Automated audio source control based on audio output device placement detection
First Claim
1. An apparatus structured to be worn on the head of a user to audibly output a sequence of pieces of audio conveyed to the apparatus by a remote audio source, the apparatus comprising:
- a first acoustic driver;
a first ear coupling structured to be positioned in close proximity to a first ear of the user to position the first acoustic driver to audibly output a first portion of a single piece of audio of the sequence of pieces of audio to the first ear;
a first sensor positioned relative to the first ear coupling to detect whether or not the first ear coupling is positioned in close proximity to the first ear; and
a circuit coupled to the first sensor to monitor the first sensor, and structured to;
in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signal the audio source with a first command to cease playing the single piece of audio in a manner that enables playing of the single piece of audio to be resumed at a point at which the single piece of audio ceases to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command;
in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within a first predetermined period of time after receiving the indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signal the audio source with a second command to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the point at which the single piece of audio ceased to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command; and
in response to not receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within the first predetermined period of time, signal the audio source with a third command to prepare to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the beginning of the single piece of audio.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically remotely controlling an audio source providing the apparatus with audio for being audibly output to a user of the apparatus entails monitoring various sensors to determine whether or not one or more ear couplings of the apparatus are positioned in close proximity to one or both of the user'"'"'s ears to determine whether the user is listening to the audibly output audio with either one or both ears, or is not listening at all. In response to changes in whether the user is listening with either one or both ears, or whether the user is listening at all, the audio source is automatically signaled with one or more commands to cease or resume providing the audio to the apparatus, perform or cease performing various alterations on the audio before providing it to the apparatus, etc.
69 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus structured to be worn on the head of a user to audibly output a sequence of pieces of audio conveyed to the apparatus by a remote audio source, the apparatus comprising:
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a first acoustic driver; a first ear coupling structured to be positioned in close proximity to a first ear of the user to position the first acoustic driver to audibly output a first portion of a single piece of audio of the sequence of pieces of audio to the first ear; a first sensor positioned relative to the first ear coupling to detect whether or not the first ear coupling is positioned in close proximity to the first ear; and a circuit coupled to the first sensor to monitor the first sensor, and structured to; in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signal the audio source with a first command to cease playing the single piece of audio in a manner that enables playing of the single piece of audio to be resumed at a point at which the single piece of audio ceases to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command; in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within a first predetermined period of time after receiving the indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signal the audio source with a second command to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the point at which the single piece of audio ceased to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command; and in response to not receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within the first predetermined period of time, signal the audio source with a third command to prepare to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the beginning of the single piece of audio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus structured to be worn on the head of a user to audibly output a piece of audio conveyed to the apparatus by a remote audio source, the apparatus comprising:
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a first acoustic driver; a first ear coupling structured to be positioned in close proximity to a first ear of the user to position the first acoustic driver to audibly output a first portion of the piece of audio to the first ear; a first sensor positioned relative to the first ear coupling to detect whether or not the first ear coupling is positioned in close proximity to the first ear; a second acoustic driver; a second ear coupling structured to be positioned in close proximity to a second ear of the user to position the second acoustic driver to audibly output a second portion of the piece of audio to the second ear; and a second sensor positioned relative to the second ear coupling to detect whether or not the second ear coupling is positioned in close proximity to the second ear; and a circuit coupled to the first and second sensors to monitor the first and second sensors, and structured to; signal the audio source with at least one command to cause the audio source to cease providing at least a third portion of the piece of audio to the apparatus while still providing the first and second portions of the piece of audio to the apparatus in response to receiving indications from the first and second sensors that the first ear coupling is in close proximity to the first ear and the second ear coupling is not in close proximity to the second ear, wherein conveying a combination of the first portion of the piece of audio, the second portion of the piece of audio and the at least a third portion of the piece of audio to the apparatus conveys surround sound to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of automatically remotely controlling an audio source remotely conveying a sequence of pieces of audio to an apparatus structured to be worn on the head of a user to audibly output the sequence of pieces of audio to the user, the method comprising:
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monitoring a first sensor of the apparatus for indications of whether or not a first ear coupling of the apparatus is positioned in close proximity to a first ear of the user such that a first acoustic driver of the apparatus is positioned to audibly output a first portion of a single piece of audio of the sequence of pieces of audio to the first ear; in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signaling the audio source with a first command to cease playing the single piece of audio in a manner that enables playing of the single piece of audio to be resumed at a point at which the single piece of audio ceases to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command; in response to receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within a first predetermined period of time after receiving the indication of at least the first ear coupling not being positioned in close proximity to the first ear, signaling the audio source with a second command to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the point at which the single piece of audio ceased to be played by the audio source in response to being signaled with the first command; and in response to not receiving from at least the first sensor an indication of at least the first ear coupling again being positioned in close proximity to the first ear within the first predetermined period of time, signaling the audio source with a third command to prepare to resume playing the single piece of audio starting at the beginning of the single piece of audio. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of automatically remotely controlling an audio source remotely conveying a piece of audio to an apparatus structured to be worn on the head of a user to audibly output the piece of audio to the user, the method comprising:
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monitoring a first sensor of the apparatus for indications of whether or not a first ear coupling of the apparatus is positioned in close proximity to a first ear of the user such that a first acoustic driver of the apparatus is positioned to audibly output a first portion of the piece of audio to the first ear; monitoring a second sensor of the apparatus for indications of whether or not a second ear coupling of the apparatus is positioned in close proximity to a second ear of the user such that a second acoustic driver of the apparatus is positioned to audibly output a second portion of the piece of audio to the second ear; and signaling the audio source with at least one command to cause the audio source to cease providing at least a third portion of the piece of audio to the apparatus while still providing the first and second portions of the piece of audio to the apparatus in response to receiving indications from the first and second sensors that the first ear coupling is in close proximity to the first ear and the second ear coupling is not in close proximity to the second ear, wherein conveying a combination of the first portion of the piece of audio, the second portion of the piece of audio and the at least a third portion of the piece of audio to the apparatus conveys surround sound to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification