USOO8180078B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 8,180,078 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Zellner
`
`(45) Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS EMPLOYING
`MULTIPLE INDIVIDUAL WIRELESS
`EARBUDS FOR A COMMON AUDIO SOURCE
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`WO-2006064170 A1 *
`6/2006
`
`WO
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Samuel Zellner, Dunwoody, GA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP,
`Atlanta, GA (US)
`
`Release your JABRA, Jabra BT 320s, http://jabra.com, printed Dec.
`12, 2007.
`LG Bluetooth Stereo Headset HBS-l 10, http://buywirelessnow.com,
`printed Dec. 12, 2007.
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1187 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 11/955,389
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 13, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0154739 A1
`
`Jun. 18, 2009
`
`(51)
`
`Int. CI.
`(2006.01)
`11041: 5/033
`(52) US. Cl.
`........................................ 381/311; 381/309
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................... 381/74,
`381/80, 81, 311, 330, 384, 309
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,810,987 B1
`2004/0051788 A1*
`2007/0147629 A1*
`
`11/2004 DeKalb
`................. 348/211.99
`3/2004 Oka et al.
`6/2007 Chiloyan ........................ 381/74
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Ha Tran T Nguyen
`Assistant Examiner 7 Kevin Quinto
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm iMoazzam & Associates,
`LLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Multiple individual wireless earbuds provide audio from a
`common audio source. A user may thereby enjoy audio in
`both ears while also benefiting from an entirely wireless
`configuration. The individual wireless earbuds may each
`receive the audio signal from the common audio source and
`then produce audio accordingly. Each earbud may have a
`channel setting to define whether a given earbud will produce
`left channel or right channel audio for a multi-channel audio
`signal. The individual wireless earbuds may alternatively
`have a master-slave configuration where a master earbud
`receives a wireless audio signal from the common source,
`plays audio based on the audio signal, and transmits a wire-
`less signal based on the wireless audio signal to the slave
`earbud. The slave earbud then plays audio based on the wire-
`less signal from the master earbud.
`
`20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`IIII
`
`CONTROLER
`AMPLIFIER
`NOISE CANCELLER
`
`WIRELESS
`COMUNICATIONS
`AUDIO IN/OUT
`
`MEMORY/STORAGE _ VIDEO RECEIVER
`
`PDA APPS
`
`ETHERNET PORT
`
`BIO-SENSOR(S)
`CAMERA
`
`GPS
`
`ACCESSORY PORT(S)
`ACCELEROMETER
`
`VOICE RECOGNITION
`
`RECORDER E: IMAGERECOGNITION
`
`106
`
`108
`
`Bose Exhibit 1042
`
`Bose V. Koss
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 15, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 15, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
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`May 15, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`302
`
`304
`
`a
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`‘
`
`314
`
`a312
`
`310
`
`E 318
`
`316
`
`320
`
`i
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`414
`
`406 —X/RX -‘.CONTROLLER. 402
`
`_WITCH - 412
`
`400
`
`408
`
`410
`
`MICROPHONE
`
`SPEAKER
`
`404
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 15, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`500
`
`506
`
`COMUNICATIONS
`
`ETHERNET PORT
`
`ACCESSORY PORT(S)
`
`BIO-SENSOR(S)
`
`ACCELEROMETER
`
`502
`VIDEO RECEIVER
`
`CAMERA I. VOICE RECOGNITION
`
`IMAGE RECOGNITION
`
`RECORDER
`
`MEMORY/STORAGE
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 15, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of5
`
`US 8,180,078 B2
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`RECEIVE 1ST AUDIO SIGNAL FROM
`AUDIO SOURCE
`
`702
`
`706
`
`SEND LEFT TO
`
`SPEAKER, SEND RIGHT
`
`704
`
` LEFT OR
`
`? TO SLAVE
`RIGHT SELECTED
`
`708
`
`SEND RIGHT TO
`
`SPEAKER, SEND LEFT
`TO SLAVE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`710
`
`
`
`
`
`SESSION
`STARTED WITH
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`?
`
`YES
`
`712
`
`MUTE AUDIO SIGNAL TO
`
`SPEAKER AND SLAVE
`
`NO
`
`
`
`SEND AUDIO FROM
`
`RECEIVE AUDIO
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`FROM MICROPHONE
`
`DEVICE TO SPEAKER
`AND/OR SLAVE
`
`716
`
`718
`
`SEND AUDIO FROM
`
`MICROPHONE TO
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`DEVICE
`
`NO
`
`
`COMMUNICATION '
`DEVICE SESSION
`
`
`
`YES
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS EMPLOYING
`MULTIPLE INDIVIDUAL WIRELESS
`EARBUDS FOR A COMMON AUDIO SOURCE
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Embodiments relate to wireless earbuds. More particu-
`larly, embodiments relate to utilizing multiple individual
`wireless earbuds to produce audio from one or more common
`audio sources.
`
`Users of audio sources, such as personal audio and com-
`munications devices, typically use some form of a headset or
`earbud in order to maintain privacy and/or to avoid annoying
`bystanders. Initially, earbuds and headsets required a wired
`connection to the audio source. However, earbuds and head-
`sets have advanced so that the ultimate connection to the
`
`audio source may be wireless. Users often prefer a wireless
`earbud because there is little structure to wear, and, in some
`cases, the earbud may be nearly unnoticeable while being
`worn.
`
`10
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`15
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`While wireless earbuds are becoming commonplace as
`users desire handsfree operation and no clutter from wires,
`there are drawbacks. For example, users are restricted to a
`single wireless earbud, and hence sound only in one ear, if all
`wires are to be avoided. If users want audio from a common
`source in both ears, then the user must sacrifice some of the
`benefits of being entirely wireless since stereo earbuds are
`linked by a wired connection to a common controller box that
`maintains the wireless connection to the audio source.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Embodiments address issues such as these and others by
`providing multiple individual wireless earbuds that may pro-
`vide audio from a common audio source. Thus, each earbud
`may have only a wireless connection so that the user may
`experience audio in each ear while having an entirely wireless
`configuration between the multiple earbuds and the common
`audio source.
`
`Embodiments provide an earbud system that includes a
`first earbud which includes a first speaker and a first wireless
`receiver that is in wireless communication with an audio
`
`source. The first wireless receiver receives an audio signal
`from the audio source, and the received audio signal is pro-
`vided to the first speaker to produce sound from the first
`earbud. A second earbud includes a second speaker and a
`second wireless receiver that is in wireless communication
`
`with the audio source concurrently with the first wireless
`receiver. The second wireless receiver receives the audio sig-
`nal from the audio source, and the received audio signal is
`provided to the second speaker to produce sound from the
`second earbud.
`
`Embodiments provide an earbud system that includes a
`first earbud that receives a first wireless audio signal from an
`audio source, that transmits a second wireless audio signal,
`and that outputs audio corresponding to the first audio signal
`via a first speaker. A second earbud is included and receives
`the second wireless audio signal from the first earbud and
`outputs audio corresponding to the second audio signal via a
`second speaker.
`Embodiments provide an earbud that includes a housing
`that fits onto an ear. The earbud further includes a wireless
`receiver that receives a first wireless signal from an audio
`source and a speaker that plays audio based on the first wire-
`less signal. The earbud also includes a wireless transmitter
`that sends a second wireless signal to a second device differ-
`ent than the audio source.
`
`2
`
`Other systems, methods, and/or computer program prod-
`ucts according to embodiments will be or become apparent to
`one with skill in the art upon review ofthe following drawings
`and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional
`systems, methods, and/or computer program products be
`included within this description, be within the scope of the
`present invention, and be protected by the accompanying
`claims.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows one example of an earbud system utilizing
`multiple individual wireless earbuds with a common audio
`source according to various embodiments.
`FIG. 2 shows another example of an earbud system utiliz-
`ing multiple individual wireless earbuds with a common
`audio source according to various embodiments.
`FIG. 3A shows an example of an individual wireless ear-
`bud with an audio channel switch according to various
`embodiments.
`
`FIG. 3B shows an example of a pair of individual wireless
`earbuds with ear hanger switches according to various
`embodiments.
`
`25
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`FIG. 4 shows an example of components of a master wire-
`less earbud of an earbud system according to various embodi-
`ments.
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`FIG. 5 shows an example ofcomponents ofa slave wireless
`earbud of an earbud system according to various embodi-
`ments.
`
`FIG. 6 shows an example of additional components of a
`wireless earbud according to various embodiments.
`FIG. 7 shows an example of logical operations that may be
`performed by a master wireless earbud according to various
`embodiments.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Embodiments provide for a system of earbuds where each
`individual earbud is wireless, and each earbud plays audio
`concurrently with the other based on an audio signal from a
`common audio source. Accordingly, users can enjoy audio
`from the common audio source in both ears while avoiding
`the clutter of wires from the earbuds.
`
`FIG. 1 shows one example of an earbud system. In this
`example, a first wireless earbud 102 is being worn on an ear
`110, while a second wireless earbud 104 is being worn on an
`ear 112. Also in this example, both wireless earbuds 102, 104
`receive a wireless audio signal from an audio source such as
`a personal digital music player 106 and/or a mobile commu-
`nications device 108. While the wireless earbuds 102, 104 or
`shown being worn on or in the ear, it will be appreciated that
`embodiments of the wireless earbuds 102, 104 may also be
`worn in proximity to the ear 110, 112 rather than directly on
`or in the ear 110, 112, such as where the sound is projected
`into a nearby ear 110, 112 or sound is communicated through
`surrounding bone to the ear 110,112.
`Both wireless earbuds 102, 104 may receive the audio
`signal in one of various ways. For example, the audio source
`106, 108 may be configured to broadcast the audio signal to
`any compatible wireless device that is in range. The broadcast
`may be digital such that other nearby devices may easily
`reject the broadcast while the earbuds 102, 104 may consume
`the broadcast.
`
`As another example, the audio source 106, 108 may main-
`tain a communication session, such as via a Bluetooth®
`AdvancedAudio Distribution Profile (A2DP) or similar wire-
`less digital protocol with at least one ofthe earbuds 102, 104.
`
`

`

`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`3
`Where the audio source 106, 108 is capable of maintaining
`two concurrent sessions, then each earbud 102, 104 has its
`own session with the audio source 106, 108. The audio source
`106, 108 may be configured to send a first audio channel or
`group of audio channels Via one of the communication ses-
`sions while being configured to send a second audio channel
`or group of audio channels Via the other communication
`session. Thus, for multi-channel audio, each earbud 102, 104
`may receive a different channel to provide multi-channel
`audio for the user. Alternatively, the audio source may send all
`channels to each earbud 102, 104, and the earbuds 102, 104
`may discern which audio channels should be played back.
`As another example, the audio sources 106, 108 may main-
`tain only a singlc communication scssion, such as via thc
`Bluetooth® protocol with one earbud 102. However, the sec-
`ond earbud 104 may be configured to eavesdrop on the com-
`munication session established for the earbud 102, such that
`both earbuds 102, 104 get the audio signal from the audio
`source 106, 108.
`For instances where both earbuds 102, 104 get all channels
`of a multi-channel audio signal from the audio source 106,
`108, then the earbuds 102, 104 may either play a combined
`audio signal or may play pre-designated channels. As dis-
`cussed below, either or both of the earbuds 102, 104 may
`include switches to allow a user to manually set which chan-
`nels of a multi-channel audio signal each earbud 102, 104 will
`play.
`According to one or more illustrative embodiments, in
`addition to the earbuds 102, 104 receiving audio signals, at
`least one earbud 104 also sends an audio signal. In the
`example shown, the earbud 104 sends an audio signal to the
`communications device 108. The earbud 104 may include a
`microphone so that the user may have a telephone conversa-
`tion. The earbud 104 sends an audio signal that includes the
`audio obtained by the microphone and the communications
`device 108 then receives that audio signal and sends it out to
`the other caller.
`
`FIG. 2 shows another example of an earbud system. In this
`example, a first wireless earbud 202 is being worn in, on, or in
`proximity to an ear 210 while a second wireless earbud 204 is
`being worn in, on, or in proximity to an ear 212. Also in this
`example, only the first wireless earbud 202 receives a wireless
`audio signal directly from an audio source such as a personal
`digital music player 206 and/or a mobile communications
`device 208. This audio signal may be ofvarious types, such as
`a Bluetooth® protocol digital signal or an analog broadcast.
`The second wireless earbud 204 receives an audio signal
`that is sent by the first wireless earbud 202. Thus, the first
`wireless earbud 202 acts as a master, while the second wire-
`less earbud 204 acts as a slave. This audio signal that is sent by
`the first wireless earbud 202 may be of the same type and
`protocol as the original audio signal from the audio source
`206, 208 or may be an entirely different type and/or format.
`For example, the audio signal from the audio source 206, 208
`may be a digital signal of a first protocol, while the audio
`signal from the first earbud 202 to the second earbud 204 may
`be an analog signal or a digital signal of a different protocol.
`In this example, the content of the audio signal sent from
`the first earbud 202 may be a duplicate of the content of the
`audio signal received from the audio source 206, 208. Thus,
`the first earbud 202 may act to extract the content from the
`incoming audio signal and then re-package the extracted
`audio into an audio signal being sent out to the second earbud
`204. In that case, both earbuds 202, 204 may play the same
`audio, such as a combination of all channels for a multi-
`channel audio signal.
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`4
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`As an alternative to the first earbud 202 duplicating the
`audio content, the first earbud 202 may instead separate the
`audio content into its multiple channels, ifmulti-channel, and
`then send out a signal that includes those channels that should
`be played by the second earbud 204. The channels for the first
`earbud 202 to play versus the channels for the first earbud 202
`to send out to the second earbud 204 may be pre-designated.
`As discussed above, the first earbud 202 may include a selec-
`tion so that the user can set which channels the first earbud
`
`202 should play and which should be sent to the second
`earbud 204.
`
`According to one or more illustrative embodiments, in
`addition to the earbuds 202, 204 receiving audio signals, at
`lcast onc carbud 202 also scnds an audio signal. In thc
`example shown, the earbud 202 sends an audio signal to the
`communications device 208. As with the previous example of
`FIG. 1, the earbud 202 may include a microphone so that the
`user may have a telephone conversation. The earbud 202
`sends an audio signal that includes the audio obtained by the
`microphone and the communications device 208 then
`receives that audio signal and sends it out to the other caller.
`It will be appreciated that the second earbud 204 could
`include the microphone and transmitter instead of the first
`earbud 202. However, by including the microphone and trans-
`mitter at the first earbud 202, the first earbud 202 may detect
`that the audio from an audio source 206 or no-call related
`
`audio from a communications device 208 should be stopped
`while a call is in progress and may stop sending audio to the
`second earbud 204 during that period.
`FIG. 3A shows one example of an earbud 302. This earbud
`302 has a form factor similar to a hearing aid, where the
`earbud 302 may rest partially within the ear canal. Either or
`both earbuds of a pair may have this form factor. In this
`example, the earbud 302 includes a switch 304 that can be
`user manipulated between a first and a second position.
`The first position of the switch 304 corresponds to one
`channel or grouping of channels of audio. For example, this
`first position may correspond to the left (L) channel of stereo
`audio. The second position corresponds to another channel or
`grouping of channels of audio, for example, the right (R)
`channel of stereo audio.
`
`FIG. 3B shows another example of earbuds. These earbuds
`have a form factor that allows a main body 310, 316 to reside
`externally but adjacent to the ear of the user. To secure these
`earbuds in place, an ear hanger 314, 320 is provided to rest on
`the ear so that the main body 310, 316 is suspended from the
`ear and is positioned near the ear canal.
`The ear hangers 314, 320 are attached to the main bodies
`310, 316 by support shafts 312, 318, respectively. According
`to some illustrative embodiments, the ear hangers 314, 320
`may pivot about the support shaft 312, 318 so that a single
`main body 310, 316 may be used for either a left ear or a right
`ear. The pivoting of the ear hanger 314, 320 about the support
`shaft 312, 318 may further serve to manipulate a switch that
`controls which channels of audio the earbud will play.
`In the examples shown, the ear hanger 314 is positioned to
`fit onto a right ear. Thus, the switch of the earbud is set to
`allow playback of channels of audio intended for the right ear,
`such as the right channel of stereo audio. In this example, the
`ear hanger 314 has an R facing outward to signify to the user
`that the ear hanger is set for the right ear and that the audio
`playback will be for the right ear. The ear hanger 320 is
`positioned to fit onto a left ear. Thus, the switch of the earbud
`is set to allow playback of channels of audio intended for the
`left ear, such as the left channel of stereo audio and the ear
`hanger 320 has an outward facing L to signify this to the user.
`
`

`

`US 8,180,078 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 4 shows an example of components of an earbud 400
`according to various embodiments. This carbud 400 may
`correspond to either of the form factors discussed above in
`relation to FIGS. 3A and 3B as well as other form factors. The
`
`earbud 400 includes a controller 402 that performs logical
`operations to receive audio signals, transmit audio signals,
`and provide audio playback to the user. The controller may be
`of various forms such as a general purpose programmable
`processor, an application specific processor, hard wired digi-
`tal logic, and various combinations thereof.
`The controller 402, where it may store programming or
`digital logic to be self-executed, is an example of a computer
`readable medium which store instructions that when per-
`formed implement various logical operations. Such computer
`readable media may include various storage media including
`electronic, magnetic, and optical storage. Computer readable
`media may also include communications media, such as
`wired and wireless connections used to transfer the instruc-
`
`tions or send and receive other data messages.
`The controller 402 communicates with various other com-
`ponents. The controller 402 may communicate with a wire-
`less receiver 408 that may receive audio from an external
`device that sends information such as an audio signal to the
`earbud 400. For example, a digital audio player may broad-
`cast an audio signal or otherwise send an audio signal without
`requiring a handshake communication session such that the
`earbud 400 is not required to transmit a confirmation back to
`the audio source. In that case, the receiver 408 may be the only
`component directly communicating with the audio source.
`According to illustrative embodiments, another compo-
`nent that may be present is a wireless transceiver 406. This
`transceiver 406 may be used to wirelessly communicate bi-
`directionally with an external device such as an audio source.
`For example, the audio source may utilize a digital protocol
`such as the Bluetooth® protocol and may require a handshake
`and/or acknowledgement of communication attempts in
`order to provide the audio signal. In that case, the transceiver
`406 may receive data packets from and also send return data
`packets to the audio source. As another example, the trans-
`ceiver 406 may be employed where return audio is to be
`provided from the earbud 400, such as when communicating
`with an audio recorder or with a telecommunications device.
`
`The controller 402 may obtain audio to send via the trans-
`ceiver 406 by a microphone 410. This microphone 410
`receives the spoken audio from the user. This microphone 41 0
`may be of various types, such as a first type to have a narrow
`reception cone to attempt to receive only spoken audio from
`the user or a second type to have a broad reception cone to
`attempt to also receive background audio.
`The controller 402 provides audio playback to the user by
`channeling audio signals received via the receiver 408 or
`transceiver 406 to a speaker system 404. The speaker system
`404 includes a transducer and any necessary amplification to
`produce audio at levels adequate for the user to hear when the
`earbud 400 is mounted on the ear of the user.
`
`The controller 402 may also be in communication with a
`switch 414. This switch 414 may be manipulated to control
`which channels of multi-channel audio this earbud 400 will
`
`play through the speaker system 404. As discussed above, this
`switch 414 may be of various forms such as a slidable switch
`304 shown in FIG. 3A or a pivoting shaft 312, 318 as shown
`in FIG. 3B.
`For embodiments where the earbud 400 is a master that
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`provides the audio signals to a slave earbud, either a trans-
`mitter such as that of the transceiver 406 or a dedicated
`
`65
`
`transmitter 412 may be included. The controller 402 may
`provide the audio signal to be received by the slave earbud to
`
`6
`the transmitter 412 which then transmits a wireless signal that
`is received by the slave carbud. As discussed above, this
`wireless signal to the slave earbud may be of various forms,
`such as an analog signal or a digital signal corresponding to a
`particular protocol.
`The controller 402 may employ signal processing to the
`received audio signal to separate the audio signal into the
`various channels it may include. The controller 402 may then
`send the appropriate channels ofthe audio signal to the appro-
`priate components. For example, if the earbud 400 is set to
`play all received channels, then all channels are provided to
`the speaker system 402. If the earbud 400 is set to play the
`right channel, then the controller 402 may provide the right
`channel to the speaker system 404 while providing the left
`channel to the transmitter 412 for sending to the slave earbud
`for playback of the left channel.
`FIG. 5 shows examples of components of an earbud 500
`that may be a slave earbud that receives audio signals to be
`played back from a master earbud, such as earbud 400. Fur-
`thermore, the earbud 500 may represent an example that is
`used to receive a communication directly from an audio
`source, such as where the audio source broadcasts the audio
`signal to all listening earbuds 500 or as an example where the
`audio source is capable of maintaining multiple communica-
`tion sessions with multiple earbuds 500.
`The earbud 500 includes a controller 502. This controller
`502 communicates with a wireless receiver 506 to receive
`
`incoming audio signals. The receiver 506 may be an analog
`receiver, a digital receiver, or both. The controller 502 obtains
`the audio signal from the receiver 506 and then provides it to
`a speaker system 504 that includes a transducer and any
`amplification needed to produce audio playback at a volume
`level adequate for a user having the earbud 500 in close
`proximity to an ear.
`FIG. 6 shows examples of components of an earbud 600
`that includes a variety of enhanced functions beyond audio
`playback. To provide for the audio playback and bi-direc-
`tional audio as discussed above, this earbud 600 includes a
`controller 602 as well as wireless communications compo-
`nents 604 such as one or more sets of transmitters and receiv-
`ers to communicate with external audio sources and/or other
`
`earbuds. Furthermore, this earbud 600 may include audio
`input/output components 606 including one or more speakers
`and one or more microphones.
`This earbud 600 may include many other components. For
`example, a hearing aid amplifier 620 may be present to
`amplify the sound received through a microphone of the
`input/output components 606 that is configured to pick up the
`background rather than the speech of the user. This amplified
`sound is then played back to the user through a speaker ofthe
`input/output components 606 so that the user can hear the
`background better than if the earbud 600 was not in place.
`The earbud 600 may employ a noise canceller module 622
`in order to cancel unwanted noise from a signal to be played
`back or form a signal to be sent out to another earbud or an
`external audio device. For example, the noise canceller mod-
`ule 622 may cancel noise from the background sounds to be
`amplified by the hearing aid amplifier 620. As another
`example, the noise canceller module 622 may cancel noise
`from the background sounds to be sent to a telecommunica-
`tions device. As another example, the noise canceller module
`622 may cancel noise received in the audio signal incoming
`from the external audio source, such as noise acquired during
`the wireless signal transfer.
`The earbud 600 may include a geonavigational positioning
`system (GPS) module 624. The GPS module 624 may keep
`track of a current geographical location ofthe earbud 600 and
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`US 8,180,078 B2
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`may share that geographical location for use by other on-
`board components and/or to report
`to external devices
`through wireless transmission.
`The earbud 600 may include one or more accessory ports
`626 that allow for connection to a display device, a keyboard,
`and the like. Thus, a user may attach such devices and interact
`with the controller 602 and any applications and modules of
`the earbud 600 to configure it for use, upload new program-
`ming or settings, and download captured data.
`The earbud 600 may include an accelerometer 628 that
`may produce signals in response to movement of the earbud
`600. These signals may then be used to produce data that can
`be stored and reviewed to analyze motion of the earbud 600,
`and hence motion of the user wearing the earbud 600. For
`example, this motion data may be used to analyze a medical
`condition of the user, to measure physical activity of the user,
`and so on.
`
`The earbud 600 may include a voice recognition module
`630. Thus, the user may speak commands or data and the
`earbud 600 may then recognize the spoken commands or data
`and respond accordingly. For example, the controller 602
`may perform functions in response to a command to perform
`the functions being output by the voice recognition module.
`For instance, the volume of the playback may be increased or
`decreased in response to the user verbally requesting such a
`change in the volume.
`The earbud 600 may include an image recognition module
`632. The earbud 600 may also include a camera 614. Thus,
`upon recording images by the camera 614, the image recog-
`nition module 632 may recognize objects or other aspects
`from the image. For example, the image recognition module
`632 may recognize objects signifying a current environment
`in which a particular volume level should be used for the
`audio playback.
`The earbud 600 may include a video receiver 634 that may
`receive wireless video signals. The earbud 600 may have
`video capability such that video can be sent and received
`through wireless connectivity, e.g., Bluetooth® protocol, or a
`temporary wired connection. Thus, an auxiliary display
`device may provide video playback of video stored by the
`earbud 600. Alternatively, the earbud 600 may include a dis-
`play device as an additional attachment and that may be
`positioned in front of an eye of the user to view the video
`playback, such as a wired projection display.
`The earbud 600 may include various applications 608 such
`as those typically found in a personal digital assistant (PDA).
`For example, the earbud 600 may maintain a calendar of
`events, may track the current date and time, and may provide
`audible alarms when the time for occurrence of an event has
`
`been reached. As another example, the applications 608 may
`store to-do lists and the like on behalf of the user and may
`receive input produced by the voice recognition module 630
`in response to the user verbally stating information about
`tasks to be tracked by the earbud 600. A wireless keyboard
`that may wirelessly connect to the earbud 600 is an alternative
`manner of entering such textual information.
`The earbud 600 may include networking ports such as an
`Ethernet port 610. Such networking ports may allow the
`earbud 600 to be accessed via a network or to upload acquired
`data to the network.
`
`The earbud 600 may include or maintain wireless connec-
`tivity to biometric sensors 612 such as temperature sensors,
`blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, blood sugar
`monitors, and/or other blood monitors. In this manner, the
`earbud 600 may be utilized to collect such biometric data over
`time for later downloading and review by the user and/or a
`physician.
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`The earbud 600 may also include a recorder module 616.
`This recorder module 616 may record to a memory 618 any
`information received, generated, or otherwise acquired by the
`earbud 600. For example, audio signals that are being sent to
`the earbud 600 may be recorded for subsequent playback.
`Likewise, photographs from the camera 614 may be recorded
`to the memory 618. Accelerometer data, GPS data, biometric
`data, and the like may be stored to the memory 618. Further-
`more, such information may be stored with a time stamp so
`that the information may be correlated with respect to time to
`provide for various analyses of user health or behavior.
`FIG. 7 shows one example of a set of logical operations to
`be performed by a controller 402 of an earbud 400 for pur-
`poses of receiving incoming audio signals, providing for bi-
`directional communications during a telephone call, and
`managing a slave earbud 500. At a signal operation 702, the
`controller 402 receives a first audio signal from an audio
`source 106. The controller 402 then determines whether the
`
`left channel or right channel is selected for this earbud 400 at
`a query operation 704. Where the left channel is selected, the
`controller 402 then sends the left channel of the audio signal
`to the speaker 404 and sends the right channel of the audio
`signal to the slave earbud 500 at an audio operation 706.
`Where the right channel is selected, the controller 402 then
`sends the right channel of the audio signal to the speaker 404
`and sends the left channel of the audio signal to the slave
`earbud 500 at an audio operation 708. While as shown one
`channel or the other is to be selected, it will be appreciated
`that a mono selection may also be made available so that both
`earbuds 400 and 500 play the same mono audio.
`The controller 402 monitors for a connnunication session
`with a communications device 108, such as a mobile tele-
`phone, that takes priority over listening to the audio source
`106 at a query operation 710. Once such a communication
`session is started, the controller 402 then mutes the audio
`signal to the speaker 404 and to the slave earbud 500 at mute
`operation 712. The controller 402 then initiates two parallel
`sets of operations to handle the bi-directional nature of the
`communication session.
`
`For one ofthe sets ofparallel operations, the controller 402
`sends audio from the communications device 108 that is
`
`being received as the audio signal to the speaker 404 and/or to
`the slave earbud 500 at an audio operation 714. The user may
`prefer to hear the audio of the communication session in one
`particular ear or in both ears. The controller 402 may thus
`send the audio to the speaker 404 and/or to the slave earbud
`500 so that the audio reaches the desired ear and/or ears.
`
`For the other set of parallel operations, the controller 402
`receives audio from the on-board microphone 410 at an audio
`operation 716. The controller 402 then has this acquired audio
`sent to the communications device 108 of the communica-
`
`tions session at a send operation 718. The controller 402 then
`detects whether the communications session has ended at a
`
`query operation 720. If not, then the controller 4