HEADSET WEARING MODE BASED OPERATION

• US 20100020998A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnston, Timothy P., Brown, William O.
• Application Number:
  US12/181,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.

Claims

1. A headset system comprising:

a first earbud system comprising;

a first detector providing a first detector output indicating a first earbud donned condition or a first earbud doffed condition; and

a first speaker;

a second earbud system comprising;

a second detector providing a second detector output indicating a second earbud donned condition or a second earbud doffed condition; and

a second speaker;

a microphone;

a memory storing a headset controller application; and

a processor for executing the headset controller application, wherein the headset controller application processes an audio signal for output to a user responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

2. The headset system of claim 1, wherein a gain of the audio signal is modified responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

3. The headset system of claim 1, wherein a frequency equalization of the audio signal is modified responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

4. The headset system of claim 3, wherein the frequency equalization of the audio signal is modified by boosting the bass frequencies of the audio signal.

5. The headset system of claim 1, wherein a routing of the audio signal to the first speaker, the second speaker, or both the first speaker and speaker signal is switched responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

6. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the first speaker comprises a first in-the-ear speaker and the second speaker comprises a second-in-the-ear speaker, and the headset first earbud system further comprises a first out-of-the-ear speaker and the second earbud system further comprises a second out-of-the-ear speaker.

7. The headset system of claim 6, wherein a routing of the audio signal to the first in-the-ear speaker, the second in-the ear speaker, the first out-of-the ear speaker, and the second out-of-the-ear speaker is switched responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

8. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the first detector and second detector are selected from the group comprising an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, a skin resistance sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and an acoustic seal detector.

9. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the audio signal comprises one selected from the group comprising a ringer signal, an earcon signal, a voice communication signal, and a music signal.

10. A headset system comprising:

a first earbud system comprising;

a first detector providing a first detector output indicating a first earbud donned condition or a first earbud doffed condition; and

a first speaker;

a second earbud system comprising;

a second detector providing a second detector output indicating a second earbud donned condition or a second earbud doffed condition; and

a second speaker;

a microphone;

a memory storing a headset controller application;

a processor for executing the headset controller application, wherein the headset controller application activates or deactivates operation of a headset component responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

11. The headset system of claim 10, wherein the headset component comprises the microphone, the first speaker, or the second speaker.

12. A headset system comprising:

a first earbud system comprising;

a first detector providing a first detector output indicating a first earbud donned condition or a first earbud doffed condition; and

a first speaker;

a second earbud system comprising;

a second detector providing a second detector output indicating a second earbud donned condition or a second earbud doffed condition; and

a second speaker;

a microphone;

a memory storing a headset controller application;

a processor for executing the headset controller application, wherein the headset controller application automates user interface actions responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

13. The headset system of claim 12, wherein a call answer command is automated when the first detector output or second detector output indicate a donned condition.

14. The headset system of claim 12, wherein device state data output to a user is automated when the first detector output or the second detector output indicates a donned condition.

15. The headset system of claim 12, wherein a playback pause command is automated when the first detector output or second detector output indicated a doffed condition.

16. A method for operating a headset or headphone comprising a first earbud system and a second earbud system, the method comprising:

outputting a first detector output, the first detector output indicating a first earbud system donned condition or a first earbud system doffed condition;

outputting a second detector output, the second detector output indicating a second earbud system donned condition or a second earbud system doffed condition;

processing an audio signal responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein processing the audio signal responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output comprises modifying a gain of the audio signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein processing the audio signal responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output comprises modifying a frequency equalization of the audio signal.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein processing the audio signal responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output comprises switching a routing of the audio signal to a first earbud system speaker, a second earbud system speaker, or both the first earbud system speaker and second earbud system speaker.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein processing the audio signal responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output comprises switching a routing of the audio signal from a first earbud system in-the-ear speaker or a second earbud system in-the-ear speaker to a first earbud system out-of-the-ear speaker or a second earbud system out-of-the ear speaker.

21. A method for operating a headset or headphone comprising a first earbud system and second earbud system, the method comprising:

outputting a first detector output, the first detector output indicating a first earbud system donned condition or a first earbud system doffed condition;

outputting a second detector output, the second detector output indicating a second earbud system donned condition or a second earbud system doffed condition;

activating or deactivating operation of a headset component responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the headset component comprises a microphone.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the headset component comprises a speaker.

24. A method for operating a headset comprising a first earbud system and second earbud system, the method comprising:

providing a headset comprising a first earbud system and a second earbud system;

outputting a first detector output, the first detector output indicating a first earbud system donned condition or a first earbud system doffed condition;

outputting a second detector output, the second detector output indicating a second earbud system donned condition or a second earbud system doffed condition;

automating a user interface action responsive to the first detector output and/or the second detector output.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein automating a user interface action comprises automating a call answer command upon receipt of a call when the first detector output or second detector output indicate a donned condition or a transition from a doffed condition to a donned condition.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein automating a user interface action comprises automating device state data output when the first detector output or second detector output indicate a donned condition.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein automating a user interface action comprises automating a playback pause command upon receipt of a call when the first detector output or second detector output indicate a donned condition.