Wireless audio tethering system

• US 9,820,323 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Douglas Warren, Blagrove, Nathan A., Deane, Joshua James, Reed, Graeme, Patil, Naganagouda
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US15/358,397
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 413, 4555501, 4555561, 455566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A wireless audio device tethering system is provided for including an intermediary device having at least one wireless transceiver that is configured to establish a first wireless connection with a first wireless audio device and a second wireless connection with a second wireless audio device. The intermediary device is also configured to receive a unique identifier from the second wireless audio device and to transmit the unique identifier to the first wireless audio device in order to initiate wireless tethering between the first and second wireless audio device. Once tethering has been initiated, wireless audio signals can be streamed to the first wireless audio device and then re-streamed to the second wireless audio device.

Claims

1. A wireless audio device tethering system comprising:

an intermediary device having at least one wireless transceiver;

wherein said intermediary device is configured to establish at least a first wireless connection with a first wireless audio device and at least a second wireless connection with a second wireless audio device;

wherein said intermediary device is further configured to receive a unique identifier from said second wireless audio device and to transmit said unique identifier to said first wireless audio device for establishing a third wireless connection between said first and second wireless audio devices.

2. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 1, wherein said first and third wireless connections operate on the same channel.

3. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 1, wherein said intermediary device further comprises an audio source capable of streaming wireless audio signals to at least said first wireless audio device.

4. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 1, wherein said second wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy signal.

5. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 4, wherein said first wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth low energy signal, a Bluetooth Serial Port Profile signal, or an iPod Accessory Profile signal to said first wireless audio device.

6. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 3, wherein said intermediary device transmits streaming audio data over a fourth wireless connection.

7. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 6, wherein said fourth wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth wireless connection and said audio data is streamed using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile.

8. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 7, wherein said third wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth wireless signal for streaming said audio data to said second wireless audio device using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile.

9. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 1 further comprising a second intermediary device that is at least initially in digital communication with said second wireless audio device.

10. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 9, wherein said first intermediary device is configured to receive said unique identifier from said second wireless audio device through said second intermediary device.

11. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 1, wherein said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device comprise headsets including at least one speaker and at least one microphone for receiving voice data.

12. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 11, wherein said third wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth wireless connection for streaming voice data using the Bluetooth hands-free profile.

13. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 12, further comprising a wireless connection between said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device for streaming audio data.

14. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 8, wherein said intermediary device is configured to receive user inputs via a graphical user interface, said user inputs indicating a desire to tether said first wireless audio device with said second audio device.

15. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 8, wherein said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device comprise headsets including at least one speaker and at least one microphone for receiving voice data, headphones, or a sound system.

16. The wireless audio device tethering system of claim 8, wherein said intermediary comprises a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a sound system.

17. A method for tethering wireless audio devices comprising:

establishing a first wireless connection between a first audio source and a first intermediary device for transmitting control information;

establishing a second wireless connection between said first intermediary device and a second wireless audio device;

receiving a unique identifier at said first intermediary device regarding said second wireless audio device via said second wireless connection;

transmitting said unique identifier to said first wireless audio device via said first wireless connection;

transmitting an instruction to said first wireless audio device, via said first wireless connection, to initiate wireless tethering between said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device for streaming audio data to said second wireless audio device via a third wireless connection; and

transmitting audio data to said first wireless audio device for streaming to said second wireless audio device via said third wireless connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first wireless connection and said third wireless connection are formed over the same wireless channel.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said audio data is transmitted from said first intermediary device to said first wireless audio device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said second wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy signal.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said first wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy signal, a Bluetooth Serial Port Profile signal, or an iPod Accessory Profile signal.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of establishing a fourth wireless connection between said first intermediary device and said first wireless audio device and wherein said audio data is transmitted to said first wireless audio device over said fourth wireless connection using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said third wireless connection is a Bluetooth wireless signal and said audio data is transmitted using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said second wireless connection is made over a wide area network.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting an instruction to said first wireless audio device, via said first wireless connection, to initiate wireless tethering between said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device for transmitting voice data via a fifth wireless connection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said fifth wireless connection is a Bluetooth wireless signal and said voice data is transmitted using the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile.

27. A wireless audio device tethering system comprising:

an intermediary device comprising a processor, memory in communication with said processor, a transceiver in communication with said processor for communicating wirelessly with at least a first wireless audio device and a second wireless audio device, and a display in communication with the processor;

wherein said processor is configured to provide a user interface, comprising;

a home screen including at least one selectable tethering button for initiating a tethering request between said first and second wireless audio devices;

a tethering screen including a graphical depiction of at least said first wireless audio device and said second wireless audio device, wherein at least one of said graphical depictions configured to be dragged and dropped on the other, thereby initiating wireless tethering between said first and second wireless devices.