IP Library Granted Patent US 11,381,948
Granted Patent B2
US 11,381,948 · App. 15/891,004 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

Connection switching for Bluetooth headsets

Inventors: Bart Trip (Emmen, NL); Rik Koops (Gieten, NL); Eddie Klaassens (Emmen, NL); Kem Gallione (Santa Cruz, CA); John B Ledingham (Scotts Valley, CA); Dick de Jong (Emmen, NL)
Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
H04W4/80H04W8/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,381,948
App. No.
15/891,004
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is disclosed for switching connections of Bluetooth headsets. The method includes indicating, on a user interface of the first Bluetooth device, (i) the first Bluetooth device has a first Bluetooth connection with a Bluetooth headset, and (ii) a second Bluetooth device has no Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset. Also, the method includes receiving user input to establish a second Bluetooth connection between the second Bluetooth device and the Bluetooth headset. Further, the method includes sending a message to the Bluetooth headset. The message includes a unique device identifier of the second Bluetooth device. The message represents a command for the Bluetooth headset to establish the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device. Responsive to the message, the Bluetooth headset (i) releases the first Bluetooth connection with the first Bluetooth device and (ii) establishes the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device.

Claims (28)

1. Non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a processor in a first Bluetooth device to perform functions comprising:

indicating, upon a user interface of the first Bluetooth device, a connection status of the first Bluetooth device, a second Bluetooth device, and a Bluetooth headset, wherein the connection status indicates that (i) the first Bluetooth device has a first Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset and (ii) the second Bluetooth device has no Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset;

receiving, from the user interface of the first Bluetooth device, a user input to establish a second Bluetooth connection between the second Bluetooth device and the Bluetooth headset, the user input comprising dragging an icon representing the Bluetooth headset from an icon representing the first Bluetooth device to an icon representing the second Bluetooth device; and

sending a message from the first Bluetooth device to the Bluetooth headset responsive to receiving the user input, the message including a unique device identifier of the second Bluetooth device, wherein the message represents a command for the Bluetooth headset to establish the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device;

wherein the Bluetooth headset, responsive to receiving the message, (i) releases the first Bluetooth connection with the first Bluetooth device and then (ii) establishes the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving a status message, wherein the status message indicates that the second Bluetooth device has the second Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2 , wherein the functions further comprise:

updating the user interface of the first Bluetooth device to indicate that (i) the first Bluetooth device has no Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset and (ii) the second Bluetooth device has the second Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset responsive to receiving the status message.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2 , wherein the status message is received from a server.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the unique device identifier of the second Bluetooth device includes a Bluetooth Device Address of the second Bluetooth device.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to sending the message, receiving the Bluetooth Device Address of the second Bluetooth device from a server.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the message from the first Bluetooth device to the Bluetooth headset is sent over the first Bluetooth connection.

8. A method for connection switching for Bluetooth headsets, comprising:

indicating, upon a user interface of a first Bluetooth device, a connection status of the first Bluetooth device, a second Bluetooth device, and a Bluetooth headset, wherein the connection status indicates that (i) the first Bluetooth device has a first Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset and (ii) the second Bluetooth device has no Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset;

receiving, from the user interface of the first Bluetooth device, a user input to establish a second Bluetooth connection between the second Bluetooth device and the Bluetooth headset, the user input comprising dragging an icon representing the Bluetooth headset from an icon representing the first Bluetooth device to an icon representing the second Bluetooth device; and

sending a message from the first Bluetooth device to the Bluetooth headset responsive to receiving the user input, the message including a unique device identifier of the second Bluetooth device, wherein the message represents a command for the Bluetooth headset to establish the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device;

wherein the Bluetooth headset, responsive to receiving the message, (i) releases the first Bluetooth connection with the first Bluetooth device and then (ii) establishes the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

receiving a status message, wherein the status message indicates that the second Bluetooth device has the second Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:

updating the user interface of the first Bluetooth device to indicate that (i) the first Bluetooth device has no Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset and (ii) the second Bluetooth device has the second Bluetooth connection with the Bluetooth headset responsive to receiving the status message.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the status message is received from a server.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the unique device identifier of the second Bluetooth device includes a Bluetooth Device Address of the second Bluetooth device.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

prior to sending the message, receiving the Bluetooth Device Address of the second Bluetooth device from a server.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the message from the first Bluetooth device to the Bluetooth headset is sent over the first Bluetooth connection.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: PLANTRONICS, INC.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 065549/0065 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 30, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PLANTRONICS, INC.; POLYCOM, INC.
Reel/Frame 061356/0366 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 5, 2018
From: PLANTRONICS, INC.; POLYCOM, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 046491/0915 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2018
From: TRIP, BART; KOOPS, RIK; KLAASSENS, EDDIE; GALLIONE, KEM; LEDINGHAM, JOHN B; DE JONG, DICK
To: PLANTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044858/0734 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15255702 · Sep 2, 2016
Provisional Application 62318697 · Apr 5, 2016
Related Publication 20180167792A1 · Jun 14, 2018