Distributed microphones in a wireless audio system

Abstract

Distributed microphones in a wireless audio system are disclosed. A microphone device generates a transmit audio stream via at least one microphone on the microphone device. The microphone device transmits the transmit audio stream to a computing device via a first wireless connection and ignores a receive audio stream received from the computing device via the first wireless connection. A speaker device obtains a set of connection parameters for the first wireless connection between the microphone device and the computing device, intercepts the receive audio stream transmitted from the computing device to the microphone device using the first wireless connection, and plays the receive audio stream on a speaker of the speaker device.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Wireless audio input and output audio devices, such as conference systems, headphones, and earbuds, have integrated speakers and microphones in the same physical device. The audio device both detects audio input from a user and plays audio output to the user. The wireless audio I / O device communicates with a computing system by sending and receiving audio via a wireless connection with the computing system. For example, if the user has a phone call, the user can use earbuds with integrated microphones to send and receive audio to the user's mobile phone during the phone call. SUMMARY

[0002] Generally, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a method for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system. The method includes a microphone device establishing a first wireless connection with a computing device by emulating a headset to create a set of connection parameters, and sharing the set of connection parameters with a speaker device via a second wireless connection. The microphone device further generates a transmit audio stream via at least one microphone on the microphone device. The microphone device transmits the transmit audio stream to the computing device via the first wireless connection, and ignores a receive audio stream received from the computing device via the first wireless connection.

[0003] Generally, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a method for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system. A speaker device obtains a set of connection parameters for a first wireless connection between a microphone device and a computing device, and uses the set of connection parameters to intercept a receive audio stream transmitted from the computing device to the microphone device using the first wireless connection. The speaker device plays the receive audio stream on a speaker of the speaker device.

[0004] Generally, in one aspect, one or more embodiments relate to a system for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system. The system includes a microphone device and a speaker device. The microphone device generates a transmit audio stream via at least one microphone on the microphone device. The microphone device transmits the transmit audio stream to a computing device via a first wireless connection, and ignores a receive audio stream received from the computing device via the first wireless connection. The speaker device obtains a set of connection parameters for the first wireless connection between the microphone device and the computing device, intercepts a receive audio stream transmitted from the computing device to the microphone device using the first wireless connection, and plays the receive audio stream on a speaker of the speaker device.

[0005] Other aspects will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon examining the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 A diagram showing endpoints in accordance with one or more embodiments is shown.

[0007] Figure 2 A diagram of a microphone device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0008] Figure 3 A diagram of a speaker device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0009] Figure 4 A flowchart for execution by a microphone device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0010] Figure 5 A flowchart for execution by a speaker device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0011] Figure 6 A flowchart for failover is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0012] Figure 7 An example is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Generally, embodiments of the invention relate to distributed microphones in a wireless audio system. The wireless audio system includes a microphone device and one or more speaker devices. The microphone device establishes a single wireless bidirectional connection with a computing device. The microphone device shares connection parameters with the speaker devices. The speaker devices use the connection parameters to intercept audio signals transmitted via the connection. Thus, the speaker devices can be separated from the microphone device while the speaker devices and the microphone device still appear as a single device to the computing device.

[0014] In some embodiments, instead of the microphone device establishing the connection with the computing device, a speaker device establishes a single wireless connection with the computing device to obtain the connection parameters. Subsequently, the single wireless connection is transferred to the microphone device so that the microphone device becomes the master device to send transmitted audio. The speaker device can still use the connection for intercepting received audio.

[0015] In Figure 1 An endpoint 100 including a distributed microphone device is shown and described below. As shown in Figure 1 the endpoint 100 includes a computing device 102, a microphone device 104, a speaker device M 106, and a speaker device N 108.

[0016] The computing device 102 is a physical hardware device that is both a local source of audio streams (i.e., audio streams played for a local user) and a local sink of audio streams (i.e., audio streams received from a local user, such as audio streams for transmission over a network). The computing device 102 can be a mobile phone, a wearable device, a tablet, a computer system, a desktop phone, a dictation device, a smart home device, a conferencing device, or other such device. The actual source of the received audio streams can be an endpoint from a network or local storage (e.g., the remote endpoint 120, shown as optional in Figure 1

[0017] The microphone device 104 is a standalone physical hardware device with one or more microphones and ports. For example, the microphone device 104 can be any form factor including a handheld microphone device, a clip-on microphone device, a desktop microphone device, a cradle or housing, or another form factor.

[0018] Figure 2 A diagram of the microphone device 104 is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. As Figure 2 shown, the microphone device 104 includes one or more microphones 202 configured to obtain acoustic signals (i.e., sound) and convert the acoustic signals to audio signals, such as digital or analog audio signals. The acoustic signals include unwanted signals (e.g., ambient noise) and wanted signals (e.g., a user’s voice) in different proportions.

[0019] A collection of audio signals received over time is an audio stream. Because the audio signals are received locally and transmitted to the computing device, the resulting audio stream is a transmitted audio stream. The microphone device 104 also includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 204 and one or more wireless ports 206. The DSP 204 is a microprocessor configured to process the audio signals. For example, the DSP 204 can be configured to perform transmit-side noise cancellation. Transmit-side noise cancellation is a process that removes noise from the transmitted audio signals before the transmitted audio signals are transmitted. Thus, the remote endpoint does not receive noise from the local user’s environment.

[0020] ​Transmission noise cancellation can be performed using multiple microphones 202 on microphone device 104. In particular, increasing the spacing between multiple microphones increases the phase and amplitude differences between acoustic signals from the same acoustic source. This phase and amplitude difference can be used by acoustic source identification algorithms and beamforming algorithms to amplify (apply gain to) acoustic signals from a specific source (e.g., a local user). By having separate microphone devices, the limitations on the amount of spacing between microphones 202 are not as great as for integrated headsets.

[0021] The microphone device 104 also includes one or more wireless ports 206. For example, the wireless port 206 may include... The microphone device 104 may include another type of wireless port without departing from the scope of the claims. (Port, Near Field Communication (NFC) port, or other wireless communication methods.)

[0022] like Figure 2 As shown, microphone device 104 omits a functional speaker for playing the received audio stream. Instead, microphone device 104 is configured to ignore (i.e., discard) the received audio stream. Other embodiments may relay or broadcast the received audio stream to another device via a wired or wireless port.

[0023] return Figure 1 Endpoint 110 also includes one or more speaker devices (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108). A speaker device is a separate, physically separate device housed separately from a microphone device, configured to play audio. For example, a speaker device (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108) can be an earbud, headphones, a room speaker, or other audio output device. For example, speaker device M 106 can be a left earbud, while speaker device N 108 can be a right earbud. As another example, speaker device M 106 can be a room speaker, while speaker device N 108 can be different room speakers. Any number of speaker devices can be present. Furthermore, speaker devices can be combined (e.g., as a set of earbuds) into the same product.

[0024] Figure 3 A diagram is shown of a loudspeaker device 302 according to one or more embodiments, such as... Figure 1 Speaker equipment. For example... Figure 3As shown, the speaker device 302 can include speaker(s) 304, a DSP 306, and one or more wireless ports 308. The speaker(s) 304 are physical hardware that convert audio signals into acoustic signals for playback for a local user. The DSP 306 is an embedded microprocessor used to process audio signals. For example, the DSP will decode audio signals received via the wireless port(s). The DSP can be configured to encode audio signals. In another example, the DSP 306 can include functionality to perform receive noise cancellation (i.e., receive-side noise cancellation or active noise cancellation (ANC)). Receive noise cancellation is a process by which a received audio stream is adjusted to accommodate background noise in the local user’s environment so that the local user can clearly hear the played audio without hearing audio noise in the user’s own environment. Receive noise cancellation uses local acoustic signals from one or more optional microphones 310 on the speaker device 302. Because the optional microphones on the speaker device are typically lightweight microphones, the number of microphones can be reduced (e.g., to a single microphone). As another example, the type of microphones can be reduced, and correspondingly the power consumption of the microphones can be reduced. The microphones 310 are configured to convert acoustic signals into local audio signals. The DSP 306 can further include functionality to combine the received audio stream with a transmitted audio stream or a local audio stream to play side tone (i.e., audible feedback that a user naturally hears when speaking).

[0025] Returning to Figure 1 , the various devices of the endpoint 100 are configured to be physically separate and distinct devices when in operation. For example, the computing device, the microphone device 104, and the speaker devices (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108) each have a separate housing that is configured to be separate when in use. In some embodiments, Figure 1 The various devices of the endpoint 100 can additionally be configured to communicate using wired mechanisms, or can have housings configured for connection. For example, the microphone device can include a cradle or connector for the speaker device when the speaker device is not in use. The microphone device can include multiple sub-devices, each having a separate and distinct housing. For example, the microphone device can be a charging case that holds a detachable microphone and speaker device.

[0026] To manage being physically separate and distinct when in use, connections within the local environment can be performed using wireless communication channels. The computing device 102 is configured to establish a connection 110 with the microphone device 104. The computing device (102) can further be configured to establish a connection with the speaker device, whereby the connection is transferred. The connection between the microphone device 104 and the computing device 102 can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device 102 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the microphone device 104 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device 102 and the microphone device 104 can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device 102 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the microphone device 104 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection 110 between the computing device 102 and the microphone device 104 can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device (102) and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the microphone device 104 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device 102 and the microphone device 104 can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the computing device 102 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. The connection between the microphone device 104 and the speaker device can be a Bluetooth® connection. Connection 110 is bidirectional. That is, even if microphone device 104 ignores receiving audio stream, computing device 102 still receives audio stream via connection 110. Connection 110 transmits receiving audio stream. Although connection 110 is described as a Bluetooth® connection, another radio wave-based connection can be used. For computing device 102, microphone device 104 appears as the only device for connection via connection 110. That is, even while receiving and playing receiving audio stream, speaker devices (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108) are each hidden from computing device 102. In particular, for computing device, computing device is connected to a generic headset. In this application, generic headset includes microphone device and separate speaker devices, all of which work together in concert to communicate with computing device as if they are one device and thus transparent to computing device. In a preferred embodiment, microphone radio uses headset's identification. Speaker devices (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108) are configured to establish wireless connections (e.g., wireless connection M 112, wireless connection N 114) with microphone device 104. Wireless connections (e.g., wireless connection M 112, wireless connection N 114) can be Bluetooth® connections or other radio wave-based connections. Speaker devices (e.g., speaker device M 106, speaker device N 108) are configured to intercept connection 110 between microphone device 104 and computing device 102. Interception can be performed via traffic sniffing (e.g., traffic sniffing 116, traffic sniffing 118) of signals transmitted by computing device 102 and microphone device 104. In particular, even if speaker devices are not set up as endpoints of connection 110, speaker devices perform traffic sniffing by listening to and processing

[0027]

[0028] ​​​​​​​On a wireless audio device, processing and transmitting audio streams is relatively computationally expensive and power intensive. By separating the microphone device 104 from the speaker device, the speaker device can be a lightweight device with a small form factor. For example, the battery size can be reduced. Likewise, because audio is not being transmitted, processing resources can be reduced. Thus, for example, one or more embodiments can be used to simplify the DSP processor and any microphones on the speaker device, and reduce the battery size. For example, if the speaker device is an earbud, embodiments can be used to minimize the size of the earbud and create a thin earbud.

[0029] Figure 4 A flow diagram for execution by a microphone device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. In block 401, the microphone device establishes a wireless connection with a computing device by impersonating a headset to create a connection parameter set. During a pairing process between the microphone device and the computing device, the microphone device identifies itself as a headset. Thus, even though the microphone device is only an input device, the microphone device sends an identification of a headset type. Further, security information is exchanged for securing communications between the microphone device and the computing device. The operations of block 401 can be multiple operations separated in time. For example, a pairing process to exchange pairing information can be separated in time from a later connection process. As part of the connection between the microphone device and the computing device, the connection parameter set is defined. The connection parameters can include, for example: an address of the computing device, a link key between the microphone and the computing device, channel information like an adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) map, codec information between the microphone and the computing device, etc. The connection parameters will allow for a basic rate / enhanced data rate (BREDR) or Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) connection to be established between the computing device and the microphone.

[0030] In block 403, the microphone device shares the connection parameter set with the speaker device. The microphone device establishes separate wireless connections with one or more speaker devices. The separate wireless connections can be with each speaker device, or in a chain from one speaker device to the next. After establishing the wireless connection with the speaker device, the microphone device shares the connection parameter set for the connection between the microphone device and the computing device with the speaker device and via the wireless connection. Due to the shared connection parameters, the speaker device will be able to sniff any connections established between the microphone and the computing device.

[0031] In block 405, the microphone device obtains an audio signal via a microphone on the microphone device. The microphone converts an acoustic signal into the audio signal. The microphone passes the audio signal to a DSP on the microphone. ​​​

[0032] In block 407, the microphone device processes the obtained audio signals to generate a transport audio stream. The processing of the transport audio stream can be receiving audio signals from multiple microphones on the microphone device. Beamforming can be performed to isolate user speech from ambient environmental noise. Further, in one or more embodiments, the transport audio stream is encoded for transmission via the wireless connection.

[0033] In block 409, the microphone device transmits the transport audio stream to the computing device via the wireless connection and ignores (e.g., does not process) any receive audio stream transmitted via the wireless connection. The microphone device discards the receive audio stream. Ignoring the receive audio stream can be as simple as acknowledging packets in the receive audio stream or not having circuitry to receive and process the receive audio stream.

[0034] Blocks 405-409 can be repeated throughout a communication session.

[0035] Figure 5 A flow diagram for execution by a speaker device is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. In block 501, the speaker device establishes a wireless connection with a microphone device. The speaker device pairs with the microphone device and establishes the wireless connection with the microphone device. In block 503, the speaker device further obtains a set of connection parameters from the microphone device.

[0036] Obtaining the connection parameters can be performed by receiving the connection parameters via the wireless connection with the microphone device. As another example, obtaining the connection parameters can be performed by the speaker device establishing a first wireless connection with a computing device to create the set of connection parameters. The speaker device establishing a connection with the computing device can be performed in the same or similar manner as discussed above with respect to the microphone device establishing a connection. After the speaker device establishes the first wireless connection, the first wireless connection can be transferred between the computing device and the microphone device. For example, the speaker device establishing the first wireless connection can share the connection parameters with the microphone device and any other speaker devices. Subsequently, the microphone device can take over the first wireless connection as a master device.

[0037] With continued reference to Figure 5 In block 505, using the set of connection parameters, the speaker device self-configures to intercept the wireless connection between the microphone device and the computing device. For example, the self-configuration can be setting up settings for receiving signals on the link, and setting up keys for decrypting the receive audio signals and the transport audio signals.

[0038] In block 507, the speaker device intercepts the receive audio stream, and optionally the transport audio stream, via the wireless connection. The speaker device receives the audio stream as if the speaker device is the intended target.​

[0039] In block 509, the speaker device optionally processes the received audio stream using the transmission audio stream to create an updated received audio stream. The speaker device can decode the received audio stream received via the wireless connection. Further, the speaker device can perform receive noise cancellation (i.e., receive-side noise cancellation) using the local audio stream from the local microphone. The receive noise cancellation removes noise components attributable to the local environment. The speaker device can optionally use the transmission audio stream or the local audio stream to add side tone to the received audio stream.

[0040] In block 511, the speaker device plays the received audio stream on the speaker of the speaker device. The playing of the received audio stream in block 511 can correspond to playing the updated received audio stream. The speaker converts the audio signals of the received audio stream into acoustic signals. Using the transmission audio stream, the speaker device can add side tone to the received audio stream. The side tone can be attributable to the local environment. The side tone can be attributable to the local user. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The operations of and cause the speaker device and the microphone device to behave as a single device, even though the microphone device is distributed from the speaker device. The speaker device and the microphone device are configured and operate the wireless port such that the computing device communicates with the respective device as if the respective device is a single headset.

[0041] One or more embodiments can also be configured for failover situations. During failover, one of the speaker devices can take over from the microphone device. Figure 6 A flowchart for failover is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. In block 601, the speaker device checks the wireless connection with the microphone device. The speaker device can periodically check for a failure. The speaker device can monitor for a link loss between the microphone device and the computing device. The speaker device can scan for low-power advertisement data from the microphone device to detect an unexpected microphone device power down. For example, a periodic heartbeat signal can be transmitted via the wireless connection between the speaker device and the microphone device. In block 603, the speaker device detects a disconnection from the microphone device.

[0042] ​Based on the disconnection, the speaker device determines that the microphone device is disconnected from the computing device. In block 605, in response to the disconnection, the speaker device spoofs the microphone device using the set of connection parameters while transmitting and receiving audio streams with the computing device via the wireless connection. The speaker device takes over the wireless connection between the computing device and the microphone device. The speaker device can use a microphone of the speaker device to obtain the transmit audio stream. The speaker device can transmit the transmit audio stream to the computing device. While the audio quality of the microphone on the speaker device is lower than the audio quality of the microphone, the presence of the failover is hidden from the computing device. That is, the loss of connection of the microphone device is hidden from the computing device.

[0043] In block 607, the speaker device detects a reconnection with the microphone device. In block 609, based on the reconnection, the speaker device resumes playing audio only. Thus, the speaker device stops transmitting the locally obtained transmit audio stream.

[0044] Figure 7 An example user configuration is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. A user uses his computing device 700, a personal computer, for work. The computing device 700 is connected to a microphone device 702, which is in a separate housing on the user's desk. The user also has earbuds 704. Because the microphone device 702 is separate from the earbuds 704, the number and quality of the microphones in the microphone device 702 can be higher than the earbuds. Further, due to the larger form factor, there can be more spacing between the microphones within the microphone device 702, providing better beamforming.

[0045] Using the earbuds 704 allows the user to listen without the interference of background noise. Further, the earbuds 704 can have fewer microphones and smaller batteries without the functionality of generating and transmitting a transmit audio stream. Thus, the earbuds can be more lightweight than previous earbuds. To the computing device 700, the earbuds and the microphone device appear as a single device. The computing device 700 can simply be configured to use the same connection to transmit and receive audio. The connection is used to transmit and receive audio. If the microphone device fails or the user is far away from the microphone device, the earbuds are configured to take over the same connection. Thus, while the audio quality on the user's side can be reduced, the conference call continues uninterrupted.

[0046] Throughout this application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) can be used as adjectives to describe an element (i.e., any noun in the application). Unless explicitly recited, such as by use of the terms “before,” “after,” “single,” and other such terms, the use of ordinal numbers is not intended to imply or create any particular ordering of elements, nor is it intended to limit any element to only a single element. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish elements. As an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and a first element can contain more than one element and inherit the second element (or precede the second element) in an ordering of elements.

[0047] Further, the term “or” in the specification is intended to be inclusive or exclusive. For example, a list of items joined by “or” can mean one or more of each item, only one of each item, each item, or any combination of the items in the list.

[0048] In the detailed description above, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. Further, although the present application has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of this present application. Thus, the scope of the present application should not be limited to the specific illustrative described above, but should be given the full scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system, comprising: establishing, by a microphone device (104) that mimics a headset, a first wireless connection (110) with a computing device (102) to create a set of connection parameters; sharing, by the microphone device (104), the set of connection parameters with a speaker device (106, 108) via a second wireless connection (112, 114); generating, by the microphone device (104), a transmit audio stream via at least one microphone (202) on the microphone device (104); performing, by the microphone device (104), transmit-side noise cancellation on the transmit audio stream before transmitting the transmit audio stream to the computing device (102); transmitting, by the microphone device (104), the transmit audio stream to the computing device via the first wireless connection (110) and ignoring a receive audio stream received from the computing device (102) via the first wireless connection (110); receiving a local audio stream via a microphone (310) on a speaker device (106, 108), the local audio stream including a noise component; and determining, by the speaker device (106, 108), the noise component in the local audio stream; and performing, using the noise component and by the speaker device (106, 108), noise cancellation while playing the receive audio stream.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing, by the speaker device (106, 108), the second wireless connection (112, 114) with the microphone device (104); obtaining, by the speaker device (106, 108), the set of connection parameters from the microphone device (104) via the second wireless connection (112, 114); intercepting, by the speaker device (106, 108), the receive audio stream transmitted from the computing device (102) to the microphone device (104) using the first wireless connection (110) using the set of connection parameters; and playing, by the speaker device (106, 108), the receive audio stream on a speaker (304) of the speaker device (106, 108).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: detecting a disconnection of the second wireless connection (112, 114) with the microphone device (104); and in response to the disconnection, spoofing the microphone device (104) using the set of connection parameters while transmitting and receiving audio streams with the computing device (102) via the first wireless connection (110).

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: intercepting, by the speaker device (106, 108), a transmit audio stream transmitted from the microphone device to the computing device (102) using the first wireless connection (110); and processing the receive audio stream using the transmit audio stream to create an updated receive audio stream, ​ ​ ​ wherein playing the received audio stream includes playing the updated received audio stream.

5. A method for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system, comprising: obtaining, by a speaker device (106, 108), a set of connection parameters for a first wireless connection (110) between a microphone device (104) and a computing device (102); performing, by the microphone device (104), transmit-side noise cancellation on a transmit audio stream before transmitting the transmit audio stream to the computing device (102); intercepting, by the speaker device (106, 108), using the set of connection parameters, a received audio stream transmitted from the computing device (102) to the microphone device (104) using the first wireless connection (110); ignoring, by the microphone device (104), the received audio stream; playing, by the speaker device (106, 108), the received audio stream on a speaker (304) of the speaker device (106, 108); receiving a local audio stream via a microphone (310) on the speaker device (106, 108), the local audio stream including a noise component; determining the noise component in the local audio stream; and performing noise cancellation using the noise component while playing the received audio stream.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: establishing, by the speaker device (106, 108), a second wireless connection (112, 114) with the microphone device (104), wherein the set of connection parameters is obtained via the second wireless connection (112, 114). obtaining the set of connection parameters includes:

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, establishing, by the speaker device (106, 108), the first wireless connection (110) with the computing device (102) to create the set of connection parameters, wherein the first wireless connection (110) is transferred between the microphone device (104) and the computing device (102).

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising: detecting a disconnection of a second wireless connection (112, 114) with the microphone device (104); and in response to the disconnection, spoofing the microphone device (104) using the set of connection parameters while transmitting and receiving audio streams with the computing device (102) via the first wireless connection (110).

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: detecting a reconnection of the second wireless connection (112, 114) with the microphone device (104); and in response to the reconnection, resuming playing only the received audio stream.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising: intercepting, by the speaker device (106, 108), a transmit audio stream transmitted from the microphone device (104) to the computing device (102) using the first wireless connection (110); and processing the received audio stream using the transmit audio stream to create an updated received audio stream, wherein playing the received audio stream includes playing the updated received audio stream. ​ ​ ​ 11. A system for distributed microphones in a wireless audio system, comprising: a microphone device (104) configured for: generating a transmit audio stream via at least one microphone (202) on the microphone device (104), and transmitting the transmit audio stream to a computing device (102) via a first wireless connection (110); performing transmit-side noise cancellation on the transmit audio stream prior to transmitting the transmit audio stream to the computing device (102); and ignoring a receive audio stream received from the computing device (102) via the first wireless connection (110); and a speaker device (106, 108) configured for: obtaining a set of connection parameters for the first wireless connection (110) between the microphone device (104) and the computing device (102), intercepting the receive audio stream transmitted from the computing device (102) to the microphone device (104) using the first wireless connection (110), playing the receive audio stream on a speaker (304) of the speaker device (106, 108); a microphone (310) for receiving a local audio stream, the local audio stream comprising a noise component; and a digital signal processor (306) for: determining the noise component in the local audio stream, and performing noise cancellation using the noise component while playing the receive audio stream.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, the speaker device (106, 108) comprises: a wireless port (308) for intercepting a transmit audio stream transmitted from the microphone device to the computing device using the first wireless connection; and a digital signal processor (306) for processing the receive audio stream using the transmit audio stream to create an updated receive audio stream, wherein playing the receive audio stream comprises playing the updated receive audio stream.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein, the microphone device (104) comprises: a digital signal processor (204) for performing transmit-side noise cancellation on the transmit audio stream prior to transmitting the transmit audio stream to the computing device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein, the speaker device is an earbud.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein, the microphone device is a charging case for the earbud.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein, the speaker device is a room speaker.

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