(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`15 October 2009 (15.10.2009) (10) International Publication Number
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`WO 2009/126614 A1
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`(43) International Publication Date
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`(51)
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`(21)
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`International Patent Classification:
`H04R 1/02 (2006.01)
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`International Application Number:
`PCT/US2009/039754
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`(81)
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`(22)
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`International Filing Date:
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`(25)
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`(26)
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`(30)
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`(71)
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`(72)
`(75)
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`Filing Language:
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`Publication Language:
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`7 April 2009 (07.04.2009)
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`English
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`English
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`Priority Data:
`61/123,265
`
`7 April 2008 (07.04.2008)
`
`US
`
`Applicant (for all designated States except US): KOSS
`CORPORATION [US/US]; 4129 North Port Washing-
`ton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53212 (US).
`
`Inventors; and
`PELLAND,
`only):
`for US
`Inventors/Applicants
`Michael. J. [US/US]; N 4626 Wildwood Lane, Princeton,
`WI 54968—8738 (US). KOSS, Michael, J. [US/US]; 2800
`West Bradley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53217 (US).
`SAGAN, Michael [US/US]; 598 Woodbcrry Strcct, Mar-
`shall, WI 53559 (US). RECKAMP, Steven [US/US];
`
`1 158 Atcheson Avenue, Sun Prairie, WI 5 3 5 90-3 812
`(US).
`
`Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind ofnational protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ,
`CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ,
`EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN,
`HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR,
`KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME,
`MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO,
`NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG,
`SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA,
`UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`
`(84)
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`Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BVV, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZVV), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE,
`ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
`MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR),
`OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML,
`MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`Declarations under Rule 4.17:
`
`[Continued on nextpage]
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`(54) Title: VJIRELESS EARPHONE THAT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS
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`HOST S 'VER
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`- STREAMING DiGiTAL
`AUD‘Q CONTENT SERVER
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`20
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`SOURCE
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`(57) Abstract: A wireless earphone
`that comprises a transceiver circuit
`for receiving streaming audio from a
`data source over a local ad hoc Wire—
`less network. When the data source
`and the earphone are out of range,
`they transition automatically to an in-
`frastructure wireless network. If there
`is no common infrastructure wireless
`network for both the data source and
`the speakerphone set,
`the earphone
`connects t a host scrvcr via an avail-
`able wireless network.
`
`Bose Exhibit 1013
`Bose Exhibit 1013
`Bose v. Koss
`Bose v. Koss
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`
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`WO 2009/126614 A1 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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`as to applicant’s entitlement to apply for and be granted Published:
`a patent (Rule 4.17(ii))
`— with international search report (Art. 21(3))
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`as to the applicant’s entitlement to claim the priority of
`the earlier application (Rule 4.17(iii))
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`

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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`WO 2009/126614
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`‘
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`PCT/U82009/039754
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`WIRELESS EARPHONE THAT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS
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`Inventors: Michael J. Pelland, Michael J. Koss, Michael Sagan,
`Steven Reckamp, Greg Hollingstad, Jeff Bovee, and Morgan Lowery
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`PRIORITY CLAIM
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`The present application claims priority to United States provisional application serial
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`number 61/123,265, filed April 7, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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`BACKGROUND
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`Digital audio players, such as MP3 players and iPods, that store and play digital audio
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`files, are very popular. Such devices typically comprise a data storage unit for storing and playing
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`the digital audio, and a headphone set that connects to the data storage unit, usually with a IA” or a
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`3.5 mm jack and associated cord. Often the headphones are in-ear type headphones. The cord,
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`however, between the headphones and the data storage unit can be cumbersome and annoying to
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`users, and the length of the cord limits the physical distance between the data storage unit and the
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`headphones. Accordingly, some cordless headphones have been proposed, such as the Monster
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`iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple Inc., which include a docking port on one of the
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`earphones that can connect directly to an iPod Shuffle. Because they have the docking port,
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`however, the Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple are quite large and are not in-
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`ear type phones. Recently, cordless headphones that connect wirelessly via IEEE 802.11 to a
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`WLAN-ready laptop or personal computer (PC) have been proposed, but such headphones are
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`also quite large and not in-ear type phones.
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`SUMMARY
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`In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to a wireless earphone that
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`comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source, such as a digital
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`audio player or a computer, over an ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the
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`earphone are out of range via the ad hoc wireless network, they may transition automatically to a
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`common infrastructure wireless network (e. g., a wireless LAN). If there is no common
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`infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the earphone, the earphone may
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`connect via an available infrastructure wireless network to a host server. The host server may, for
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`example, broadcast streaming audio to the earphone and/0r transmit to the earphone a network
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`address (e. g., an Internet Protocol (IP) address) for a network-connected content server that
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`PI-2159849 v1 1284037-00271
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`streams digital audio. The earphone may then connect to the content server using the IP address.
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`The content server may be an Internet radio server, including, for example, an Internet radio
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`server that broadcasts streaming audio from the data source or some other content.
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`These and other advantageous, unique aspects of the wireless earphone are described
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`below.
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`FIGURES
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`Various embodiments of the present invention are described herein by way of example in
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`conjunction with the following figures, wherein:
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`Figures lA-lE are views of a wireless earphone according to various embodiments of the
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`present invention;
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`Figures 2A-2D illustrate various communication modes for a wireless earphone according
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`to various embodiments of the present invention;
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`Figure 3 is a block diagram of a wireless earphone according to various embodiments of
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`the present invention;
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`Figures 4A-4B show the wireless earphone connected to another device according to
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`various embodiments of the present invention;
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`Figure 5 is a diagram of a process implemented by a host server according to various
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`embodiments of the present invention;
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`Figure 6 is a diagram of a process implemented by the wireless earphone to transition
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`automatically between wireless networks according to various embodiments of the present
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`invention;
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`Figures 7, 8 and 10 illustrate communication systems involving the wireless earphone
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`according to various embodiments of the present invention;
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`Figure 9 is a diagram of a headset including a wireless earphone and a microphone
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`according to various embodiments of the present invention; and
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`Figure 11 is a diagram of a pair of wireless earphones with a dongle according to various
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`embodiments of the present invention.
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`DESCRIPTION
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`In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to a wireless earphone that receives
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`streaming audio data via ad hoc wireless networks and infrastructure wireless networks, and that
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`transitions seamlessly between wireless networks. The earphone may comprise one or more in—
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`ear, on—ear, or over—ear speaker elements. Two exemplary in—ear earphone shapes for the wireless
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`earphone 10 are shown in Figures 1A and 1B, respectively, although in other embodiments the
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`earphone may take different shapes and the exemplary shapes shown in Figures 1A and 1B are
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`not intended to be limiting. In one embodiment, the eaiphone transitions automatically and
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`seamlessly, without user intervention, between communication modes. That is, the earphone may
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`transition automatically from an ad hoc wireless network to an infrastructure wireless network,
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`without user intervention. As used herein, an “ad hoc wireless network” is a network where two
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`(or more) wireless—capable devices, such as the earphone and a data source, communicate directly
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`and wirelessly, without using an access point. An “infrastructure wireless network,” on the other
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`hand, is a wireless network that uses one or more access points to allow a wireless-capable device,
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`such as the wireless earphone, to connect to a computer network, such as a LAN or WAN
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`10
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`(including the Internet).
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`Figures 1A and 1B show example configurations for a wireless earphone 10 according to
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`various embodiments of the present invention. The examples shown in Figures 1A and 1B are not
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`limiting and other configurations are within the scope of the present invention. As shown in
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`Figures 1A and 1B, the earphone 10 may comprise a body 12. The body 12 may comprise an ear
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`canal portion 14 that is inserted in the ear canal of the user of the earphone 10. In various
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`embodiments, the body 12 also may comprise an exterior portion 15 that is not inserted into user’s
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`ear canal. The exterior portion 15 may comprise a knob 16 or some other user control (such as a
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`dial, a pressure-activated switch, lever, etc.) for adjusting the shape of the ear canal portion 14.
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`That is, in various embodiments, activation (6. g. rotation) of the knob 16 may cause the ear canal
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`portion 14 to change shape so as to, for example, radially expand to fit snugly against all sides of
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`the user’s ear canal. Further details regarding such a shape-changing earbud earphone are
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`described in application PCT/U 808/88656, filed 31 December 2008, entitled “Adjustable Shape
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`Earphone,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The earphone 10 also may
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`comprise a transceiver circuit housed within the body 12. The transceiver circuit, described
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`further below, may transmit and receive the wireless signals, including receive streaming audio
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`for playing by the earphone 10. The transceiver circuit may be housed in the exterior portion 15
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`of the earphone 10 and/or in the ear canal portion 14.
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`Although the example earphones 10 shown in Figures 1A and 1B include a knob 16 for
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`adjusting the shape of the ear canal portion 14, the present invention is not so limited, and in other
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`embodiments, different means besides a knob 16 may be used to adjust the ear canal portion 14.
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`In addition, in other embodiments, the earphone 10 may not comprise a shape-changing ear canal
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`portion 14.
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`In various embodiments, the user may wear two discrete wireless earphones 10: one in
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`each ear. In such embodiments, each earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit. In such
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`embodiments, the earphones 10 may be connected by a string or some other cord-type connector
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`to keep the earphones 10 from being separated.
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`In other embodiments, as shown in Figure 1C, a headband 19 may connect the two (left
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`and right) earphones 10. The headband 19 may be an over—the-head band, as shown in the
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`example of Figure 1C, or the headband may be a behind-the-head band. In embodiments
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`comprising a headband 19, each earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit; hence, each
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`earphone 10 may receive and transmit separately the Wireless communication signals. In other
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`embodiments comprising a headband 19, only one earphone 10 may comprise the transceiver
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`circuit, and a wire may run along the headband 19 to the other earphone 10 to connect thereby the
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`transceiver circuit to the acoustic transducer in the earphone that does not comprise the
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`transceiver circuit. The embodiment shown in Figure 1C comprises on-ear earphones 10; in other
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`embodiments, in—ear or over-ear earphones may be used.
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`In other embodiments, the earphone 10 may comprise a hanger bar 17 that allows the
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`earphone 10 to clip to, or hang on, the user’s ear, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
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`Figures 1D—1E. Figure 1D is a perspective View of the earphone and Figure 1E is a side view
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`according to one embodiment. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 may
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`comprise dual speaker elements 106-A, 106—B. One of the speaker elements (the smaller one)
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`106—A is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listener’s ear and the other element (the larger
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`one) lO6-B is not. The listener may use the hanger bar to position the earphone on the listener’s _
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`ear. In that connection, the hanger bar may comprise a horizontal section that rests upon the
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`upper external curvature of the listener’s ear behind the upper portion of the auricula (or pinna).
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`The earphone may comprise a knurled knob that allows the user to adjust finely the distance
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`between the horizontal section of the hanger bar and the speaker elements, thereby providing, in
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`such embodiments, another measure of adjustability for the user. More details regarding such a
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`dual element, adjustable earphone may be found in United States provisional patent application
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`Serial No. 61/054,238, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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`Figures 2A—2D illustrate various communication modes for a wireless data communication
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`system involving the earphone 10 according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown
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`in Figure 2A, the system comprises a data source 20 in communication with the earphone 10 via
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`an ad hoc wireless network 24. The earphone 10, via its transceiver circuit (described in more
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`detail below), may communicate wirelessly with a data source 20, which may comprise a wireless
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`network adapter 22 for transmitting the digital audio wirelessly. For example, the data source 20
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`may be a digital audio player (DAP), such as an mp3 player or an iPod, or any other suitable
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`digital audio playing device, such as a laptop or personal computer, that stores and/or plays digital
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`audio files. In other embodiments, the data source 20 may generate analog audio, and the wireless
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`network adapter 22 may encode the analog audio into digital format for transmission to the
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`earphone 10.
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`The wireless network adapter 22 may be an integral part of the data source 20, or it may be
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`a separate device that is connected to the data source 20 to provide wireless connectivity for the
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`data source 20. For example, the wireless network adapter 22 may comprise a wireless network
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`interface card (WNIC) or other suitable transceiver that plugs into a USB port or other port or jack
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`of the data source 20 (such as a TRS connector) to stream data, e.g., digital audio files, via a
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`wireless network (e.g., the ad hoc wireless network 24 or an infrastructure wireless network). The
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`digital audio transmitted fiom the data source 20 to the earphone 10 via the wireless networks
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`may comprise compressed or uncompressed audio. Any suitable file format may be used for the
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`audio, including mp3, lossy or lossless WMA, Vorbis, Musepack, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, AU, or
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`any other suitable file format.
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`When in range, the data source 20 may communicate with the earphone 10 via the ad hoc
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`wireless network 24 using any suitable wireless communication protocol, including Wi—Fi (e.g.,
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`IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), Bluetooth, Zigbee, UWB, or any other suitable
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`wireless communication protocol. For purposes of the description to follow, it is assumed that the
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`data source 20 and the earphone 10 communicate using a Wi-Fi protocol, although the invention
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`is not so limited and other wireless communication protocols may be used in other embodiments
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`of the invention. The data source 20 and the earphone 10 are considered in range for the ad hoc
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`wireless network 24 when the signal strengths (e.g., the R881) of the signals received by the two
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`devices are above a threshold minimum signal strength level. For example, the data source 20
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`and the earphone 10 are likely to be in range for an ad hoc wireless network when then are in
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`close proximity, such as when the wearer of the earphone 10 has the data source 20 on his/her
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`person, such as in a pocket, strapped to their waist or arm, or holding the data source in their hand.
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`When the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are out of range for the ad hoc wireless
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`network 24, that is, when the received signals degrade below the threshold minimum signal
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`strength level, both the earphone 10 and the data source 20 may transition automatically to
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`communicate over an infrastructure wireless network (such as a wireless LAN (WLAN)) 30 that
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`is in the range of both the earphone 10 and the data source 20, as shown in Figure 2B. The
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`earphone 10 and the data source 20 (e. g., the wireless network adapter 22) may include fim'iware,
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`as described further below, that cause the components to make the transition to a common
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`infrastructure wireless network 30 automatically and seamlessly, e. g., without user intervention.
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`The earphone 10 may cache the received audio in a buffer or memory for a time period before
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`playing the audio. The cached audio may be played after the connection over the ad hoc wireless
`network is lost to give the earphone 10 and the data source 20 time to connect via the
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`infrastructure wireless network.
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`For example, as shown in Figure 2B, the infrastructure network may comprise an access
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`point 32 that is in the range of both the data source 20 and the earphone 10. The access point 32
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`may be an electronic hardware device that acts as a wireless access point for, and that is
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`connected to, a wired and/or wireless data communication network 33, such as a LAN or WAN,
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`for example. The data source 20 and the earphone 10 may both communicate wirelessly with the
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`access point 32 using the appropriate network data protocol (a Wi-Fi protocol, for example). The
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`data source 20 and the earphone 10 may both transition automatically to an agreed-upon WLAN
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`30 that is in the range of both devices when they cannot communicate satisfactorily via the ad hoc
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`wireless network 24. A procedure for specifying an agreed—upon infrastructure wireless network
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`30 is described further below. Alternatively, the infrastructure wireless network 30 may have
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`multiple access points 32a—b, as shown in Figure 2C. In such an embodiment, the data source 20
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`may communicate wirelessly with one access point 32b and the earphone 10 may communicate
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`wirelessly with another access point 32a of the same infrastructure wireless network 30. Again,
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`the data source 20 and the earphone 10 may transition to an agreed—upon WLAN.
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`If there is no suitable common infrastructure wireless network over which the earphone 10
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`and the data source 20 can communicate, as shown in Fig. 2D, the earphone 10 may transition to
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`communicate with an access point 32a for an available (first) wireless network (e.g., WLAN) 30a
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`that is in the range of the earphone 10. In this mode, the earphone 10 may connect via the
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`wireless network 30a to a network-enabled host server 40. The host server 40 may be connected
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`to the wireless network 30a via an electronic data communication network 42, such as the
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`Internet. In one mode, the host server 40 may transmit streaming digital audio via the networks
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`33a, 42 to the earphone 10. In another mode, the host server 40 may transmit to the earphone 10 a
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`network address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, for a streaming digital audio content
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`server 70 on the network 42. Using the received IP address, the earphone 10 may connect to the
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`streaming digital audio content server 70 via the networks 30a, 42 to receive and process digital
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`audio from the streaming digital audio content server 70.
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`The digital audio content server 70 may be, for example, an Internet radio station server.
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`The digital audio content server 70 may stream digital audio over the network 42 (e. g., the
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`Internet), which the earphone 10 may receive and process. In one embodiment, the streaming
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`digital audio content server 70 may stream digital audio received by the streaming digital audio
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`content server 70 from the data source 20. For example, where the data source 20 is a wireless—
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`capable device, such as a portable DAP, the data source 20 may connect to the streaming digital
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`audio content server 70 via a wireless network 30b and the network 42. Alternatively, where for
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`example the data source 20 is non—wireless—capable device, such as a PC, the data source 20 may
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`have a direct wired connection to the network 42. After being authenticated by the streaming
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`digital audio content server 70, the data source 20 may stream digital audio to the streaming
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`digital audio content server 70, which may broadcast the received digital audio over the network
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`42 (e. g., the Internet). In such a manner, the user of the earphone 10 may listen to audio from the
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`data source 20 even when (i) the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not in communication via
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`an ad hoc wireless network 24 and (ii) the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not in
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`communication via a common local infrastructure wireless network 30.
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`Figure 3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to various embodiments of the
`present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 comprises a transceiver circuit
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`100 and related peripheral components. As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral components of the
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`earphone 10 may comprise a power source 102, a microphone 104, one or more acoustic
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`transducers 106 (e.g., speakers), and an antenna 108. The transceiver circuit 100 and some of the
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`peripheral components (such as the power source 102 and the acoustic transducers 106) may be
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`housed within the body 12 of the earphone 10 (see Figure 1). Other peripheral components, such
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`as the microphone 104 and the antenna 108 may be external to the body 12 of the earphone 10. In
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`addition, some of the peripheral components, such as the microphone 104, are optional in various
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`embodiments.
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`In various embodiments, the transceiver circuit 100 may be implemented as a single
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`integrated circuit (IC), such as a system—on-chip (SOC), which is conducive to miniaturizing the
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`components of the earphone 10, which is advantageous if the earphone 10 is to be relatively small
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`in size, such as an in—ear earphone (see Figures 1A-1B for example). In alternative embodiments,
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`however, the components of the transceiver circuit 100 could be realized with two or more
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`discrete ICs or other components, such as separate ICs for the processors, memory, and RF (e.g.,
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`Wi—Fi) module, for example.
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`The power source 102 may comprise, for example, a rechargeable or non—rechargeable
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`battery (or batteries). In other embodiments, the power source 102 may comprise one or more
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`ultracapacitors (sometimes referred to as supercapacitors) that are charged by a primary power
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`source. In embodiments where the power source 102 comprises a rechargeable battery cell or an
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`ultracapacitor, the battery cell or ultracapacitor, as the case may be, may be charged for use, for
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`example, when the earphone 10 is connected to a docking station or computer. The docking
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`station may be connected to or part of a computer device, such as a laptop computer or PC. In
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`addition to charging the rechargeable power source 102, the docking station and/or computer may
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`facilitate downloading of data to and/or from the earphone 10. In other embodiments, the power
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`source 102 may comprise capacitors passively charged with RF radiation, such as described in
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`U.S. Patent No. 7,027,311. The power source 102 may be coupled to a power source control
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`module 103 of transceiver circuit 100 that controls and monitors the power source 102.
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`The acoustic transducer(s) 106 may be the speaker element(s) for conveying the sound to
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`the user of the earphone 10. According to various embodiments, the earphone 10 may comprise
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`one or more acoustic transducers 106. For embodiments having more than one transducer, one
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`transducer may be larger than the other transducer, and a crossover circuit (not shown) may
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`transmit the higher frequencies to the smaller transducer and may transmit the lower frequencies
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`to the larger transducer. More details regarding dual element earphones are provided in U.S.
`Patent 5,333,206, assigned to Koss Corporation, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
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`entirety.
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`The antenna 108 may receive and transmit the wireless signals from and to the wireless
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`networks 24, 30. A RF (e.g., Wi-Fi) module 110 of the transceiver circuit 100 in communication
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`with the antenna 108 may, among other things, modulate and demodulate the signals transmitted
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`from and received by the antenna 108. The RF module 110 communicates with a baseband
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`processor 112, which performs other functions necessary for the earphone 10 to communicate
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`using the Wi-Fi (or other communication) protocol.
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`The baseband processor 112 may be in communication with a processor unit 114, which
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`may comprise a microprocessor 116 and a digital signal processor (DSP) 118. The
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`microprocessor 116 may control the various components of the transceiver circuit 100. The DSP
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`114 may, for example, perform various sound quality enhancements to the digital audio received
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`by the baseband processor 112, including noise cancellation and sound equalization. The
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`processor unit 114 may be in communication with a volatile memory unit 120 and a non-volatile
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`memory unit 122. A memory management unit 124 may control the processor unit’s access to the
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`memory units 120, 122. The volatile memory 122 may comprise, for example, a random access
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`memory (RAM) circuit. The non-volatile memory unit 122 may comprise a read only memory
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`(ROM) and/or flash memory circuits. The memory units 120, 122 may store firmware that is
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`executed by the processor unit 114. Execution of the firmware by the processor unit 114 may
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`provide various functionality for the earphone 10, such as the automatic transition between
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`wireless networks as described herein. The memory units 120, 122 may also cache received
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`digital audio.
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/U82009/039754
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`A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 125 may convert the digital audio fiom the processor
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`unit 114 to analog form for coupling to the acoustic transducer(s) 106. An IZS interface 126 or
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`other suitable serial or parallel bus interface may provide the interface between the processor unit
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`114 and the DAC 125. An analog-to—digital converter (ADC) 128, which also communicates with
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`the 128 interface 126, may convert analog audio signals picked up by the microphone 104 for
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`processing by the processor unit 114.
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`The transceiver circuit 100 also may comprise a USB or other suitable interface 130 that
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`allows the earphone 10 to be connected to an external device via a USB cable or other suitable
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`link. As shown in Figure 4A, the external device may be a docking station 200 connected to a
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`computer device 202. Also, in various embodiments, the earphone 10 could be connected directly
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`to the computer 202 without the docking station 200. In addition, the external device may be a
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`DAP 210, as shown in Figure 4B. In that way, the earphone 10 could connect directly to a data
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`source 20, such as the DAP 210 or the computer 202, through the USB port 130. In addition,
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`through the USB port 130, the earphone 10 may connect to a PC 202 or docking station 202 to
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`charge up the power source 102 and/or to get downloads (e. g., data or firmware).
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`According to various embodiments, the earphone 10 may have an associated web page
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`that a user may access through the host server 40 (see Figure 2D) or some other server. An
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`authenticated user could log onto the website fiom a client computing device 50 (e.g., laptop, PC,
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`handheld computer device, etc., including the data source 20) (see Figure 2D) to access the web
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`page for the earphone 10 to set various profile values for the earphone 10. For example, at the
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`web site, the user could set various content features and filters, as well as adjust various sound
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`control features, such as treble, bass, frequency settings, noise cancellation settings, etc. In
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`addition, the user could set preferred streaming audio stations, such as preferred Internet radio
`stations or other streaming audio broadcasts. That way, instead of listening to streaming audio
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`from the data source 20, the user could listen to Internet radio stations or other streaming audio
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`broadcasts received by the earphone 10. In such an operating mode, the earphone user, Via the
`web site, may prioritize a number of Internet radio stations or other broadcast sources (hosted by
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`streaming digital audio content servers 70). With reference to Figure 7, the host server 40 may
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`send the IP address for the earphone user’s desired (e.g., highest priority) Internet radio station to
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`the earphone 10. A button 11 on the earphone 10, such as on the rotating dial 16 as shown in the
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`examples of Figures 1A and 1B, may allow the user to cycle through the preset preferred Internet
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`radio stations. That is, for example, when the user presses the button 1 1, an electronic
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`communication may be transmitted to the host server 40 via the wireless network 30, and in
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`response to receiving the communication, the host server 40 may send the IP address for the
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
`WO 2009/126614
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`PCT/U82009/039754
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`user’s next highest rated Internet radio station via the network 42 to the earphone 10. The
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`earphone 10 may then connect to the streaming digital audio content server 70 for that Internet
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`radio station using the IP address provided by the host server 40. This process may be repeated,
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`e.g., cycled through, for each preset Internet radio station configured by the user of the earphone
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`1 0.
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`At the web site for the earphone 10 hosted on the host server 40, in addition to establishing
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`the identification of digital audio sources (e. g., IDs for the user’s DAP or PC) and earphones, the
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`user could set parental or other user controls. For example, the user could restrict certain Internet
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`radio broadcasts based on content or parental ratings, etc. That is, for example, the user could
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`configure a setting through the web site that prevents the host server 40 from sending an IP
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`address for a streaming digital audio content server 70 that broadcasts explicit content based on a
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`rating for the content. In addition, if a number of different earphones 10 are registered to the
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`same user, the user could define separate controls for the different earphones 10 (as well as
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`customize any other preferences or settings particular to the earphones 10, including Internet radio
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`stations, sound quality settings, etc. that would later be downloaded to the earphones 10). In
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`addition, in modes where the host server 40 streams audio to the earphone 10, the host server 40
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`may log the files or content streamed to the various earphones 10, and the user could View at the
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`web site the files or content that were played by the earphones 10. In that way, the user could
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`monitor the files played by the earphones 10.
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`In addition, the host server 40 may provide a so—called eavesdropping function according
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`to various embodiments. The eavesdropping service could be activated via the web site. When
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`the service is activated, the host server 40 may transmit the content that it is delivering to a first
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`earphone 10a to another, second earphone 10b, as shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, the host
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`server 40 may transmit to the second earphone 10b the most recent IP address for a streaming
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`digital audio content server 70 that was sent to the first earphone 10a. The second earphone 10b
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`may then connect to the streaming digital audio content server 70 that the first earphone 10a is
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`cLu-rently connected. That way, the user of the second earphone 10b, which may be a parent, for
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`example, may directly monitor