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`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
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`8
`
`The earphone of claim 7, wherein the firmware, when executed bythe transceivercircuit,
`
`causesthe transceiver circuit of the earphoneto transmit data via the ad hoc wireless network to
`
`the data source regarding one or more infrastructure wireless networks detected by the transceiver
`
`circuit when the earphone andthe data source are communicating via the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`9.
`
`The earphone of claim 8, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit,
`
`causesthe transceivercircuit of the earphone to connect to a host server via a second
`
`infrastructure wireless network when (1) the data source is not in wireless communication range
`
`with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network and (2) the data source and the earphoneare
`
`not in wireless communication via the pre-set infrastructure wireless network.
`
`10.
`
`The earphone of claim 1, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit,
`
`causesthe transceiver circuit of the earphone to connect to a host servervia the infrastructure
`
`wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone
`
`via the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`11.
`
`The earphone of claim 10, wherein the earphoneis for receiving streaming digital audio
`
`from the host server via the infrastructure wireless network.
`
`12.
`
`The earphoneof claim 10, wherein the earphoneis for receiving a first network address
`
`for a first streaming digital audio content server from the host server via the infrastructure
`
`wireless network.
`
`13.
`
`The earphone of claim 12, wherein the earphone comprisesa user control that, when
`
`activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless
`
`networkto the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio
`
`content server.
`
`14,
`
`15.
`
`The earphone of claim 13, wherein the user control comprises a button.
`
`A system comprising:
`
`a data source for wirelessly transmitting streaming digital audio; and
`
`a wireless earphone that comprises:
`
`at least one acoustic transducer for converting an analogelectrical signal to sound;
`
`an antenna; and
`
`a transceivercircuit in communication with the at least one acoustic transducer and the
`
`antenna, wherein the transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals
`
`via the antenna, and wherein the transceiver circuit is for outputting the analog electrical
`
`signal to the at least one acoustic transducer, and wherein the wireless transceiver circuit
`
`comprises firmware, which when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the
`
`transceivercircuit to:
`
`t Le
`
`
`
`Attomey Docket No, 080188PCT
`
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`receive the streaming digital audio wirelessly from the data source via an ad hoc
`
`wireless network when the data source is in wireless communication range with
`
`the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network; and
`
`when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via
`
`the ad hoc wireless network,transition automatically to receive streaming
`
`digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.
`
`16.
`
`17.
`
`The system of claim 15, wherein the data source comprises a digital audio player.
`
`The system of claim 15, further comprising a host server that is in communication with the
`
`wireless earphonevia the infrastructure wireless network.
`
`18.
`
`The system of claim 17, wherein the firmware of the transceiver circuit of the wireless
`
`earphone, when executed bythe transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone
`
`to connect to the host server via the infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in
`
`wireless communication range with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`19.
`
`The system of claim 17, wherein the host server is for streaming digital audio to the
`
`earphonevia the infrastructure wireless network.
`
`20.
`
`The system of claim 17, wherein the host serveris for transmitting a first network address
`
`for a first streaming digital audio content server to the earphonevia the infrastructure wireless
`
`network
`
`21.
`
`The system of claim 20, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when
`
`activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless
`
`network to the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio
`
`content server.
`
`22.
`
`23.
`
`The earphoneof claim 2 1, wherein the user control comprises a button.
`
`The system of claim 18, wherein the host server hosts a web page for the wireless
`
`earphonethrough which a useris capable of configuring one or moresettings for the wireless
`
`earphone.
`
`24.
`
`25.
`
`The system of claim 15, wherein the infrastructure wireless network comprises a WLAN.
`
`The system of claim 15, wherein the firmware, when executed by the infrastructure
`
`wireless network is a pre-set infrastructure wireless network that the data sourcetransitions to
`
`whenthe data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphonevia the ad hoc
`
`wireless network and whenthepre-set infrastructure wireless networkis in range of both the
`
`earphoneand the data source.
`
`26.
`
`The system of claim 25, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit,
`
`causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to transmit data via the ad hoc wireless network to
`
`24
`
`
`
`Attomey Docket No, 080188PCT
`
`WO2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`the data source regarding one or moreinfrastructure wireless networks detected by the transceiver
`
`circuit when the earphoneandthe data source are communicating via the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`27.
`
`The system of claim 26, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceivercircuit,
`
`causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to connectto a host server via a second
`
`infrastructure wireless network when(1) the data source is not in wireless communication range
`
`with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network and (2) the data source and the earphone are
`
`not in wireless communication via the pre-set infrastructure wireless network.
`
`28.
`
`The system of claim 27, wherein the host server is for streaming digital audio to the
`
`earphonevia the infrastructure wireless network.
`
`29.
`
`The system of claim 27, wherein the host serveris for transmitting a first network address
`
`for a first streaming digital audio content server to the earphonevia the infrastructure wireless
`
`network
`
`30.
`
`The system of claim 29, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when
`
`activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless
`
`networkto the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio
`
`content server.
`
`31.
`
`32.
`
`The earphoneof claim 30, wherein the user control comprises a button.
`
`A system comprising:
`
`a host server;
`
`a first streaming digital audio content server that is connected to the host server via a data
`
`network; and
`
`a wireless earphone that is in communication with the host server via a wireless network, wherein
`
`the host server is programmedto transmit to the earphonea first network addressfor the first
`
`streaming digital audio content server.
`
`33,
`
`The system of claim 32, wherein the wireless earphone comprises:
`
`at least one acoustic transducer for converting an analog electrical signal to sound;
`
`an antenna; and
`
`a transceiver circuit in communication with the at least one acoustic transducer and the antenna,
`
`wherein the transceivercircuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals via the
`
`antenna, and wherein the transceivercircuit is for outputting the analog electrical signal to the
`
`at least one acoustic transducer, and wherein the wireless transceiver circuit comprises
`
`firmware that is executed by the transceivercircuit.
`
`25
`
`
`
`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`WO2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`34,
`
`The system of claim 33, wherein the host server hosts a web page for the wireless
`
`earphone through which a useris capable of configuring one or moresettings for the wireless
`
`earphone.
`
`35.
`
`The system of claim 34, wherein the one or more settings comprise the first streaming
`
`digital audio content server and a second streaming digital audio content server.
`
`36.
`
`The system of claim 35, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when
`
`activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the wireless network to the host
`
`server for a second network address for the second streaming digital audio content server.
`
`37.
`
`A headset comprising:
`
`a first earphone that comprises one or more acoustic transducers for converting a first analog
`
`electrical signal to sound; and
`
`a second earphone, connectedto the first earphone, wherein the second earphone comprises one
`
`or more acoustic transducers for converting a second analog electrical signal to sound, and
`
`wherein the first earphone comprises:
`
`a first antenna; and
`
`a first transceiver circuit in communication with the one or more acoustic transducers of
`
`the first earphone and in communication with the first antenna, whereinthefirst
`
`transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals via thefirst
`
`antenna, and wherein thefirst transceiver circuit is for outputting the first analog
`
`electrical signal to the one or more acoustic transducersof the first earphone, and
`
`wherein the first transceiver circuit comprises firmware, which when executed by the
`
`first transceiver circuit, causes the first transceiver circuit to:
`
`receive digital audio wirelessly from a data source via an ad hoc wireless network
`
`whenthe data source is in wireless communication range with the first
`
`earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network; and
`
`whenthe data source is not in wireless communication range with the first
`
`earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network, transition automatically to receive
`
`digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.
`
`38.
`
`The headset of claim 37, further comprising a head band, wherein the first and second
`
`earphonesare connected to the headband.
`
`39,
`
`The headset of claim 37, further comprising a microphone having an output connected to
`
`the first transceiver circuit.
`
`40.
`
`The headset of claim 37, wherein the first transceiver circuit is for outputting the second
`
`analogelectrical signal to the one or more acoustic transducers of the second earphone.
`
`26
`
`
`
`Attomey Docket No, 0O80188PCT
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`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
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`41.
`
`The headset of claim 37, wherein the second earphone comprises:
`
`a second antenna; and
`
`a secondtransceiver circuit in communication with the one or more acoustic transducers ofthe
`
`second earphone and in communication with the second antenna, wherein the second
`
`transceivercircuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals via the second antenna,
`
`and wherein the second transceivercircuit is for outputting the second analogelectrical signal
`
`to the one or more acoustic transducers of the second earphone, and wherein the second
`
`transceiver circuit comprises firmware, which when executed by the secondtransceiver
`
`circuit, causes the second transceivercircuit to:
`
`receive digital audio wirelessly from the data source via the ad hoc wireless network when
`
`the data source is in wireless communication range with the second earphonevia the
`
`ad hoc wireless network; and
`
`when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the second earphonevia
`
`the ad hoc wireless network, transition automatically to receive digital audio via the
`
`infrastructure wireless network.
`
`42.
`
`The headset of claim 37, wherein the first earphone comprisesa first data port and the
`
`second earphone comprises a second data port, and wherein the headset further comprises an
`
`adapter connectedto the first data port of the first earphone andto the second data port of the
`
`second earphone, and wherein the adapter comprises an output plug connector for connecting to a
`
`remote device.
`
`43.
`
`A method comprising:
`
`receiving, by a wireless earphone, via an ad hoc wireless network, digital audio from a data source
`
`whenthe data source is in wireless communication with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless
`
`network;
`
`converting, by the wireless earphone,the digital audio to sound; and
`
`whenthe data source is not in wireless communication with the earphone,transitioning
`
`automatically, by the earphone, to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.
`
`44.
`
`The method of claim 43, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphoneto receive
`
`digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises transitioning automatically to
`
`receive digital audio from the data source via an infrastructure wireless network when the data
`
`source is not in wireless communication range with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`45.
`
`The method of claim 43, further comprising, receiving by the wireless earphone from the
`
`data source via the ad hoc wireless network data regarding one or moreinfrastructure wireless
`
`27
`
`
`
`Attomey Docket No. 080188PCT
`
`WO2009/126614
`
`PCT/US2009/N39754
`
`networks detected by data source when the earphone and the data source are communicating via
`
`the ad hoc wireless network.
`
`46.
`
`The methodof claim 43, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphoneto receive
`
`digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises transitioning automatically to
`
`receive digital audio from a host severvia the infrastructure wireless network when the data
`
`source is not in wireless communication range with the earphonevia the ad hoc wireless network
`
`47.
`
`The methodof claim 43, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphone to receive
`
`digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises:
`
`receiving, by the wireless earphonevia the infrastructure wireless network, from a host server
`
`connectedto the infrastructure wireless network, a network address for a streaming digital
`
`audio content server; and
`
`connecting, by the wireless earphone, to the streaming digital audio content server using the
`
`network address received from the host server.
`
`
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`WO 2009/126614
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`4/16
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`DATASOURCE
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`AdHocWireless
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`5/16
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`6/16
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`
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`9/16
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`Fig.4A
`
`
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`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
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`10/16
`
`
`
`CURRENT
`DATA RATE
`
`50
`
`UPDATE OK TO BE
`
`
`SENT WIRELESSLY?
`
`
` TRANSMIT UPDATE TO
`
`SIZE OF
`UPDATE
`
`TRANSMIT
`
`EARPHONE VIA HOST
`UPDATE
`WIRELESSLY
`
`COMPUTER
` 51
`
`
`
`WO 2009/126614
`
`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`|
`
`NO
`
`64
`COMMUNICATE
`
`
`VIA AD HOC WIRELESS
`
`NETWORK?
`
`
`
`62
`
`
`
`EXCHANGE DATA REGARDING LOCAL
`INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS
`
`eeeeeoeeeaeeareg t 'i '' 't ' ; 'ti ''3
`
`ioae i i4f j
`
`{\
`
`
`
`
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`WIRELESS NETWORK,
`
`AVAILABLE?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`COMMUNICATE VIA n™ INFRASTRUCTURE
`WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`i
`
`64
`
`n BQUALS
`
`NUMBER OF
`
`PRIORITIZED
`NETWORKS?
`SS
`
`YES
`
`65
`
`
`an
`
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`
`
`WIRELESS NETWORK,
`
`
`OK?
`
`
`NO
`
`CONNECT TO HOST SERVER
`
`HOST SERVER SENDS IP
`ADDRESS
`
`=
`
`66
`
`67
`
`68
`
`
`
`EARPHONE CONNECT TO STREAMING DIGITAL
`AUDIO CONTENT SERVER USING IP ADDRESS
`
`
`
`69
`
`
`
`
` LOSECONNECTION?
`
`
`
`WO 2009/126614
`
`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`12/16
`
`
`
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`
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`WO 2009/126614
`
`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`13/16
`
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`
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`
`
`
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
`
`14/16
`
`
`
`
`
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
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`15/16
`
`
`
`24
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`
`
`
`
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/US2009/039754
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`16/16
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`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`International application No
`PCT/US 09/39754
`
`A
`CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
`IPC(8)
`- HO4R 1/02 (2009.01 )
`USPC - 381/330
`According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC
`FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
`USPC 381/330
`
`Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are includedin the fields searched
`USPC 381/309, 330, 340/505, 709/250 (see terms below)
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (nameof data base and, where practicable, search terms used)
`PubWEST(PGPB,USPT,USOC,EPAB,JPAB), GOOGLE SCHOLAR
`Search terms ad hocwireless network, infrastructure wireless network, earphone, headset, digital audio, antenna, transceiver, server,
`streaming, web page
`
`C DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`Category*
`x
`
`Citation of document, with indication, where approp Tate, of the relevant passages
`
`US 2007/01 16316 A1 (Goldberg) 24 May 2007 (24 05 2007), entire document, especially,
`para [0095]-[01 94], [0222], [0262]-[0277], [0303]-[0328], [0350]-[0352], Fig
`1, 13, 12, 29
`
`US 2008/0062939 A1 (Horn et al ) 13 March 2008 (13 03 2008), entire document
`
`US 2005/0198233 A1 (Manchester et al ) 08 September 2005 (08 09 2005), entire document
`
`Relevant to claim No
`
`
`
`PCT OSP 571 272-7774
`
`D Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C
`CI
`Special categories of cited documents
`filing date or priority
`later document published after the international
`date and not in conflict with the application bul cited to understand
`document defining the genera] state of the art which is not considered
`the principle or theory underlying the invention
`to be of particular relevance
`earlier application or patent but published onorafter the international
`document
`ofparticular relevance,
`the claimed invention cannot be
`considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
`filing date
`step when the document
`is taken alone
`document which may throw doubts on priority claum(s) or which is
`cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other
`document
`ofparticular relevance,
`the claimed invention cannot be
`special reason (as specified)
`considered to involve
`an inventive
`step when the document
`is
`document
`referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other
`combined with one or more other such documents, such combination
`means
`being obvious to a person skilled in the art
`document member of the same patent family
`
`document published pzorto the international
`the promty date claimed
`Date of the actual completion of the international search
`
`filing date but later than
`
`02 June 2009 (02 06 2009)
`
`Nameand mailing address of the ISA/US
`Mail Stop PCT, Attn ISA/US, Commissioner for Patents
`PO Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`Facsimile No
`571-273-3201
`
`Form PCT/ISA/2 10 (second sheet) (April 2007)
`
`"X"
`
`Date of mailing of the international search report
`IUUN 2009
`Autho 1zed officer
`
`Lee W Young
`
`PCT Helpdesk 571-272 4300
`
`