Mode Switchable Audio Processor for Digital Audio

• US 20170357474A1
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Ferris, Barry C., Kochalko, Carl Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,346,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-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 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones

Abstract

An audio processor for digital audio data is provided, which comprises at least a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor; a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface. To allow a user to employ an audio device, such as a speaker or a pair of headphones of their choice when connecting to different digital audio hosts, said processing unit is configured to at least conduct a configuration procedure, in which the processing unit communicates with said digital audio host in one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein the communication modes differ from each other, and wherein the communication mode is selected according to the setting of a communication mode selector.

Claims

1. An audio processor for digital audio data, comprising at least

a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and

a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface;

wherein

said processing unit is configured to at least conduct a configuration procedure, in which the processing unit communicates with said digital audio host in one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein the communication modes differ from each other, and wherein the communication mode is selected according to the setting of a communication mode selector.

2. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the device interface comprises a wireless transmitter for connection to a wireless headset.

3. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the configuration procedure is an initial enumeration procedure, initiated upon start-up of the audio processor.

4. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the communication in said first communication mode corresponds to USB enumeration and the communication in said second communication mode differs from USB enumeration.

5. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the communication in said second communication mode corresponds to GIP enumeration.

6. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is configured to communicate with the digital audio host according the selected communication mode after the configuration procedure.

7. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the communication mode selector is pre-defined by a user.

8. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein a user interface is provided to allow the setting of the communication mode selector to be adjusted.

9. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the communication mode selector setting is determined automatically by the processing unit from a previous operation cycle.

10. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured in the configuration procedure to

in a first step communicate with said digital audio host according to the communication mode, identified by the setting of the communication mode selector, and

in case the communication with the digital audio host is unsuccessful and in a second step communicate with said digital audio host in a communication mode, different from the communication mode, used in the previous step.

11. The audio processor according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is additionally configured to conduct a reset procedure between said first and second steps.

12. The audio processor according to claim 10, wherein in a further step during the configuration procedure, the setting of the communication mode selector is updated to correspond to the communication mode, which allowed successful communication with the digital audio host.

13. The audio processor according to claim 1, wherein the audio processor is additionally configured to convert the digital audio data into a predefined user device audio format.

14. Headset system, comprising at least

a headset;

and

an audio processor for digital audio data, comprising at least

a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and

a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface;

wherein

said processing unit is configured to at least conduct a configuration procedure, in which the processing unit communicates with said digital audio host in one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein the communication modes differ from each other, and wherein the communication mode is selected according to the setting of a communication mode selector.

15. Method of processing digital audio data with an audio processor, comprising at least a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

and a device interface for connection to a user audio device;

wherein

a configuration procedure is conducted, in which the audio processor it is configured to communicate with said digital audio source according to one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein the communication modes differ from each other, and wherein the communication mode is selected according to the setting of a communication mode selector.

16. An audio processor for digital audio data, comprising at least

a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and

a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface;

wherein

said processing unit is configured to conduct a configuration procedure, in which

in a first step the processing unit is configured to communicate with said digital audio host according to one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, and

in case the communication with the digital audio host is unsuccessful and in a second step to communicate with said digital audio host in a communication mode, different from the communication mode, used in the previous step.

17. The audio processor according to claim 16, wherein the second step is repeated with a communication mode, different from the communication modes of the previous steps, until the communication with the digital audio host is successful.

18. The audio processor according to claim 16, wherein the audio processor is additionally configured to conduct a reset procedure between all steps.

19. Headset system, comprising at least

a headset;

and

an audio processor for digital audio data, comprising at least

a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and

a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface;

wherein

said processing unit is configured to conduct a configuration procedure, in which

in a first step the processing unit is configured to communicate with said digital audio host according to one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, and

in case the communication with the digital audio host is unsuccessful and in a second step communicate with said digital audio host in a communication mode, different from the communication mode, used in the previous step.

20. Method of processing digital audio data with an audio processor, comprising at least a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor;

and a device interface for connection to a user audio device;

wherein

a configuration procedure is conducted, in which in a first step the audio processor is configured to communicate with said digital audio host according to one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, and

in case the communication with the digital audio host is unsuccessful and in a second step communicate with said digital audio host in a communication mode, different from the communication mode, used in the previous step.