Wireless earphone that transitions between wireless networks

• US 8,190,203 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Pelland, Michael J., Koss, Michael J., Sagan, Michael, Reckamp, Steven R., Hallingstad, Gregory J., Bovee, Jeffrey K., Lowery, Morgan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US12/936,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/414.4, 455/73, 455/456.1, 455/420, 455/20, 455/11.1, 455/421, 370/401, 370/352, 370/335, 381/74
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• 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: H04R 5/04 : Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• 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 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

A wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source over a local ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the earphone are out of range, they transition automatically to an infrastructure wireless network. If there is no common infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the speakerphone set, the earphone connects to a host server via an available wireless network.

Claims

1. An earphone comprising:

a body, wherein the body comprises;

at least one acoustic transducer for converting an analog electrical signal to sound;

an antenna; and

a transceiver circuit in communication with the at least one acoustic transducer and the antenna, wherein the transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals via the antenna, and wherein the transceiver circuit is for outputting the analog electrical signal to the at least one acoustic transducer, and wherein the wireless transceiver circuit comprises firmware, which when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit to;

receive digital audio wirelessly from a data source via an ad hoc wireless network when the data source is in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network;

transmit data via the ad hoc wireless network to the data source regarding one or more infrastructure wireless networks detected by the transceiver circuit when the earphone and the data source are communicating via the ad hoc wireless network, wherein the data comprises identification data for the one or more infrastructure wireless networks whose signal strength exceeds a threshold signal strength level; and

when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network, transition automatically to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.

2. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the data source comprises a digital audio player.

3. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the transceiver circuit comprises:

a wireless communication module;

a processor unit in communication with the wireless communication module;

a non-volatile memory unit in communication with the processor unit; and

a volatile memory unit in communication with the processor unit.

4. The earphone of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a Wi-Fi communication module.

5. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure wireless network comprises a WLAN.

6. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the transceiver circuit is for receiving digital audio from the data source via the infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network.

7. The earphone of claim 6, wherein the infrastructure wireless network is a pre-set infrastructure wireless network that the data source transitions to when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network and when the pre-set infrastructure wireless network is in range of both the earphone and the data source.

8. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to connect to a host server via a second infrastructure wireless network when (1) the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network and (2) the data source and the earphone are not in wireless communication via the pre-set infrastructure wireless network.

9. The earphone of claim 1, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to connect to a host server via the infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network.

10. The earphone of claim 9, wherein the earphone is for receiving streaming digital audio from the host server via the infrastructure wireless network.

11. The earphone of claim 9, wherein the earphone is for receiving a first network address for a first streaming digital audio content server from the host server via the infrastructure wireless network.

12. The earphone of claim 11, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless network to the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio content server.

13. The earphone of claim 12, wherein the user control comprises a button.

14. A system comprising:

a data source for wirelessly transmitting streaming digital audio; and

a wireless earphone that comprises;

at least one acoustic transducer for converting an analog electrical signal to sound;

an antenna; and

a transceiver circuit in communication with the at least one acoustic transducer and the antenna, wherein the transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals via the antenna, and wherein the transceiver circuit is for outputting the analog electrical signal to the at least one acoustic transducer, and wherein the wireless transceiver circuit comprises firmware, which when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit to;

receive the streaming digital audio wirelessly from the data source via an ad hoc wireless network when the data source is in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network;

transmit data via the ad hoc wireless network to the data source regarding one or more infrastructure wireless networks detected by the transceiver circuit when the earphone and the data source are communicating via the ad hoc wireless network, wherein the data comprises identification data for the one or more infrastructure wireless networks whose signal strength exceeds a threshold signal strength level; and

when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network, transition automatically to receive streaming digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data source comprises a digital audio player.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a host server that is in communication with the wireless earphone via the infrastructure wireless network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the firmware of the transceiver circuit of the wireless earphone, when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to connect to the host server via the infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a web page for the wireless earphone through which a user is capable of configuring one or more settings for the wireless earphone.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the host server is for streaming digital audio to the earphone via the infrastructure wireless network.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the host server is for transmitting a first network address for a first streaming digital audio content server to the earphone via the infrastructure wireless network

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless network to the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio content server.

22. The earphone of claim 21, wherein the user control comprises a button.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the infrastructure wireless network comprises a WLAN.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the firmware, when executed by the infrastructure wireless network is a pre-set infrastructure wireless network that the data source transitions to when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network and when the pre-set infrastructure wireless network is in range of both the earphone and the data source.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the firmware, when executed by the transceiver circuit, causes the transceiver circuit of the earphone to connect to a host server via a second infrastructure wireless network when (1) the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network and (2) the data source and the earphone are not in wireless communication via the pre-set infrastructure wireless network.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the host server is for streaming digital audio to the earphone via the infrastructure wireless network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the host server is for transmitting a first network address for a first streaming digital audio content server to the earphone via the infrastructure wireless network.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the earphone comprises a user control that, when activated, causes the earphone to submit an electronic request via the infrastructure wireless network to the host server for a second network address for a second streaming digital audio content server.

29. The earphone of claim 28, wherein the user control comprises a button.

30. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless earphone, via an ad hoc wireless network, digital audio from a data source when the data source is in wireless communication with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network;

transmitting data via the ad hoc wireless network to the data source regarding one or more infrastructure wireless networks detected by the transceiver circuit when the earphone and the data source are communicating via the ad hoc wireless network, wherein the data comprises identification data for the one or more infrastructure wireless networks whose signal strength exceeds a threshold signal strength level;

converting, by the wireless earphone, the digital audio to sound; and

when the data source is not in wireless communication with the earphone, transitioning automatically, by the earphone, to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphone to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises transitioning automatically to receive digital audio from the data source via an infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphone to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises transitioning automatically to receive digital audio from a host sever via the infrastructure wireless network when the data source is not in wireless communication range with the earphone via the ad hoc wireless network.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein transitioning automatically by the earphone to receive digital audio via an infrastructure wireless network comprises:

receiving, by the wireless earphone via the infrastructure wireless network, from a host server connected to the infrastructure wireless network, a network address for a streaming digital audio content server; and

connecting, by the wireless earphone, to the streaming digital audio content server using the network address received from the host server.