`
`a2) United States Patent
`US 8,655,420 B1
`(0) Patent No.:
`*Feb. 18, 2014
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Pellandet al.
`
`(54)
`
`WIRELESS EARPHONE SET
`
`(71)
`
`Applicant: Koss Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Michael J. Pelland, Princeton, WI (US);
`Michael J. Koss, Milwaukee, WI (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Koss Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 14/031,938
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 19, 2013
`
`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/609,409, filed on
`Sep. 11, 2012, which is a continuation of application
`No. 13/459,291, filed on Apr. 30, 2012, now Pat. No.
`8,571,544, which is a continuation of application No.
`12/936,488,
`filed
`as
`application
`No.
`PCT/US2009/039754 on Apr. 7, 2009, now Pat. No.
`8,190,203.
`
`Provisional application No. 61/123,265, filed on Apr.
`7, 2008.
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 1/00
`US. Cl.
`USPC oie ccc ceseseereeseneeeeneeees 455/575.2; 381/58
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC woe 455/575.2, 412.2, 553.1, 425, 436,
`455/90.2, 418; 370/328, 389, 352; 381/58,
`381/74
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,784,685 A
`6,389,463 B2
`6,674,864 Bl
`6,792,091 B2
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`7/1998 Stanford etal.
`5/2002 Bolas
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`9/2004 Lemchenetal.
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`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`JP
`WO
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`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplementary European Search Report for European Application
`No. 09731146.8 mailed Jun. 10, 2011, 7 pages.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Kiet Doan
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — K&L Gates LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An earphoneset that comprises a pairedset of earphonesto be
`worn simultaneously by a useris disclosed. Each earphone in
`the paired set comprises at least one acoustic transducer for
`producing soundto be heard by the user. At least one of the
`earphonesin the pair set comprises a transceiver circuit and at
`least one button. The transceiver circuit is for wirelessly
`receiving and transmitting signals via a wireless network. The
`at least one buttonis accessible to the userat an exterior ofthe
`at least one earphone. Upon activation of the at least one
`button by the user, an indication for a song playedbythe pair
`of earphones is caused to be transmitted wirelessly, by the
`transceivercircuit via the wireless network, to a remote server
`connected to the Internet. The song played by the pair of
`earphones may be streamed from a digital audio content
`server connected to the Internet.
`
`14 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`
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`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2008/0031470 Al
`2008/0062939 Al
`2008/0076489 Al
`2008/0080705 Al*
`2008/0101279 Al
`2008/0165992 Al
`2008/0194301 Al*
`2009/0063703 Al
`2009/0225996 Al
`2010/0246788 Al
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`2012/0213381 Al
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`2/2008 Angelhag
`3/2008 Van Horn
`3/2008 Roseneretal.
`4/2008 Gerhardt etal. ......... 379/430
`5/2008 Russell
`7/2008 Kondo
`8/2008 Bailey .......c ce 455/575.2
`3/2009 Finkelstein etal.
`9/2009 Brooking
`9/2010 Menardetal.
`11/2010 Hasegawa
`8/2012 Pelland etal.
`2/2013 Pellandetal.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`B2
`Lemchenetal.
`8/2005
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`Bl
`Glaser
`2/2006
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`B2
`Vanderelli
`4/2006
`7,027,311
`B2
`Jordan
`8/2006
`7,095,455
`B2
`Takahashi
`8/2006
`7,099,370
`B2
`Hall
`10/2006
`7,120,388
`B2
`Hachimuraetal.
`11/2006
`7,139,585
`‘Yuen
`B2
`12/2008
`7,467,021
`B2
`Jannardetal.
`3/2009
`7,512,414
`B2
`Awiszus
`10/2009
`7,599,679
`B2
`Bloebaumetal.
`3/2010
`7,680,490
`B2
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`7,697,899
`Rofougaran
`B2
`Tarkoff et al.
`7/2010
`
`WO WO 2007/136620 A2—11/2007
`7,764,775
`B2
`Cucos
`9/2010
`
`WO WO 2007/139578 Al—12/2007
`7,805,210
`B2
`6/2011
`Handman
`WO
`WO 2008/054985 A2
`5/2008
`7,962,482
`B2
`9/2011
`WO
`WO 2009/086555 Al
`7/2009
`8,023,663
`Goldberg
`B2
`9/2011
`8,027,638
`Sanguino
`B2
`1/2012
`8,102,836
`Jerlhagen
`B2
`5/2012
`Pellandetal.
`8,190,203
`Al
`2004/0107271
`6/2004
`Ahnnet al.eee 709/219
`Al
`2005/0064853
`3/2005
`Radpour
`Al
`2005/0198233
`9/2005
`Manchester
`Al
`2005/0240296
`10/2005
`Nishiguchiet al.
`Al
`2006/0206487
`9/2006
`Harada
`Al
`2006/02 12442
`9/2006
`Conrad.
`Al
`Evans
`2006/0268830
`11/2006
`Al
`2007/0008984
`1/2007
`Philips
`Al
`2007/0037615
`2/2007
`Glezerman
`Al
`2007/0049 198
`3/2007
`Walshet al.
`Al
`2007/0147630
`6/2007
`Chiloyan
`Al
`2007/0150963
`6/2007
`Lee etal.
`Al
`2007/0165875
`7/2007
`Rezvani
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/
`US09/39754 mailed Jun. 11, 2009, 2 pages.
`for International
`International Preliminary Examination Report
`Application No. PCT/US09/39754 mailed Oct. 28, 2010, 8 pages.
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for Inter-
`national Application No. PCT/US09/39754 mailed Jun. 11, 2009, 5
`pages.
`“LTB 802.11 WiFi Headphones”, http://itreview.
`IT Review,
`belproject.com/item/1536 accessed on Mar. 13, 2008 (4 pages).
`
`* cited by examiner
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`Feb. 18, 2014
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`US 8,655,420 B1
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`FIG. 1B
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`FIG. 1C
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`US 8,655,420 B1
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`aBR
`
`
`
` isRKYY
`
`RKNY
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`YXa
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`\ maneBe AYH
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`FIG,2A
`
`Li
`a3
`ae
`Sare
`=ite
`=cr
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`
`
`=o
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`Wivd
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`FOENOS
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`adéOld
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`MYOMLSN
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`viv
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`Z0uN0S
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`UeDiz
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`WLIDIGONIAVSES
`
`
`
`
`
`d3AddSINSINOSClONY
`
`|
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`YHOMLIN|:
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`
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`eaAdISLSOHK
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`WW
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`JOMNOS
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`@CeOid
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`POWER SOURCE
`CONTROL
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`MEMORY
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`VOLATILE
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`f.
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`FIG. 4B
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` CURRENT
`
`DATA RATE
`UPDATE OK TO BE
`
`SENT WIRELESSLY?
`
` TRANSMIT
`
`TRANSMIT UPDATE TO
`
`UPDATE=PAN EARPHONE VIAHOST PX i
`WIRELESSLY
`COMPUTER
`>
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
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`
`
` COMMUNICATE
`VIAAD HOG WIRELESS
`
`NETWORK?
`
`EXCHANGE DATA REGARDINGLOCAL
`INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS
`
`
`
` INFRASTRUCTURE
`
`
`WIRELESSNETWORK
`AVAILABLE?
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATE Via aft
`n EQUALS
`
`
`INFRASTRUCTURE WIRELESS NETWORK
`NUMBER OF PRIORITIZES
`NETWORKS?
`
`
`
`
`(FRASTRUCTURE
`WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`
`
`OST SERV
`IP ASD
`
`ER SENDS
`RESS
`
`EARPHONE CONNECT TQ STREAMING
`DIGHAL AUDIO CONTENT SERVER USING
`IP AUDRESS
`
`“68
`
`
`LOSE CONNECTION?
`
`
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`OleLINSSLN)
`
`
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`daAds$LSOH
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`
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`ClOVYLANYSLNI
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`asAdasLSOH
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`YMOMNfo
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`|SSLeas1904
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`8Did
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`HAOMLIN
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`MYOMLIN
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`MAOMLIN
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`RES
`cs>
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`3{3¢
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`iw
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`1
`WIRELESS EARPHONE SET
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM
`
`The present application claimspriority as a continuation to
`US. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/609,409,
`Pub. No. 2013/0039510A1, filed Sep. 11, 2012, which is a
`continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser.
`No. 13/459,291 filed Apr. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,571,
`544, which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent
`application Ser. No. 12/936,488, filed Dec. 20, 2010, now
`USS. Pat. No. 8,190,203, which is a national stage entry of
`PCT/US09/39754,filed Apr. 7, 2009, which claimspriority to
`USS. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/123,265, filed
`Apr. 7, 2008.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Digital audio players, such as MP3 players and iPods, that
`store and play digital audio files, are very popular. Such
`devices typically comprise a data storage unit for storing and
`playing the digital audio, and a headphoneset that connects to
`the data storage unit, usually with a 44" or a3.5 mm jack and
`associated cord. Often the headphonesare in-ear type head-
`phones. The cord, however, between the headphonesand the
`data storage unit can be cumbersome and annoyingto users,
`and the length ofthe cord limits the physical distance between
`the data storage unit and the headphones. Accordingly, some
`cordless headphones have been proposed, such as the Mon-
`ster iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple Inc., which
`include a docking port on one of the earphones that can
`connect directly to an iPod Shuffle. Because they have the
`docking port, however, the Monster iFreePlay cordless head-
`phones from Apple are quite large and are not in-ear type
`phones. Recently, cordless headphones that connect wire-
`lessly via IEEE 802.11 to a WLAN-ready laptop or personal
`computer (PC) have been proposed, but such headphonesare
`also quite large and notin-ear type phones.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In one general aspect, the present inventionis directed to a
`wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for
`receiving streaming audio from a data source, suchasa digital
`audio player or a computer, over an ad hoc wireless network.
`Whenthe data source and the earphoneare out of range via
`the ad hoc wireless network, they may transition automati-
`cally to a commoninfrastructure wireless network (e.g., a
`wireless LAN). If there is no commoninfrastructure wireless
`network for both the data source and the earphone, the ear-
`phone may connect via an available infrastructure wireless
`network to a host server. The host server may, for example,
`broadcast streaming audio to the earphone and/or transmit to
`the earphone a network address(e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP)
`address) for a network-connected content server that streams
`digital audio. The earphone may then connectto the content
`server using the IP address. The content server may be an
`Internet radio server, including, for example, an Internet radio
`server that broadcasts streaming audio from the data source or
`some other content.
`In another general aspect, the present invention is directed
`to a system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client
`computing device, both of which are communicable with a
`host server via the Internet. The host server stores configura-
`tion parameters for the wireless earphoneset that are trans-
`mittable to the wireless earphoneset via the Internet, and that
`are configurable by an authenticated user of the client com-
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`60
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`2
`puting device viathe host server to generate updated configu-
`ration parameters for the wireless earphone set. The updated
`configuration parameters for the wireless earphoneset are
`transmitted by the host serverto the wireless earphoneset via
`the Internet.
`
`In another general aspect, the present invention is directed
`to an earphoneset that comprises a paired set of earphones to
`be worn simultaneously by a user. Each earphone in the
`paired set comprises at least one acoustic transducerfor pro-
`ducing soundto be heard bythe user. In addition, at least one
`ofthe earphonesin the pair set comprisesa transceivercircuit
`and at least one button. The transceiver circuit is for wire-
`
`lessly receiving and transmitting signals via a wireless net-
`work. The at least one button is accessible to the user at an
`exterior of the at least one earphone. Uponactivation ofthe at
`least one button by the user, an indication for a song played by
`the pair of earphones is caused to be transmitted wirelessly,
`by the transceivercircuit via the wireless network, to aremote
`server connectedto the Internet. In various implementations,
`the song played by the pair of earphones is streamed from a
`digital audio content server connectedto the Internet.
`These and other advantageous, unique aspects of the wire-
`less earphoneare described below.
`
`FIGURES
`
`invention are
`Various embodiments of the present
`described herein by way of example in conjunction with the
`following figures, wherein:
`FIGS. 1A-1E are views ofa wireless earphone according to
`various embodiments ofthe present invention;
`FIGS. 2A-2Dillustrate various communication modes for
`a wireless earphone according to various embodiments ofthe
`present invention;
`FIG.3 is a block diagram ofa wireless earphone according
`to various embodiments ofthe present invention;
`FIGS. 4A-4B show the wireless earphone connected to
`another device according to various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of a process implemented by a host
`server according to various embodiments of the present
`invention;
`FIG.6 is a diagram of a process implemented by the wire-
`less earphone to transition automatically between wireless
`networks according to various embodiments of the present
`invention;
`FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate communication systems
`involving the wireless earphone according to various embodi-
`ments of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram of a headset including a wireless
`earphone and a microphone according to various embodi-
`ments of the present invention; and
`FIG. 11 is a diagram ofa pair of wireless earphones with a
`dongle according to various embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`In one general aspect,the present invention is directed to a
`wireless earphone that receives streaming audio data via ad
`hoc wireless networks and infrastructure wireless networks,
`and that transitions seamlessly between wireless networks.
`The earphone may comprise one or more in-ear, on-ear, or
`over-ear speaker elements. Two exemplary in-ear earphone
`shapes for the wireless earphone 10 are shown in FIGS. 1A
`and 1B, respectively, although in other embodimentsthe ear-
`phone maytake different shapes and the exemplary shapes
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`3
`4
`comprises on-ear earphones10; in other embodiments, in-ear
`shown in FIGS. 1A and 1Bare not intendedto be limiting. In
`or over-ear earphones may be used.
`one embodiment, the earphonetransitions automatically and
`In other embodiments, the earphone 10 may comprise a
`seamlessly, without user intervention, between communica-
`hangerbar 17 that allows the earphone 10 to clip to, or hang
`tion modes. That is, the earphone may transition automati-
`on, the user’s ear, as shownin the illustrated embodiment of
`cally from an ad hoc wireless network to an infrastructure
`FIGS. 1D-1E. FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the earphone
`wireless network, without user intervention. As used herein,
`and FIG. 1F is a side view according to one embodiment. As
`an “ad hoc wireless network” is a network where two (or
`shown in the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 may
`more) wireless-capable devices, such as the earphone and a
`comprise dual speaker elements 106-A, 106-B. One of the
`data source, communicate directly and wirelessly, without
`speaker elements (the smaller one) 106-A is sizedto fit into
`using an access point. An “infrastructure wireless network,”
`the cavum conchaof the listener’s ear and the other element
`on the other hand, is a wireless network that uses one or more
`(the larger one) 106-Bis not. The listener may use the hanger
`access points to allow a wireless-capable device, such as the
`bar to position the earphone on the listener’s ear. In that
`wireless earphone, to connect to a computer network, such as
`connection, the hanger bar may comprise a horizontal section
`a LAN or WAN (including the Internet).
`that rests upon the upper external curvature of the listener’s
`FIGS. 1A and 1B show example configurations for a wire-
`ear behind the upper portion of the auricula (or pinna). The
`less earphone 10 according to various embodiments of the
`earphone may comprise a knurled knob that allows the user to
`present invention. The examples shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B
`adjust finely the distance between the horizontal section of
`are not limiting and other configurations are within the scope
`the hangerbar andthe speaker elements, thereby providing, in
`of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the
`such embodiments, another measure of adjustability for the
`earphone 10 may comprise a body 12. The body 12 may
`user. More details regarding such a dual element, adjustable
`earphone maybe found in U.S. provisional patent application
`comprise an ear canal portion 14 that is inserted in the ear
`Ser. No. 61/054,238, which is incorporated herein by refer-
`canalofthe user ofthe earphone10. In various embodiments,
`encein its entirety.
`the body 12 also may comprise an exterior portion 15 that is
`FIGS. 2A-2Dillustrate various communication modes for
`not inserted into user’s ear canal. The exterior portion 15 may
`a wireless data communication system involving the ear-
`comprise a knob 16 or someotheruser control (such asa dial,
`phone 10 according to embodimentsofthe present invention.
`apressure-activated switch, lever, etc.) for adjusting the shape
`As shownin FIG. 2A, the system comprises a data source 20
`of the ear canal portion 14. Thatis, in various embodiments,
`in communication with the earphone 10 via an ad hoc wireless
`activation (e.g. rotation) of the knob 16 may cause the ear
`network 24. The earphone 10, via its transceiver circuit (de-
`canal portion 14 to change shapesoas to, for example, radi-
`scribed in more detail below), may communicate wirelessly
`ally expand to fit snugly against all sides of the user’s ear
`with a data source 20, which may comprise a wireless net-
`canal. Further details regarding such a shape-changing ear-
`work adapter 22 for transmitting the digital audio wirelessly.
`bud earphoneare described in application PCT/US08/88656,
`For example, the data source 20 may be a digital audio player
`filed 31 Dec. 2008, entitled “Adjustable Shape Earphone,”
`(DAP), such as an mp3playeror an iPod,or any other suitable
`whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The
`digital audio playing device, such as a laptop or personal
`earphone 10 also may comprise a transceiver circuit housed
`computer, that stores and/orplays digital audio files. In other
`within the body 12. The transceivercircuit, described further
`embodiments, the data source 20 may generate analog audio,
`below, may transmit and receive the wireless signals, includ-
`and the wireless network adapter 22 may encode the analog
`ing receive streaming audio for playing by the earphone 10.
`audio into digital format for transmission to the earphone 10.
`Thetransceiver circuit may be housedin the exterior portion
`The wireless network adapter 22 may be anintegral part of
`15 of the earphone 10 and/orin the ear canal portion 14.
`the data source 20, or it may be a separate device that is
`Although the example earphones 10 shown in FIGS. 1A
`connected to the data source 20 to provide wireless connec-
`and 1B include a knob 16 for adjusting the shape of the ear
`tivity for the data source 20. For example, the wireless net-
`canalportion 14, the present invention is not so limited, and in
`work adapter 22 may comprise a wireless network interface
`other embodiments, different means besides a knob 16 may
`card (WNIC)or other suitable transceiver that plugs into a
`be used to adjustthe ear canal portion 14. In addition, in other
`USBport or otherport or jack of the data source 20 (such as
`embodiments, the earphone 10 may not comprise a shape-
`a TRSconnector) to stream data, e.g., digital audio files, via
`changing ear canal portion 14.
`a wireless network(e.g., the ad hoc wireless network 24 or an
`In various embodiments, the user may wear twodiscrete
`infrastructure wireless network). The digital audio transmit-
`wireless earphones 10: one in eachear. In such embodiments,
`each earphone 10 may comprise a transceivercircuit. In such
`ted from the data source 20to the earphone10 via the wireless
`
`embodiments, the earphones 10 may be connected byastring networks may comprise compressed or uncompressed audio.
`or someother cord-type connector to keep the earphones 10
`Anysuitable file format may be usedfor the audio, including
`from being separated.
`mp3,
`lossy or lossless WMA, Vorbis, Musepack, FLAC,
`In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1C, a headband 19
`WAV, AIFF, AU, or any other suitable file format.
`may connectthe two (left and right) earphones 10. The head-
`Whenin range, the data source 20 may communicate with
`band 19 may be an over-the-head band, as shown in the
`the earphone 10 via the ad hoc wireless network 24 using any
`example of FIG. 1C, or the headband may be a behind-the-
`suitable wireless communication protocol, including Wi-Fi
`head band. In embodiments comprising a headband 19, each
`(e.g., IEEE 802.1 1a/b/g/n), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), Blue-
`earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit; hence, each
`tooth, Zigbee, UWB, or any other suitable wireless commu-
`earphone 10 mayreceive and transmit separately the wireless
`nication protocol. For purposesofthe description to follow,it
`communication signals. In other embodiments comprising a
`is assumedthat the data source 20 and the earphone 10 com-
`headband 19, only one earphone 10 may comprisethe trans-
`municate using a Wi-Fi protocol, although the inventionis not
`ceivercircuit, and a wire may run along the headband19to the
`so limited and other wireless communication protocols may
`be used in other embodiments of the invention. The data
`other earphone10 to connect thereby thetransceivercircuit to
`the acoustic transducerin the earphonethat does not comprise
`source 20 and the earphone 10 are consideredin range for the
`the transceiver circuit. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1C
`ad hoc wireless network 24 when the signal strengths (e.g.,
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`the RSSJ)ofthe signals received by the two devices are above
`a threshold minimumsignal strength level. For example, the
`data source 20 and the earphone 10 are likely to be in range for
`an ad hoc wireless network when then are in close proximity,
`such as when the wearer of the earphone 10 has the data
`source 20 on his/her person, such as in a pocket, strapped to
`their waist or arm, or holding the data source in their hand.
`When the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are out of
`range for the ad hoc wireless network 24, that is, when the
`received signals degrade below the threshold minimum signal
`strength level, both the earphone 10 and the data source 20
`maytransition automatically to communicate over an infra-
`structure wireless network (such as
`a wireless LAN
`(WLAN)) 30 that is in the range of both the earphone 10 and
`the data source 20, as shown in FIG. 2B. The earphone 10 and
`the data source 20 (e.g., the wireless network adapter 22) may
`include firmware, as described further below, that cause the
`components to make the transition to a commoninfrastruc-
`ture wireless network 30 automatically and seamlessly, e.g.,
`without user intervention. The earphone 10 may cache the
`received audio in a buffer or memory for a time period before
`playing the audio. The cached audio maybe played after the
`connection overthe ad hoc wireless network1s lost to give the
`earphone 10 and the data source 20 time to connect via the
`infrastructure wireless network.
`
`For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the infrastructure net-
`work may comprise an access point 32 that is in the range of
`both the data source 20 and the earphone 10. The access point
`32 maybe an electronic hardware device that acts as a wire-
`less access point for, and that is connected to, a wired and/or
`wireless data communication network 33, such as a LAN or
`WAN,for example. The data source 20 and the earphone 10
`may both communicate wirelessly with the access point 32
`using the appropriate network data protocol (a Wi-Fi proto-
`col, for example). The data source 20 and the earphone 10
`may both transition automatically to an agreed-upon WLAN
`30 that is in the range of both devices when they cannot
`communicate satisfactorily via the ad hoc wireless network
`24. A procedure for specifying an agreed-uponinfrastructure
`wireless network 30 is described further below. Alternatively,
`the infrastructure wireless network 30 may have multiple
`access points 32a-b, as shownin FIG. 2C. In such an embodi-
`ment, the data source 20 may communicate wirelessly with
`one access point 324 and the earphone 10 may communicate
`wirelessly with another access point 32a of the sameinfra-
`structure wireless network 30. Again, the data source 20 and
`the earphone 10 maytransition to an agreed-upon WLAN.
`If there is no suitable common infrastructure wireless net-
`
`work over which the earphone 10 and the data source 20 can
`communicate, as shown in FIG. 2D, the earphone 10 may
`transition to communicate with an access point 32¢ for an
`available (first) wireless network (e.g., WLAN) 30a thatis in
`the range of the earphone 10. In this mode, the earphone 10
`may connect via the wireless network 30a to a network-
`enabled host server 40. The host server 40 may be connected
`to the wireless network 30a via an electronic data communi-
`cation network 42, such as the Internet. In one mode,the host
`server 40 may transmit streaming digital audio via the net-
`works 33a, 42 to the earphone 10. In another mode, the host
`server 40 may transmit to the earphone 10 a network address,
`such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, for a streaming
`digital audio content server 70 on the network 42. Using the
`received IP address, the earphone 10 may connect to the
`streaming digital audio content server 70 via the networks
`30a, 42 to receive and process digital audio from the stream-
`ing digital audio content server 70.
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`The digital audio content server 70 maybe, for example, an
`Internet radio station server. The digital audio content server
`70 may stream digital audio over the network 42 (e.g., the
`Internet), which the earphone 10 mayreceive and process. In
`one embodiment, the streaming digital audio content server
`70 may stream digital audio received by the streaming digital
`audio content server 70 from the data source 20. For example,
`wherethe data source 20 is a wireless-capable device, such as
`a portable DAP,the data source 20 may connectto the stream-
`ing digital audio content server 70 via a wireless network 305
`and the network 42. Alternatively, where for example the data
`source 20 is non-wireless-capable device, such as a PC, the
`data source 20 may have a direct wired connection to the
`network 42. After being authenticated by the streaming digi-
`tal audio content server 70, the data source 20 may stream
`digital audio to the streaming digital audio content server 70,
`which may broadcastthe received digital audio over the net-
`work 42 (e.g., the Internet). In such a manner, the user of the
`earphone10 maylisten to audio from the data source 20 even
`when (i) the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not in
`communication via an ad hoc wireless network 24 and(11) the
`earphone10 and the data source 20 are not in communication
`via a commonlocalinfrastructure wireless network 30.
`
`FIG.3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to
`various embodiments of the present invention. In the illus-
`trated embodiment, the earphone 10 comprises a transceiver
`circuit 100 and related peripheral components. As shown in
`FIG.3, the peripheral components of the earphone 10 may
`comprise a power source 102, a microphone 104, one or more
`acoustic transducers 106 (e.g., speakers), and an antenna 108.
`The transceiver circuit 100 and someofthe peripheral com-
`ponents (such as the power source 102 andthe acoustic trans-
`ducers 106) may be housed within the body 12 of the ear-
`phone 10 (see FIG. 1). Other peripheral components, such as
`the microphone 104 and the antenna 108 may be external to
`the body 12 of the earphone 10. In addition, some of the
`peripheral components, such as the microphone 104, are
`optional in various embodiments.
`In various embodiments, the transceiver circuit 100 may be
`implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC), such as a
`system-on-chip (SoC), which is conducive to miniaturizing
`the componentsof the earphone 10, which is advantageousif
`the earphone 10 is to be relatively small in size, such as an
`in-ear earphone (see FIGS. 1A-1B for example). In alterna-
`tive embodiments, however, the components of the trans-
`ceiver circuit 100 could be realized with two or more discrete
`ICs or other components, such as separate ICs for the proces-
`sors, memory, and RF(e.g., Wi-Fi) module, for example.
`The power source 102 may comprise, for example, a
`rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery (or batteries). In
`other embodiments, the power source 102 may comprise one
`or more ultracapacitors (sometimes referred to as superca-
`pacitors) that are charged by a primary power source. In
`embodiments where the power source 102 comprises a
`rechargeable battery cell or an ultracapacitor, the battery cell
`or ultracapacitor, as the case may be, may be chargedfor use,
`for example, when the earphone 10 is connected to a docking
`station or computer. The docking station may be connected to
`or part ofa computer device, such as a laptop computer or PC.
`In addition to charging the rechargeable power source 102,
`the docking station and/or computer mayfacilitate download-
`ing of data to and/or from the earphone 10. In other embodi-
`ments, the power source 102 may comprise capacitors pas-
`sively charged with RF radiation, such as described in US.
`Pat. No. 7,027,311. The power source 102 may be coupled to
`a powersource control module 103 of transceiver circuit 100
`that controls and monitors the power source 102.
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`The acoustic transducer(s) 106 may be the speaker element
`(s) for conveying the sound to the user of the earphone 10.
`According to various embodiments, the earphone 10 may
`comprise one or more acoustic transducers 106. For embodi-
`ments having more than one transducer, one transducer may
`be largerthanthe other transducer, and a crossovercircuit (not
`shown) may transmit the higher frequencies to the smaller
`transducer and may transmit the lower frequencies to the
`larger transducer. More details regarding dual element ear-
`phonesare provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,206, assigned to
`Koss Corporation, which is incorporated herein by reference
`in its entirety.
`The antenna 108 may receive and transmit the wireless
`signals from andto the wireless networks 24, 30. A RF (e.g.,
`Wi-Fi) module 110 of the transceiver circuit 100 in commu-
`nication with the antenna 108 may, among other things,
`modulate and demodulate the signals transmitted from and
`received by the antenna 108. The RF module 110 communi-
`cates with a baseband processor 112, which performs other
`functions necessary for the earphone 10 to communicate
`using the Wi-Fi (or other communication) protocol.
`The baseband processor 112 may be in communication
`with a processor unit 114, which may comprise a micropro-
`cessor 116 and a digital signal processor (DSP) 118. The
`microprocessor 116 may control the various components of
`the transceiver circuit 100. The DSP 114 may, for example,
`perform various sound quality enhancements to the digital
`audio received by the baseband processor 112, including
`noise cancellation and sound equalization. The processor unit
`114 m