There is disclosed a communication device. The communications device includes a radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio transmissions and a push-to-talk toggle, integral to the communication device, for enabling capture and transmission of audio when the push-to-talk toggle is engaged and for disabling capture and transmission of audio when the push-to-talk toggle is disengaged. The push-to-talk lock toggle is integral to the communication device, and disables capture and transmission of audio and disabling engagement of the push-to-talk toggle while the push-to-talk lock toggle is enabled.

A storage system includes a protective housing member configured to mate with a handheld electronic device. The protective housing member includes a charging area formed between a surface of the protective housing member and a surface of an accessory item of the handheld electronic device. The charging area is configured to charge the accessory item of the handheld electronic device. The charging area is powered by at last one power component of the protective housing member or at least one power component of the handheld electronic device. The storage system further includes at least one integrated circuit which is either a component of the handheld electronic device or a component of the protective housing member.

A charging system for a handheld electronic device includes a housing configured to removably attach to the handheld electronic device. The housing includes at least one power source, at least one electronic logic board, and an accessory station configured to store and charge at least one accessory item of the handheld electronic device. The transmitter is mounted on the electronic logic board. The transmitter is configured to transmit power between at least two of the following: the accessory item, the accessory station, the power source, the housing, and the handheld electronic device. A software installed on the electronic logic board is configured to control a power transfer between the accessory item, the accessory station, the power source, the housing, and the handheld electronic device. The housing includes a magnetic material configured to removably attach to a corresponding magnetic material of the handheld electronic device.

A wearable electronic device includes a neck-wearable housing, generally U-shaped, with an electrical connector; two in-ear earphones; two cords, with one end connected to one of the earphones and the other end connected to the connector. The two cords are mechanically connected to the housing. Points of connection of the cords to the housing are close to each other and form a dorsal node, and the two cords are mechanically connected to each other in their portions between the in-ear earphones and the dorsal node to form a suboccipital node. A microphone is placed in the housing on a front (chest) side of the user. A microphone is placed in the dorsal and/or in the suboccipital node. The microphones are used for determination of correlated and non-correlated components of audio signals. The correlated components are treated as a noise signal and the non-correlated components are a target signal.

The present invention relates to the control and operation of cellular telephones and other electronic devices, and particularly to improvements in the functionality of those devices for use in conjunction with a variety of sports and recreational activities.

Provided is a method of removing an earphone noise of a portable terminal includes: recognizing a connection of an earphone through an interface unit; applying power to a mike bias port in case the earphone is recognized; sensing a signal which indicating a detachment of the earphone from the interface unit during applying power to the mike bias port; and discharging the power of the mike bias port when the detachment occurs.

A computer-implemented method of determining when an audio notification should be generated includes detecting receipt of a triggering event that occurs on a user device; generating, based on detecting, the audio notification for the triggering event; receiving, from the user device, a user voice command responding to the audio notification; and generating a response to the user voice command based on one or more of (i) information associated with the audio notification, and (ii) information associated with the user voice command.

The present invention includes a system for alerting a headphone user that another individual is attempting to gain the user's attention. The system includes an alert receiver designed to easily mate with the headphones and an audio source. The alert receiver wirelessly communicates with an alert transmitter that can be manually operated by the individual. This system enables an individual to easily alert the headphone user without requiring either party have or use a telephone.

Technologies including methods, devices, systems and computer readable media related repurposing a speaker to operate as a microphone and/or repurposing a microphone to operate as a speaker.

A voice input/output device is connected to a smart device having a voice signal input/output function is provided. A digital voice signal output by the smart device is output to an output unit, (e.g., ear receiver or a speaker), in the form of a voice, and a voice signal transmitted by the smart device is extracted and input to the smart device as a digital voice signal to generate a sound by the smart device itself in addition to an externally generated sound that is input again with improved quality. Accordingly, a voice signal output by the smart device is extracted using a earphone type device having microphone mounted thereon and the voice signal is input to the smart device again.