Data input management system for wearable electronically enabled interface

• US 8,482,488 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Jannard, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amadiz, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US11/022,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 8, 455/66, 455557-5691, 455347-351, 351/158, 351/41, 351/111, 351/123, 381327-329, 381370-379, 381/381
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• 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 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A data input management system is disclosed, for allowing a user to select one or more data sources, to be placed either simultaneously or one at a time into electrical communication with a single user interface. The user interface may comprise a wearable support, such as an eyeglass frame, adapted to carry one or more of speakers, microphone and video display, depending upon the desired functionality. Source electronics may be carried by the support or carried remotely, and in wireless communication with the support using Bluetooth protocols or other data transmission technology.

Claims

1. A wearable electronically enabled interface system for providing audio and or video input to the wearer from at least two sources, comprising:

a wearable support, for carrying at least a portion of the interface, said wearable support comprising an eyeglass frame, at least one support arm, and at least one speaker supported by the eyeglass frame with the support arm, wherein the support arm comprises a first segment attached to the eyeglass frame at a first coupling and a second segment attached to the speaker at a second coupling, wherein the first coupling permits the support arm to be rotated to move the speaker away from the eyeglass frame, wherein the second coupling permits the speaker to be rotated with respect to the support arm about at least first and second axes, said first axis being perpendicular to said second axis, and wherein a distance between the first and second couplings is adjustable by the wearer by moving the first segment with respect to the first coupling;

at least one data port carried by the support and configured to receive data from at least a first and a second source, the data port having an output and configured to provide a signal corresponding to the data received from one of said first and second sources;

a memory configured to store a user-configurable prioritization schedule, said user-configurable prioritization schedule comprising first and second priority settings associated with said first and second sources, respectively; and

a selector configured to provide an alarm signal to the wearer while data from the first source is directed to the data output, when data from the second source is detected and when said second priority setting indicates greater priority than said first priority setting, wherein the selector is further configured to enable the wearer to manually select and direct data from a desired one of the first and second sources to the interface via the data port in response to the alarm signal.

2. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the data port comprises a radio frequency receiver.

3. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at least one speaker.

4. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the interface comprises two speakers.

5. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at least one microphone.

6. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a video display.

7. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the selector comprises a wearer actuatable control.

8. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, further comprising a second data port.

9. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the data port comprises a wireless transceiver.

10. A wearable electronically enabled interface system as in claim 1, wherein the first source comprises an MP3 player and the second source comprises a telephone.

11. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 1, wherein the first source and the second source are carried by the wearable electronic interface.

12. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 1, wherein the second source comprises a sensor.

13. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a biometric sensor.

14. The wearable electronically enabled interface system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a clock.

15. A wearable cell phone and music system, comprising:

a wearable support, said wearable support comprising an eyeglass frame, said eyeglass frame comprising a data port, at least one support arm, and at least one speaker supported by the eyeglass frame with the support arm, wherein the support arm comprises a first segment attached to the eyeglass frame at a first coupling and a second segment attached to the speaker at a second coupling, wherein the first coupling permits the support arm to be rotated to move the speaker away from the eyeglass frame, wherein the second coupling permits the speaker to be rotated with respect to the support arm about at least first and second axes, said first axis being perpendicular to said second axis, and wherein a distance between the first and second couplings is adjustable by the wearer by manipulating the support arm with respect to the first coupling;

a cell phone in communication with the support via the data port;

a music source in communication with the support via the data port;

an electronic interface carried by the support and in communication with the data port, the data port having an output and configured to provide a signal corresponding to data received from one of the cell phone and the music source, the electronic interface further comprising a memory configured to store a user-configurable prioritization schedule, said user-configurable prioritization schedule indicating priority of said cell phone and said music sources, said electronic interface further configured to provide an alarm signal to a wearer when data from the cell phone and music source are detected, and based at least in part on said prioritization schedule; and

a selector configured to enable the wearer to manually select and regulate the transmission of data from at least one of the cell phone and the music source to the interface in response to the alarm signal.

16. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 15, wherein the data port comprises radio frequency electronics for wireless communication between the cell phone and the support.

17. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 16, wherein the data port further comprises radio frequency electronics for wireless communication between the music source and the support.

18. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 16, wherein the music source is carried by the support.

19. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 18, wherein the music source comprises an MP3 player.

20. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 15, wherein the music source comprises an MP3 player.

21. A wearable cell phone and music system as in claim 15, wherein the data port comprises a wireless transceiver.

22. A method of managing multiple signal sources configured to provide signals to a single wearable interface, comprising the steps of:

enabling data from a first source to reach a wearer through a data port supported by the interface, said interface comprising at least one support arm, and at least one speaker supported by the interface with the support arm, wherein the support arm comprises a first segment attached to the interface at a first coupling and a second segment attached to the speaker at a second coupling, wherein the first coupling permits the support arm to be rotated to move the speaker away from the interface, wherein the second coupling permits the speaker to be rotated with respect to the support arm about at least first and second axes, said first axis being perpendicular to said second axis and wherein a distance between the first and second couplings is adjustable by the wearer while said speaker is attached to said support arm;

automatically detecting when data becomes available from a second source;

comparing a priority setting of said second source to a priority setting of said first source, said first and second priority settings stored in a user-configurable prioritization schedule;

providing an alarm signal to the wearer in response to the automatic detecting and the comparing priority settings;

receiving a control signal from the wearer in response to the alarm signal;

enabling data from the second source to reach the wearer through the data port supported by the interface in response to said control signal; and

automatically resuming delivery of data from the first source to the wearer through the data port supported by the interface upon deactivation of data delivery from the second source to the data port.

23. A method of managing multiple signal sources as in claim 22, wherein the first source comprises a source of music.

24. A method of managing multiple signal sources as in claim 23, wherein the second source comprises a telephone.

25. A method of managing multiple signal sources as in claim 22, wherein data from the first source is no longer provided to the interface in response to activation of the control.

26. A method of managing multiple signal sources as in claim 22, wherein the data port comprises a wireless transceiver.