( 12 ) United States Patent
`Koss et al .
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`( 10 ) Patent No .:
`( 45 ) Date of Patent :
`* Nov . 26 , 2019
`
`US010491982B1
`
`( 54 ) SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS EARPHONES
`( 71 ) Applicant : Koss Corporation , Milwaukee , WI
`( US )
`( 72 ) Inventors : Michael J. Koss , Milwaukee , WI ( US ) ;
`Michael J. Pelland , Princeton , WI
`( US ) ; Michael Sagan , Fairfield , CA
`( US ) ; Steven R. Reckamp , Crystal
`Lake , IL ( US ) ; Gregory J. Hallingstad ,
`Deforest , WI ( US ) ; Jeffery K. Bovee ,
`Sterling , IL ( US ) ; Morgan J. Lowery ,
`Deforest , WI ( US )
`( 73 ) Assignee : KOSS CORPORATION , Milwaukee ,
`WI ( US )
`Subject to any disclaimer , the term of this
`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 .: 16 / 528,701
`Aug. 1 , 2019
`( 22 ) Filed :
`Related U.S. Application Data
`( 63 ) Continuation of application No. 16 / 375,879 , filed on
`Apr. 5 , 2019 , which is a continuation of application
`( Continued )
`
`( * ) Notice :
`
`( 51 )
`
`Int . CI .
`HO4R 3/00
`H04R 1/10
`
`( 52 ) U.S. Ci .
`CPC
`
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( Continued )
`
`H04R 1/1041 ( 2013.01 ) ; HOZG 3/02
`( 2013.01 ) ; HO3K 17/9622 ( 2013.01 ) ;
`( Continued )
`( 58 ) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ... H04R 1/1016 ; HO4R 25/554 ; H04R 1/1008
`( Continued )
`
`( 56 )
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,784,685 A
`6,006,115 A
`
`7/1998 Stanford et al .
`12/1999 Wingate
`( Continued )
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`11/2004
`2004-320597
`3/2008
`2008-67258 A
`( Continued )
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Supplementary European Search Report for European Application
`No. 09731146.8 dated Jun . 10 , 2011 , 7 pages .
`( Continued )
`
`Primary Examiner — Kiet M Doan
`( 74 ) Attorney , Agent , or Firm — K & L Gates LLP
`
`( 57 )
`ABSTRACT
`Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system . Adapter is
`configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player .
`Speaker system is in communication with adapter , and
`comprises multiple acoustic transducers , programmable pro
`cessor circuit , and wireless communication circuit . In first
`operational mode , processor circuit receives , via adapter ,
`and processes digital audio content from personal digital
`audio player into which adapter is plugged , and the multiple
`acoustic transducers output the received audio content from
`the personal digital audio player . In second operational
`mode , wireless communication circuit receives digital audio
`content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless
`network , processor circuit processes the digital audio con
`tent received from remote digital audio source , and the
`multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content
`received from the remote digital audio source .
`
`20 Claims , 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`202
`
`-200
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1001
`
`

`

`( 51 )
`
`( 2009.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2008.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`( 2018.01 )
`( 2009.01 )
`( 2009.01 )
`( 2006.01 )
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`Page 2
`
`7,099,370 B2
`7,120,388 B2
`7,139,585 B2
`7,266,390 B2
`7,337,027 B2
`7,467,021 B2
`7,512,414 B2
`7,599,679 B2
`7,650,168 B2
`7,680,490 B2
`7,697,899 B2
`7,734,055 B2
`7,764,775 B2
`7,805,210 B2
`7,861,312 B2
`7,962,482 B2
`8,023,663 B2
`8,027,638 B2
`8,055,007 B2
`8,073,137 B2
`8,086,281 B2
`8,102,836 B2
`8,190,203 B2
`8,295,516 B2
`8,335,312 B2
`8,401,202 B2
`8,478,880 B2
`8,483,755 B2
`8,553,865 B2
`8,571,544 B2
`8,655,420 B1
`8,792,945 B2
`9,049,502 B2
`9,497,535 B1
`9,729,959 B2
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`
`H04M 1/6066
`455 / 575.2
`
`H04M 1/6066
`455 / 575.2
`
`HO4R 1/1091
`381/74
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`No. 16 / 182,927 , filed on Nov. 7 , 2018 , now Pat . No.
`10,368,155 , which is a continuation of application
`No. 15 / 962,305 , filed on Apr. 25 , 2018 , now Pat . No.
`10,206,025 , which is a continuation of application
`No. 15 / 650,362 , filed on Jul . 14 , 2017 , now Pat . No.
`9,986,325 , which is a continuation of application No.
`15 / 293,785 , filed on Oct. 14 , 2016 , now Pat . No.
`9,729,959 , which is a continuation of application No.
`15 / 082,040 , filed on Mar. 28 , 2016 , now Pat . No.
`9,497,535 , which is a continuation of application No.
`14 / 695,696 , filed on Apr. 24 , 2015 , now Pat . No.
`9,438,987 , which is a continuation of application No.
`13 / 609,409 , filed on Sep. 11 , 2012 , now Pat . No.
`9,049,502 , 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 .
`( 60 ) Provisional application No. 61 / 123,265 , filed on Apr.
`7 , 2008 .
`Int . Ci .
`H04W 48/20
`HOLM 1/02
`H04R 5/033
`HO4R 5/04
`HO3G 3/02
`H04R 1/02
`H04L 29/12
`H04H 20/95
`Ho3K 17/96
`H04W 4/80
`H04W 84/12
`H04W 84/18
`HO4R 25/00
`( 52 ) U.S. CI .
`H04H 20/95 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04L 61/6068
`CPC
`( 2013.01 ) ; H04M 1/0254 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04R
`1/02 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04R 1/1091 ( 2013.01 ) ;
`H04R 3700 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04R 5/033 ( 2013.01 ) ;
`H04R 5/04 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04W 4/80 ( 2018.02 ) ;
`H04W 48/20 ( 2013.01 ) ; H03K 2217/960785
`( 2013.01 ) ; H04R 25/554 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04R
`2201/103 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04R 2201/107
`( 2013.01 ) ; H04R 2225/55 ( 2013.01 ) ; HO4R
`2420/07 ( 2013.01 ) ; H04W 84/12 ( 2013.01 ) ;
`H04W 84/18 ( 2013.01 )
`Field of Classification Search
`81/74 , 77 , 386 , 71.6 , 381 , 59 , 306 , 309 ,
`USPC
`381/103 ; 455 / 556.1 , 462 , 66.1 , 575.2 ,
`455 / 41.2 ; 370/412 , 338
`See application file for complete search history .
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,389,463 B2
`6,671,494 B1
`6,674,864 B1
`6,792,091 B2
`6,937,712 B2
`7,003,515 B1
`7,027,311 B2
`7,095,455 B2
`
`( 58 )
`
`( 56 )
`
`5/2002 Bolas
`12/2003 James
`1/2004 Kitamura
`9/2004 Lemchen et al .
`8/2005 Lemchen et al .
`2/2006 Glaser
`4/2006 Vanderelli
`8/2006 Jordan
`
`2
`
`

`

`US 10,491,982 B1
`Page 3
`
`( 56 )
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2018/0249240 A1
`2019/0075390 Al
`2019/0238970 A1
`
`8/2018 Koss et al .
`3/2019 Koss et al .
`8/2019 Koss et al .
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`WO 2006/047724 A2
`WO 2007/136620 A2
`WO 2007/139578 A1
`WO 2008/033478 A1
`WO 2008/054985 A2
`WO 2009/086555 Al
`
`5/2006
`11/2007
`12/2007
`3/2008
`5/2008
`7/2009
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report for International Application No. PCT /
`US09 / 39754 dated Jun . 11 , 2009 , 2 pages .
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`cation No. PCT / US09 / 39754 dated Oct. 28 , 2010 , 8 pages .
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for Inter
`national Application No. PCT / US09 / 39754 dated Jun . 11 , 2009 , 5
`pages .
`IT Review , “ LTB 802.11 WiFi Headphones ” , http : //itreview.belproject .
`com / item / 1536 accessed on Mar. 13 , 2008 ( 4 pages ) .
`* cited by examiner
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`16
`
`15
`
`16
`
`11
`
`14
`
`15
`
`12
`
`FIG . 1A
`
`12
`
`FIG . 1B
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`Nov. 26, 2019
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`19
`
`
`
`10
`
`FIG . 1C
`
`HG. ’iC
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`17
`
`VOUC
`
`106 - B
`
`0
`
`12
`
`FIG . 1D
`
`Larvikkeet
`
`C
`
`17
`
`12
`
`106 - A
`FIG . 1E
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`
`
`DATA SOURCE
`
`OZ
`
`27
`
`77
`
`WIRELESS YUOMEN
`AD HOC
`
`FIG . 2A
`
`N
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`***** sama ana una ma na ana era una an HR ana
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`FIG . 2B
`
`8
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
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`WANNA
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`50
`
`30b 10
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`FIG . 2D
`
`STREAMING DIGITAL AUDIO
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`CONTENT SERVER
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`-70
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`42
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`102
`L
`POWER SOURCE
`
`POWER SOURCE
`CONTROL
`
`10
`
`116
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`106
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`FIG . 3
`
`118
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`122
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`11
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 9 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`202
`
`? ? 200
`
`FIG . 4A
`
`210
`
`FIG . 4B
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`?
`
`CURRENT
`DATA RATE
`
`SIZE OF
`UPDATE
`
`UPDATE OK TO BE
`SENT WIRELESSLY ?
`
`50
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`TRANSMIT
`UPDATE
`WIRELESSLY
`
`-52
`
`TRANSMIT UPDATE TO
`EARPHONE VIA HOST
`COMPUTER
`
`51
`
`FIG . 5
`
`13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 11 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`61
`
`COMMUNICATE
`VIAAD HOC WRELESS
`NETWORK ?
`YES
`
`NO
`
`62
`
`EXCHANGE DATA REGARDING LOCAL
`INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS
`
`40
`
`*
`
`**
`
`5
`
`AM
`
`YES
`
`*
`
`63
`
`+
`
`nith PRIORITY
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`WIRELESS NETWORK
`AVAILABLE ?
`
`NO
`
`COMMUNICATE VIAnth
`INFRASTRUCTURE WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`NO
`n EQUALS
`NUMBER OF PRIORITIZED
`NETWORKS ?
`YES
`
`HOM
`
`YES
`
`nth
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`WIRELESS NETWORK
`OK ?
`
`-65
`
`NO
`
`CONNECT TO HOST SERVER
`
`-66
`
`HOST SERVER SENDS
`IP ADDRESS
`
`EARPHONE CONNECT TO STREAMING
`DIGITAL AUDIO CONTENT SERVER USING
`P ADDRESS
`
`-68
`
`YES
`
`LOSE CONNECTION ?
`
`NO
`
`FIG . 6
`
`14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`SERVER INTERNET RADIO HOST
`
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`
`FIG . 7
`
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`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 13 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`.
`
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`
`P
`
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`Nov. 26, 2019
`
`Sheet 14 of 16
`Sheet 14 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`Do
`
`10
`
`
`
`-92
`
`-104
`
`FIG . 9
`
`17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`
`Sheet 15 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`10a
`
`Z
`
`24
`
`DOMOV you
`
`106
`
`FIG . 10
`
`18
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 26 , 2019
`Nov. 26, 2019
`
`Sheet 16 of 16
`Sheet 16 of 16
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`10
`
`10
`
`
`
`150
`
`-152
`
`FIG . 11
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`2
`ready laptop or personal computer ( PC ) have been proposed ,
`but such headphones are also quite large and not in - ear type
`phones .
`
`SUMMARY
`
`30
`
`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS EARPHONES
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM
`The present application claims priority as a continuation 5
`to U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 16/375 ,
`In one general aspect , the present invention is directed to
`879 , filed Apr. 5 , 2019 , which is a continuation of U.S.
`a wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for
`nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 16 / 182,927 , filed
`receiving streaming audio from a data source , such as a
`Nov. 7 , 2018 , which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional
`patent application Ser . No. 15 / 962,305 , filed Apr. 25 , 2018 , 10 digital audio player or a computer , over an ad hoc wireless
`network . When the data source and the earphone are out of
`now U.S. Pat . No. 10,206,025 , which is a continuation of
`range via the ad hoc wireless network , they may transition
`U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 15 / 650,362 ,
`automatically to a common infrastructure wireless network
`filed Jul . 14 , 2017 , now U.S. Pat . No. 9,986,325 , issued May
`( e.g. , a wireless LAN ) . If there is no common infrastructure
`29 , 2018 , which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional
`15 wireless network for both the data source and the earphone ,
`patent application Ser . No. 15 / 293,785 , filed Oct. 14 , 2016 ,
`the earphone may connect via an available infrastructure
`now U.S. Pat . No. 9,729,959 , issued Aug. 8 , 2017 , which is
`wireless network to a host server . The host server may , for
`a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser .
`example , broadcast streaming audio to the earphone and / or
`No. 15 / 082,040 , filed Mar. 28 , 2016 , now U.S. Pat . No.
`transmit to the earphone a network address ( e.g. , an Internet
`9,497,535 , issued Nov. 15 , 2016 , which is a continuation of 20 Protocol ( IP ) address ) for a network - connected content
`U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 14 / 695,696 ,
`server that streams digital audio . The earphone may then
`filed Apr. 24 , 2015 , now U.S. Pat . No. 9,438,987 , issued on
`connect to the content server using the IP address . The
`Sep. 6 , 2016 , which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional
`content server may be an Internet radio server , including , for
`patent application Ser . No. 13 / 609,409 , filed Sep. 11 , 2012 ,
`example , an Internet radio server that broadcasts streaming
`now U.S. Pat . No. 9,049,502 , issued Jun . 2 , 2015 , which is 25 audio from the data source or some other content .
`a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser .
`These and other advantageous , unique aspects of the
`No. 13 / 459,291 , filed Apr. 30 , 2012 , now U.S. Pat . No.
`wireless earphone are described below .
`8,571,544 , issued Oct. 29 , 2013 , which is a continuation of
`FIGURES
`U.S. patent application Ser . No. 12 / 936,488 , filed Dec. 20 ,
`2010 , now U.S. Pat . No. 8,190,203 , issued May 29 , 2012 ,
`which is a national stage entry of PCT / US2009 / 039754 ,
`filed Apr. 7 , 2009 , which claims priority to U.S. provisional
`patent application Ser . No. 61 / 123,265 , filed Apr. 7 , 2008 , all
`of which are incorporated herein by reference in
`their
`entireties .
`
`Various embodiments of the present invention are
`described herein by way of example in conjunction with the
`following figures , wherein :
`FIGS . 1A - 1E are views of a wireless earphone according
`35 to various embodiments of the present invention ;
`FIGS . 2A - 2D illustrate various communication modes for
`a wireless earphone according to various embodiments of
`CROSS - REFERENCE TO RELATED
`the present invention ;
`APPLICATIONS
`FIG . 3 is a block diagram of a wireless earphone accord
`40 ing to various embodiments of the present invention ;
`U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 14/031 ,
`FIGS . 4A - 4B show the wireless earphone connected to
`938 , filed Sep. 13 , 2013 , now U.S. Pat . No. 8,655,420 ,
`another device according to various embodiments of the
`issued Feb. 18 , 2014 , is also a continuation of United States
`present invention ;
`nonprovisional patent application Ser . No. 13 / 609,409 , filed
`FIG . 5 is a diagram of a process implemented by a host
`Sep. 11 , 2012 , now U.S. Pat . No. 9,049,502 , mentioned 45 server according to various embodiments of the present
`above .
`invention ;
`FIG . 6 is a diagram of a process implemented by the
`wireless earphone to transition automatically between wire
`BACKGROUND
`less networks according to various embodiments of the
`Digital audio players , such as MP3 players and iPods , that 50 present invention ;
`FIGS . 7 , 8 and 10 illustrate communication systems
`store and play digital audio files , are very popular . Such
`devices typically comprise a data storage unit for storing and
`involving the wireless earphone according to various
`playing the digital audio , and a headphone set that connects
`embodiments of the present invention ;
`to the data storage unit , usually with a 1/4 " or a 3.5 mm jack
`FIG . 9 is a diagram of a headset including a wireless
`and associated cord . Often the headphones are in - ear type 55 earphone and a microphone according to various embodi
`headphones . The cord , however , between the headphones
`ments of the present invention ; and
`and the data storage unit can be cumbersome and annoying
`FIG . 11 is a diagram of a pair of wireless earphones with
`to users , and the length of the cord limits the physical
`a dongle according to various embodiments of the present
`distance between the data storage unit and the headphones .
`invention .
`Accordingly , some cordless headphones have been pro- 60
`posed , such as the Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones
`DESCRIPTION
`from Apple Inc. , which include a docking port on one of the
`In one general aspect , the present invention is directed to
`earphones that can connect directly to an iPod Shuffle .
`a wireless earphone that receives streaming audio data via ad
`Because they have the docking port , however , the Monster
`iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple are quite large 65 hoc wireless networks and infrastructure wireless networks ,
`and are not in - ear type phones . Recently , cordless head
`and that transitions seamlessly between wireless networks .
`phones that connect wirelessly via IEEE 802.11 to a WLAN
`The earphone may comprise one or more in - ear , on - ear , or
`
`20
`
`

`

`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`4
`3
`ing a headband 19 , only one earphone 10 may comprise the
`over - ear speaker elements . Two exemplary in - ear earphone
`transceiver circuit , and a wire may run along the headband
`shapes for the wireless earphone 10 are shown in FIGS . 1A
`19 to the other earphone 10 to connect thereby the trans
`and 1B , respectively , although in other embodiments the
`ceiver circuit to the acoustic transducer in the earphone that
`earphone may take different shapes and the exemplary
`shapes shown in FIGS . 1A and 1B are not intended to be 5 does not comprise the transceiver circuit . The embodiment
`limiting . In one embodiment , the earphone transitions auto
`shown in FIG . 1C comprises on - ear earphones 10 ; in other
`matically and seamlessly , without user intervention ,
`embodiments , in - ear or over - ear earphones may be used .
`between communication modes . That is , the earphone may
`In other embodiments , the earphone 10 may comprise a
`transition automatically from an ad hoc wireless network to
`hanger bar 17 that allows the earphone 10 to clip to , or hang
`an infrastructure wireless network , without user interven- 10 on , the user's ear , as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
`tion . As used herein , an “ ad hoc wireless network ” is a
`FIGS . 1D - 1E . FIG . 1D is a perspective view of the earphone
`network where two ( or more ) wireless - capable devices , such
`and FIG . 1E is a side view according to one embodiment . As
`as the earphone and a data source , communicate directly and
`shown in the illustrated embodiment , the earphone 10 may
`wirelessly , without using an access point . An " infrastructure
`comprise dual speaker elements 106 - A , 106 - B . One of the
`wireless network , " on the other hand , is a wireless network 15 speaker elements ( the smaller one ) 106 - A is sized to fit into
`that uses one or more access points to allow a wireless
`the cavum concha of the listener's ear and the other element
`capable device , such as the wireless earphone , to connect to
`( the larger one ) 106 - B is not . The listener may use the
`a computer network , such as a LAN or WAN ( including the
`hanger bar to position the earphone on the listener's ear . In
`that connection , the hanger bar may comprise a horizontal
`Internet ) .
`FIGS . 1A and 1B show example configurations for a 20 section that rests upon the upper external curvature of the
`wireless earphone 10 according to various embodiments of
`listener's ear behind the upper portion of the auricula ( or
`the present invention . The examples shown in FIGS . 1A and
`pinna ) . The earphone may comprise a knurled knob that
`1B are not limiting and other configurations are within the
`allows the user to adjust finely the distance between the
`scope of the present invention . As shown in FIGS . 1A and
`horizontal section of the hanger bar and the speaker ele
`1B , the earphone 10 may comprise a body 12. The body 12 25 ments , thereby providing , in such embodiments , another
`may comprise an ear canal portion 14 that is inserted in the
`measure of adjustability for the user . More details regarding
`ear canal of the user of the earphone 10. In various embodi
`such a dual element , adjustable earphone may be found in
`ments , the body 12 also may comprise an exterior portion 15
`U.S. provisional patent application Ser . No. 61 / 054,238 ,
`that is not inserted into user's ear canal . The exterior portion
`which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety .
`15 may comprise a knob 16 or some other user control ( such 30
`FIGS . 2A - 2D illustrate various communication modes for
`as a dial , a pressure - activated switch , lever , etc. ) for adjust
`a wireless data communication system involving the ear
`ing the shape of the ear canal portion 14. That is , in various
`phone 10 according to embodiments of the present inven
`embodime
`activation ( e.g. rotation ) of the knob 16 may
`tion . As shown in FIG . 2A , the system comprises a data
`cause the ear canal portion 14 to change shape so as to , for
`source 20 in communication with the earphone 10 via an ad
`example , radially expand to fit snugly against all sides of the 35 hoc wireless network 24. The earphone 10 , via its trans
`user's ear canal . Further details regarding such a shape
`ceiver circuit ( described in more detail below ) , may com
`changing earbud earphone are described in application PCT /
`municate wirelessly with a data source 20 , which may
`US08 / 88656 , filed 31 Dec. 2008 , entitled “ Adjustable Shape
`comprise a wireless network adapter 22 for transmitting the
`Earphone , ” which is incorporated herein by reference in its
`digital audio wirelessly . For example , the data source 20
`entirety . The earphone 10 also may comprise a transceiver 40 may be a digital audio player ( DAP ) , such as an mp3 player
`circuit housed within the body 12. The transceiver circuit ,
`or an iPod , or any other suitable digital audio playing device ,
`described further below , may transmit and receive the wire
`such as a laptop or personal computer , that stores and / or
`less signals , including receive streaming audio for playing
`plays digital audio files . In other embodiments , the data
`by the earphone 10. The transceiver circuit may be housed
`source 20 may generate analog audio , and the wireless
`in the exterior portion 15 of the earphone 10 and / or in the ear 45 network adapter 22 may encode the analog audio into digital
`format for transmission to the earphone 10 .
`canal portion 14 .
`Although the example earphones 10 shown in FIGS . 1A
`The wireless network adapter 22 may be an integral part
`and 1B include a knob 16 for adjusting the shape of the ear
`of the data source 20 , or it may be a separate device that is
`canal portion 14 , the present invention is not so limited , and
`connected to the data source 20 to provide wireless connec
`in other embodiments , different means besides a knob 16 50 tivity for the data source 20. For example , the wireless
`may be used to adjust the ear canal portion 14. In addition ,
`network adapter 22 may comprise a wireless network inter
`in other embodiments , the earphone 10 may not comprise a
`face card ( WNIC ) or other suitable transceiver that plugs
`shape - changing ear canal portion 14 .
`into a USB port or other port or jack of the data source 20
`In various embodiments , the user may wear two discrete
`( such as a TRS connector ) to stream data , e.g. , digital audio
`wireless earphones 10 : one in each ear . In such embodi- 55 files , via a wireless network ( e.g. , the ad hoc wireless
`ments , each earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit .
`network 24 or an infrastructure wireless network ) . The
`In such embodiments , the earphones 10 may be connected
`digital audio transmitted from the data source 20 to the
`by a string or some other cord - type connector to keep the
`earphone 10 via the wireless networks may comprise com
`earphones 10 from being separated .
`pressed or uncompressed audio . Any suitable file format
`In other embodiments , as shown in FIG . 1C , a headband 60 may be used for the audio , including mp3 , lossy or lossless
`19 may connect the two ( left and right ) earphones 10. The WMA , Vorbis , Musepack , FLAC , WAV , AIFF , AU , or any
`headband 19 may be an over - the - head band , as shown in the
`other suitable file format .
`example of FIG . 1C , or the headband may be a behind - the
`When in range , the data source 20 may communicate with
`head band . In embodiments comprising a headband 19 , each
`the earphone 10 via the ad hoc wireless network 24 using
`earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit ; hence , each 65 any suitable wireless communication protocol , including
`earphone 10 may receive and transmit separately the wire
`Wi - Fi ( e.g. , IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n ) , WiMAX ( IEEE 802.16 ) ,
`less communication signals . In other embodiments compris
`Bluetooth , Zigbee , UWB , or any other suitable wireless
`
`21
`
`

`

`US 10,491,982 B1
`
`5
`6
`networks 33a , 42 to the earphone 10. In another mode , the
`communication protocol . For purposes of the description to
`host server 40 may transmit to the earphone 10 a network
`follow , it is assumed that the data source 20 and the earphone
`address , such as an Internet Protocol ( IP ) address , for a
`10 communicate using a Wi - Fi protocol , although the inven
`streaming digital audio content server 70 on the network 42 .
`tion is not so limited and other wireless communication
`protocols may be used in other embodiments of the inven- 5 Using the received IP address , the earphone 10 may connect
`tion . The data source 20 and the earphone 10 are considered
`to the streaming digital audio content server 70 via the
`in range for the ad hoc wireless network 24 when the signal
`networks 30a , 42 to receive and process digital audio from
`strengths ( e.g. , the RSSI ) of the signals received by the two
`the streaming digital audio content server 70 .
`The digital audio content server 70 may be , for example ,
`devices are above a threshold minimum signal strength
`level . For example , the data source 20 and the earphone 10
`10 an Internet radio station server . The digital audio content
`are likely to be in range for an ad hoc wireless network when
`server 70 may stream digital audio over the network 42 ( e.g. ,
`then are in close proximity , such as when the wearer of the
`the Internet ) , which the earphone 10 may receive and
`earphone 10 has the data source 20 on his / her person , such
`process . In one embodiment , the streaming digital audio
`as in a pocket , strapped to their waist or arm , or holding the
`content server 70 may stream digital audio received by the
`15 streaming digital audio content server 70 from the data
`data source in their hand .
`When the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are out of
`source 20. For example , where the data source 20 is a
`range for the ad hoc wireless network 24 , that is , when the
`wireless - capable device , such as a portable DAP , the data
`received signals degrade below the threshold minimum
`source 20 may connect to the streaming digital audio content
`signal strength level , both the earphone 10 and the data
`server 70 via a wireless network 30b and the network 42 .
`source 20 may transition automatically to communicate over 20 Alternatively , where for example the data source 20 is
`an infrastructure wireless network ( such as a wireless LAN
`non - wireless - capable device , such as a PC , the data source
`( WLAN ) ) 30 that is in the range of both the earphone 10 and
`20 may have a direct wired connection to the network 42 .
`the data source 20 , as shown in FIG . 2B . The earphone 10
`After being authenticated by the streaming digital audio
`and the data source 20 ( e.g. , the wireless network adapter
`content server 70 , the data source 20 may stream digital
`22 ) may include firmware , as described further below , that 25 audio to the streaming digital audio content server 70 , which
`cause the components to make the transition to a common
`may broadcast the received digital audio over the network
`infrastructure wireless network 30 automatically and seam
`42 ( e.g. , the Internet ) . In such a manner , the user of the
`lessly , e.g. , without user intervention . The earphone 10 may
`earphone 10 may listen to audio from the data source 20
`cache the received audio in a buffer or memory for a time
`even when ( i ) the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not
`period before playing the audio . The cached audio may be 30 in communication via an ad hoc wireless network 24 and ( ii )
`played after the connection over the ad hoc wireless network
`the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not in commu
`is lost to give the earphone 10 and the data source 20 time
`nication via a common local infrastructure wireless network
`to connect via the infrastructure wireless network .
`30 .
`For example , as shown in FIG . 2B , the infrastructure
`FIG . 3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to
`network may comprise an access point 32 that is in the range 35 various embodiments of the present invention . In the illus
`of both the data source 20 and the earphone 10. The access
`trated embodiment , the earphone 10 comprises a transceiver
`point 32 may be an electronic hardware device that acts as
`circuit 100 and rela