Apparatus and method for wireless audio network management
First Claim
1. Electronic apparatus configured for management of data communications between at least two devices wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network, said data comprising audio signals and audio control commands and/or status information, wherein a first said device acts as a channel master and a second said device acts as a responding device associated with said channel master, each said device having a unique association identifier (AID) and an application profile identifying at least one class and one or more capabilities for said device, said electronic management apparatus being embodied in said devices and comprising profile negotiation means, said profile negotiation means comprising:
- (i) means for communicating said application profiles for said devices between said first and second devices;
(ii) means for establishing at least one common application profile which is common to said devices; and
, (iii) means for designating a selected said common application profile (PIU) for use in associating said devices, and establishing interoperability between said devices, in said network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic apparatus and method are provided for management of communications between channel master (e.g. audio player), responding device (e.g. remote control/headphones) and, optionally, passive devices (e.g. headphones) wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network. The channel master transmits, and the responding device receives, audio signals and network management information. Profile negotiation means communicates application profiles for the devices, establishing at least one application profile which is common to them and designating a selected, common application profile for use in associating the devices. Channel selection means selects a channel for the communications using an ordered selection of channels (PCS) obtained from scanning the channels for idle channels and ordering the scanned channels according to priority based on channel quality. Normalized control and status interfaces establish interoperability between devices which use different data streams to communicate in the network.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. Electronic apparatus configured for management of data communications between at least two devices wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network, said data comprising audio signals and audio control commands and/or status information, wherein a first said device acts as a channel master and a second said device acts as a responding device associated with said channel master, each said device having a unique association identifier (AID) and an application profile identifying at least one class and one or more capabilities for said device, said electronic management apparatus being embodied in said devices and comprising profile negotiation means, said profile negotiation means comprising:
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(i) means for communicating said application profiles for said devices between said first and second devices;
(ii) means for establishing at least one common application profile which is common to said devices; and
,(iii) means for designating a selected said common application profile (PIU) for use in associating said devices, and establishing interoperability between said devices, in said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22)
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13. Electronic apparatus configured for management of data communications between at least two devices wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network, said data comprising audio signals and audio control commands and/or status information, wherein a first said device acts as a channel master and a second said device acts as a responding device associated with said channel master, each said device having a unique association identifier (AID), said electronic management apparatus comprising channel selection means for selecting a channel for said communications, said channel selection means comprising:
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(i) first selection means embodied in said first device and configured for scanning channels of said network for idle channels, establishing from said scanning an ordered selection of said channels (PCS) and communicating said ordered selection of channels (PCS) to said associated second device;
(ii) second selection means embodied in said first device and configured for selecting a first available channel from said ordered selection of channels (PCS) and transmitting beacon signals from said first device over said selected first available channel wherein said beacon signals comprise said unique association identifier (AID) of said first device; and
,(iii) third selection means embodied in said second device and configured for scanning channels in the order of said ordered selection of said channels (PCS) and identifying, for use by said second device, said selected channel of said first device from said scanning and detection of one said transmitted beacon having said unique association identifier (AID) of said first device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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- 19. Electronic apparatus configured for management of data communications between at least two devices wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network, said data comprising audio signals and audio control commands and/or status information, wherein a first said device acts as a channel master and a second said device acts as a responding device associated with said channel master, said electronic apparatus comprising control and status interfaces configured for normalizing said audio control command and status information and communicating said normalized audio control and command and status information between said devices, for establishing interoperability between said devices, including those of said devices configured for communicating data streams which are incompatible prior to said normalizing.
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24. A method for managing data communications between at least two devices wirelessly connected in a wireless audio network, said data comprising audio signals and audio control commands and/or status information, whereby a first said device acts as a channel master and a second said device acts as a responding device associated with said channel master, each said device having a unique association identifier (AID) and an application profile identifying at least one class and one or more capabilities for said device, said method comprising:
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(i) communicating said application profiles for said devices between said first and second devices;
(ii) establishing at least one common application profile which is common to said devices; and
,(iii) designating a selected said common application profile (PIU) for use in associating said devices to establishing interoperability between said devices in said network. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification