Media/communications system

• US 9,407,982 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Donaldson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BERNARDI, BRENDA C
• Application Number:
  US14/387,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• 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 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A system for providing media and/or communications data to a plurality of users, the system comprising: a plurality of headphones; and a server system for providing audio data to each of the plurality of headphones; wherein each headphone comprises a processor module for allowing two-way digital communication between the headphone and the server system.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a headphone device with a server system, comprising:

initializing digital communications between the server system and the headphone device;

based upon a success of said initializing the digital communications,

receiving earphone status information from the headphone device via a two-way digital communication channel coupling the server system and the headphone device; and

transmitting a digital audio signal to the headphone device via the digital communication channel for conversion into an analog audio signal for presentation; and

based upon a failure of said initializing the digital communications,

initializing analog communications between the server system and the headphone device; and

transmitting an analog audio signal to the headphone device via the digital communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the earphone status information comprises receiving the earphone status information in response to a status query transmitted by the server system or a change in condition of the headphone device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the earphone status information comprises receiving the earphone status information in a Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) format.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an operational status of the headphone device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said monitoring the operational status includes at least one of identifying a fault condition of the headphone device and diagnosing the fault condition, and wherein said receiving the earphone status information includes receiving information regarding the fault condition via the digital communication connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said initializing digital communications comprises receiving a response within a predetermined time after transmitting a handshake inquiry from the server and otherwise initializing the analog communications.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the digital communications or the analog communications between the headphone device and the server system as long as the headphone device draws current from the digital communication connection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating said initializing the digital communications after said initializing analog communications.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, based upon a success of said repeating,

receiving the earphone status information from the headphone device via the two-way digital communication channel;

and

transmitting the digital audio signal to the headphone device via the digital communication channel for conversion into the analog audio signal for presentation.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, based upon a failure of said repeating, maintaining the analog communications between the server system and the headphone device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said initializing the digital communications includes initializing an audio processing component of the headphone device for converting the transmitted digital audio signal into the analog audio signal for presentation via an earphone of the headphone device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said initializing the audio processing component comprises initializing the audio processing component to convert the transmitted digital audio signal based upon ambient sound measured via a sensing microphone of the headphone device or using Active Noise Cancellation based upon signals received via the sensing microphone.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said initializing the audio processing component comprises initializing the audio processing component to synthesize a virtual binaural reproduction from the transmitted digital audio signal.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based upon the success of said initializing the digital communications, transmitting a control signal for altering a selected headphone operation to the headphone device via the digital communication channel.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based upon the success of said initializing the digital communications, receiving a control signal from a control component of the headphone device via the digital communication channel based upon activation of a control switch of the headphone device or a control sensor of the headphone device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising altering a selected server operation of the server system in response to the received control signal.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based upon the success of said initializing the digital communications, receiving a control signal from a control component of the headphone device via the digital communication channel based upon activation of a control switch of the headphone device or a control sensor of the headphone device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based upon the success of said initializing the digital communications, receiving a digitized speech signal from a telephony component of the headphone device via the digital communication channel based upon audible speech detected by a microphone of the headphone device.

19. A headphone device, comprising:

a headband; and

an earphone apparatus being coupled with said headband and including a status monitoring component for providing earphone status information to a server system via a two-way digital communication channel and an audio processing component for converting a digital audio signal received from the server system via the digital communication channel into an analog audio signal for presentation by said earphone apparatus,

wherein said earphone apparatus when in communication with the server system, enables the server system to initialize digital communications with said earphone apparatus, and, based upon successfully initializing the digital communications, receives the digital audio signal and otherwise receives an analog audio signal from the server system via the digital communication channel.

20. A system for providing media content, comprising:

a server system; and

a connection unit being coupled with the server system and being configured to communicate with a headphone device,

wherein the server system initializes digital communications with the headphone device via said connection unit, and, based upon successfully initializing the digital communications, transmits a digital audio signal to the headphone device via a digital communication channel for conversion into an analog audio signal for presentation and otherwise transmits an analog audio signal to the headphone device via the digital communication channel.