Apparatus and method for controlling built-in microphone of portable terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9124710-B2
Application number	US-201414325848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	May 4, 2007
Publication date	Sep 1, 2015
Grant date	Sep 1, 2015

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a built-in microphone of a portable terminal is provided. The method includes checking whether a connection device connected to the portable electronic device includes an external microphone; operating the built-in microphone of the portable electronic device to receive a first signal, upon connecting a call, when the connection device does not include the external microphone; and selecting, upon connecting the call while a plurality of connection devices are connected to the portable electronic device, one connection device from among the plurality of connection devices to output a second signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a built-in microphone;
a wireless communication connector to connect with a wireless device including a speaker and a microphone;
a socket to couple with one of a first device including a speaker, but not including a microphone, and a second device including both a speaker and a microphone; and
a controller configured, in response to a call connection event, to:
based on a determination that the electronic device is coupled with the first device, obtain an audio input via the built-in microphone;
based on a determination that the electronic device is coupled with the second device, obtain an audio input via the microphone of the second device; and
selectively obtain, based on a determination that the electronic device is simultaneously coupled with the wireless device and the second device, one of an audio input via the microphone of the wireless device and the audio input via the microphone of the second device,

wherein the controller is further configured, in response to a call connection event, to provide an incoming voice signal received via the call connection event to a selected one of the wireless device and the first device, based on a determination that the electronic device is coupled with the wireless device and the first device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein one of the microphone of the wireless device and the microphone of the second device is selected based at least in part on a predetermined priority.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication connector comprises a Bluetooth communication unit.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the call connection event includes accepting a call, and
wherein, upon accepting the call while the wireless device and the second device are coupled to the electronic device, the controller is further configured to select one of the wireless device and the second device, and provide an incoming voice signal received after accepting the call to the selected one of the wireless device and the second device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the call connection event includes accepting a call.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein based on a determination that the selected one of the wireless device and the first device is the first device, the controller is further configured to obtain an audio input via the built-in microphone.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the selection of one of the wireless device and the first device is performed according to a predetermined priority.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the call connection event includes accepting a call.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a controller;
a memory electrically coupled to the controller;
a Bluetooth communication connector electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the Bluetooth communication connector is configured to connect to a wireless device including a speaker;
a communication unit electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive a call connection request;
a codec electrically coupled to the controller;
a built-in speaker electrically coupled to the codec;
a built-in microphone electrically coupled to the codec; and
a socket electrically coupled to the controller and/or the codec, wherein the socket is shaped to receive a connector of either a first device including a speaker, but not including a microphone, and a second device including both a speaker and a microphone;
wherein, after receiving the call connection request, the controller is configured to deactivate the built-in speaker when the socket has received either the first device or the second device,
wherein, after receiving the call connection request, the controller is further configured to activate the built-in microphone when the socket has received the first device, and is further configured to deactivate the built-in microphone when the socket has received the second device,
wherein the controller is further configured to selectively provide an audio signal to one of the wireless device and the second device when wireless device and the second device are simultaneously in connection with the portable electronic device, and
wherein after receiving a call connection request, the controller is further configured to provide an incoming voice signal received via the call connection request to a selected one of the wireless device and the first device, based on a determination that the wireless device and the first device are in connection with the portable electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively provide the audio signal to one of the wireless device and the second device according to a predetermined priority.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively provide an audio signal to one of the wireless device, the first device, and the second device when at least two of the wireless device, the first device, and the second device are simultaneously in connection with the portable electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first device comprises an earphone and the second device comprises a headset.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the call connection request includes accepting a call, and
wherein, upon accepting the call while the wireless device and the second device are coupled to the electronic device, the controller is further configured to select one of the wireless device and the second device, and provide an incoming voice signal received after accepting the call to the selected one of the wireless device and the second device.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the call connection request includes accepting a call.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein based on a determination that the selected one of the wireless device and the first device is the first device, the controller is further configured to activate the built-in microphone.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the selection of one of the wireless device and the first device is performed according to a predetermined priority.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the call connection request includes accepting a call.

18. An electronic device capable of coupling to a wireless external device and a wired external device, the electronic device comprising:
a built-in speaker;
a built-in microphone;
a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly connect with the wireless external device including a speaker and a microphone;
a socket configured to couple with the wired external device being one of a first device including a speaker, but not including a microphone, and a second device including both a speaker and a microphone; and
a controller configured, in response to a call connection event, to:
if the first device is coupled with the socket, obtain an audio input via the built-in microphone;
if the second device is coupled with the socket, obtain an audio input via the microphone of the second device; and
selectively obtain, if the electronic device is coupled with both the wireless external device and the second device, an audio input from one of the microphone of the wireless external device and the microphone of the second device,

wherein the controller is further configured,

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sang-Kyu
• Lee Seung-Yup
• Park Jung-Ho
• Song Soo-Ho

Classifications

• H04M1/6058 Primary

  involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone · CPC title

• H04M1/6066

  including a wireless connection · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04M1/6016 Primary

  in the receiver circuit · CPC title

• H04M1/725

  Cordless telephones (user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724) · CPC title