Wearable headset with self-contained vocal feedback and vocal command

Abstract

A headset includes a wearable body, first and second earphones extending from the wearable body, controls for controlling an external communication/multimedia device wirelessly, a microphone for picking up vocal data from a user of the headset system and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit includes circuitry for processing the vocal data into a distinctly audible vocal feedback signal, circuitry for enhancing the vocal feedback signal thereby producing an enhanced vocal feedback signal and circuitry for mixing the enhanced vocal feedback signal with audio signals originating from the external communication/multimedia device, thereby producing a mixed output signal and then sending the mixed output signal to the user via the earphones. The external communication/multimedia device comprises a vocal command application and the headset further comprises a vocal command control for sending vocal commands to the external communication/multimedia device and to the vocal command application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headset comprising:
 a headset comprising a wearable body, and first and second earphones extending from said wearable body;   a wireless interface disposed in relation to the wearable body, interfacing an external communication device configured to be controlled wirelessly via commands from said headset, said external communication device comprising a vocal command application and wherein said headset further comprises a vocal command control sending vocal commands wirelessly via said wireless interface to said external communication device and to said vocal command application, wherein activating said vocal command control sends a vocal command activation signal from said headset to said external communication device, wakes up said vocal command application and sends voice data to said vocal command application via said interface, and wherein the vocal command application translates the vocal commands to perform one or more functions by said vocal command application;   a microphone picking up the voice data from a user of the headset;   a signal processing unit installed in said headset and comprising,
 signal processing circuitry processing said voice data into a vocal feedback signal, and enhancing said vocal feedback signal in a vocal frequency range thereby producing an enhanced vocal feedback signal; 
 mixer circuitry mixing said enhanced vocal feedback signal with audio signals originating from said external communication device, thereby producing a mixed output signal including the user's enhanced vocal feedback signal; 
 communication circuitry sending the mixed output signal to said earphones; and 
   a control adjusting the volume of said enhanced vocal feedback signal relative to volume of audio signals originating from said external communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein the vocal frequency range enhanced to produce the enhanced vocal feedback signal is approximately 200 Hertz to 5000 Hertz. 
     
     
         3 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein said signal processing unit further comprises a recorder for recording voice data. 
     
     
         4 . The headset of  claim 3  wherein upon starting of recording, a first alert tone is sent to said earphones indicating that recording of voice data has commenced and wherein releasing of said vocal command control stops said recording and then sends a second alert tone to said earphones indicating that the recording is stopped. 
     
     
         5 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein said wearable body comprises a U-shaped frame that conforms to the user's neck and comprises first and second ends and wherein said microphone extends from at least one of said U-shaped frame ends. 
     
     
         6 . The headset of  claim 5  wherein said U-shaped frame is foldable and comprises adjustable length. 
     
     
         7 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein said first and second earphones are concealable within first and second openings in said wearable body 
     
     
         8 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein said wearable body comprises a U-shaped frame that conforms to the user's neck and wherein said first and second earphones are concealable within first and second openings in first and second ends of said U-shaped frame, respectively, and wherein said earphones are pulled out from said openings when in use and retract back into said openings when not in use. 
     
     
         9 . The headset of  claim 1  wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises filters enhancing said user's vocal frequencies. 
     
     
         10 . A headset system comprising:
 a headset comprising a wearable body, first and second earphones extending from said wearable body and a wireless interface;   an external communication device configured to be controlled wirelessly via commands, including vocal commands, from said headset through said wireless interface, said external communication device comprising a vocal command application and wherein said headset sends vocal commands wirelessly via said wireless interface to said vocal command application, wherein sending a vocal command activation signal from said headset to said external communication device, wakes up said vocal command application and sends voice data to said vocal command application via said wireless interface, and wherein the vocal command application translates the vocal commands and performs one or more functions;   a microphone picking up the voice data from a user of the headset;   a signal processing unit installed in said headset and comprising signal processing circuitry processing said voice data into a vocal feedback signal, and enhancing said vocal feedback signal in a vocal frequency range producing an enhanced vocal feedback signal, said signal processing circuitry mixing said enhanced vocal feedback signal with audio signals originating from said external communication device producing a mixed output signal including the user's enhanced vocal feedback signal;   mixer circuitry sending the mixed output signal to said earphones;   a control adjusting the volume of said enhanced vocal feedback signal relative to volume of audio signals originating from said external communication device; and   a recorder for recording voice data, wherein upon starting of recording, a first alert tone is sent to said earphones indicating that recording of voice data has commenced and wherein deactivating of said vocal command control stops said recording and then sends a second alert tone to said earphones indicating that the recording is stopped.   
     
     
         11 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said external communication device comprises one of mobile phone, MP3 player, portable music player, personal digital assistant, personal computer, or television set. 
     
     
         12 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth Interface. 
     
     
         13 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said signal processing unit is contained within said U-shaped frame and comprises said wireless interface, a signal processor, filters, a mixer, a battery and a recorder. 
     
     
         14 . The headset system of  claim 10  further comprising a remote server and wherein said communication device communicates with and sends said vocal commands voice data to said remote server via a network and wherein said server converts voice data contained in said vocal commands into text or pattern and then returns said text or pattern back to said vocal command application for executing commands translated from said text or pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said external communication device further comprises a voice recognition application and said voice recognition application receives voice data from said headset and converts said voice data into text or pattern and wherein said vocal command application translates said text or pattern into vocal commands that perform one or more functions by said vocal command application and other applications on said external communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The headset system of  claim 14  wherein said remote server comprises an authentication application for recognizing and authenticating said user from said voice data. 
     
     
         17 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said vocal commands comprise one of “call a person”, “e-mail a person”, “search a content”, “text a person” or “Goto a location” based on GPS. 
     
     
         18 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises filters enhancing said user's vocal frequencies. 
     
     
         19 . The headset system of  claim 10  wherein the vocal frequency range enhanced to produce the enhanced vocal feedback signal is approximately 200 Hertz to 5000 Hertz.