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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`WIRELESS EARPHONE THAT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS
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`Michael J. Pelland, Michael J. Koss, Michael Sagan,
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`Inventors:
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`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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`10 the digital audio, and a headphone set that connects to the data storage unit, usually with a ¼" 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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`15 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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`20 also quite large and not in-ear type phones.
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`SUMMARY
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`is directed to a wireless earphone that
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`In one general aspect, the present invention
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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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`25 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/or transmit to the earphone a network
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`30 address (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) address) for a network-connected content server that
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`PI-2159849 vl 1284037-00271
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`APPLE 1007
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`streams digital audio. The earphone may then connectto 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 earphoneare described
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`below.
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`FIGURES
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`Various embodiments ofthe 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 1A-1E are views of a wireless earphone according to various embodimentsof the
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`present invention;
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`Figures 2A-2D illustrate various communication modesfor 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 ofthe 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 earphoneto 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 earphonethat 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 morein-
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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 maytake 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 earphonetransitions 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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`(including the Internet).
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`Figures 1A and 1B show example configurations for a wireless earphone 10 accordingto
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`various embodiments ofthe 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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`Thatis, in various embodiments, activation (e.g. rotation) of the knob 16 may causethe ear canal
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`portion 14 to change shapesoas to, for example, radially expandto fit snugly against all sides of
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`the user’s ear canal. Further details regarding such a shape-changing earbud earphoneare
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`described in application PCT/US08/88656, filed 31 December 2008, entitled “Adjustable Shape
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`Earphone,” which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. The earphone 10 also may
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`comprise a transceivercircuit 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/orin 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 usedto 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 transceivercircuit. 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 connectthe 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 transceivercircuit; 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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`transceivercircuit 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 hangerbar 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 theillustrated 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 conchaofthe listener’s ear and the other element(the larger
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`one) 106-B is not. The listener may use the hanger bar to position the earphone onthe 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 knobthat allowsthe userto adjustfinely 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 referencein its entirety.
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`Figures 2A-2D illustrate various communication modesfor 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 mp3playeror an iPod, or any other suitable
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`digital audio playing device, such as a laptop or personal computer, that stores and/orplaysdigital
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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 orotherport 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 from 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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`Whenin 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 802.1 1a/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 assumedthat 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 RSSI) 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 earphone10 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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`Whenthe 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 maytransition 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 firmware,
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`as described further below, that cause the components to makethe 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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`playing the audio. The cached audio may be played after the connection overthe ad hoc wireless
`network is lost to give the earphone 10 and the data source 20 time to connect via the
`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 thatis 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 pointfor, and thatis
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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 maybothtransition automatically to an agreed-upon WLAN
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`30 that is in the range of both devices when they cannot communicatesatisfactorily via the ad hoc
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`wireless network 24. A procedure for specifying an agreed-uponinfrastructure 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 maytransition to an agreed-upon WLAN.
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`If there is no suitable commoninfrastructure 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 maytransition 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 connectvia 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
`33a, 42 to the earphone 10. In another mode,the host server 40 may transmit to the earphone 10 a
`network address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, for a streaming digital audio content
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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 processdigital
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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 connectto the streamingdigital
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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 maylisten to audio from the
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`data source 20 even when(i) the earphone 10 andthe 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 commonlocal infrastructure wireless network 30.
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`Figure 3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to various embodimentsof the
`present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 comprisesa transceivercircuit
`100 and related peripheral components. As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral components ofthe
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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 someofthe
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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 implementedasa 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 isto 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 ofthe 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 powersource 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 maybelarger 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
`to the larger transducer. Moredetails regarding dual element earphonesare provided in U.S.
`Patent 5,333,206, assigned to Koss Corporation, which is incorporated herein by referencein its
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`entirety.
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`The antenna 108 mayreceive and transmit the wireless signals from andto 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 performsother 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 basebandprocessor 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 ofthe transceiver circuit 100. The DSP
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`114 may, for example, perform various sound quality enhancementsto 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 thatis
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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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`A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 125 may convert the digital audio from the processor
`unit 114 to analog form for coupling to the acoustic transducer(s) 106. An I’°S interface 126 or
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`other suitable serial or parallel bus interface may provide the interface between the processorunit
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`114 and the DAC 125. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 128, which also communicates with
`the I’S interface 126, may convert analog audio signals picked up by the microphone 104 for
`processing by the processor unit 114.
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`The transceivercircuit 100 also may comprise a USBorother 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 connectdirectly 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 USBport 130, the earphone 10 may connect to a PC 202 or dockingstation 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 from 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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`website, 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
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`stations or other streaming audio broadcasts. That way, instead oflistening 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 earphoneuser, via the
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`website, may prioritize a numberof 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 earphoneuser’s desired(e.g., highest priority) Internet radio station to
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`30
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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, mayallow 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 11, 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 addressfor the
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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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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`10.
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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., [Ds 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 contentor parental ratings, etc. That is, for example, the user could
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`10
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`configure a setting through the website 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 numberof 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 preferencesor 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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`website the files or content that were played by the earphones 10. In that way, the user could
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`monitorthe files played by the earphones 10.
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`20
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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 contentthat it is deliveringtoafirst
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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 connectto the streaming digital audio content server 70 that the first earphone 10ais
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`currently connected. That way, the user of the second earphone 10b, which maybea parent, for
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`example, may directly monitor the content being received by the first earphone 10a, which may
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`belongto a child of the parent.
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`This function also could be present in the earphones 10 themselves, allowing a parent (or
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`other user) to join an ad-hoc wireless network andlisten to what their child (or other listener) is
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`hearing. For example, with reference to Figure 10, a first earphone 10a may receive wireless
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`audio, such as from the data source 20 or some other source, such as the host server 40. The first
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`earphone 10a may be programmedwith firmware to broadcast the received audio to a second
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`Attorney Docket No. 080188PCT
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`earphone 10b via an ad hoc wireless network 24. That way, the wearer of the second earphone
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`10b can monitorin real-time the content being played by thefirst earphone 10a.
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`At the website, the user may also specify the identification number (“ID”) of their
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`earphone(s) 10, and the host server 40 may translate the ID to the current internet protocol (IP)
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`addresses for the earphone 10 and for the data source 20. This allows the userto find his or her
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`data source 20 even whenit is behind a firewall or on a changing IP address. That way, the host
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`server 40 can match the audio from the data source 20 to the appropriate earphone 10 based on the
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`specified device ID. The user also could specify a numberof different data sources 20. For
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`example, the user’s DAP may have onespecified IP address and the user’s home (or work)
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`10
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`computer may have another specified IP address. Via the web site hosted by the host server 40,
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`the user could specify or prioritize from which source (e.g., the user’s DAP or computer) the
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`earphone10 is to receive content.
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`The host server 40 (or some other server) may also push firmware upgrades and/or data
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`updates to the earphone 10 using the [P addresses of the earphone 10 via the networks 30, 42. In
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`addition, a user could download the firmware upgrades and/or data updates from the host server
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`40 to the client computing device 202 (see Figure 4A) via the Internet, and then download the
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`firmware upgrades and/or data updates to the earphone 10 when the earphone 10 is connected to
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`the client computer device 202 (such as through a USB port and/or the docking station 200).
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`Whether the downloadsare transmitted wirelessly to the earphone 10 or via the client
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`20
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`computing device 202 may depend on the current data rate of the earphone 10 and the quantity of
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`data to be transmitted to the earphone 10. For example, according to various embodiments, as
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`shown in the process flow of Figure 5, the host server 40 may be programmed,at step 50, to make
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`a determination, based on the current data rate for the earphone 10 andthe size of the update,
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`whether the update should be pushed to the earphone 10 wirelessly (e.g., via the WLAN 30ain
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`Figure 2D). If the update is too large and/or the current data rate is too low that the performance
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`‘of the earphone 10 will be adversely affected, the host server 40 may refrain from pushing the
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`update to the earphone 10 wirelessly and wait instead to download the updateto the client
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`computing device 202 at step 51. Conversely, if the host server 40 determinesthat, given the size
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`of the update and the current data rate for the earphone 10 that the performanceof the earphone
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`10 will not be adversely affected, the host server 40 may transmit the update wirelessly to the
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`earphone 10 at step 52.
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`As mentioned above, the processor un