System for controlling earphone and method thereof

Abstract

The provided system and corresponding method can enable a user to connect its earphone to different audio sources while controlling the settings of its earphone directly on its application device without being interrupted by audio.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter of this invention generally relates to the control of headphones. More specifically, the subject matter of this invention relates to a system and method for complete control of headphones. Background Technology

[0002] In modern life, it is common to connect headphones to a media player so that you can listen to audio alone without disturbing others.

[0003] Headphones are typically designed with sound effect adjustments. However, due to current technological limitations in accessing diverse software ecosystems, headphones can only be customized via proprietary software, such as those available only on dedicated Windows-running computers through proprietary software suites. When headphones are wirelessly connected to any other relevant platform, it is virtually impossible to customize any advanced audio and feature settings associated with the headphones.

[0004] There is a need to provide a system and method for controlling headphones, through which users have full access to their headphones regardless of whether they are playing audio on any platform of their choice. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one aspect, a system for complete control of headphones provided in this invention includes: an audio source device for running media and outputting audio thereon; headphones for receiving and playing audio transmitted from the audio source device; and an application device having a proprietary application installed for controlling headphone settings. In this system, the audio source device can wirelessly transmit audio to the headphones, and the application device can control the headphone settings via Bluetooth. This allows for uninterrupted audio playback while also enabling headphone adjustments.

[0006] In another aspect, a method for fully controlling headphones provided in this invention includes the steps of: running media on an audio source device and outputting audio; receiving and playing the audio transmitted from the audio source device via headphones; and controlling headphone settings via a proprietary application installed on an application device. The method further includes the steps of: transmitting the audio from the audio source device to the headphones via a wireless connection; and controlling headphone settings via a proprietary application installed on the application device via Bluetooth, thereby allowing uninterrupted audio playback while also allowing adjustment of the headphones.

[0007] In another aspect, instructions can be stored using any combination of one or more computer-readable media, which, when processed by a processor, perform the steps of the method for full control of headphones provided in the subject matter of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The subject matter of the invention can be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings and by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote corresponding parts, as shown in the following figures:

[0009] Figure 1 An exemplary structural block diagram of a system for fully controlling headphones according to one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention is shown; and

[0010] Figure 2 An exemplary flowchart of a method for fully controlling headphones according to one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0011] The following provides a detailed description of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this invention; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the subject matter of this invention, which may be implemented in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; some features may be enlarged or minimized to show details of specific components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching those skilled in the art to apply the subject matter of this invention in different ways.

[0012] Some headphones (such as music headphones) can create left and right channels to represent the layering of music, such as vocals, instruments, and background sounds. Other headphones (such as gaming headphones) generally refer to over-ear headphones with microphones designed for gaming. It is not necessary to reflect all high-quality high, mid, and low frequencies, and in many cases, it is even necessary to suppress low frequencies to allow the player to hear more high-frequency signals in order to hear their surroundings more clearly. This disclosure primarily uses gaming headphones as an example, illustrating systems and methods for complete control of headphones according to the subject matter of the invention in one or more embodiments, but other headphones, such as music headphones, are also included herein without departing from the scope of the subject matter.

[0013] As mentioned earlier, headphones are typically designed with some adjustment features for controlling sound effects. Whether listening to music or playing games, users can choose to use headphones equipped with built-in chipsets or sound cards, which are specifically designed to optimize various sound effects based on user preferences or game scenarios. In the example of gaming headphones, this sound optimization process can be controlled via software applications based on the sound effects of the game content (such as footsteps, gunshots, etc. in FPS games).

[0014] However, existing software has limitations. Headsets are typically only compatible with specific operating platforms, such as Windows PCs. For example, people without a PC or who don't play games on a PC may not be able to adjust the settings, or they may not have full control over their headsets in real time. Even for some users who don't have a Windows PC and may only have a macOS device, such software may be incompatible with both systems. In this case, these gamers need to plug their headsets back into their PCs, launch the game software application to adjust its settings, and then plug the headsets back into the gaming device. However, gamers may not want to interrupt their gaming session on their PCs by quitting the game to adjust the audio settings of their headsets.

[0015] The objective of this invention is to provide complete control over headphones without the need for any dedicated PC software suite. This functionality is enabled via a proprietary application that can be installed on devices such as iOS and Android that connect to the headphones via Bluetooth. In this way, users can fully customize all settings of the headphones without accessing dedicated PC software.

[0016] The provided proprietary application allows users to customize / personalize headset settings that were originally only available on a dedicated PC suite running Windows. Regardless of the platform a user chooses to operate on, they can have complete control over their headset through the proprietary application.

[0017] In one aspect of the subject matter of the invention, a system for complete control of headphones is provided.

[0018] Figure 1 An exemplary structural block diagram of a system 100 for complete control of headphones according to one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 As shown, system 100 includes: at least one audio source device 110, which runs media and outputs audio; headphones 120 for playing audio received from audio source device 110; and application (App) device 130 on which a proprietary application is installed to control headphones 120 to customize user preferences.

[0019] In the example where a gamer wears a gaming headset to play a game on a gaming device, the audio source device 110 can be considered as a gaming device configured to run a game, such as a PC, a MacOS device, a PlayStation, or a Nintendo Switch, and the audio, including game sound effects, can be output to the gaming headset 120 via a USB output.

[0020] In this example, headset 120 can be a gaming headset with over-ear headphones and microphones, which gamers / users can wear on their heads. Starting with gaming devices focused on the concept of smart connectivity, this headset truly becomes a universal and device-agnostic headset, seamlessly working with any device that allows USB audio, specifically, as long as a USB wireless dongle is connected to gaming device 110. The USB wireless dongle can operate, for example, at 2.4 GHz, allowing gaming device 110 to wirelessly connect to headset 120 and enabling USB audio to be transmitted to the headset via wireless connection 115.

[0021] Simultaneously, the application device 130 can connect to the headset 120 via a Bluetooth connection 135 (such as Bluetooth LE). The application device 130 may be the place where every setting and function of the headset can be adjusted via its proprietary application. In one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this invention, the application device 130 may be, for example, a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, personal data assistant, or other Bluetooth-enabled mobile device. These settings can be transmitted to the headset 120 via the Bluetooth connection. Once the settings are changed accordingly on the headset 120, it will send an acknowledgment back to the application device 130, and this will also be reflected in the proprietary application.

[0022] In the example, application device 130 can be used as a remote control for headphones 120, while the audio source is elsewhere, such as audio source device 110. This solves the technical problem of not being able to control the headphones when playing audio from another audio source on a mobile device, even when a Bluetooth connection is also used between the headphones and the audio source. In this way, any application device that supports Bluetooth connectivity can be adapted to the system, thus achieving the complete control described herein.

[0023] As long as the USB wireless dongle is connected to the audio source device, the audio source in the system can be any audio source device other than the application device. The headset can be controlled via a proprietary application to change various settings, including but not limited to:

[0024] • connect;

[0025] • RGB lighting settings, such as changing color presets, colors, and color effects;

[0026] • Audio settings, such as adjusting EQ and enabling Surround Sound;

[0027] • Surround sound settings, such as enabling / disabling different surround sound options; and / or enabling / disabling head tracking for different room sizes for different surround sound experiences, and calibrating head tracking based on the user's ears;

[0028] • Microphone options, such as microphone gain and sidetone;

[0029] • ANC and TalkThru functionality;

[0030] • Save the settings to a configuration file;

[0031] • Firmware updates; and

[0032] • Seek advice in the help section.

[0033] In the example of gaming headsets, as long as the headset is connected via Bluetooth, the above options can be controlled via the application device without using a Windows PC or exiting the game, making it suitable for the system described in this article that provides full control over the headset.

[0034] In one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this invention, the headset 120 may be configured with a user interface 140, which may be, for example, one or more buttons for adjusting settings of the headset 120, such as changing Bluetooth connectivity, microphone mute / unmute function, etc. These adjusted settings should also be transmitted back to a proprietary application on the application device 130 to maintain complete consistency between hardware and software.

[0035] In one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this invention, a proprietary application installed on application device 130 enables the user to have full control over headset 120. However, a native software suite, such as PC Suite 150, may still exist in audio source device 110. In the example of a gaming device, PC Suite 150 still exists for users who prefer to control the device by operating it, such as a Windows PC, and in case some proprietary technologies require a Windows environment to run. In the example, even if the method of full control of the gaming headset described herein cannot be applied to a PC-based spatial / virtualized environment, manipulation of the PC Suite is still required for control. Settings and functions existing on both the native suite and the proprietary application should be synchronized to achieve a harmonious user experience. The installation of the native suite is entirely optional and will not have a significant impact on the overall experience of the gamer.

[0036] In another aspect of the subject matter of the invention, a method for fully controlling headphones is provided.

[0037] Figure 2 An exemplary flowchart of a method for full control of headphones according to one or more embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention is shown. Figure 2As shown, in step S210, the headphones can be wirelessly connected to an audio source device, such as a PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or Macbook. In this step, the user can insert a USB wireless dongle into the audio source device. For example, the USB wireless dongle can operate at 2.4GHz.

[0038] In step S220, audio from an audio source device can be wirelessly transmitted to headphones for playback. In one or more embodiments, audio with game sound effects from a game running on a gaming device can be wirelessly transmitted to gaming headphones via a 2.4 GHz connection and played continuously.

[0039] Then, in step 230, the headset with the proprietary application installed can also connect to the application device via Bluetooth. Therefore, the application device can have two different connections that can be enabled simultaneously: a 2.4GHz wireless connection and a Bluetooth connection. The 2.4GHz wireless connection, due to its low latency and wider bandwidth, is used for gaming and media playback, while Bluetooth LE will be used to connect to the application device that can run iOS or Android applications.

[0040] Next, in step 240, audio will be played from the audio source device while simultaneously communicating with a proprietary application on the application device via Bluetooth LE connection. The user does not need to exit their application session and can control settings directly through the application device. Because there is no need to connect to proprietary PC software, the user can control their headset settings via the application device.

[0041] Then, in step 250, the user can open the proprietary application from the application device (such as on their mobile device) and control all the functions of the headset, while the audio still runs via the 2.4GHz USB wireless dongle and is not interrupted by the Bluetooth connection on the application device.

[0042] For PC users, the additional load from running applications is likely their biggest concern, but this system completely eliminates that problem. The USB wireless dongle used in this article has no impact on the CPU power of gaming devices. The USB wireless dongle connects to a PC (Windows system), and a proprietary software application can be installed on the device to control the headset. This proprietary software application consumes only a small amount of CPU power when activated in Windows. In the subject matter of this invention, processing power can be moved from a PC to a mobile device, eliminating the need for users to install proprietary software applications on their PCs. This does not apply to gaming devices that connect to the USB wireless dongle on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or macOS devices, as these devices do not have proprietary software installed.

[0043] On the other hand, for non-PC users, all settings (such as audio source devices and settings on application devices) are fully accessible, and firmware updates can be performed easily.

[0044] The system and corresponding method described in this invention allow users to connect to different audio sources while controlling their settings without interrupting audio playback. For users who require their PCs to perform at their peak, the system and corresponding method minimize CPU load by shifting control of settings from the PC to the application device. Users without a Windows PC or console gamers can control their headsets directly on their application device. There is no need to purchase a Windows PC or return to a Windows PC to adjust settings.

[0045] In another aspect of the subject matter of the invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided for storing instructions that can be processed by one or more processors to implement a method for full control of headphones.

[0046] The system and corresponding method described in this invention allow users to connect to different audio sources while controlling their settings without interrupting audio playback. For users who require their PCs to perform at their peak, the system and corresponding method minimize CPU load by shifting control of settings from the PC to the application device. Users without a Windows PC or console gamers can control their headsets directly on their application device. There is no need to purchase a Windows PC or return to a Windows PC to adjust settings.

[0047] The subject matter of this invention includes, but is not limited to, the terms set forth below.

[0048] Clause 1: A system for complete control of headphones, comprising:

[0049] Audio source devices are used to process media and output audio.

[0050] Headphones, for receiving and playing audio from the audio source device; and

[0051] An application device, wherein the application device has a proprietary application installed for controlling the settings of the headset.

[0052] The earphones can be wirelessly connected to the audio source device to transmit audio, and can also be connected to the application device via Bluetooth for control via the proprietary application installed on the application device.

[0053] Clause 2: The system according to Clause 1, wherein the audio source device is configured with a USB output for the audio.

[0054] Clause 3: A system according to any one of Clauses 1 to 2, wherein a USB wireless dongle is connected to the audio source device for transmitting audio, wherein the USB wireless dongle is operable at 2.4 Hz.

[0055] Clause 4: In any one of Clauses 1 to 3, the audio source device may be at least one of a PC, a MacOS device, a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, or a tablet computer.

[0056] Clause 5: In any one of Clauses 1 to 4, the application device can be connected to the headset via Bluetooth LE to control the headset.

[0057] Clause 6: In any one of Clauses 1 to 5, the headset further includes a user interface for a user to enable / disable the headset.

[0058] Clause 7: In any one of Clauses 1 to 6, the user interface may include at least one button for changing the Bluetooth connection and muting / unmuteing the microphone.

[0059] Clause 8: A system pursuant to any one of Clauses 1 to 7, wherein a PC suite may exist on the gaming device and may synchronize functionality existing on both the PC suite and the proprietary application.

[0060] Clause 9: A method for complete control of headphones, comprising the following steps:

[0061] Run media and output audio on the audio source device;

[0062] The headphones receive and play the audio transmitted from the source device; and the settings of the headphones are controlled via a proprietary application on the device with the application installed.

[0063] The earphones can be wirelessly connected to the audio source device to transmit audio, and can also be connected to the application device via Bluetooth for control via the proprietary application installed on the application device.

[0064] Clause 10: The method according to Clause 9, wherein the audio source device is configured with a USB output for the audio.

[0065] Clause 11: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 10, wherein a USB wireless dongle is connected to the audio source device for transmitting audio, wherein the USB wireless dongle is operable at 2.4 GHz.

[0066] Clause 12: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 11, wherein the audio source device may be at least one of a PC, a MacOS device, a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, or a tablet computer.

[0067] Clause 13: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 12, wherein the application device can be connected to the headset via Bluetooth connection to control the headset.

[0068] Clause 14: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 13, wherein the headset further includes a user interface for a user to enable / disable the headset.

[0069] Clause 15: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 14, wherein the user interface may include at least one button for changing the mute / unmute of the Bluetooth LE and the microphone.

[0070] Clause 16: The method according to any one of Clauses 9 to 15, wherein the PC suite may exist on the gaming device and the functionality existing on both the PC suite and the proprietary application may be synchronized.

[0071] Clause 17: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that can be processed by one or more processors to perform the steps described in Clauses 9 to 16.

[0072] As used in this application, elements or steps described in the singular and beginning with the word "a (type)" should be understood to not exclude a plurality of the stated elements or steps, unless such exclusion is stated. Furthermore, references to "an embodiment" or "an example" in this disclosure are not intended to exclude the existence of additional embodiments that also include the listed features. The terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a specific order on their objects.

[0073] While exemplary embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to describe all possible forms of this disclosure. Rather, the language used herein is descriptive and not limiting, and it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the subject matter of this invention.

Claims

1. A system for complete control of headphones, comprising: Audio source devices are used to process media and output audio. Headphones, used to receive and play audio from the audio source device; as well as An application device, wherein the application device has a proprietary application installed for controlling the settings of the headset. The earphones can be wirelessly connected to the audio source device to transmit audio, and can also be connected to the application device via Bluetooth for control via the proprietary application installed on the application device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio source device is configured with a USB output for the audio.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the USB wireless dongle is connected to the audio source device for transmitting the audio, wherein the USB wireless dongle is capable of operating at 2.4 Hz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio source device can be at least one of a PC, a MacOS device, a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, or a tablet computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the application device is capable of connecting to the headset via Bluetooth LE to control the headset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the headset further includes a user interface for a user to enable / disable the headset.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is capable of including at least one button for changing the Bluetooth connection and muting / unmuteing the microphone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the PC suite can exist on the gaming device and can synchronize the functions existing on both the PC suite and the proprietary application.

9. A method for fully controlling headphones, comprising the following steps: Run media and output audio on the audio source device; The headphones receive and play the audio transmitted from the source device. as well as The settings of the headphones can be controlled via a proprietary application installed on the device. The earphones can be wirelessly connected to the audio source device to transmit audio, and can also be connected to the application device via Bluetooth for control via the proprietary application installed on the application device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio source device is configured with a USB output for the audio.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the USB wireless dongle is connected to the audio source device for transmitting the audio, wherein the USB wireless dongle is capable of operating at 2.4 GHz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio source device can be at least one of a PC, a MacOS device, a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, or a tablet computer.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the application device is capable of connecting to the headset via Bluetooth LE to control the headset.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the headset further includes a user interface for a user to enable / disable the headset.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface is capable of including at least one button for changing the Bluetooth connection and muting / unmuteing the microphone.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the PC suite can exist on the gaming device and can synchronize the functions existing on both the PC suite and the proprietary application.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that can be processed by one or more processors to implement the steps of claims 9 to 16.

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