Earpiece with Digital Rights Management

• US 20180011994A1
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Application Number:
  US15/623,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20180011994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• 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

Abstract

A wireless earpiece for digital rights management is provided. The wireless earpiece includes a processor disposed within the ear piece housing, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a storage medium disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor, and a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor. The processor may be configured to access audio files stored on the storage medium to play the audio files over the speaker. The processor may be configured to provide a digital rights management feature for one or more of the audio files. The processor may be further configured to access an audio stream conveyed to the earpiece through the wireless transceiver. The processor may be further configured to provide a digital rights management for the audio stream.

Claims

1. A wireless earpiece for digital rights management comprising:

an ear piece housing;

a processor disposed within the ear piece housing;

a speaker operatively connected to the processor;

a storage medium disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor; and

a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to access audio files stored on the storage medium to play the audio files using the speaker;

wherein the processor is configured to provide digital rights management for one or more of the audio files.

2. The wireless earpiece of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to access an audio stream conveyed to the earpiece through the wireless transceiver.

3. The wireless earpiece of claim 2 wherein the processor is configured to provide digital rights management for the audio stream.

4. The wireless earpiece of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor for detecting biometric information, the at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

5. The wireless earpiece of claim 4 wherein the processor is configured to verify an identity of a user using the biometric information from the at least one sensor.

6. The wireless earpiece of claim 1 wherein the audio files are encrypted and wherein the digital rights management provides for unencrypting the audio files for playback through the speaker if the wireless earpiece is authorized.

7. The wireless earpiece of claim 6 wherein the unencrypting of the audio files is performed using a device identifier associated with the wireless earpiece.

8. The wireless earpiece of claim 6 wherein the unencrypting of the audio files is performed using biometric information detected using at least one sensor of the earpiece, the at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

14. The wireless earpiece of claim 1 wherein the unencrypting of the audio files is performed using biometric information detected using at least one sensor of the earpiece, the at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

9. A wireless earpiece for digital rights management comprising:

an ear piece housing;

a processor disposed within the ear piece housing;

a speaker operatively connected to the processor;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to access an audio stream conveyed to the earpiece through the wireless transceiver;

wherein the processor is configured to provide a digital rights management feature for the audio stream.

10. The wireless earpiece of claim 9 further comprising at least one sensor for detecting biometric information, the at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

11. The wireless earpiece of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to verify an identity of a user using the biometric information from the at least one sensor.

12. The wireless earpiece of claim 11 wherein the audio stream is encrypted and wherein the digital rights management feature provides for unencrypting the audio stream for playback through the speaker if the wireless earpiece is authorized.

13. The wireless earpiece of claim 12 wherein the unencrypting of the audio stream is performed using a device identifier associated with the wireless earpiece.

15. A method for using digital rights management in an earpiece, the method comprising:

providing an earpiece comprising an ear piece housing, a processor disposed within the ear piece housing, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a storage medium disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor, and a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor;

unencrypting an audio file or an audio stream at the earpiece to provide for digital rights management; and

playing the audio file or the audio stream using the speaker.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of unencrypting is performed using a device identifier for the earpiece.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of unencrypting is performed using a user identifier associated with a user of the earpiece.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein identity of the user is verified using biometric data from at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.