WIRELESS SPEAKER UNITS WITH IMPROVED BATTERY LIFE
First Claim
1. A method of managing signal distribution in a wireless speaker unit operable with a base unit and comprising a first battery powered wireless device and a second battery powered wireless device, the method comprising:
- monitoring a power level of said first wireless device;
receiving, at said first wireless device, a first signal from the base unit if a power level of said first wireless device has not reached a threshold level;
transmitting wirelessly a second signal, derived from said first signal, from said first wireless device to said second wireless device if a power level of said first wireless device has not reached said threshold level;
receiving, at said second wireless device, said first signal from the base unit if said power level of said first wireless device reaches said threshold level; and
transmitting wirelessly a third signal, derived from said first signal, from said second wireless device to said first wireless device if said power level of said first wireless device reaches said threshold level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for managing signal distribution in a wireless speaker unit. The method includes monitoring a power level of the first wireless device; receiving, at the first wireless device, a first signal from the base unit if a power level of the first wireless device has not reached a threshold level; transmitting wirelessly a second signal, derived from the first signal, from said first wireless device to the second wireless device if a power level of the first wireless device has not reached the threshold level; receiving, at the second wireless device, the first signal from the base unit if the power level of the first wireless device reaches the threshold level; and transmitting wirelessly a third signal, derived from the first signal, from the second wireless device to the first wireless device if the power level of the first wireless device reaches the threshold level.
51 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of managing signal distribution in a wireless speaker unit operable with a base unit and comprising a first battery powered wireless device and a second battery powered wireless device, the method comprising:
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monitoring a power level of said first wireless device; receiving, at said first wireless device, a first signal from the base unit if a power level of said first wireless device has not reached a threshold level; transmitting wirelessly a second signal, derived from said first signal, from said first wireless device to said second wireless device if a power level of said first wireless device has not reached said threshold level; receiving, at said second wireless device, said first signal from the base unit if said power level of said first wireless device reaches said threshold level; and transmitting wirelessly a third signal, derived from said first signal, from said second wireless device to said first wireless device if said power level of said first wireless device reaches said threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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4. The method of claim 4, further comprising synchronously
playing, in said first wireless device, said first stereo channel; - and
playing, in said second wireless device, said second stereo channel. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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10. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a first wireless device configured to operate in an intermediary mode such that said first wireless device receives a first stereo channel and a second stereo channel from a source, produces a signal for a transducer in accordance with said first stereo channel, and transmits said second stereo channel over a wireless link to a second wireless device; said first wireless device including a power monitor operable to monitor a power level of a battery powering said first wireless device; and said first wireless device including a controller operable to communicate a mode switch with the second wireless device in response to said power level dropping below a threshold level, said mode switch changing said mode of said first wireless device from intermediary mode to end mode such that said first wireless device ceases receiving said first signal and transmitting said second signal, and initiates receiving a third signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A battery powered wireless speaker unit for a wireless stereo communication system operable with a base unit, the speaker unit comprising:
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a first wireless device, comprising a first battery; a first power monitor configured to monitor a first power level of said first battery and to generate a trigger signal when said first power level falls below a threshold value; and a first radio module configured to receive a first wireless signal from the base unit and to transmit a second wireless signal in response, said first wireless signal including a first stereo channel signal and a second stereo channel signal, and the second wireless signal including at least said second stereo channel signal; a first audio controller configured to play said first stereo channel; and said first wireless device responsive to said trigger signal to cease receiving said first signal and transmitting said second signal, and initiate receiving a third signal from the second wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An integrated circuit for a wireless headset, comprising:
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at least one radio frequency wireless transceiver; a power monitor; and a controller, said controller operable to control said at least one radio frequency wireless transceiver to selectively operate in at least one of an intermediary mode and an end mode, wherein, in said intermediary mode, said at least one transceiver receives a first signal including at least right and left audio channels and transmits a second signal including at least one of said right and left audio channels to a paired device, and wherein, in said end mode, said at least one transceiver does not process said first signal and receives a right or left audio channel from said paired device, and wherein said controller is responsive to said power monitor detecting that a power source has dropped below a threshold level to change from said intermediary mode to said end mode.
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Specification