Network mute feature in wireless telecommunications systems

Details Network mute feature in wireless telecommunications systems Network mute feature in wireless telecommunications systems

1998-09-23

2001-05-01

Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2684)

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone system

Special service

C455S414200, C455S560000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06226513

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is related to the application of Alex Lawrence Wierzbicki and Randall Joe Wilson entitled “Mobile Unit For Accommodating Network Mute Feature In Wireless Telecommunications Systems” which application is assigned to the assignee of the present application and which is being filed concurrently herewith.
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to telecommunications systems, and more particularly to the mute function associated with mobile units deployed in wireless telecommunications systems.
2. Background of the Invention
The explosive growth of wireless telecommunications is evidence of modern society's expectation for almost instantaneous access to information. The decreased cost associated with wireless (mobile) handsets and the enhanced reliability of wireless transmissions has made mobile telecommunications a viable option for almost everyone. Indeed, it is now common for mobile subscribers to use wireless telecommunications services for all types of transactions. Traditional voice and data transmissions (e.g., facsimiles) are commonplace for even unsophisticated mobile subscribers. For others (e.g., those subscribers who conduct business via their mobile units), wireless telecommunications serves as a lifeline to customers and the office.
A well known staple of the business world is the conference call. A conference call is a meeting in which typically one or more parties participates in the discussion via telephone. As more business people travel and conduct their lives from airports and automobiles, it is becoming increasingly common for at least one conference call participant to be using a mobile unit served by a wireless telecommunications network. Although improvements have been made, the quality of a conference call is often a deterrent to a successful meeting. The less-than-optimal quality of a conference call, coupled with the ambient background noise associated with transmission by a wireless telecommunications network, is sometimes so intolerable that mobile conference call participants are asked to drop off from the call so that the rest of the participants may discuss matters with decreased distraction. Although most mobile units have a “mute” function, this function only deactivates the microphone of the mobile unit. Ambient noise associated with wireless transmission still flows to the other party via the wireless telecommunications network.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need in the art to enhance the ability of a mobile user to participate in a conference call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need has been addressed and a technological advance is achieved in the wireless telecommunications art by a network mute feature.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a network mute function is found on a mobile unit. Typically, the network mute function is activated by a mobile user during participation in a conference call in which the other parties of the call are subject to the ambient noise associated with the mobile user's environment and the wireless telecommunications network. Activation of the network mute function initiates a message to the mobile switching center which decouples a voice path interconnecting the mobile user to another party. The mobile switching center subsequently interconnects the voice path to a noise generator. The noise generator provides non-obtrusive background noise which is heard only by the other (non-activating) party. The muted mobile user is able to hear all transmissions initiated by the other party. The purpose of the background noise is to assure the other party that the mobile user is still on the line and can hear the conversation. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile user dials an access code to initiate the network mute function.
Advantageously, the network mute function can be used in both analog and digital wireless telecommunications systems. Also, muting of the mobile unit not only mutes the microphone associated therewith but also eliminates, for the other party, wireless network noise associated with the wireless system.


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patent: 5724416 (1998-03-01), Foladare et al.
patent: 5819171 (1998-10-01), Hoogerwerf et al.
patent: 5956635 (1999-09-01), Hoogerwerf et al.
patent: 0918442 (1998-11-01), None
patent: WO9809374 (1998-03-01), None

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