function for a transmitter;
determining whether a stuck microphone condition exists in the transmitter;
if the stuck microphone condition exists, alerting a user that the stuck microphone condition exists;
enabling a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function;
alerting the user when the backup PTT function is activated; and
sending a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user;
wherein a user input to change a microphone time-out duration value for the transmitter is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises an existing hardware button that is reconfigurable as the backup PTT button when the stuck microphone condition exists.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of a display unit, or on a touch screen controller (TSC) display.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is located in a vehicle, handheld communication equipment, or a built-in communication sub-system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the backup PTT button is associated with a display unit that is: in the vehicle, in the handheld communication equipment, or is part of the built-in communication sub-system.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the display unit comprises a navigation display.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the backup PTT button is located on a screen of a connected device comprising a handheld device or a wearable device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user is alerted when the backup PTT function is activated by a PTT status indicator viewable by the user on a display unit.

10. A system, comprising:
an audio control unit that includes a processor and a memory unit;
at least one transmitter in a radio or transceiver operatively coupled to the audio control unit;
a display unit operatively coupled to the audio control unit;
a microphone in operative communication with the audio control unit, the microphone including a push-to-talk (PTT) switch for a user;
wherein the processor is operative to execute instructions stored in the memory unit to perform a method comprising:
providing a backup PTT function for the transmitter;
determining whether a stuck microphone condition exists;
if the stuck microphone condition exists, alerting the user that the stuck microphone condition exists;
enabling a backup PTT interface for the transmitter such that a backup PTT button is available to the user to activate the backup PTT function;
alerting the user when the backup PTT function is activated; and
sending a message to a receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged by the user;

wherein a user input to change a microphone time-out duration value for the transmitter is shown on the display unit.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises a hardware button.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit comprising a touch screen controller (TSC) display.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the transmitter and display unit are located in an aircraft.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the backup PTT button is associated with the display unit in the aircraft.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the backup PTT button comprises a soft button located on a screen of the display unit.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the display unit comprises an avionics navigation display.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the message sent to the receiver after the backup PTT button is engaged comprises an automatic downlink message.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user is alerted when the backup PTT function is activated by a PTT status indicator viewable by the user on the display unit.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Pandey Vivek Kumar
• Mallick Supriya
• Gurusamy Saravanakumar

Classifications

• H04M3/14

  Signalling existence of persistent "off-hook" condition · CPC title

• H04M3/12 Primary

  Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits {; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error} · CPC title

• H04B7/18506 Primary

  Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service · CPC title

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• H04W4/10

  Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services · CPC title