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`PCT/EP2005/011228
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`Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
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`Am Labor 1, 30900 Wedemark
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`Wireless Headphones and Data Transmission Method
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`The present invention relates to wireless headphones, a wireless microphone, a
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`wireless headset, and a method for data transmission.
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`Distribution of digitally compressed music, e.g. as MP3 files, has increased considerably
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`in recent years. Audio files are digitalized and then stored, e.g. on a hard drive in a
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`computer. As a result, computers are increasingly used as music sources in the private
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`sector, where the computer is used to play the audio files stored thereon. This allows
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`for a hardwired music playback, and if the computer contains a radio signal interface, it
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`is possible to play the music wirelessly, or to transmit the audio files or audio signals
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`through radio signals. Furthermore, there are also music sources connected to the
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`internet, which provide audio files for free or for a fee. A user can download these audio
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`files to a computer via the internet, and subsequently listen to these audio files. A user
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`can also access the internet with a cellular telephone or PDA through HSCSD, GPRS,
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`UMTS, etc. to likewise download audio files. One disadvantage with this is that a large
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`amount of data frequently needs to be transferred at a low speed.
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`A PDA or a notebook with a WLAN interface (IEEE 802.11) can likewise access the
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`internet wirelessly, as long as the PDA or notebook is located within the transmission
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`range of a WLAN access point. This is particularly advantageous with regard to the
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`data transfer speed in comparison with a cellular telephone connection.
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`WO 2006/042749
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`DE 20 2004 005 111 U1 discloses wireless Bluetooth headphones that has an
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`electroacoustic transducer and a transmitter/receiver unit for wireless signal reception of
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`audio signals.
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`DE 101 14 670 A1 discloses a mobile multimedia device that contains one
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`transmitter/receiver unit for communicating with a cellular network and second
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`transmitter/receiver unit for receiving radio frequencies. Reception authorization
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`received via the first transmitter/receiver unit is stored in a transmitter. The multimedia
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`device also contains a decoder for decoding the encoded multimedia content received
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`via the second transmitter/receiver unit. An authorization query for multimedia content
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`is transmitted wirelessly via the first transmitter.
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`The downloading of data, in particular audio files, from the internet described above
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`may involve copyright laws.
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`It is therefore the object of the present invention to enable mobile access to data stored
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`in an internet server that does not infringe on copyright laws. It is also the object of the
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`present invention to create wireless headphones, a wireless microphone, and a wireless
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`headset that enable improved access to existing or available communication
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`environments.
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`The invention relates to the idea of providing WLAN headphones or a WLAN receiver
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`with a headphone connection for wireless audio file transfer, as long as the receiver is
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`within the transmission range of a WLAN access point, for example. This involves
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`establishing a connection between the headphones or receiver and a server and/or
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`server service that supports the client functionalities. The server and/or server service
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`can be a private server/service or an external server/service, for which the connection
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`data are known, and for which the user has access rights. More precisely, a connection
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`is established between the access point and the server or server service that contains
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`the data that are to be downloaded, which can be hardwired or partially or entirely
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`wireless. The data are then transferred from the access point to the headphones or
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`receiver via a WLAN interface (e.g. IEEE 802.11). This enables it to receive its own
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`digitally stored music wirelessly within the transmission range of a WLAN access point.
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`Because it is accessing its own music, a continuous verification of rights is enabled,
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`such that it is not subject to copyright restrictions. WLAN headphones or a WLAN
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`receiver can access their own data in the same manner, regardless of whether the
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`headphones or receiver are within the transmission range of a private WLAN access
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`point or a public WLAN access point.
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`
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`It is not necessarily essential for a data medium to physically possess the audio data for
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`an authorized access to its own audio data. Audio data that can be accessed in the
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`allowed manner as set forth in this invention can be privately owned music data media,
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`or it can be audio data that have been downloaded from an internet service, potentially
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`for a fee, or it can be audio data copied to a specific server/service, potentially for a fee,
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`from which it can then be retrieved as desired. In particular, the non-physical purchase
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`of audio data should be noted in conjunction with this invention.
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`
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`It may be the case that the necessary storage space in the private sector is insufficient
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`for storing all of the audio data. An internet service or provider that stores this data and
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`can be accessed in the conventional manner is also conceivable. This service may also
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`involve fees, or it may be included in other service contracts.
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`
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`The invention also relates to the concept of configuring headphones not only as passive
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`audio receivers, but also as an active network element, or as a web client that provides
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`an internet service such that other network elements can likewise access it. The same
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`applies for a microphone and for the headset.
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`
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`This results in wireless headphones that have at least one electroacoustic transducer
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`and a transmitter/receiver unit for wireless reception of first signals, which contain audio
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`signals that can be played back on the electroacoustic transducer, and a network
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`identification unit for storing a network ID for the wireless headphones, wherein the
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`transmitter/receiver unit is configured for wireless transmission of the network ID for the
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`headphones, wherein the network ID for the wireless headphones stored in the network
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`identification unit represents an internet protocol address.
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`
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`As a result, the wireless headphones form not only a passive receiver for audio signals,
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`but also an active network element. This ensures that the wireless headphones can be
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`clearly identified in a network. The wireless headphones can be accessed via the
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`internet using IP address, i.e. the wireless headphones can be addressed worldwide.
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`According to another aspect of the present invention, the IP address is assigned to a
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`network element in a wireless network in which the wireless headphones are located.
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`According to another aspect of the present invention, the headphones contain a buffer
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`for temporarily storing the received signals. Brief interruptions in the reception of the
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`first signals can be bridged with such a buffer, without having to stop playback of the
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`audio signals via the electroacoustic transducer. The buffer can be a component of the
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`streaming protocol, or it can be formed in the application software as a supplement to
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`the streaming protocol.
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`According to another aspect of the present invention, the wireless headphones have a
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`display for displaying second signals that have been received by the transmitter/receiver
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`unit along with the first signals. As a result, supplementary information, e.g. a title and
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`performer of a piece of music, can be displayed on the display.
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`According to another aspect of the present invention, the wireless headphones have
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`control buttons. The user can use these control buttons to control the display and
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`communicate with other network elements in the network. The user can thus select
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`audio files stored on a server in the network, such that they can be transferred to the
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`wireless headphones for playback.
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`The invention likewise relates to a wireless microphone that has an electroacoustic
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`transducer for picking up audio signals and a transmitter/receiver unit for the wireless
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`transfer of these audio signals.
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`The wireless microphone also contains a network identification unit for storing a network
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`ID for the wireless microphone. The transmitter/receiver unit also transmits the network
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`ID for the microphone stored in the network identification unit. As a result, a wireless
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`microphone is provided that is not only a passive transmitter for audio signals, but is
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`also used as an active network element, thus making an internet service available.
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`The invention also relates to a wireless headset that contains at least one first
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`electroacoustic transducer for playing audio signals, and a second electroacoustic
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`transducer for recording audio signals. The headset also contains a transmitter/receiver
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`unit for wireless transmission and reception, as well as a network identification unit for
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`storing a network ID for the headset. The network ID for the headset is transmitted
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`wirelessly by the transmitter/receiver unit.
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`Further embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
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`
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`The invention shall be described in greater detail below in reference to the drawings.
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`Therein:
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`
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`Fig. 1
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`shows a fundamental construction of a data transfer system according to
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`the invention;
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`Fig. 2
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`shows a playback device according to a first exemplary embodiment;
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`Fig. 3
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`shows a playback device according to a second exemplary embodiment;
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`Fig. 4
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`shows a block diagram of a multimedia network;
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`Fig. 5
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`shows a multimedia network according to a third exemplary embodiment
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`of the invention;
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`
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`Fig. 6
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`shows a schematic illustration of a multimedia network according to a
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`fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention;
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`Fig. 7
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`shows a block diagram for wireless headphones according to the third
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`exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 5;
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`Fig. 8
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`shows a block diagram for a wireless microphone according to the fourth
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`exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 6; and
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`Fig. 9
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`shows a block diagram for a headset according to a fifth exemplary
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`embodiment.
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`
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`Figure 1 shows a fundamental construction of a data transfer system according to the
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`invention. This substantially depicts a private sector and a public sector that are
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`connected to one another via the internet. A private server PS is shown in the private
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`sector, which is connected by a hardwire, for example, to an access point APP. This
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`access point APP has a WLAN interface, and communicates wirelessly with a playback
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`device WG located within the transmission range of the access point APP. There is a
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`public server OS in the public sector, which is connected wirelessly, for example, to the
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`internet. There is also a further access point APO, which is likewise hardwired to the
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`internet. This access point APO also contains a WLAN interface and communicates
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`wirelessly with a playback device WG located within its transmission range.
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`A playback device WG contains a WLAN interface for communicating with the private
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`access points APP and the public access points APO. The playback device is also
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`assigned its own IP address. Communication by the playback device WG within a
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`transmission range of the private access point AP takes place wirelessly until reaching
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`the private access point APP, and then is hardwired between the private access point
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`APP and the private server. Alternatively or additionally, the private access point APP
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`can be hardwired to the internet, for example. This would enable communication
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`between the playback device WG within the transmission range of the private access
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`point APP and a public server OS, in that the private access point APP is connected to
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`the public server OS via the internet.
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`Alternatively, the playback device WG can also communicate with the access points
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`through a hardwired connection.
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`Communication between the playback device WG in the transmission range of the
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`public access point APO and a public or private server OS, PS, takes place wirelessly
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`until reaching the public access point APO, and then takes place via the internet to
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`reach the public server OS or the private server PS.
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`The playback device WG can therefore access both the private server PS as well as the
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`public server OS, regardless of whether it is located in a private or public sector, as long
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`as it is located within the transmission range of an access point.
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`Communication between the playback device WG and the public server OS or the
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`private server PS takes place via the internet protocol in particular. For this, the
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`playback device has a corresponding IP address IP-WG, and the private and public
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`servers likewise have corresponding IP addresses IP-PS, IP-OS. The
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`intercommunication therefore takes place using the respective IP addresses. This has
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`the advantage in particular that the public or private servers OS, PS can determine
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`whether the receiver of the data is also actually the playback device WG. If the IP
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`address of the data receiver is not the IP address IP-WG for the playback device, the
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`respective data transfer can be interrupted. The IP address also makes it possible to
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`identify the receiver of the respective data.
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`Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a playback device from Figure 1 according to
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`a first exemplary embodiment. According to the first exemplary embodiment, the
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`playback device comprises headphones with a WLAN interface. In other words, the
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`headphones communicates directly with an access point via WLAN. As a result, no
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`further devices are needed for receiving the wireless signals. All of the necessary
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`elements are integrated in the wireless headphones. As a result, data can be received
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`wirelessly by the wireless WLAN headphones, as long as the headphones are within the
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`transmission range of a WLAN access point.
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`As an alternative to a WLAN interface, the playback device can likewise contain an
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`interface that enables hardwired communication with the access point. As an alterative
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`to the WLAN interface, the playback device can likewise contain a wireless interface
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`that uses another wireless communications protocol.
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`
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`An external operating element BE can be used to improve the operability of wireless
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`headphones. The communication between the operating element BE and the
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`headphones can be hardwired or wireless (IR, Bluetooth, HF). This operating element
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`is used solely for operating the wireless headphones. No WLAN interface is integrated
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`in the operating element BE. Alternatively, the operating element can also be integrated
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`in the headphones.
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`Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of a playback device according to a second
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`exemplary embodiment. This also includes headphones and an operating element BE.
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`Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, a WLAN interface is integrated in the operating
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`element BE, such that the operating element communicates wirelessly with an access
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`point. The data that are received are transferred either by hardwire or wirelessly (IR,
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`Bluetooth, HF, etc.) from the operating element BE to the headphones. According to
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`the second exemplary embodiment, the WLAN interface is therefore integrated in the
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`operating element BE, while the headphones are simply conventional headphones.
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`
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`Integration of the WLAN interface in the operating element BE has proven to be
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`advantageous with regard to the battery power that is needed, because such an
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`operating element has more space for such.
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`An operating element according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention
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`can be any device that has a WLAN interface, e.g. a notebook, PDA, cellular telephone,
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`voice over IP telephone, etc. The operating element can also be implemented as an
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`MP3 player with a WLAN interface. When such an operating element contains a
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`sufficiently large temporary memory, or buffer, numerous audio files can be loaded in
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`advance on the operating element, such that they can be subsequently played back,
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`without needing a connection to an access point.
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`The operating element according to the second exemplary embodiment can therefore
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`also provide a corresponding audio signal – hardwired or wirelessly – to other
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`headphones.
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`Someone wearing the wireless headphones described above, which contain an
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`integrated WLAN interface, can listen to music whenever they are located within the
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`transmission range of a WLAN access point. Because of the faster data transfer
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`associated with WLAN, a high level of audio playback quality can be obtained.
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`Furthermore, the data in the audio files or music pieces can substantially be
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`downloaded in realtime, such that only a very small temporary memory or buffer is
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`needed in the headphones. Alternatively or additionally, these data can also be
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`uploaded at a higher speed, and stored accordingly in the temporary memory or buffer.
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`As a result, it is possible to provide music to the headphones for playback when the
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`headphones are no longer within the transmission range of a WLAN access point. The
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`wireless headphones substantially contain all of the necessary hardware elements that
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`are needed for both the downloading as well as playback of audio files downloaded
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`accordingly from the internet.
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`In order reduce the amount of data that must be transferred, the audio files can be
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`stored and transmitted in a compressed form, e.g. MP3, MP3pro, WMA, Ogg Vorbis,
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`etc. Decompression first takes place in the receiver, i.e. in the wireless headphones.
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`The wireless headphones must therefore contain a unit for decompressing the
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`compressed audio signals, as well as the corresponding software for this. Alternatively,
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`this necessary software can also be transferred along with, or prior to, the audio data.
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`This is advantageously in particular with regard to the different versions of such
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`headphones from different manufacturers, such that the respective headphones are
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`always provided with the newest software version.
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`According to both the first and second exemplary embodiments, a playback device, i.e.
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`an operating element or wireless headphones, can both receive and transmit data.
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`Such a playback device can therefore receive data wirelessly from an access point, and
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`then send this data to another playback device. This can take place either by a
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`hardwired connection or wirelessly, i.e. using infrared, Bluetooth, HF, etc. As a result,
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`not only audio files, but also audio streams can be simultaneously received by the
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`playback device, and forwarded accordingly. The playback device, i.e. the wireless
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`headphones or the operating element, can temporally control playback on an external
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`playback device such that the playback takes place synchronously. Alternatively, the
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`playback with the wireless headphones connected to the access point can be delayed
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`accordingly, in order to obtain a synchronous playback on all playback devices. The
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`wireless headphones, or operating element, substantially forms a master, while the
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`other playback devices are implemented as slave devices. As a result, wireless
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`headphones or an operating element perform as a local server, providing the stored
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`audio files to other playback devices. The data transfer of the data stored in the
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`wireless headphones or operating element can take place either in realtime, or at a
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`higher speed, such that the other playback devices can play the files later or delayed,
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`depending on the size of their temporary memory or buffer.
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`
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`According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the wireless
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`headphones are designed such that when it is turned on, it logs onto a WLAN access
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`point, if it is located within the transmission range of a WLAN access point. The
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`wireless headphones then establish a connection to a specific server on which the
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`audio files that are to be transferred are located. This can take place with an internet
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`protocol using a specific IP address for such a server. This server can be either a
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`private server, which is permanently connected to the internet via a DSL connection, for
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`example. Alternatively, these data can likewise be on another server that is
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`permanently connected to the internet.
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`The wireless headphones according to the first and second exemplary embodiments
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`check in regular intervals whether they are within the transmission range of an access
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`point. As soon as they determine that they are within the transmission range of an
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`access point, and a connection to this access point has been established, the user is
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`informed of this visually through an LED display, acoustically through a sound signal in
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`the headphones, or mechanically through a vibration. If there is a corresponding
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`operating element, this notification can also take place on the operating element. Such
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`a notification can also be shut off.
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`The user can also decide whether or not to contact a server.
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`A connection to a server on which the data that are to be transferred are located is
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`initiated by actuating control buttons on the wireless headphones or the operating
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`element, without having to input further target information, because this information is
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`already stored in the headphones. If the connection to the WLAN access point is
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`interrupted during a data transfer, the headphones attempt to re-establish a connection
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`at set intervals and to resume data transfer until all of the data have been transferred.
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`In order to improve continuous verification of rights, and to prevent an unintended
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`access to or misuse of the data transfer between wireless WLAN headphones and a
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`specific server or headphones, the data transfer is encrypted. A corresponding key can
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`vary during the download in previously defined temporal intervals, or from one download
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`to the next. Existing web functionalities, e.g. SSL, can also be used for the encryption.
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`According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, an operating element
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`described in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention is
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`located in an automobile or the like. It should be ensured here that the temporary
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`memory, or buffer, is large enough, because it is not always certain that the operating
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`element will be within the transmission range of a WLAN access point. For this reason,
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`data should preferably be transferred at a higher speed prior to travel, or at specific
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`stations, e.g. rest areas or service stations. Alternatively or additionally, further access
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`points can be established in suburban areas, in which specific information regarding the
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`area, e.g. tourist attractions, traffic information, navigating information, etc. are stored.
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`This information can be presented in an audio or video format, wherein the playback
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`thereof is also enabled via speakers or video screens built into the automobile. The
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`information can also be played back by a navigation system or some other positioning
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`system (e.g. mobile radio communication or GPS).
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`This is also possible when a user is in an airplane or a train. In this case, the WLAN
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`access point is located in the train or airplane, such that the user is always within the
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`transmission range of a WLAN access point.
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`Because the data stored on a private server PS or a public server OS may involve a
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`very large amount of data, it must be ensured that a user can navigate within this data.
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`A program for this is implemented on the server, which sorts through the data on the
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`server, and classifies this data accordingly. As soon as the wireless headphones
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`establish a connection to this server, the corresponding audio files are transferred to the
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`wireless headphones, such that they can be played back. This navigation can take
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`place either via control buttons on the headphones or via speech input using an
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`additional microphone. In other words, a user can activate such a navigation program
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`on the server by means of the control buttons or voice commands. Alternatively, the
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`navigation program can be a component of the headphones, wherein the commands
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`are then translated such that the server service understands them and executes the
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`corresponding commands. An operating element with a display can either be integrated
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`in the headphones, or it can be an external device. The user can thus navigate the
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`structured files or databases on the private or public server and select them accordingly
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`by means of the control buttons and the display in the operating element.
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`When a connection is established between the wireless headphones and the specific
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`server on which the corresponding data are stored, information regarding the structure
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`of the data and the audio database can be transferred in advance. As soon as these
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`data are stored in the temporary memory or buffer, offline navigation can also take
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`place, if the wireless headphones are not within the transmission range of a WLAN
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`access point.
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`
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`Alternatively or additionally to the above, the server on which the data are stored can be
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`configured to generate a synthetic announcement regarding the data that are to be
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`transferred. This synthesized announcement can be stored in the memory for the
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`playback device. The announcement can be generated as an MP3 file, Wafe file, etc.
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`and stored accordingly in the playback device, such that this file can be played back
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`during the playback or at the start of the playback of the data. This has proven to be
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`particularly advantageous for playback devices that do not have a display, because it
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`allows for the title of each audio file to be output to the user. As stated above, the title
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`announcement is preferably generated from the name of the file, or the ID tag for MP3
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`files, using speech synthesis. This speech synthesis preferably takes place in the
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`server, or it can be carried out in advance, and the resulting synthesized announcement
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`can likewise be stored on the server, such that the data can be transferred with the
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`announcement to the playback device. Because the speech synthesis takes place on
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`the server, or on an upstream device, instead of in the playback device, there is no
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`need to increase the complexity of the playback device to ensure that the synthesized
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`announcement can be played back accordingly.
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`The title of a file, the length of the file, and secondary information, e.g. the style of
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`music, the performer, etc. can preferably be used for the synthesized announcement.
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`As an alternative, the speech synthesis can first take place when the file transfer has
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`been requested. This has proven to be advantageous in that storage space can be
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`saved on the server, because the synthesized announcement only needs to be
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`generated for files that are actually to be downloaded.
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`The speech synthesis described above can also be used to navigate in the menu
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`control for indexes on the server. The menu structure is subjected accordingly to a
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`speech synthesis for this, such that the menu structure can be played back acoustically
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`in the playback device.
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`Alternatively or additionally, the acoustic announcement regarding the files can be
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`generated in advance, and stored along with the data or the files. Alternatively, the
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`announcements can be generated for each event.
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`As stated above, the operating element can either be hardwired to the headphones or
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`connected wirelessly thereto. After the audio files that are to be downloaded have been
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`selected, the operating element no longer needs to be used, because all of the data are
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`stored in the wireless headphones, or transferred to the corresponding server.
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`In addition to navigation within the data or databases on the specific server, it is also
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`desirable to be able to navigate within the audio files. Control buttons can also be
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`provided on the wireless headphones for this. These control buttons are preferably
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`characterized by tactile identification features, such that the headphones do not need to
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`be removed if the user whishes to navigate within a music piece. Examples of such
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`control buttons are “start,” “stop,” “previous/next music piece,” “previous/next song,” etc.
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`The control buttons can likewise have numerous functions, such that it is possible to
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`navigate both within a music piece and within the files or databases on the server.
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`The instructions or commands input by the user using the operating element or control
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`buttons are sent to the specific server by means of the return path for the WLAN
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`interface. These commands can be sent in the form of machine commands or ASC II
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`signals. The commands to the server/service are in an agreed upon, preferably
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`standardized form, e.g. byte sequences or sound sequences.
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`Alternatively or additionally, when a connection is established between wireless WLAN
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`headphones and a corresponding server with a specific IP address, in addition to a
`
`corresponding software transfer, the possible commands can also be transmitted.
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`
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`Because the IP addresses for the wireless headphones and the server must be known
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`for communication between the wireless headphones and a server, it is irrelevant
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`whether the wireless headphones communicate with a public or private server. To
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`obtain the greatest accessibility to data, the data are stored on a server that has
`
`permanent access to the internet. As a result, there is only one data transfer or
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`transmission from a virtual memory in the server to the wireless headphones. As a
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`result, there are no copyright infringements with regard to data on