Method and apparatus for interfacing with wireless earpieces

• US 10,635,385 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2016
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Steiner, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir H
• Application Number:
  US15/350,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20170139668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,263 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A system includes at least one wireless ear piece comprising an ear piece housing and a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing, a software application for executing on a computing device having a display associated therewith, and wherein the software application provides a user interface for use by a user of the at least one wireless ear piece to interact with the at least one ear piece.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one wireless ear piece comprising an ear piece housing and a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing;

a software application for executing on a computing device having a display associated therewith;

wherein the software application configured to display one or more screen displays on a display of the computing device;

wherein the software application provides a user interface for use by a user of the at least one wireless ear piece to interact with the at least one wireless ear piece; and

wherein the user interface is configured to display a visual representation of the at least one wireless ear piece on at least one of the one or more screen displays, the visual representation indicative of a function or property of the at least one wireless ear piece communicated from the at least one wireless earpiece to the computing device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless earpiece comprises a physiological sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the software application provides for tracking one or more physical activities using the physiological sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the physical activities are selected from a set consisting of running, biking, and swimming.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the representation visual representation includes lighting of the at least one wireless ear piece.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the lighting is associated with the function or property of the at least one wireless ear piece.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the property is remaining battery life.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is further configured to display available gestures associated with controlling the at least one wireless ear piece.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless ear piece comprises onboard storage for storing audio files.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless ear piece is configured to store at least one playlist of audio files.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the software application provides for connecting the at least one wireless ear piece with the computing device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the computing device is a mobile device.

13. A method for controlling a set of wireless ear pieces, the method comprising:

providing a software application for controlling the set of wireless ear pieces, the software application adapted to execute on a computing device;

using the software application on the computing device to display one or more screen displays on a display of the computing device and to receive input from the user into the mobile device, wherein at least one of the one or more screen displays display a visual representation of the set of wireless ear pieces;

communicating data associated with the input between the software application and at least one of the wireless ear pieces;

performing an action using at least one of the wireless ear pieces in response to receiving the data.

14. A method for communicating data from a set of wireless ear pieces, the method comprising:

providing a software application for communicating with the set of wireless ear pieces, the software application adapted to execute on a computing device;

using the software application on the computing device to display one or more screen displays on a display of the computing device, wherein at least one of the one or more screen displays display a visual representation of the set of wireless ear pieces;

communicating data received from one or more of the wireless ear pieces to the computing device; and

updating the screen displays on the display of the computing device using the data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data comprises physiological data.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the physiological data is heart rate data.