(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0194209 A1
`
`
` Haupt et al. (43) Pub. Date: Aug. 14, 2008
`
`US 20080194209A1
`
`(54) WIRELESS HEADPHONES AND DATA
`TRANSMISSION METHOD
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Oct. 19, 2004
`
`(DE) ...................... 10 2004 051 091.1
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Axel Haupt, Langenhagen (DE);
`Andre Michaelis, Wedemark (DE);
`Rolf Meyer, Wennigsen (DE);
`Katrin Huss, Singapore (SG); Jens
`Wildhagen, Burgdorf (DE)
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl-
`H04B 1/38
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Corres ondence Address:
`REEDPSMITH, LLP
`ATTN: PATENT RECORDS DEPARTMENT
`599 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 29TH FLOOR
`NEW YORK, NY 10022-7650
`
`(21) AP131. N0.:
`
`11/665,689
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Oct. 193 2005
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/EP05/11228
`
`§ 371 (0X1),
`(2); (4) Date:
`
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`(52) us. Cl. .......................................................... 455/73
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`There is provided a wireless headphone unit having at least
`one electroacoustic transducer and a transmitting/receiving
`unit for wirelessly receiving first signals which contain audio
`signals to be reproduced on the electroacoustic transducer
`and a network identification unit for storing the network
`identification of the wireless headphone unit, wherein the
`transmitting/receiving unit is adapted for wirelessly transmit-
`ting the network identification of the headphone unit.
`
`Internet
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`Fig.1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2008/0194209 A1
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`To the access point
`
`to)
`WSW
`
`E3
`
`Short-range
`connection
`
`_
`
`BE
`
`Fig.2
`
`To the access point
`
`.
`..
`‘ Further
`j-_ reproduction devites
`.
`l
`/,'
`.
`
`n.-
`
`'
`
`'oIJo
`ooIIOoaoI
`
`.
`
`WG
`
`'
`
`Short-range
`
`connection
`
`\
`
`O
`
`'
`
`Fig.3
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Fig.4
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`m9“.
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`EEQE
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`Patent Application Publication
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` Fig.6
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`Serverormicrophone
`management
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`Fig.8
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`Patent Application Publication
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`II-
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`Fig.9
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`US 2008/0194209 A1
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`WIRELESS HEADPHONES AND DATA
`TRANSMISSION METHOD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application claims priority of International
`Application No. PCT/EP2005/011228, filed Oct. 19, 2005
`and German Application No. 10 2004 051 091.1, filed Oct.
`19, 2004, the complete disclosures ofwhich are hereby incor-
`porated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`a) Field of the Invention
`[0003] The present invention concerns a wireless head-
`phone unit, a wireless microphone, a wireless headset and a
`data transmission method.
`
`b) Description of the Related Art
`[0004]
`[0005] The spread of digitally compressed music for
`example in the form of MP3 files has risen greatly in recent
`years. Audio files are digitized and stored for example on a
`hard drive of a computer or the like. Thus, computers are
`increasingly used as music servers in the private sector and
`the computer is used for playing back the audio files stored
`thereon. Thus, it is possible to listen to music on a wired
`system and, if the computer has for example a radio interface,
`it is also possible to listen to music wirelessly or it is possible
`to provide for wireless transmission of the audio files or the
`audio signals. There are also music servers which are con-
`nected to the Internet and which provide audio files free or for
`a fee. A user can download the free or paid-for audio files on
`to his own computer by way ofthe Internet and can then listen
`to the downloaded audio files. By means of a mobile tele-
`phone or a mobile radio-enabled PDA, a user, on the basis of
`HSCSD, GPRS, UMTS or the like, can access the Internet
`and thus also download audio files ofthat kind. In that respect
`however it is found that there is the disadvantage that a large
`amount of data has to be transmitted at often an only low data
`transmission rate.
`
`[0006] A PDA or a notebook with a WLAN interface (IEEE
`802.11) can also wirelessly access the Internet if the PDA or
`the network is within the transmission range of a WLAN
`access point. That is particularly advantageous in terms ofthe
`data transmission rate, in comparison with a mobile radio
`connection.
`
`[0007] DE 20 2004 005 111 U1 discloses a wireless Blue-
`tooth headphone unit which has an electroacoustic transducer
`and a transmitting/receiving unit for the wireless reception of
`signals which include audio signals to be reproduced.
`[0008] DE 101 14 670 A1 discloses a mobile multimedia
`device having a first transmitting/receiving unit for commu-
`nication with a mobile radio network and a second transmit-
`
`ting/receiving unit for receiving radio broadcast frequencies.
`Stored in a transmitter is a reception authorisation which was
`received by way ofthe first transmitting/receiving device. The
`multimedia device also has a decoding means for decoding
`the multimedia content received in encoded form by way of
`the second transmitting/receiving unit. An authorisation
`request for multimedia contents is communicated wirelessly
`by way of the first transmitting device.
`
`Page 90f 16
`
`[0009] The above-described downloading of data, in par-
`ticular audio files, from the Internet is however not always
`acceptable in terms of copyright.
`
`OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0010] Therefore the primary object of the present inven-
`tion is to provide mobile access to data stored in an Internet
`server, which appears acceptable in terms of copyright. A
`further object ofthe present invention is to provide a wireless
`headphone unit, a wireless microphone and a wireless headset
`which permit improved linking into existing or present com-
`munication environments.
`
`[0011] The invention concerns the idea of providing a for
`example WLAN-based headphone unit or a WLAN-based
`receiving device with headphone unit connection, to which
`for example audio files can be wirelessly transmitted, insofar
`as they are in a transmission range for example of a WLAN
`access point. In that case a connection is made between the
`headphone unit or the receiving device with a server and/or
`server service which supports the client functionalities. In
`that case the server and/or server service can be its own
`server/server service or an outside server/server service
`
`whose connecting data are known and to which the user has
`access rights. More precisely a connection is made between
`the access point and the server or server service on which the
`data to be downloaded are to be found, which can be wired but
`also partially or entirely wireless. The data are then transmit-
`ted wirelessly based on the WLAN interface (for example
`IEEE 802.11) from the access point to the headphone unit or
`the receiving device. Thus it is possible for one’s own digi-
`tally stored music to be received wirelessly in the transmis-
`sion range ofa WLAN access point. The fact that it is possible
`to have access to one’s own music means that proof of rights
`is possible throughout, so that this appears to be acceptable in
`terms of copyright. Access on the part of the WLAN head-
`phone unit or the WLAN receiving device to one’s own data
`is effected in that respect in the same fashion irrespective of
`whether the headphone unit or the receiving device are in a
`transmission range of one’s own private WLAN access point
`or in the transmission range of a public WLAN access point.
`[0012]
`For the permitted access to one’s own audio data, it
`is not absolutely necessary to physically possess a data carrier
`with those audio data. Audio data to which access can be had
`
`in the permitted fashion in accordance with this invention can
`be one’s own music data carriers or audio data which can be
`
`downloaded from a web-based service, possibly for payment
`of a fee, or audio data which, possibly for payment of a fee,
`can be copied across to a server/server service to be defined,
`from which they can then be called up as desired. In particular
`the non-physical purchase of audio data is worthy ofmention
`in connection with this invention.
`
`Possibly the necessary storage space in the private
`[0013]
`sphere is not adequate to store all audio data. It is also possible
`to conceive of a web-based service or a provider which takes
`over the storage operation and which can be accessed in the
`usual manner. That service could also be fee-paying or could
`be incorporated into other service agreements.
`[0014]
`In this respect the invention further concerns the
`idea of designing a headphone unit not just as a passive audio
`receiver but rather as an active network element or as a web
`client which affords an Internet service so that other network
`
`elements can also have access thereto. A corresponding con-
`sideration applies to a microphone and to the headset.
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`[0015] Thus there is provided a wireless headphone unit
`having at least one electroacoustic transducer and a transmit-
`ting/receiving unit for wirelessly receiving first signals which
`contain the audio signals to be reproduced on the electroa-
`coustic transducer and a network identification unit for stor-
`
`ing a network identification of the wireless headphone unit,
`wherein the transmitting/receiving unit is adapted for wire-
`lessly transmitting the network identification of the head-
`phone unit, wherein the network identification ofthe wireless
`headphone unit which is stored in the network identification
`unit represents an Internet protocol address.
`[0016] Accordingly the wireless headphone unit does not
`just represent an only passive receiver of audio signals but is
`now an active network element. This therefore ensures that
`
`the wireless headphone unit can be uniquely identified in a
`network. On the basis of the IP address it is possible to access
`the wireless headphone unit by way of the Internet, that is to
`say the wireless headphone unit is world-wide addressable.
`[0017]
`In accordance with a further aspect of the present
`invention the IP address is allocated by a network element in
`a wireless network in which the wireless headphone unit is
`disposed.
`In accordance with a further aspect of the invention
`[0018]
`the headphone unit has a buffer for the intermediate storage of
`the received signals. By virtue of a buffer of that kind it is
`possible to bridge short-term interruptions in the reception of
`the first signals without reproduction of the audio signals by
`way of the electroacoustic transducer having to be stopped
`thereby. The buffer memory can be a component part of the
`transmission protocol (streaming protocol) or it can be imple-
`mented in the application software as a supplement to the
`transmission protocol.
`[0019]
`In accordance with a further aspect of the present
`invention the wireless headphone unit has a display unit for
`displaying second signals which were received by the trans-
`mitting/receiving unit together with the first signals. Accord-
`ingly additional information to the audio signals such as for
`example a title and an artist of a piece of music can be
`displayed on the display unit.
`[0020]
`In accordance with a further aspect of the present
`invention the wireless headphone unit has selection keys or
`buttons. By means ofthe selection keys the user can influence
`the display on the display unit and communicate with further
`network elements in the network. In that way the user can
`select for example audio files stored on a server in the network
`so that they can be transmitted to the wireless headphone unit
`for reproduction thereof.
`[0021] The invention also concerns a wireless microphone
`comprising an electroacoustic transducer for recording audio
`signals and a transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly trans-
`mitting the recorded audio signals. The wireless microphone
`also has a network identification unit for storing a network
`identification of the wireless microphone. The transmitting/
`receiving unit further serves to transmit the network identifi-
`cation of the microphone, which is stored in the network
`identification unit. There is thus provided a wireless micro-
`phone which no longer merely represents just a passive trans-
`mitter of audio signals but is now implemented in the form of
`an active network element and thus provides an Internet ser-
`v1ce.
`
`[0022] The invention further concerns a wireless headset
`which has at least a first electroacoustic transducer for repro-
`ducing audio signals and a second electroacoustic transducer
`for recording audio signals. The headset further has a trans-
`
`Page100f16
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`mitting/receiving unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiv-
`ing as well as a network identification unit for storing a
`network identification of the headset. The network identifi-
`
`cation ofthe headset is wirelessly transmitted by means ofthe
`transmitting/receiving unit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0023] The invention is described in greater detail herein-
`after with reference to the drawings in which:
`[0024]
`FIG. 1 shows a structure in principle of a transmis-
`sion system according to the invention;
`[0025]
`FIG. 2 shows a reproduction device in accordance
`with a first Embodiment;
`[0026]
`FIG. 3 shows a reproduction device in accordance
`with a second embodiment;
`[0027]
`FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of a multime-
`dia network;
`[0028]
`FIG. 5 shows a multimedia network in accordance
`with a third embodiment of the invention;
`[0029]
`FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of a multimedia
`network in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the
`invention;
`[0030]
`FIG. 7 shows a block circuit diagram of a wireless
`headphone unit in accordance with the third embodiment of
`FIG. 5;
`FIG. 8 shows a block circuit diagram of a wireless
`[0031]
`microphone in accordance with the fourth embodiment of
`FIG. 6; and
`[0032]
`FIG. 9 shows a block circuit diagram of a headset in
`accordance with a fifth embodiment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a structure in principle of a transmis-
`[0033]
`sion system according to the invention. Essentially what is
`shown here are a private region and a public region which are
`connected together by way of the Internet. Shown in the
`private region is a private server PS which for example has a
`wired connection to an access point APP. That access point is
`based on a WLAN interface and communicates wirelessly
`with a reproduction device WG in the transmission range of
`the access pointAPP. Arranged in the public region is a public
`server OS which for example has a wired connection to the
`Internet. Also shown is a further access point APO which also
`has a wired connection to the Internet. That access point APO
`is also based on a WLAN interface and communicates wire-
`
`lessly with a reproduction device WG which is in its trans-
`mission range.
`[0034]
`For communication with the private access point
`APP or with the public access point APO a reproduction
`device WG has a WLAN interface. In addition thereto asso-
`
`ciated with the reproduction device is its own IP address.
`Communication of a reproduction device WG in a transmis-
`sion range ofthe private access pointAP is effectedwirelessly
`to the private access point APP and then by a wired connec-
`tion between the private access point APP and the private
`server. Alternatively or in addition thereto the private access
`point APP can have for example a wired connection to the
`Internet. In that way a communication would be possible
`between the reproduction device WG in the transmission
`range of the private access point APP and a public server OS
`by virtue of the fact that the private access point APP is
`connected to the public server OS by way of the Internet.
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`[0035] As an alternative thereto the reproduction device
`WG can also have a wired communication with the access
`
`point.
`[0036] Communication between the reproduction device
`WG in the transmission range of the public access point APO
`and a public or private server OS, PS is effected wirelessly as
`far as the public access point APO and then by way of the
`Internet to the public server OS or the private server PS.
`[0037] Thus,
`irrespective of whether the reproduction
`device WG is in a private or a public region, it can access both
`the private server PS and also the public server OS as long as
`it is in a transmission range of an access point.
`[0038] A communication between the reproduction device
`WG and the public server OS or the private server PS is
`effected in particular by way of the Internet protocol. For that
`purpose the reproduction device has a suitable IP address
`IP-WG and the private and public servers also have corre-
`sponding IP addresses IP-PS, IP-OS. Mutual communication
`is thus effected on the basis of the respective IP addresses.
`That has in particular the advantage that the public or private
`server OS, PS can establish whether the receiver ofthe data is
`also actually the reproduction device WG. If the IP address of
`the data receiver is not in conformity with the IP address
`IP-WG ofthe reproduction device WG, communication ofthe
`respective data can be prevented. On the basis of the IP
`address it is also possible to trace back to whom the respective
`data were communicated. FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic rep-
`resentation of a reproduction device of FIG. 1 in accordance
`with a first embodiment. In accordance with the first embodi-
`
`ment the reproduction device is in the form of a headphone
`unit with a WLAN interface. In other words, the headphone
`unit communicates directly on the basis of WLAN with an
`access point. Thus no further device is required for receiving
`the wirelessly transmitted signals. All necessary elements are
`integrated in the wireless headphone unit. This means that
`data can be wirelessly received by means of the wireless
`WLAN headphone unit ifthe headphone unit is in a transmis-
`sion range of a WLAN access point.
`[0039] As an alternative to a WLAN interface the reproduc-
`tion device can also have an interface which permits a wired
`communication with the access point. As an alternative to the
`WLAN interface the reproduction device can also have a
`wireless interface which is based on another wireless com-
`
`munication protocol.
`[0040] An external operating element BE can be provided
`for improving the operability of the wireless headphone unit.
`The communication between the operating element BE and
`the headphone unit can be either wired or wireless (IR, Blue-
`tooth, HF). In that case the operating element only serves for
`operation of the wireless headphone unit. No WLAN inter-
`face is integrated in the operating element BE. As an alterna-
`tive thereto the operating element can also be integrated on
`the headphone unit.
`[0041]
`FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a reproduction
`device in accordance with a second embodiment. This Figure
`also shows a headphone unit and an operating element BE. In
`contrast to the first embodiment however a WLAN interface
`
`is integrated in the operating unit BE so that the operating unit
`communicates wirelessly with an access point. The received
`data are transmitted from the operating unit BE to the head-
`phone unit by a wired connection or wirelessly (IR, Blue-
`tooth, HF etc). In accordance with the second embodiment
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`therefore the WLAN interface is integrated in the operating
`unit BE while the headphone unit only represents a conven-
`tional headphone unit.
`[0042]
`Integration of the WLAN interface in the operating
`unit BE proves to be advantageous in terms of the battery
`voltage required as there is a larger amount of space available
`in an operating element of that kind.
`[0043] An operating element in accordance with the second
`embodiment ofthe invention can in that respect represent any
`device having a WLAN interface such as for example a note-
`book, a PDA, a mobile telephone, a Voice-over-IP telephone
`or the like. The operating element can also be implemented in
`the form of an MP3 player with a WLAN interface. If an
`operating element of that kind has a sufficiently large inter-
`mediate memory or buffer a plurality of audio files can be
`previously loaded on to the operating element so that subse-
`quently they can be played back independently of a connec-
`tion to an access point.
`[0044] The operating element in accordance with the sec-
`ond embodiment can thus also service further headphone
`units with a corresponding audio signalieither by a wired
`connection or wirelessly.
`[0045] By means of the above-described wireless head-
`phone unit with an integrated WLAN interface a person wear-
`ing such a headphone unit can listen to music whenever he is
`in the transmission range of a WLAN access point. High-
`quality audio reproduction is made possible by virtue of the
`high transmission rate in the case of WLAN. Furthermore,
`downloading of the corresponding data of the audio files or
`pieces ofmusic to be reproduced can be substantially effected
`in real time so that only a very small intermediate memory or
`buffer is required in the headphone unit. Alternatively or in
`addition thereto the corresponding data can also be loaded at
`a higher speed and correspondingly stored in the intermediate
`memory or buffer. Thus the headphone unit can also be sup-
`plied with music and correspondingly reproduce same when
`the headphone unit is not in a transmission range of a WLAN
`access point. Essentially the wireless headphone unit has all
`necessary hardware elements which are required both for
`downloading and also for reproducing audio files which are
`correspondingly downloaded from the Internet.
`[0046]
`To reduce the data to be transmitted the audio files
`can be stored and transmitted in a compressed form such as
`for example MP3, MP3pro, WMA, Ogg Vorbis or the like.
`That accordingly involves decompression only in the
`receiver, that is to say in the wireless headphone unit. Thus the
`wireless headphone unit must have a unit for decompression
`of the compressed audio signals or suitable software for that
`purpose. As an alternative thereto the required software can
`also be transmitted together with or prior to the audio data.
`That is particularly advantageous insofar as there can be
`various versions of such a headphone unit from various manu-
`facturers and the respective headphone unit always receives
`the newest software version available thereto.
`
`[0047] Both in accordance with the first and also the second
`embodiment a reproduction device, that is to say an operating
`element or a wireless headphone, can both receive and also
`transmit data. Thus such a reproduction device can receive
`data wirelessly from an access point and then forward it again
`to further reproduction devices. That can take place either by
`a wired connection or wirelessly based on infrared, Blue-
`tooth, HF or the like. Thus not just audio files but also audio
`streams can be simultaneously received by the reproduction
`device and correspondingly forwarded. In addition the repro-
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`duction device, that is to say the wireless headphone unit or
`the operating element, can provide for time control of repro-
`duction to external reproduction devices in such a way that
`reproduction takes place synchronously. As an alternative
`thereto reproduction can be suitably delayed in the wireless
`headphone unit which is connected to the access point in
`order to achieve synchronous reproduction on all reproduc-
`tion devices. Essentially therefore the wireless headphone
`unit or the operating element is in the form of a master, the
`further reproduction devices being implemented as the slave.
`Thus a wireless headphone unit or an operating element will
`occur as a local server and make the stored audio files avail-
`
`able to other reproduction devices. Transmission of the data
`stored in the wireless headphone unit or the operating element
`can be effected either in real time or at an increased speed so
`that the other reproduction devices permit later or time-dis-
`placed reproduction in accordance with the size of their inter-
`mediate memory or buffer.
`[0048]
`In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention the wire-
`less headphone unit is designed in such a way that when it is
`switched on it dials in at a WLAN access point if it is in a
`transmission range of a WLAN access point. Thereafter the
`wireless headphone unit makes a connection to a given server
`on which the audio files to be transmitted are to be found. That
`
`can be effected for example based on the Internet protocol, on
`the basis of a specific IP address of such a server. That server
`can either represent a private server which is for example
`permanently connected to the Internet by way of a DSL
`connection. As an alternative thereto the data which are to be
`
`downloaded can also be on a further server which is perma-
`nently connected to the Internet.
`[0049] The wireless headphone unit in accordance with the
`first and second embodiments checks at regular intervals
`whether it is in a transmission range of an access point. As
`soon as it discovers that it is in a transmission range of an
`access point and has made a connection to that access point
`that is indicated to the user either optically by an LED display,
`acoustically by a signal
`tone in the headphone unit or
`mechanically by a vibration alarm. If a suitable operating
`element is present that message can also be produced at the
`operating element. Such a message however can also be
`switched off.
`
`[0050] The user can also adjust whether he would or would
`not like to make contact with a server.
`
`[0051] Actuating selection keys on the wireless headphone
`unit or on the operating element initiates a connection with a
`server on which the data to be transmitted are to be found.
`That therefore initiates a connection without further destina-
`
`tion information having to be inputted as such information is
`already previously stored in the headphone unit. If, in the case
`of ongoing communication of data, the connection to the
`WLAN access point is interrupted, the headphone unit tries at
`intervals which are to be defined to restore a connection and
`
`to resume transmission of the corresponding data until all
`data have been transmitted.
`
`In order to improve proof ofrights throughout and in
`[0052]
`order to prevent unwanted eavesdropping or misuse of the
`transmission of data between a wireless WLAN headphone
`unit and a specific server or headphone unit, transmission of
`the data is effected in encrypted form. A corresponding key
`can vary during the transmission at intervals oftime which are
`defined beforehand or from one download to another. Exist-
`
`ing web functionalities, for example SSL, can also be used for
`encryption.
`
`Page 12 of16
`
`In accordance with a further embodiment an oper-
`[0053]
`ating element described in accordance with the second
`embodiment of the invention is arranged in an automobile or
`the like. In this case however it should be noted that the
`
`intermediate memory or the buffer is of a sufficient size as
`there is not always any guarantee that the operating element is
`in a transmission range of a WLAN access point. Therefore
`preferably before starting a journey or at fixed stations such as
`for example a service area or a gasoline station data should be
`loaded at a high rate. Alternatively thereto or in addition
`thereto for example further access points can be provided at
`the outskirts of a city, at which specific items of information
`regarding the surrounding area such as for example tourist
`attractions, traffic information, navigation information or the
`like are stored. Those items of information which are to be
`
`reproduced can represent items of audio and video informa-
`tion, in which case reproduction is also made possible by way
`of installed loudspeakers or installed video picture screens in
`the automobile. Reproduction of the information can also be
`triggered by a navigation system or another item of position
`information (for example mobile radio or GPS).
`[0054] That is also possible if a user is in an aircraft or a
`train. In that case the WLAN access point is arranged in the
`train or in the aircraft so that the user is always in a suitable
`transmission range of a WLAN access point.
`[0055] As the data stored on a private server PS or a public
`server OS can involve a very large amount of data,
`it is
`necessary to ensure that a user can navigate within those data.
`For that purpose for example a program is implemented on
`the server, which sorts and suitably predefines the data on the
`server. As soon as the wireless headphone unit then forms a
`connection with that server the corresponding audio files are
`communicated to the wireless headphone unit so that it can
`play the files back. Navigation can be effected either by way
`of selection keys or buttons on the headphone unit or by way
`of speech input by means of an additional microphone. In
`other words, by means of the selection keys and the speech
`commands, a user can control a corresponding navigation
`program on the server. Alternatively the navigation program
`can be a component part ofthe headphone unit, in which case
`then the commands are so translated that the server service
`
`understands them and executes the corresponding com-
`mands. An operating element with a display can either be
`integrated in the headphone unit or can be in the form of an
`external device. Thus, by means of the selection keys and the
`display of the operating element, the user can navigate in and
`suitably select the structured data files or data banks on the
`private or public server.
`[0056] When a connection is made between the wireless
`headphone unit and the specific server on which the corre-
`sponding data are stored items of information regarding the
`structure of the data and the audio data bank can be commu-
`nicated beforehand. As soon as those data are stored in the
`
`intermediate memory or buffer ofiline navigation can also be
`effected when the wireless headphone unit is not in a trans-
`mission range of a WLAN access point.
`[0057] Alternatively or in addition to the foregoing the
`server on which the data are stored can be adapted to produce
`a synthetic announcement in respect of the data to be com-
`municated. That synthesized announcement can be stored in
`the memory of the reproduction device. In that case the
`announcement can be produced in the form of an MP3 file, a
`wafe file or the like and correspondingly stored in the repro-
`duction device so that that file can be correspondingly repro-
`
`KOSS—2025
`
`|PR2021-00381
`
`Page 12 of 16
`
`KOSS-2025
`IPR2021-00381
`
`

`

`US 2008/0194209 A1
`
`Aug. 14, 2008
`
`duced during reproduction or at the beginning of reproduc-
`tion ofthe data. That is found to be advantageous in particular
`for reproduction devices without a display as the title name
`per audio output can be outputted to the user. As already
`mentioned hereinbefore the title announcement is preferably
`produced by speech synthesis from the data file name or the
`ID tag in the case of MP3 files. That speech synthesis is
`preferably effected in the server or such speech synthesis can
`already be implemented beforehand and the resulting synthe-
`sized announcement can also be stored on the server so that
`
`the data can be communicated together with the announce-
`ment to the reproduction device. The fact that speech synthe-
`sis takes place not in the reproduction device but on the server
`or on an upstream device means that the complexity of the
`reproduction device does not have to be increased in order to
`ensure that the synthesized announcement can be suitably
`played.
`Preferably the title of a data file, the duration of the
`[0058]
`file and secondary items of information such as for example
`the music genre, the artist or the like can be provided as the
`synthesized announcement.
`[0059] As an alternative to the foregoing speech synthesis
`can be ef