Diversity bluetooth system and method

• US 9,980,189 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Belverato, Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Paul P
• Application Number:
  US15/290,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 455 111, 455 411, 455 412, 455 413, 455557, 4555691, 4555752, 370254, 370338, 381107, 381151, 381311, 381315, 381328, 381 716, 381 74
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/08 at the receiving station
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• 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 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

A first device having a transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the transceiver and a second device having a transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the transceiver, the first device in operative communication with the second device through a communications linkage separate from the transceiver of the first device and the transceiver of the second device. The first device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote device through the transceiver of the first device. The second device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the remote device through the transceiver of the second device. The system is configured to evaluate the wireless connection between the first device and the remote device and to evaluate the wireless communication between the second device and the remote device and determine whether the first device or the second device has a better connection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver;

a second wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver, the first wearable device in operative communication with the second wearable device through a communications linkage separate from the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

wherein the first wearable device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote device through the radio transceiver of the first wearable device;

wherein the second wearable device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the remote device through the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

wherein the system is configured to evaluate a first wireless signal, the first wireless signal between the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the remote device, by measuring a signal characteristic of the first wireless signal at the first wearable device;

wherein the system is configured to evaluate a second wireless signal, the second wireless signal between the radio transceiver of the second wearable device and the remote device, by measuring a signal characteristic of the second wireless signal at the second wearable device;

wherein the system is configured to determine whether the first wearable device or the second wearable device has a better wireless connection with the remote device by comparing the signal characteristic of the first wireless signal and the signal characteristic of the second wireless signal and if the first wearable device has the better wireless connection to use the wireless connection between the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the remote device and if the second wearable device has the better connection to use the wireless connection between the radio transceiver of the second wearable device and the remote device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wearable device is a left ear piece and the second wearable device is a right ear piece.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wearable device is a left portion of a headphone set and the second wearable device is a right portion of the headphone set.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic of the first wireless signal is signal strength and wherein the signal characteristic of the second wireless signal is signal strength.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio transceiver of the first wearable device is a Bluetooth transceiver and wherein the radio transceiver of the second wearable device is a Bluetooth transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wearable device is configured to receive streaming audio of the wireless connection between the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the remote device and wherein the radio transceiver of the second wearable device is configured to receive streaming audio of the wireless connection between the radio transceiver of the second wearable device and the remote device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications linkage between the first wearable device and the second wearable device is a wired linkage.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications linkage between the first wearable device and the second wearable device is a magnetic induction wireless linkage.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device share connection data related to connection with the remote device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device have synchronized protocol stacks.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wearable device and the second wearable device each perform signal measurements of signals from the remote device and share the signal measurements there between.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wearable device and the second wearable device are configured to coordinate handover of a connection with the remote device.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote device is a mobile device configured for communicating streaming audio.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the first wearable device is a left ear piece and the second wearable device is a right ear piece;

wherein the radio transceiver of the first wearable device is a Bluetooth transceiver and wherein the radio transceiver of the second wearable device is a Bluetooth transceiver;

wherein the communications linkage between the first wearable device and the second wearable device is a near field magnet induction (NFMI) wireless linkage;

wherein the first wearable device is configured to receive streaming audio of the wireless connection between the first wearable device and the remote device and wherein the second wearable device is configured to receiving streaming audio of the wireless connection between the second wearable device and the remote device.

15. A system comprising:

a first wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver;

a second wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver, the first wearable device in operative communication with the first second wearable device through a communications linkage separate from the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

wherein the first wearable device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote device through the radio transceiver of the first wearable device;

wherein the second wearable device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the remote device through the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

wherein the first wearable device and the second wearable device are adapted to perform radio signal measurements relative to the remote device and share radio signal measurement information and perform handovers there between;

wherein the radio signal measurements include at least one of signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first wearable device is a left ear piece and the second wearable device is a right ear piece.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first wearable device is a left portion of a headphone set and the second wearable device is a right portion of the headphone set.

18. A method for improving radio signal communications, the method comprising:

providing a first wearable device and a second wearable device;

monitoring at least one radio signal parameter associated with a radio signal communicated between a remote device and a radio transceiver of the first wearable device;

monitoring at least one radio signal parameter between the remote device and a radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

communicating data via a wired or wireless connection between the first wearable device and the second wearable device over a communication channel separate than a communications channel between the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

connecting one of the first wearable device and the second wearable device, the one receiving a better radio signal based on a comparison of the at least one radio signal parameter associated with the radio signal communication between the remote device and the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the at least one radio signal parameter associated with the radio signal communicated between the remote device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device;

wherein the at least one signal parameter includes at least one of signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first wearable device is a left ear piece and the second wearable device is a right ear piece.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the first wearable device is a left portion of a headphone set and the second wearable device is a right portion of the headphone set.