Pseudo hub-and-spoke wireless audio network

• US 20090109894A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Isaac, Ronald N., Ueda, Joji
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1829 Arrangements specially adapted for the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

An apparatus induces a first wireless device to transmit audio-related data to both the apparatus and a second wireless device by providing the first wireless device with a false indication of the apparatus being capable of performing an audio function that the apparatus is incapable of performing so as to enable the second wireless device to receive the audio-related data simultaneously with the apparatus, and wherein the second wireless device cooperates with the apparatus to leave the first wireless device unaware of the simultaneous receipt of the audio-related data by the second wireless device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver accessible to the processor and configured to engage in wireless communications with a first wireless device;

a storage accessible to the processor and having a routine stored therein comprising a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

operate the transceiver to transmit to the first wireless device across a first wireless link formed with the first wireless device a false indication that the apparatus is capable of performing at least one audio function of which the apparatus is not capable of performing to induce the first wireless device to transmit a piece of audio-related data across the first wireless link to the apparatus;

operate the transceiver to receive the piece of audio-related data across the first wireless link; and

operate the transceiver to wirelessly communicate with a second wireless device to coordinate a substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to form a second wireless link with the second wireless device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio having first and second audio channels, wherein the at least one audio function is audibly outputting the piece of audio, wherein the apparatus audibly outputs the first audio channel, and wherein the second wireless device audibly outputs the second audio channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus and the second wireless device are each an earphone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of textual data related to a piece of audio, and wherein the at least one audio function is displaying the piece of textual data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio function is detecting a piece of audio with a microphone and transmitting the detected piece of audio to the first wireless device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to transmit information concerning the first wireless link to the second wireless device to enable the simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio, and wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to exchange a signal with the second wireless device to synchronize audible playback of the piece of audio between the apparatus and the second wireless device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to signal the first wireless device to retransmit the piece of audio-related data in response to receiving from the second wireless device an indication of an error in the substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to wirelessly communicate with a third wireless device to coordinate a substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the third wireless device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio having first and second audio channels, and wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to exchange signals with the second and third wireless devices to synchronize audible playback of the first audio channel by the second wireless device with the audible playback of the second audio channel by the third wireless device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second and third wireless devices are each an earphone.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to receive the piece of audio and to discard the piece of audio without audibly outputting the piece of audio.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver accessible to the processor and configured to engage in wireless communications with a first wireless device and a second wireless device;

a storage accessible to the processor and having a routine stored therein comprising a sequence of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

operate the transceiver to receive an indication that the first wireless device has successfully induced the second wireless device to transmit a piece of audio-related data as a result of the first wireless device transmitting a false indication that the first wireless device is capable of performing at least one audio function of which the first wireless device is not capable of performing;

operate the transceiver to receive information from the first wireless device concerning a first wireless link formed between the first and second wireless devices that enables the apparatus to receive a piece of audio-related data substantially simultaneously with first wireless device as the second wireless device transmits the piece of audio-related data across the first wireless link; and

operate the transceiver to receive the piece of audio-related data substantially simultaneously with the first wireless device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio, and wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to exchange a signal with the first wireless device to synchronize audible playback of the piece of audio between the apparatus and the first wireless device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio, and wherein the processor is further caused to operate the transceiver to exchange a signal with the first wireless device to synchronize audible playback of the piece of audio between the apparatus and a third wireless device.

17. A method comprising:

transmitting to a first wireless device across a first wireless link formed with the first wireless device a false indication that an apparatus is capable of performing at least one audio function of which the apparatus is not capable of performing to induce the first wireless device to transmit a piece of audio-related data across the first wireless link to the apparatus;

receiving the piece of audio-related data across the first wireless link; and

wirelessly communicating with a second wireless device to coordinate a substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a second wireless link with the second wireless device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting information concerning the first wireless link to the second wireless device to enable the simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio, and further comprising exchanging a signal with the second wireless device to synchronize audible playback of the piece of audio between the apparatus and the second wireless device.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising signaling the first wireless device to retransmit the piece of audio-related data in response to receiving from the second wireless device an indication of an error in the substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the second wireless device.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising wirelessly communicating with a third wireless device to coordinate a substantially simultaneous receipt of the piece of audio-related data by the third wireless device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the piece of audio-related data is a piece of audio having first and second audio channels, and further comprising exchanging signals with the second and third wireless devices to synchronize audible playback of the first audio channel of the piece of audio by the second wireless device with the audible playback of the second audio channel by the third wireless device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising ignoring the piece of audio without audibly outputting the piece of audio.