System with wireless earphones

• US 9,049,502 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Pelland, Michael J., Koss, Michael J., Hallingstad, Gregory J., Lowery, Morgan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US13/609,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20130039510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/71.6, 381/115, 381/374, 455/559, 455/522, 455/569.2, 455/573, 455/418, 455/556.1, 455/90.1, 455/557, 455/42, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client computing device, both of which are communicable with a host server via the Internet. The host server stores configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet, and that are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set. The updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless earphone set, comprising a pair of earphones configured to be worn simultaneously, wherein;

the wireless earphone set is communicable with a host server via the Internet and at least one wireless access point;

the host server stores one or more configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet and the at least one wireless access point; and

the wireless earphone set is configured to play digitally-formatted content received by the wireless earphone set from one or more content servers via the Internet and the at least one wireless access point; and

a client computing device communicable with the host server via the Internet, such that the one or more configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate one or more updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set, wherein the one or more updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet and the at least one wireless access point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more sound quality parameters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more sound quality parameters comprise one or sound quality settings selected form the group consisting of:

a treble setting;

a bass setting;

one or more frequency settings; and

a noise cancellation setting.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more content parameters.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more content parameters comprise identification for the one or more content servers.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the identification for the one or more content servers comprises an IP address for the one or more content servers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the digitally-formatted content comprises digitally-formatted audio content.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more parental control parameters.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more parental control parameters comprise a restriction on content servers that broadcast explicit content.

10. A system comprising:

a wireless earphone set comprising paired wireless earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user; and

a computer for communicating audio content to the wireless earphone set,

wherein;

each earphone in the wireless earphone set comprises a memory unit for storing audio content received from the computer;

the wireless earphone set is for audibly outputting the audio content received from the computer for listening by the user;

each earphone in the wireless earphone set has a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless communications; and

the computer is for storing and transmitting one or more user-specified configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set to the wireless earphone set for controlling playing of the audio content by the wireless earphone set.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the computer comprises a host server connected to the Internet;

the wireless earphone set is communicable with the host server via the Internet and at least one wireless access point;

the wireless earphone set is configured to play the audio content received by the wireless earphone set from one or more content servers via the Internet and the at least one wireless access point.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a client computing device communicable with the host server via the Internet, such that the one or more user-specified configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate one or more updated user-specified configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set, wherein the one or more updated user-specified configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet and the at least one wireless access point.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more user-specified configuration parameters comprise one or more user-specified sound quality parameters.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more content parameters.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more content parameters comprise identification for the one or more content servers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the identification for the one or more content servers comprises an IP address for the one or more content servers.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more parental control parameters.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more parental control parameters comprise a restriction on content servers that broadcast explicit content.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one or more sound quality parameters.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more sound quality parameters comprise one or sound quality settings selected form the group consisting of:

a treble setting;

a bass setting;

one or more frequency settings; and

a noise cancellation setting.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one earphone in the wireless earphone set comprises a user interface that, when touched by the user, causes a change in the audio content played by the wireless earphone set.

22. The system of claim 10, wherein the audio content comprises digitally-formatted audio content.

23. A headphone set comprising:

left and right earphones, wherein each of the left and right earphones comprises at least one acoustic transducer; and

a headband connecting the left and right earphones;

wherein at least one of the left or the right earphones comprises;

a programmable processor circuit;

a radio circuit connected to the processor circuit, wherein the radio circuit is for communicating via one or more wireless networks;

a memory unit connected to the processor circuit for storing digital audio data;

a digital-to-analog converter connected between the processor circuit and the at least one acoustic transducer; and

wherein,

in a first mode, the radio circuit receives digital audio from a digital audio player over a first wireless network, the processor circuit processes the received digital audio, and the at least one acoustic transducer outputs the received digital audio;

in a second mode, the radio circuit receives streaming digital audio from a server connected to the Internet over a second wireless network, the processor circuit processes the received streaming digital audio, and the at least one acoustic transducer outputs the received streaming digital audio.

24. The headphone set of claim 23, wherein the first wireless network comprises a Bluetooth network.

25. The headphone set of claim 24, wherein the second wireless network comprises a WiFi network.

26. The headphone set of claim 25, wherein the first and second earphones comprise over-ear earphones.

27. The headphone set of claim 26, further comprising a microphone have an output connected to the processor circuit.

28. The headphone set of claim 27, further comprising a rechargeable battery cell for powering at least the processor circuit.

29. The headphone set of claim 28, wherein each of the right and left earphones comprises two acoustic transducers.