The US Patent & Trademark Office has published (Apple-ication?) for a patent that covers a "wireless communication headset with wired and wireless modes".

"The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone," the patent application reads. It goes on to specify that "the wireless communication headset is operable to transmit audio data to the telephone using Bluetooth communication".

Apple has launched a Bluetooth headset in the past, and in 2009. The main difference with prospective products to be covered by this patent is the addition of the cable, which could serve to charge the headset and operate it as a wired headset when battery life is an issue.

"The communication headset is operable to receive power from the telephone through the cable when the at least one electrical contact is coupled to the cable and the cable is coupled to the telephone," the patent explains.