EASY SHARING OF WIRELESS AUDIO SIGNALS

• US 20130117693A1
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Anderson, Jeff, Shmueli, Shimon, Depallens, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 9,819,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving, at a first media output device, streaming media from a media source device, receiving, at the first media output device, a command by motion or voice to share the streaming media with a second media output device, and initiating, by the first media output device, sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first media output device, streaming media from a media source device;

receiving, at the first media output device, a command by motion or voice to share the streaming media with a second media output device; and

initiating, by the first media output device, sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a command to terminate the sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device; and

initiating termination of the sharing of the streaming media.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the command by motion to share the streaming media includes a bump between the first media output device and the second media output device, or a gesture by the first media output device or the second media output device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the command to terminate sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device includes a bump between the first media output device and the second media output device, an engaged button or switch on the first media output device or the second media output device, a motion or gesture by the first media output device or the second media output device, or a voice command on the first media output device or the second media output device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting the state of the first media output device to determine whether to share the streaming media from the first media output device to the second media output device or from the second media output device to the first media output device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting the state of the first media output device comprises detecting a bump in an out zone or an in zone on the first media output device.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting the state of the first media output device comprises detecting that a button has been engaged in a first direction or that a button has been engaged in a second direction on the first media device.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting the state of the first media output device comprises detecting a particular motion or gesture on the first media output device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device continues until a command to terminate the sharing of the streaming media is received at the first media output device or the second media output device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first media output device is a headphone, speaker, or earbud.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the media source device is a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, MP3 player, portable radio, portable DVD player, receiver, laptop, or personal computer.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first media output device, streaming media from a media source device;

activating, by a first media output device, a beacon to share-out the streaming media;

receiving a command to share-in from at least a second media output device, wherein the command is based on a motion or voice command on the second media output device; and

initiating, by the first media output device, sharing of the streaming media from the first media output device to the second media output device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a command to terminate the sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device; and

initiating termination of the sharing of the streaming media.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the command to terminate sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device includes a bump between the first media output device and the second media output device, an engaged button or switch on the first media output device or the second media output device, a motion or gesture by the first media output device or the second media output device, or a voice command on the first media output device or the second media output device.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the command based on a motion includes a bump between the first media output device and the second media output device, or a gesture by the second media output device

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a command to share-in from at least a third media output device; and

initiating, by the first media output device, sharing of the streaming media from the first media output device to the third media output device.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the first media output device is a headphone, speaker, or earbud.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the media source device is a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, MP3 player, portable radio, portable DVD player, receiver, laptop, or personal computer.

19. A media output device configured to:

receive streaming media from a media source device;

receive a command by motion or voice command to share the streaming media with a second media output device; and

initiate sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device.

20. The media output device of claim 19 further configured to:

receive a command to terminate the sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device; and

initiate termination of the sharing of the streaming media.

21. The media output device of claim 19 further configured to:

detect the state of the first media output device to determine whether to share the streaming media from the first media output device to the second media output device or from the second media output device to the first media output device.

22. A media output device configured to:

receive streaming media from a media source device;

activate a beacon to share-out the streaming media;

receive a command to share-in from at least a second media output device, wherein the command is based on a motion or voice command on the second media output device; and

initiate sharing of the streaming media from the first media output device to the second media output device.

23. The media output device of claim 22 further configured to:

receive a command to terminate the sharing of the streaming media between the first media output device and the second media output device; and

initiate termination of the sharing of the streaming media.