AWARENESS INTELLIGENCE HEADPHONE

• US 20150222977A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HoMedics USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: SOL Republic Inc. (FKA Distributing Company)
• Inventors: Angel, Donald Earl Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,425,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an awareness intelligence headphone with an always listening mode. Headphone units share the ability to output audio sound to a user, but may not provide additional functionality that users may require. A headphone unit with the always listening mode is used to analyze ambient noise surrounding the headphone unit in order to detect predetermined sounds, issue alerts to a user, and respond to an input command from the user.

Claims

1. A method for an always listening function of a headphone unit, comprising:

analyzing ambient noise surrounding the headphone unit;

upon detection of a pre-determined sound, executing an alert to a user of the headphone unit; and

manipulating audio playback following an input command by the user in response to the alert.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined sound comprises a name of the user, a greeting, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert to the user comprises pausing audio playback, directing ambient noise through a speaker of the headphone unit to the user, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input command comprises one or more of a head gesture of the user and a vocal input by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined sound comprises one or more of a siren, horn, or other sound that represents a danger to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating audio playback comprises pausing audio playback or continuing audio playback uninterrupted.

7. A method for an always listening function of a headphone unit, comprising:

analyzing ambient noise surrounding the headphone unit;

upon detection of a voice above a threshold volume in the ambient noise, allowing the voice to pass through a speaker of the headphone unit to a user of the headphone unit;

simultaneously continuing audio playback through the speaker while allowing the voice to pass through to the user via the speaker; and

discontinuing the allowing the voice to pass through the speaker following an input command by the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold volume is above or near the volume of a voice of a person talking in a conversational setting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the input command is a head gesture or vocal input by the user.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the input command is a pre-determined time duration during which there is no detected voice above the threshold volume.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a balance between a volume of the voice and a volume of the audio playback is adjusted by the user of the headphone unit.

12. A headphone unit, comprising:

two speaker units with a headband spanning in between;

an audio receiving device embedded in one of the speaker units;

one or more accelerometers;

a port to receive an input audio signal from an external audio device; and

an ambient noise-detecting module including instructions executable for manipulating audio playback to a user of the headphone unit, comparing ambient noise to pre-determined sound, and executing multiple user-selectable modes for manipulating audio playback.

13. The headphone unit of claim 12, wherein the audio receiving device comprises a microphone or other component to record ambient noise.

14. The headphone unit of claim 12, wherein manipulating audio playback comprises pausing audio playback or continuing audio playback uninterrupted.

15. The headphone unit of claim 14, wherein the input audio signal produces audio playback directed through the two speaker units to the user of the headphone unit.

16. A method for a headphone unit, comprising:

upon a user of the headphone unit selecting one of multiple always listening modes, executing the selected always listening mode;

emitting sound to the user via one or more speakers of the headphone unit; and

manipulating audio playback to the user upon completion of conditions of the selected always listening mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the multiple always listening modes is specific to a different environment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the different environment includes one of an outdoor setting, an indoor setting, an office setting, a crowded room, and environments having different levels of ambient noise and number of people.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the conditions of the selected always listening mode include detection of a pre-determined sound, detection of a sound above a threshold volume, detection of a voice above a threshold volume, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the multiple always listening modes include a distinct set of conditions.