Wireless Headphones Setup System and How to Setup Wireless Headphones

Abstract

To improve user-friendliness of a wireless headphone by allowing for setting a name or a terminal type of a communication device to which the wireless headphone is wireless-connected, so that it is easy for a user to understand its name or terminal type when audibly outputted.SOLUTION: A wireless headphone can register data indicating a correspondence relation between radio terminal information of a radio terminal to which the wireless headphone is wireless-connected and voice data allowing the radio terminal to be specified. The radio terminal uses identification information of the voice data to set voice data which is to be audibly outputted by the wireless headphone at the time of wireless connection to the wireless headphone, and sends identification information for identifying the set voice data to the wireless headphone. On the basis of the identification information sent from the radio terminal, the wireless headphone registers the correspondence relation between the radio terminal information of the radio terminal and the voice data which can be identified by the identification information, in a memory.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for setting up wireless headphones. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless audio output device that stores a list of two or more paired wireless audio sources in a memory. The list includes at least information about each wireless audio source (e.g., a name), a first wireless audio source, and a last wireless audio source. The wireless audio output device connects to the first and second wireless audio sources from the list, and upon receiving a command from a user, uses a speech synthesis engine to generate an audio signal corresponding to the name of the selected wireless audio source in the list and outputs the audio signal from a speaker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,747,071 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 9,967,649 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2012 / 053289 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, if the names of multiple wireless audio sources (e.g., communication devices; the same applies below) are registered in the list, audio signals of the names of the registered wireless audio sources are output one after another each time an instruction from the user is received, which poses a problem of inconvenient usability as the user is unable to select the audio signal they want to check.

[0005] Furthermore, if the name of the wireless audio source to which the wireless audio output device of Patent Document 1 is trying to connect is an easy-to-understand name such as a proper noun, the user will be able to easily understand it when an audio signal of that name is output from the speaker. However, if an audio output of a model name (e.g., an alphabetical product number or device management number) that the user cannot distinguish is output as the name of the wireless audio source, the user will be unable to understand it even if they hear it, making it difficult for the user to confirm. Furthermore, the configuration of Patent Document 1 does not anticipate the user customizing the name of the audio source (e.g., a communication device). If audio signals in all languages ​​in the world were to be prepared and stored in memory in advance, this would strain the memory capacity of the wireless audio output device, resulting in poor usability.

[0006] The present disclosure has been devised in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a wireless headphone setting system and a wireless headphone setting method that enable a user to set a name or terminal type of a communication device with which the wireless headphone is wirelessly connected in a manner that is easy for the user to understand when the name or terminal type is output as voice. This improves usability for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure provides a wireless communication system including at least one wireless headphone having a speaker and capable of being worn on a wearer's ear, and a wireless terminal carried by the wearer and capable of wirelessly connecting to the wireless headphone, the wireless headphone having a memory, a registration device capable of wirelessly connecting to the wireless headphones, the registration device including the wireless terminal; Wireless terminal information and the registered device Identifiable voice data Identification information and data indicating a correspondence relationship between the the wireless headphones transmit wireless terminal information of the registered devices and identification information of the audio data for each registered device to the wireless terminal; The wireless terminal uses the identification information of the voice data to The registered deviceThe audio data to be output from the wireless headphones when wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones is set based on an operation by the wearer, and the set audio data is The aforementioned A setting system for wireless headphones is provided, which sends identification information for identifying audio data to the wireless headphones, and the wireless headphones register data in the memory indicating the correspondence between the wireless terminal information of the wireless terminal and the audio data that can be identified by the identification information, based on the identification information sent from the wireless terminal.

[0008] The present disclosure also provides a setting method for at least one wireless headphone having a speaker, capable of being worn on a wearer's ear, and capable of wirelessly connecting to a wireless terminal carried by the wearer, the setting method comprising: sending, to the wireless terminal, wireless terminal information of registered devices that can be wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones, including the wireless terminal, and identification information of audio data for each registered device that can identify the registered device; and The wireless headphones Registered Devices When wirelessly connected between the Recording a step of setting voice data based on an operation by the wearer; The aforementioned transmitting identification information for identifying audio data to the wireless headphones; and Registered Devices The wireless terminal information and its identification information can be used to identify the The aforementioned Data showing the correspondence with audio data The wireless headphones include and registering the setting in a memory. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, when wireless headphones output the name or terminal type of a communication device with which they are wirelessly connected, the name or terminal type can be set in a way that is easy for the user to understand, thereby improving usability for the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a smartphone according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the wireless earphone according to the first embodiment is stored in a charging case. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an external view of the wireless earphone according to the first embodiment, seen from the front side, showing an operation input unit; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an external view of the wireless earphone according to the first embodiment, seen from the rear side in which the operation input unit is not visible. [Figure 6] 1 is an operational transition diagram showing a first use case example illustrating a transition to pairing mode; [Figure 7] 10 is an operational transition diagram showing a second use case example illustrating a transition to pairing mode. [Figure 8] 10 is an operational transition diagram showing a third use case example illustrating a transition to pairing mode. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of a wireless earphone according to a first embodiment; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a connection output audio table; [Figure 12] Figure showing the transition from the connected device list screen to the connected output audio list screen [Figure 13] A diagram showing an example of a registered device-connection audio output correspondence table. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure for setting audio data to be output at the time of connection in the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure when a wireless earphone according to a second embodiment is actually connected wirelessly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Background to the first embodiment) In Patent Document 2, if the user's input is the opening and closing of the lid, and if the opening and closing of the lid initiates a pairing sequence between the wireless headphones and the electronic device, for example, if the opening and closing of the lid unintentionally by the user is detected, the pairing sequence will be initiated between the wireless headphones and the electronic device (e.g., a smartphone). Alternatively, if the user's input is the pressing of an input button on the housing of the case, a separate input button for initiating the pairing sequence must be provided on the case, posing a problem of unavoidable increase in material costs for the case. In either case, with the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is difficult for the user to start the pairing sequence between the wireless headphones and the electronic device to be connected at the desired timing while suppressing increases in material costs.

[0012] Therefore, in the following first embodiment, an example of wireless headphones and a method for controlling the wireless headphones will be described, which support the user in starting a pairing sequence with an electronic device to be connected at a time required by the user while suppressing increases in material costs.

[0013] On the other hand, the configuration of Patent Document 3 has a problem in that control of the mobile device corresponding to an operation set as valid cannot be executed unless the earphones are worn, and therefore processing on the mobile device cannot be executed unless the earphones are worn. For this reason, it is necessary to assign one operation to each mobile device operation function that can only be operated while the earphones are worn, and it is difficult to assign many operation functions, or assigning many operation functions requires the user to perform complex operations, which does not improve convenience.

[0014] Therefore, in the following first embodiment, an example of headphones and a method for controlling headphones will be described, in which different operational functions are executed depending on the wearing state of the headphones by the user even with the same operation, thereby improving user convenience.

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, embodiments specifically disclosing wireless headphones and a method for controlling wireless headphones according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or redundant descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims.

[0016] (Embodiment 1) The wireless communication system according to the first embodiment provides wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark)) conforming to, for example, TWS (True Wireless Stereo) between a pair of wireless headphones that can be inserted into the left and right ears of a user (an example of a wearer) and a wireless terminal (e.g., a smartphone) carried by the user. Hereinafter, there is no technical distinction between the terms headphones and earphones, and wireless earphones will be exemplified as an example of wireless headphones according to the present disclosure. Note that the wireless communication method is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) and may be, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0017] The system configuration of a wireless communication system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the wireless communication system 100 according to the first embodiment. The wireless communication system 100 includes at least a pair of wireless earphones 10L and 10R and a smartphone 50. The wireless communication system 100 may further include a charging case 30.

[0018] Each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R is an inner-type acoustic device that is worn in the user's ear and includes earpieces EPL, EPR (see FIG. 3) attached to the main body of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R, respectively. Each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R is configured as a pair, one on each side, and worn on the user's left and right ears, respectively. For example, each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R is held in a state where it is inserted into the ear canal of the user's ear by the earpieces EPL, EPR, respectively, and this held state is the wireless earphones 10L, 10R in use.

[0019] In a pair of wireless earphones 10L and 10R, the wireless earphone 10L that can be inserted into a user's left ear and the wireless earphone 10R that can be inserted into a user's right ear have the same internal configuration. Therefore, in FIG. 1 , the same internal components of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R are designated with the same reference numerals. In principle, the reference numerals are suffixed with "L" for the internal components of the wireless earphone 10L and "R" for the internal components of the wireless earphone 10R to distinguish between the left and right components. However, the "L" and "R" reference numerals do not apply to some internal components. For example, LEDs, RAM, and ROM are designated with consecutive reference numerals. In the following description, only one of the wireless earphones, e.g., the left wireless earphone 10L, will be described, and the description of the other wireless earphone, e.g., the right wireless earphone 10R, will be simplified or omitted.

[0020] The wireless earphone 10L has a housing with a detachable earpiece EPL at one end where the speaker SPKL is located (see FIG. 4 or 5). The wireless earphone 10L has an earphone control unit 11L, an operation input unit 12L, an LED (Light Emission Diode) 131, a wearing sensor 14L, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 151, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 161, an audio input / output control unit 17L, a charging case storage detection unit 18L, a wireless communication unit 19L, a power monitoring unit 20L having a battery BTL, a charging case communication unit 21L, a speech microphone MCL1, an FF (Feed Forward) microphone MCL2, an FB (Feed Back) microphone MCL3, and the speaker SPKL.

[0021] The wireless earphone 10R has a housing with a detachable earpiece EPR at one end where a speaker SPKR is located. The wireless earphone 10R has an earphone control unit 11R, an operation input unit 12R, an LED 132, a wearing sensor 14R, a RAM 152, a ROM 162, an audio input / output control unit 17R, a charging case storage detection unit 18R, a wireless communication unit 19R, a power monitoring unit 20R with a battery BTR, a charging case communication unit 21R, a speech microphone MCR1, a forward-facing microphone MCR2, a forward-facing microphone MCR3, and the speaker SPKR.

[0022] Next, the individual internal configurations of the wireless earphone 10L will be described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an external view of the wireless earphone 10L according to embodiment 1 as seen from the front side, where the operation input unit 12L is visible. Fig. 5 is an external view of the wireless earphone 10L according to embodiment 1 as seen from the back side, where the operation input unit 12L is not visible.

[0023] The earphone control unit 11L is configured using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The earphone control unit 11L functions as a controller that manages the overall operation of the wireless earphone 10L, and performs control processing to manage the operation of each unit of the wireless earphone 10L, data input / output processing between each unit of the wireless earphone 10L, data calculation processing, and data storage processing. The earphone control unit 11L operates according to programs and data stored in the ROM 161, and uses the RAM 151 during operation to temporarily store data or information created or acquired by the earphone control unit 11L in the RAM 151 or send it to the wireless communication unit 19L or the charging case communication unit 21L.

[0024] The operation input unit 12L (an example of an input detection unit) is configured with a device that detects a user's input operation, and is configured using, for example, a touch sensor that detects a user's input operation. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, the operation input unit 12L has an operation surface OPL on which a user performs an input operation, and generates a signal in response to the detection of an input operation performed on this operation surface OPL and sends the signal to the earphone control unit 11L. Examples of the user's input operation include, but are not limited to, a single press on the operation surface OPL, a double press on the operation surface OPL (e.g., a double consecutive press in less than one second), a triple press on the operation surface OPL (e.g., a triple consecutive press in less than 1.5 seconds), a long press in which the operation surface OPL is continuously pressed for a predetermined time (e.g., five seconds) or more, or a flick operation on the operation surface OPL. Furthermore, the time period for a double consecutive press operation does not have to be limited to less than one second, and similarly, the time period for a triple consecutive press operation does not have to be limited to less than 1.5 seconds.

[0025] The LED 131 (an example of a light-emitting element) has one or more LED elements and, in response to a control signal from the earphone control unit 11L during a pairing mode (described later), lights up, flashes, or combines lighting and flashing in accordance with a pattern corresponding to the control signal. The LED 131 is located at one end of the housing of the wireless earphone 10L, corresponding to the circumferential edge (e.g., the upper end of the operation surface OPL along the +X direction) of the operation input unit 12L that is provided so as to be exposed on the housing of the wireless earphone 10L (see FIG. 4). By locating the LED 131 in this position, when the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30 (see FIG. 3), the lighting or flashing of the LED 131 becomes clearly recognizable to the user directly or indirectly by reflection, for example, from the wall surface of the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30. Note that the LED 131 may be omitted from the configuration of the wireless earphone 10L. Furthermore, the LED 131 does not have to be limited to being arranged at a position on one end of the housing of the wireless earphone 10L (for example, a position exposed and visible to the user when the lid 34 of the charging case 30 is open) that corresponds to an end on the circumference of the operation surface OPL (for example, an upper end of the operation surface OPL along the +X direction), but may be arranged at a position other than the one end of the housing of the wireless earphone 10L (for example, a position not exposed and visible to the user when the lid 34 of the charging case 30 is open) where light from the LED 131 can be reflected by an inner wall (not shown) of the earphone storage space SPL. This allows the user to easily recognize the lighting or flashing pattern of the LED 131 by directly lighting up or flashing or indirectly reflecting light from the LED 131, regardless of whether the LED 131 is visible to the user when the lid 34 of the charging case 30 is open (that is, whether it is exposed or not).

[0026] The LED 132 (an example of a light-emitting element) has one or more LED elements and, in response to a control signal from the earphone control unit 11R during a pairing mode (described later), lights up, flashes, or combines lighting and flashing in accordance with a pattern corresponding to the control signal. Like the LED 131, the LED 132 is disposed at a position on one end of the housing of the wireless earphone 10R that corresponds to the circumferential edge (e.g., the upper end of the operation surface OPL along the +X direction) of the operation input unit 12R that is provided so as to be exposed on the housing of the wireless earphone 10R. By disposing the LED 132 in this position, when the wireless earphone 10R is stored in the charging case 30 (see FIG. 3 ), the lighting or flashing of the LED 132 becomes clearly recognizable to the user directly or indirectly by reflections from the wall surfaces of the earphone storage space SPR of the charging case 30. The LED 132 may be omitted from the configuration of the wireless earphone 10R.

[0027] The wearing sensor 14L is configured with a device that detects whether the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's ear (left ear in the case of the wearing sensor 14L), and is configured using, for example, an infrared sensor or an electrostatic sensor. In the case of an infrared sensor, if the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's left ear, the wearing sensor 14L can detect that the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's left ear by receiving infrared rays that are irradiated from the wearing sensor 14L and reflected inside the left ear. Furthermore, if the wireless earphone 10L is not worn on the user's left ear, the wearing sensor 14L can detect that the wireless earphone 10L is not worn on the user's left ear by not receiving the infrared rays that are irradiated from the wearing sensor 14L. On the other hand, in the case of an electrostatic sensor, if the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's left ear, the wearing sensor 14L can detect that the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's left ear by determining that a change in capacitance corresponding to the distance to the inside of the user's left ear is greater than a threshold value held by the wearing sensor 14L. Furthermore, when the wireless earphone 10L is not being worn on the user's left ear, the wearing sensor 14L can detect that the wireless earphone 10L is not being worn on the user's left ear by determining that the change in capacitance value is smaller than a threshold value held by the wearing sensor 14L. The wearing sensor 14L is provided at a position facing the ear canal when the wireless earphone 10L is inserted in the user's left ear and on the back side of the operation surface OPL (see FIG. 5).

[0028] The RAM 151 is a work memory used when executing each process (operation) of the earphone control unit 11L, and temporarily stores data or information generated or acquired by the earphone control unit 11L.

[0029] The RAM 152 is a work memory used when executing each process (operation) of the earphone control unit 11R, and temporarily stores data or information generated or acquired by the earphone control unit 11R.

[0030] The ROM 161 stores programs that define the processes (operations) of the earphone control unit 11L, and data when the programs are executed.

[0031] The ROM 162 stores programs that define the processes (operations) of the earphone control unit 11R, and data when the programs are executed.

[0032] The audio input / output control unit 17L is connected to the speech microphone MCL1, the flip-flop microphone MCL2, the flip-flop microphone MCL3, and the speaker SPKL so as to enable input and output of data signals (e.g., audio signals), and is configured using a communication circuit capable of executing various processes (operations) related to the input and output of audio signals. The audio input / output control unit 17L converts digital audio signals sent from the earphone control unit 11L into analog format and outputs them from the speaker SPKL. The audio input / output control unit 17L also receives analog audio signals (including audio signals; the same applies below) picked up by the speech microphone MCL1, the flip-flop microphone MCL2, and the flip-flop microphone MCL3, converts them into digital audio signals, and sends them to the earphone control unit 11L.

[0033] 4 and 5 illustrate the wireless earphone 10L of the pair of wireless earphones 10L, 10R as an example, but the explanations of Fig. 4 and 5 are similarly applicable to the wireless earphone 10R. In the explanations of Fig. 4 and 5, three-dimensional coordinates (XYZ coordinates) are provided for convenience, with an XY plane being provided so as to be parallel to the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L in Fig. 4, and a Z axis being provided perpendicular to the XY plane.

[0034] The speech microphone MCL1 is configured with a microphone device that can pick up sound generated based on the user's speech (i.e., detect audio signals). The speech microphone MCL1 picks up sound generated based on the user's speech, converts it into an electrical signal, and sends it to the audio input / output control unit 17L. The speech microphone MCL1 is positioned below the operation surface OPL (i.e., in the -X direction) so that the extension direction of the wireless earphone 10L faces the user's mouth when the wireless earphone 10L is inserted into the user's left ear (see FIG. 4). The speech microphone MCL1 picks up sound generated by the user and converts it into an electrical signal, and the presence or absence of the user's speech can be detected by the speech microphone MCL1 based on the magnitude of this electrical signal.

[0035] The FF microphone MCL2 is configured by a microphone device that can collect (detect) ambient sound outside the wireless earphone 10L as a sound signal. The FF microphone MCL2 converts the ambient sound into an electrical signal (sound signal) and sends it to the audio input / output control unit 17L. When the wireless earphone 10L is inserted into the user's left ear, the FF microphone MCL2 is located farther from the user's mouth than the speech microphone MCL1, and is disposed near the LED 131 and above the operation surface OPL (i.e., in the +X direction) (see FIG. 4).

[0036] The FB microphone MCL3 is positioned as close as possible to the ear canal of the user's left ear and is composed of a microphone device capable of picking up (detecting) sounds near the ear canal. The FB microphone MCL3 converts a portion of the sound near the ear canal (e.g., sound output from the speaker SPKL) that has leaked into the ear canal into an electrical signal (sound signal) and sends it to the audio input / output control unit 17L. The FB microphone MCL3 is positioned so that it faces the ear canal when the wireless earphone 10L is inserted into the user's left ear (see Figure 5).

[0037] The speaker SPKL acoustically outputs a sound signal sent from the audio input / output control unit 17L based on an instruction from the earphone control unit 11L. The speaker SPKL acoustically outputs a predetermined audio signal, for example, a recorded audio message indicating that the wireless earphone 10L will enter pairing mode (see below). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, an earpiece EPL is provided to surround the speaker SPKL.

[0038] The charging case storage detection unit 18L is configured by a device that detects whether the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30 (specifically, in the earphone storage space SPL provided in the charging case 30), and is configured using, for example, a magnetic sensor. The charging case storage detection unit 18L detects that the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30, for example, by determining that the detected magnetic force is greater than a threshold value of the wireless earphone 10L. On the other hand, the charging case storage detection unit 18L detects that the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is not stored in the charging case 30 by determining that the detected magnetic force is less than the threshold value of the wireless earphone 10L. The charging case storage detection unit 18L sends the detection result of whether the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30 to the earphone control unit 11L. Note that the charging case storage detection unit 18L may be configured using a sensor device other than a magnetic sensor (for example, an infrared sensor).

[0039] The wireless communication unit 19L has an antenna ATL and is configured using a communication circuit that performs wireless communication with the smartphone 50. The wireless communication unit 19L receives data signals transmitted from the smartphone 50 or the wireless earphone 10R via the antenna ATL, and transmits data signals sent from the earphone control unit 11L to the smartphone 50 or the wireless earphone 10R via the antenna ATL.

[0040] The power monitoring unit 20L has a battery BTL and is configured using a circuit for monitoring the remaining power of the battery BTL. While the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30 (specifically, in the earphone storage space SPL provided in the charging case 30), the power monitoring unit 20L can receive power for charging the battery BTL transmitted from the charging case 30, monitors the remaining power of the battery BTL based on the received power, and sends the monitoring result to the earphone control unit 11L.

[0041] The charging case communication unit 21L is configured using a communication circuit that communicates data signals with the charging case 30 while the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored inside the charging case 30 (specifically, inside the earphone storage space SPL provided in the charging case 30). The charging case communication unit 21L communicates (transmits and receives) data signals with the charging case control unit 31 of the charging case 30 while the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored inside the charging case 30 (specifically, inside the earphone storage space SPL provided in the charging case 30).

[0042] The charging case 30 has a main body housing part BD having earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR capable of storing the wireless earphones 10L, 10R, respectively, and a lid 34 that can be opened and closed relative to the main body housing part BD via a hinge or the like (see FIG. 3 ). The charging case 30 has a charging case control part 31, a charging case LED 32, a lid sensor 33, the lid 34, a charging case power monitoring part 35 having a battery BT1, and magnets MGL, MGR.

[0043] Next, the individual internal configurations of charging case 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of how the wireless earphone according to embodiment 1 is stored in the charging case.

[0044] The charging case control unit 31 is configured using a processor such as a CPU, MPU, or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The charging case control unit 31 functions as a controller that manages the overall operation of the charging case 30, and performs control processing to oversee the operation of each unit of the charging case 30, data input / output processing between each unit of the charging case 30, data calculation processing, and data storage processing. The charging case control unit 31 operates according to programs and data stored in a ROM (not shown) that the charging case 30 has, and during operation uses a RAM (not shown) that the charging case 30 has, temporarily storing data or information created or acquired by the charging case control unit 31 in the RAM (not shown) or sending it to each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R.

[0045] The charging case LED 32 has at least one LED element and, in response to a control signal from the charging case control unit 31, lights up, flashes, or combines lighting and flashing according to a pattern corresponding to the control signal. The charging case LED 32 lights up in a predetermined color (e.g., green) while, for example, both the wireless earphones 10L and 10R are stored and charging. As shown in FIG. 3 , the charging case LED 32 is located, for example, in the center of the bottom surface of a recessed step portion DS provided on one end side of the upper center of the main body housing portion BD of the charging case 30. By being located in this position, the user can intuitively and clearly see that both the wireless earphones 10L and 10R are being charged in the charging case 30.

[0046] The lid sensor 33 is configured with a device capable of detecting whether the lid 34 is open or closed relative to the main body housing BD of the charging case 30, and is configured, for example, using a pressure sensor that can detect whether the lid 34 is open or closed based on the pressure when the lid 34 is closed. Note that the lid sensor 33 is not limited to the pressure sensor described above, and may be configured with a magnetic sensor that can detect whether the lid 34 is open or closed based on the magnetic force when the lid 34 is closed. When the lid sensor 33 detects that the lid 34 is closed (i.e., not open) or not closed (i.e., open), it sends a signal indicating the detection result to the charging case control unit 31.

[0047] The lid 34 is provided to prevent exposure of the main body housing portion BD of the charging case 30 capable of storing the wireless earphones 10L and 10R.

[0048] The charging case power monitoring unit 35 has a battery BT1 and is configured using a circuit for monitoring the remaining power of the battery BT1. The charging case power monitoring unit 35 charges the battery BT1 in the charging case 30 by receiving power from the external power source EXPW, periodically or constantly monitors the remaining power of the battery BT1, and sends the monitoring results to the charging case control unit 31.

[0049] The magnet MGL is provided to determine whether the housing of the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30, and is disposed near the earphone storage space SPL.

[0050] The magnet MGR is provided to determine whether the housing of the wireless earphone 10R is stored in the earphone storage space SPR of the charging case 30, and is disposed near the earphone storage space SPR.

[0051] The earphone storage space SPL is configured to have a space within the main body housing portion BD of the charging case 30 that can store the housing of the wireless earphone 10L.

[0052] The earphone storage space SPR is configured to have a space within the main body housing portion BD of the charging case 30 that can store the housing of the wireless earphone 10R.

[0053] The smartphone 50 transmits and receives data signals to and from each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication method (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark)). The smartphone 50 is carried (possessed) by a user who wears the wireless earphones 10L, 10R. The smartphone 50 is an example of a wireless terminal that performs wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) with each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R, and may be a mobile phone or any wireless terminal without a telephone function.

[0054] Next, the internal configuration of the smartphone 50 that wirelessly communicates with each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the smartphone according to the first embodiment.

[0055] The smartphone 50 includes a control unit 51, a display / operation unit 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, an audio input / output control unit 55, a microphone MC1, a speaker SPK1, a short-range wireless control unit 56, an earphone communication I / F unit 57, a wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58, an audio bus 59, a public line protocol control unit 60, a public line communication I / F unit 61, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication I / F unit 62, and a battery BT2. Note that in FIG. 2, interfaces are abbreviated as "IF."

[0056] The control unit 51 is configured using, for example, a CPU, a DSP, or an FPGA. The control unit 51 functionally includes a smartphone OS (Operating System) processing unit 51A and a smartphone application processing unit 51B, and performs various processes and controls through cooperation between the smartphone OS processing unit 51A and the smartphone application processing unit 51B and between the ROM 53 and the RAM 54, respectively.

[0057] The smartphone OS processing unit 51A executes processing and control related to basic operations related to various processes performed by the smartphone 50.

[0058] The smartphone application processing unit 51B executes processing of various applications including applications suitable for the smartphone 50 that can be executed between the wireless earphones 10L and 10R.

[0059] The display / operation unit 52 is configured using a touch panel that receives input operations from the user and displays data generated by the control unit 51, and forms a so-called user interface. For example, when each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R transitions to pairing mode, the display / operation unit 52 may display a pop-up message indicating that the wireless earphones have transitioned to pairing mode under the control of the control unit 51, based on a notification from each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R.

[0060] The ROM 53 stores programs that define the processes (operations) of the control unit 51, and data when the programs are executed.

[0061] The RAM 54 is a work memory used when the control unit 51 executes each process (operation), and temporarily stores data generated or acquired by the control unit 51.

[0062] The audio input / output control unit 55 is connected to the microphone MC1 and the speaker SPK1 so as to enable input and output of data signals (e.g., audio signals), and is configured using a communication circuit capable of executing various processes (operations) related to the input and output of audio signals. The audio input / output control unit 55 converts digital audio signals sent from the control unit 51 via the audio bus 59 into analog format and outputs them from the speaker SPK1. The audio input / output control unit 55 also receives analog sound signals (including audio signals) picked up by the microphone MC1, converts them into digital sound signals, and sends them to the control unit 51.

[0063] The microphone MC1 is configured by a microphone device that can pick up sound generated based on the user's speech (i.e., detect a sound signal). The microphone MC1 converts the picked up sound into an electrical signal and sends it to the audio input / output control unit 55.

[0064] Based on instructions from the control unit 51, the speaker SPK1 acoustically outputs a sound signal sent from the control unit 51 and the audio input / output control unit 55 via the audio bus 59. The speaker SPK1 acoustically outputs, for example, a music signal being played by the smartphone application processing unit 51B when the music signal is not being output from each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R.

[0065] Short-range wireless control unit 56 is configured using a circuit capable of executing control for wirelessly communicating an input sound signal such as an audio signal, and is connected to earphone communication I / F unit 57 and wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58 so as to be able to input and output data signals therebetween. Short-range wireless control unit 56 inputs a sound signal sent from at least one of earphone communication I / F unit 57 and wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58, and sends it to control unit 51 via audio bus 59. Short-range wireless control unit 56 sends the sound signal such as an input sound signal via audio bus 59 to at least one of earphone communication I / F unit 57 and wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58.

[0066] The earphone communication I / F unit 57 has an antenna AT1 and is configured using a communication circuit that performs wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark)) with each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R. The earphone communication I / F unit 57 receives data signals transmitted from each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R via the antenna AT1, and transmits data signals sent from the short-range wireless control unit 56 to each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R via the antenna AT1.

[0067] The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58 has an antenna AT2 and is configured using a communication circuit that can connect to the Internet via a wireless LAN router (not shown). The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58 may also perform wireless communication (e.g., wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) with each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R via the above-mentioned wireless LAN router (not shown). The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 58 receives data signals transmitted from each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R via the antenna AT2, and transmits data signals transmitted from the short-range wireless control unit 56 to each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R via the antenna AT2.

[0068] The audio bus 59 is a data transmission path for audio signals such as voice signals, and transmits audio signals between the control unit 51 and the audio input / output control unit 55, between the control unit 51 and the short-range wireless control unit 56, and between the public line protocol control unit 60 and the control unit 51, the audio input / output control unit 55, or the short-range wireless control unit 56.

[0069] The public line protocol control unit 60 is configured using a circuit capable of executing control for wirelessly communicating an input sound signal such as a voice signal, and is connected to the public line communication I / F unit 61 so as to allow input and output of data signals. The public line protocol control unit 60 inputs the sound signal sent from the public line communication I / F unit 61 and sends it to the control unit 51 via the audio bus 59 or directly. The public line protocol control unit 60 sends the sound signal such as the voice signal input via the audio bus 59 to the public line communication I / F unit 61.

[0070] The public line communication I / F unit 61 has an antenna AT3 and is configured using a communication circuit that performs wireless communication (for example, wireless communication conforming to 4G (fourth generation mobile communication method) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 5G (fifth generation mobile communication method)) with another external terminal (not shown). The public line communication I / F unit 61 receives data signals transmitted from the other external terminal (not shown) via the antenna AT3, and transmits data signals sent from the public line protocol control unit 60 to the other external terminal (not shown) via the antenna AT3.

[0071] The USB communication I / F unit 62 is configured using a communication circuit that inputs and outputs data signals to and from an external device (not shown) that can be connected via a USB cable (not shown). The USB communication I / F unit 62 sends data signals to the above-mentioned external device (not shown), and receives data signals from the external device (not shown) and sends them to the control unit 51.

[0072] The battery BT2 is configured using a secondary battery that can store power supplied from an external commercial power source (not shown), and supplies the power required for each component of the smartphone 50.

[0073] Next, an example of an outline of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing operation performed between the wireless earphones 10L, 10R and the smartphone 50 in the wireless communication system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 6 is an operation transition diagram showing a first use case example illustrating a transition to the pairing mode. FIG. 7 is an operation transition diagram showing a second use case example illustrating a transition to the pairing mode. FIG. 8 is an operation transition diagram showing a third use case example illustrating a transition to the pairing mode.

[0074] In the first use case example of FIG. 6 , a state is assumed in which a user who owns a smartphone 50 has just purchased wireless earphones 10L and 10R to be wirelessly connected via Bluetooth (registered trademark). As shown in step St1 of FIG. 6 , one of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R (e.g., the wireless earphone 10R) has been removed from the charging case 30, and the other (e.g., the wireless earphone 10L) has been stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30. The wireless earphone 10R is assumed to be powered on. In the following description of FIG. 6 , for simplicity's sake, a use case in which a user operates the wireless earphone 10L to switch the wireless earphone 10L and 10R to pairing mode will be described as an example. However, the same applies to a case in which the wireless earphone 10L and the wireless earphone 10R are swapped and the user operates the wireless earphone 10R to switch the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to pairing mode.

[0075] When the user opens the lid 34 of the main body housing BD of the charging case 30, the charging case control unit 31 of the charging case 30 receives a signal from the lid sensor 33 indicating the detection result that the lid 34 has been opened and sends the signal to the wireless earphone 10L. The earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L turns on the power based on the signal input from the charging case 30 (St1). Note that the method for turning on the power of the wireless earphone 10L does not have to be limited to signal input from the charging case 30.

[0076] When the wireless earphone 10L is removed from the charging case 30 by the user, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L causes the LED 131 to emit light in a predetermined pattern (e.g., a pattern of alternating red and blue flashing) when a predetermined time has elapsed since the wireless earphone 10L was removed from the charging case 30, regardless of whether the wireless earphone 10L is inserted (worn) in the user's ear. The earphone control unit 11L then switches (transitions) the operation mode of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to a pairing mode for pairing with the smartphone 50 (i.e., wireless connection processing for Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless communication) (St2). Note that the predetermined pattern described above is not limited to a pattern of alternating red and blue flashing. For example, it may be a pattern of flashing only red or blue, as long as the user can recognize that the mode has changed to the pairing mode. This allows the wireless earphone 10L to easily switch to the pairing mode simply by the user removing the wireless earphone 10L from the charging case 30. Furthermore, the user can easily recognize that the device is in pairing mode by the light emitted by the LED 131.

[0077] Meanwhile, suppose that, from the state of step St1, the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L of the wireless earphone 10L stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30 (in other words, in a non-worn state where the earphone is not worn by the user) is pressed and held by the user's finger FG1 (for example, an operation in which the user's finger FG1 is in contact with the operation surface OPL for 5 seconds or more). In this case, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L detects the above-mentioned long press operation by the operation input unit 12L (St3).

[0078] Upon detecting a long press on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L by the user (an example of detecting a non-wearing state), the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L turns on short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth®) via the wireless communication unit 19L, and establishes and starts wireless communication via Bluetooth® with the wireless earphone 10R, which has already been removed from the charging case 30. Furthermore, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L causes the LED 131 to emit light in a predetermined pattern (e.g., a pattern in which red and blue alternately flash), and transitions (shifts) the operation mode of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to a pairing mode for pairing with the smartphone 50 (i.e., wireless connection processing for performing wireless communication via Bluetooth®) (St4). This allows the wireless earphone 10L to easily transition to the pairing mode by a simple long press on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L by the user, even when the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the charging case 30. Furthermore, the user can easily recognize that the device is in pairing mode by the light emitted by the LED 131.

[0079] 7 , it is assumed that, of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R that are already paired with a smartphone (not shown) different from the smartphone 50, the wireless earphone 10R is removed from the charging case 30, the wireless earphone 10L is stored inside the charging case 30, and the user of the smartphone 50 changes the pairing partner of the wireless earphone 10L to the smartphone 50. As with FIG. 6 , it is assumed that the wireless earphone 10R is powered on. In the following description of FIG. 7 , for simplicity's sake, a use case in which the user operates the wireless earphone 10L to transition the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to pairing mode will be described as an example. However, the same applies to a case in which the wireless earphone 10L and the wireless earphone 10R are swapped and the user operates the wireless earphone 10R to transition the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to pairing mode.

[0080] When the user opens the lid 34 of the main body housing BD of the charging case 30, the charging case control unit 31 of the charging case 30 receives a signal from the lid sensor 33 indicating the detection result that the lid 34 has been opened and sends the signal to the wireless earphone 10L. The earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L turns on the power based on the signal input from the charging case 30 (St1). Note that the method for turning on the power of the wireless earphone 10L does not have to be limited to signal input from the charging case 30.

[0081] Here, when the user removes the wireless earphone 10L from the charging case 30, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L detects an unworn state, in which the wireless earphone 10L is not inserted (worn) in the user's ear, using the wearing sensor 14L, and executes pairing again with the smartphone with which it was paired the previous time it was started (specifically, another smartphone different from the smartphone 50 (see above)) (St5). In the state of step St5, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L detects that it is unworn and that the user has performed a long press on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L of the wireless earphone 10L (St6). In this case, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L causes the LED 131 to emit light in a predetermined pattern (e.g., a pattern of alternating flashing red and blue) and performs pairing by switching the operation mode of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R as the pairing partner terminal from another smartphone (not shown, see above) with which they are currently paired to the smartphone 50 (St7). Note that the predetermined pattern described above is not limited to a pattern of alternating flashing red and blue, and may be, for example, a pattern of flashing only red or only blue, as long as the user can recognize that the pairing mode has begun. As a result, even if the wireless earphone 10L is currently paired with another smartphone (not shown, see above), the wireless earphone 10L can easily switch the pairing partner terminal to be paired with the smartphone 50 by detecting the user's removal of the wireless earphone 10L from the charging case 30 and a long press on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12 while the wireless earphone 10L is not being worn. Furthermore, the user can easily recognize that the device is in pairing mode by the light emitted by the LED 131. Note that the processing contents of steps St3 and St4 are the same in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, and therefore, to avoid duplication, the description of steps St3 and St4 in Fig. 7 will be omitted.

[0082] The third use case example in FIG. 8 assumes a situation in which a user who owns a smartphone 50 has just purchased the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to be wirelessly connected via Bluetooth (registered trademark), and this situation may or may not have occurred immediately after the purchase. As shown in step St11 in FIG. 8, the wireless earphones 10L and 10R are both stored in the earphone storage spaces SPL and SPR of the charging case 30. Because the user has opened the lid 34, the wireless earphones 10L and 10R are powered on based on a signal input from the charging case 30 (St11). In the following description of FIG. 8, for simplicity's sake, a use case in which the user operates the wireless earphone 10L to switch the wireless earphone 10L and 10R to pairing mode will be described as an example. However, the same applies to a case in which the wireless earphone 10L and the wireless earphone 10R are swapped and the user operates the wireless earphone 10R to switch the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to pairing mode.

[0083] Assume that the user removes the wireless earphone 10R from the charging case 30 (St12) and wears the wireless earphone 10R on his right ear (St13). Note that, although step St13 shows the user wearing the wireless earphone 10R on his right ear, wearing it is not essential; it is sufficient that the earphone 10R has been removed from the charging case 30. In other words, step St13 is an optional process and may be omitted.

[0084] Assume now that the user's finger FG1 performs a long press (e.g., a long press for about 5 to 15 seconds) on the operation surface OPL of the wireless earphone 10L stored in the charging case 30, and the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L detects the long press via the operation input unit 12L. Based on the detection of the long press, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L turns on short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth®) via the wireless communication unit 19L, and establishes and starts wireless communication via Bluetooth® with the wireless earphone 10R already attached to the user's right ear. Furthermore, the earphone control units 11L and 11R of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R transition the operating mode of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to a pairing mode for pairing with the smartphone 50 (St14). Furthermore, the earphone control unit 11R of the wireless earphone 10R already attached to the user's right ear outputs a sound indicating that pairing is in progress (e.g., "Pairing in progress") from the speaker SPKR to let the user know that the pairing mode has been entered. This allows the wireless earphone 10L to let the user know that pairing is currently in progress through a simple user operation, reducing user operation errors.

[0085] Next, an example of an operation procedure of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R according to the first embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 9 will be described assuming that a user operates one of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R (for example, the wireless earphone 10L). Note that in the description of Fig. 9, the wireless earphone 10L may be replaced with the wireless earphone 10R in a similar manner.

[0086] 9, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines whether or not the user has performed a touch operation on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L of the wireless earphone 10L (St21). The earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L repeats the process of step St21 until it is determined that the user has performed a touch operation on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L of the wireless earphone 10L (St21, NO).

[0087] When the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the user has performed a touch operation on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12L of the wireless earphone 10L (St21, YES), the earphone control unit 11L determines whether the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30 based on a signal from the charging case storage detection unit 18L (St22). When it is determined that the wireless earphone 10L is stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30 (St22, YES), the processing of the wireless earphone 10L proceeds to step St27.

[0088] On the other hand, if the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the wireless earphone 10L is not stored in the earphone storage space SPL of the charging case 30 (St22, NO), it determines whether the wireless earphone 10L is inserted (worn) in the user's left ear based on a signal from the wearing sensor 14L (St23). If it is determined that the wireless earphone 10L is not inserted (worn) in the user's left ear (St23, NO), the processing of the wireless earphone 10L proceeds to step St27.

[0089] On the other hand, when the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the wireless earphone 10L is inserted (worn) in the user's left ear (St23, YES), it determines the time until the user releases the touch operation on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12 of the wireless earphone 10L based on the signal from the operation input unit 12 (St24). When it determines that the time until the user releases the touch operation on the operation surface OPL is between 0.5 and 1 second (St24, 0.5 to 1 second), the processing of the wireless earphone 10L returns to step St21.

[0090] When the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the time from the user's touch operation on the operation surface OPL until the user releases the touch operation is less than 0.5 seconds (an example of a short touch operation) (St24, less than 0.5 seconds), it executes an operation function corresponding to the short touch operation when the wireless earphone 10L is worn (for example, pausing playback of content such as music or video currently being played, or canceling the pause) (St25). On the other hand, when the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the time from the user's touch operation on the operation surface OPL until the user releases the touch operation is more than 1 second (an example of a long touch operation) (St24, more than 1 second), it executes an operation function corresponding to the long touch operation when the wireless earphone 10L is worn (for example, changing the noise cancellation mode, activating the voice recognition function, or disconnecting an incoming call that occurred during a call) (St26). After steps St25 and St26, the processing of the wireless earphone 10L returns to step St21. In this way, even if the user performs the same operation (for example, a touch operation on the operation surface OPL) (St24), the wireless earphone 10L (including the wireless earphone 10R) can perform different operating functions depending on the length of time of the operation (St25, St26).

[0091] Furthermore, when the wireless earphone 10L is not being worn on the user's left ear (YES in St22 or NO in St23), the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines the time until the user releases the touch operation on the operation surface OPL of the operation input unit 12 of the wireless earphone 10L based on a signal from the operation input unit 12 (St27). If it is determined that the time until the user releases the touch operation on the operation surface OPL is less than 5 seconds (St27, less than 5 seconds), the processing of the wireless earphone 10L returns to step St21.

[0092] On the other hand, if it is determined that the time from the user's touch operation on the operation surface OPL until the user releases the touch is 5 seconds or more (St27, 5 seconds or more), the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L turns on short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark)) via the wireless communication unit 19L and establishes and starts wireless communication via Bluetooth (registered trademark) with the wireless earphone 10R, which has already been removed from the charging case 30 (St28). Furthermore, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L transitions (changes) the operation mode of both the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to a pairing mode for pairing with the smartphone 50 (St29). At this time, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L directly sends a transition instruction to the wireless earphone 10R to transition (change) to the pairing mode. The earphone control unit 11R of the wireless earphone 10R transitions (changes) the operation mode to the pairing mode based on the transition instruction from the wireless earphone 10L.

[0093] In response to the transition to pairing mode in step St29, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L changes the light color or lighting (including blinking) pattern of the LED 131 to a pattern corresponding to pairing mode and causes the LED 131 to emit light (St30). The earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L increases the output volume from the speaker SPKR of the wireless earphone 10R that is not inserted (worn) (St31), and outputs a default voice message indicating that the wireless earphone 10R has transitioned to pairing mode from the speaker SPKR (St32). Note that, if the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the wireless earphone 10R is inserted (worn) in the user's right ear, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L may output a default voice message indicating that the wireless earphone 10R has transitioned to pairing mode from the speaker SPKR without increasing the output volume from the speaker SPKR of the wireless earphone 10R and maintaining the current setting. After step St32, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L performs pairing, which is a well-known process, with the smartphone 50 (St33). At this time, the earphone control unit 11R of the wireless earphone 10R also performs pairing, which is a well-known process, with the smartphone 50 (St33).

[0094] When the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L determines that the pairing in step St33 has ended (St34, YES), it ends the pairing mode and returns to the operating mode before transition to the pairing mode, and also returns the lighting (including blinking) pattern of the LED 131 and the output volume of the speaker SPKL changed in steps St30 and St31 to their original pattern and volume value (i.e., the pattern and volume value corresponding to the operating mode before transition to the pairing mode after ending the pairing mode) (St35). Note that the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10L continues to perform pairing, which is a well-known process, with the smartphone 50 until pairing is ended (St34, NO). In this way, even if the user performs the same operation (for example, a touch operation on the operation surface OPL) (St24, St27), the wireless earphone 10L (including the wireless earphone 10R) can execute different operational functions depending on whether the wireless earphone 10L is inserted (worn) in the user's left ear (St25 or St26, St28 to St35). In other words, even if the same operation (for example, a touch operation on the operation surface OPL) is performed, if the wireless earphone 10L is worn on the user's left ear, the wireless earphone 10L executes an operational function according to the length of the touch operation (St25, St26), but if the wireless earphone 10L is not worn on the user's left ear, the wireless earphone 10L executes a pairing process (St30 to St35).

[0095] As described above, the wireless earphones 10L, 10R according to the first embodiment include wireless communication units 19L, 19R that communicate wirelessly with an external terminal (for example, a smartphone 50), a detection unit (for example, a wearing sensor 14L, 14R or a charging case storage detection unit 18L, 18R) that detects whether the earphones are attached to the ears of the wearer, an input detection unit (for example, an operation input unit 12L, 12R) that detects an input operation by the wearer, and a control unit (for example, an earphone control unit 11L, 11R) that, if the detection unit does not detect that the earphones are attached to the ears of the wearer, transitions the operation mode to a pairing mode that performs pairing for wireless communication with the external terminal (for example, a smartphone 50) based on detection by the input detection unit of a specific input operation (for example, a touch operation) from the wearer.

[0096] This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to assist in starting a pairing sequence between the wireless earphones 10L, 10R and the electronic device (e.g., smartphone 50) to which the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are to be connected at the time required by the user (e.g., any time when the user performs a specific operation), while suppressing increases in material costs for developing the wireless earphones 10L, 10R.

[0097] The wireless earphones 10L and 10R further include speakers SPKL and SPKR. A control unit (e.g., earphone control units 11L and 11R) outputs a predetermined sound (e.g., a voice message consisting of a predetermined voice indicating that the operation mode has been switched to the pairing mode) from the speakers SPKL and SPKR to notify the user that the operation mode has been switched to the pairing mode. This allows the user to easily understand that the operation mode has been switched to the pairing mode, which is expected to improve convenience.

[0098] The wireless earphones 10L and 10R further include speakers SPKL and SPKR. A control unit (e.g., earphone control units 11L and 11R) outputs a predetermined sound (e.g., a voice message consisting of a predetermined voice indicating that the operation mode has been switched to the pairing mode) from the speakers SPKL and SPKR at a volume higher than a predetermined value (e.g., an initial value or the output volume value set immediately before) to notify the user that the operation mode has been switched to the pairing mode. This allows the user to easily understand that the wireless earphones 10L and 10R have switched to the pairing mode, even when the user is in a noisy environment, and is expected to improve convenience.

[0099] The detection unit is a storage sensor (e.g., charging case storage detection units 18L, 18R) that detects that the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are stored in a charging case 30 that can charge the wireless earphones 10L, 10R and has storage units (e.g., earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR) that can store the housings of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R. This makes it possible to easily determine whether the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are stored in the charging case 30, such as a cradle, by detecting whether they are stored in the charging case 30, which is a method for detecting an unworn state in which the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are not inserted (worn) in the corresponding ear (left ear, right ear) of the user who is wearing them.

[0100] The detection unit is an infrared sensor that detects whether the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are attached to the outer ear or pinna of the wearer (e.g., user). This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to easily detect whether the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are not inserted (attached) to the corresponding ear (left ear, right ear) of the wearer by checking whether infrared light is reflected inside the ear by the infrared sensor provided in each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R.

[0101] The detection unit is an electrostatic sensor that detects whether the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are attached to the outer ear or pinna of the wearer (e.g., user). This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to easily detect whether the wireless earphones 10L, 10R are not inserted (attached) to the corresponding ear (left ear, right ear) of the wearer by checking whether there is a change in capacitance value measured by the electrostatic sensor provided in each of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R.

[0102] The input detection unit is disposed at the other end of the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R (for example, the end of the housing that is exposed when the lid 34 is open) that is exposed from the charging case 30 while one end of the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R (for example, the end of the housing on the side where the earpieces EPL, EPR are attached) is stored in the storage section (for example, the earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR) (see FIG. 4), and detects a specific input operation when one end of the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R (for example, the end of the housing on the side where the earpieces EPL, EPR are attached) is stored in the storage section (for example, the earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR). This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to detect a specific input operation (for example, a touch operation on the operation surface OPL) from the user even when stored in the charging case 30, as long as the lid 34 is open.

[0103] The wireless earphones 10L and 10R further include light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs 131 and 132). During pairing mode, a control unit (e.g., earphone control unit 11L or 11R) lights up the light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs 131 and 132) according to a predetermined lighting pattern indicating that the earphones are in pairing mode. This allows the user to easily understand that the earphones are in pairing mode.

[0104] Furthermore, the light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs 131, 132) are arranged at any position on the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R where light from the light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs 131, 132) is visible to the wearer (e.g., user) while one end of the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R (e.g., the end of the housing to which the earpieces EPL, EPR are attached) is stored in the charging case 30, which is capable of charging the wireless earphones 10L, 10R and has storage sections (e.g., earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR) capable of storing the housings of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R) (e.g., the other end of the housing (e.g., the end of the housing that is exposed when the lid 34 is opened), or a position other than one end of the housing of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R (see above) where light from the LEDs 131, 132 can be reflected by the inner wall of the earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR). This allows the user to easily see that the pairing mode is in progress, either directly or indirectly (for example, via reflection on the wall surface within the earphone storage spaces SPL, SPR) from the lighting of the LEDs 131, 132 according to the lighting pattern.

[0105] The wireless earphones 10L and 10R according to the first embodiment are an example of headphones according to the present disclosure, and each include a detector (e.g., a wearing sensor 14L or 14R or a charging case storage detector 18L or 18R) that detects whether the earphones are attached to the ears of the wearer, an input detector (e.g., an operation input unit 12L or 12R) that detects an input operation from the wearer, and a controller (e.g., an earphone controller 11L or 11R) that executes processing in response to the input operation from the wearer. The controller (e.g., the earphone controller 11L or 11R) executes a first process (e.g., an operation function in response to a short touch operation or a long touch operation) when a first input operation (e.g., a touch operation) from the wearer is detected while the earphones are not detected to be attached to the ears of the wearer, and executes a second process (e.g., pairing with a smartphone 50) different from the first process when a first input operation (e.g., a touch operation) from the wearer is detected while the earphones are not detected to be attached to the ears of the wearer.

[0106] This allows the wireless earphones 10L and 10R to perform different operational functions depending on the user's wearing state (i.e., whether worn or not worn), even when the same operation is received from the user who is wearing them, thereby improving user convenience.

[0107] Furthermore, the input detection unit (for example, the operation input unit 12L, 12R) has an operation surface OPL on which an input operation is performed by the wearer. The first input operation is any one of a single press on the operation surface OPL, a double press on the operation surface OPL, a triple press on the operation surface OPL, a long press operation in which the operation surface OPL is continuously pressed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) or more, or a flick operation on the operation surface OPL. This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to execute different operational functions depending on the user's wearing state (i.e., wearing state or non-wearing state) by a simple operation from the user (specifically, any one of a single press on the operation surface OPL, a double press on the operation surface OPL, a triple press on the operation surface OPL, a long press operation in which the operation surface OPL is continuously pressed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) or more, or a flick operation on the operation surface OPL).

[0108] The wireless earphones 10L, 10R further include wireless communication units 19L, 19R that perform wireless communication with an external terminal (e.g., a smartphone 50). As a second process, the control unit (e.g., earphone control unit 11L, 11R) transitions the operation mode of the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to a pairing mode in which pairing for wireless communication between the external terminal (e.g., the smartphone 50) and the wireless communication units 19L, 19R can be performed. This allows the wireless earphones 10L, 10R to conveniently switch between performing pairing with the smartphone 50 and not performing pairing depending on whether the earphones are worn in the user's ears.

[0109] (Background to the second embodiment) In the configuration of Patent Document 1, if the names of multiple wireless audio sources (e.g., communication devices; the same applies below) are registered in the list, audio signals of the names of the registered wireless audio sources are output one after another each time an instruction from the user is received, which poses a problem of inconvenient usability as the user is unable to select the audio signal they want to check.

[0110] Furthermore, if the name of the wireless audio source to which the wireless audio output device of Patent Document 1 is trying to connect is an easy-to-understand name such as a proper noun, the user will be able to easily understand it when an audio signal of that name is output from the speaker. However, if an audio output of a model name (e.g., an alphabetical product number or device management number) that the user cannot distinguish is output as the name of the wireless audio source, the user will be unable to understand it even if they hear it, making it difficult for the user to confirm. Furthermore, the configuration of Patent Document 1 does not anticipate the user customizing the name of the audio source (e.g., a communication device). If audio signals in all languages ​​in the world were to be prepared and stored in memory in advance, this would strain the memory capacity of the wireless audio output device, resulting in poor usability.

[0111] Therefore, in the following second embodiment, an example of a wireless headphone setting system and method will be described that allows the name of the communication device with which the wireless headphones are wirelessly connected to be output as voice so that the name can be set in a way that is easy for the user to understand, thereby improving usability for the user.

[0112] (Embodiment 2) The system configuration of a wireless communication system 100A (an example of a setting system for wireless headphones) according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the wireless communication system 100A according to the second embodiment. The wireless communication system 100A includes at least a pair of wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA and a smartphone 50. The wireless communication system 100A may further include a charging case 30. In the wireless communication system 100A, the internal configuration of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA is substantially the same as that of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R according to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of FIG. 10, components that overlap with those in FIG. 1 will be assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be simplified or omitted, and differences will be described.

[0113] The wireless earphone 10LA has an earphone control unit 11L, an operation input unit 12L, an LED 131, a wearing sensor 14L, a RAM 151, a ROM 161A, an audio input / output control unit 17L, a charging case storage detection unit 18L, a wireless communication unit 19L, a power monitoring unit 20L having a battery BTL, a charging case communication unit 21L, a speech microphone MCL1, an FF microphone MCL2, an FB microphone MCL3, and a speaker SPKL.

[0114] Similar to the ROM 161 according to the first embodiment, the ROM 161A stores programs that define the processes (operations) of the earphone control unit 11L, and data when the programs are executed. The ROM 161A further registers (stores) a connection output audio table TBL1 (see FIG. 11), a registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 (see FIG. 13), and data of connection output audio data 1611. Details of the connection output audio table TBL1 and the connection output audio data 1611 will be described later with reference to FIG. 11. Details of the registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 (see FIG. 13) will be described later with reference to FIG. 13.

[0115] The wireless earphone 10RA has an earphone control unit 11R, an operation input unit 12R, an LED 132, a wearing sensor 14R, a RAM 152, a ROM 162A, an audio input / output control unit 17R, a charging case storage detection unit 18R, a wireless communication unit 19R, a power monitoring unit 20R having a battery BTR, a charging case communication unit 21R, a speech microphone MCR1, a FF microphone MCR2, a FB microphone MCR3, and a speaker SPKR.

[0116] Similar to the ROM 162 according to the first embodiment, the ROM 162A stores programs that define the processes (operations) of the earphone control unit 11R, and data when the programs are executed. The ROM 162A further registers (stores) a connection output audio table TBL1 (see FIG. 11), a registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 (see FIG. 13), and data of connection output audio data 1621. Details of the connection output audio table TBL1 and the connection output audio data 1621 will be described later with reference to FIG. 11. Details of the registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 (see FIG. 13) will be described later with reference to FIG. 13.

[0117] Here, the connection output audio table TBL1 and the connection output audio data 1611, 1621 stored in the ROMs 161A, 162A will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the connection output audio table TBL1. Note that the connection output audio table TBL1 may be registered (stored) not only in the ROMs 161A, 162A of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA, but also in the ROM 53 of the smartphone 50.

[0118] The connected audio data 1611, 1621 are audio data whose content is output from the speakers SPKL, SPKR of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA when the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA are wirelessly connected to a connected device (e.g., smartphone 50) that will be the communication partner when performing wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The connected audio output table TBL1 is a table showing the correspondence between multiple different connected audio data and the identification numbers of those connected audio data. Note that in FIG. 11, the identification numbers of the connected audio data are abbreviated as "number," and in FIG. 13, the identification numbers of the connected audio data are described as "audio data number."

[0119] For example, identification number "1" is linked to pre-recorded output audio data upon connection such as "Connected to smartphone," identification number "2" is linked to pre-recorded output audio data upon connection such as "Connected to PC," identification number "3" is linked to pre-recorded output audio data upon connection such as "Connected to music player," identification number "4" is linked to pre-recorded output audio data upon connection such as "Connected to XXX," and identification number "5" is linked to output audio data upon connection consisting of a beep (warning sound) such as a bell ring. Note that "XXX" is a proper noun (e.g., name or terminal type) of the connected device and is specified in advance at the time of recording.

[0120] Therefore, when the audio data to be output at the time of connection is set by the user's operation, if the audio data to be output at the time of connection stating "Connected to smartphone" is selected, the smartphone 50 sends a setting instruction (see Figure 14) including the information of the identification number "1" to each of the wireless earphones 10L and 10R.

[0121] Next, details of the connected device list screen WD1 and the connected output sound list screen WD2 displayed on the smartphone 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the transition from the connected device list screen WD1 to the connected output sound list screen WD2. As shown in Fig. 12, the transition from the connected device list screen WD1 to the connected output sound list screen WD2 occurs.

[0122] The connected device list screen WD1 includes a list LST1 of connected devices to which each of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA has previously been wirelessly connected, and a message prompting the user to select output audio data to be output from each of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA when wirelessly connecting. The connected device list screen WD1 is displayed on the display / operation unit 52 of the smartphone 50. As shown in the list LST1, each of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA has previously been wirelessly connected to four different connected devices.

[0123] In list LST1, connected device CH1 of "AAA Company Personal Computer" is linked to connected output audio data VC1 saying "Connected to personal computer", connected device CH2 of "BBB Company Smartphone" is linked to connected output audio data VC2 saying "Connected to smartphone", connected device CH3 of "CCC Company Music Player" is linked to connected output audio data VC3 saying "Connected to music player", and connected device CH4 of "DDD Company XXX (Smartphone)" is linked to connected output audio data VC4 saying "Connected to XXX".

[0124] Here, when the connected output audio data associated with any of the connected devices (for example, connected device CH1) is to be changed, the user presses option icon Y1 by operating display / operation unit 52. Note that option icons Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 are provided and displayed corresponding to connected devices CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4, respectively. Note that when the connected output audio data associated with any of the connected devices is not to be changed, the user presses OK button W1, and the control unit 51 confirms the correspondence (association) between the connected device and the connected output audio data at the time of pressing the OK button W1.

[0125] The connected-time output audio list screen WD2 is generated by the control unit 51 based on the user pressing any of the selection icons Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 on the connected device list screen WD1. When the selection icon Y1 is selected by the user pressing, for example, the connected-time output audio list screen WD2 has a message prompting the user to select the connected-time output audio data that the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA will output when wirelessly connected to a connected device (for example, "AAA Company Personal Computer"), and options for the connected-time output audio data that correspond to each identification number in the connected-time output audio table TBL1 (see FIG. 11).

[0126] Specifically, the following options are displayed: an option for connected output audio data VC1 "Connected to smartphone," an option for connected output audio data VC2 "Connected to PC," an option for connected output audio data VC3 "Connected to music player," an option for connected output audio data VC4 "Connected to XXXX," an option for connected output audio data VC5 consisting of a beep (warning sound) such as a bell-ring, and an option VC6 for "Do not speak" any of the connected output audio data.

[0127] Here, when the user presses one of the options for the audio data to be output at the time of connection (for example, audio data VC1 to be output at the time of connection) by operating the display / operation unit 52 and then pressing the OK button W2, the control unit 51 determines the correspondence (linking relationship) between the connected device at the time of pressing (for example, "AAA Personal Computer") and the audio data to be output at the time of connection that will be output as audio when the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA complete their wireless connection to that connected device.

[0128] Here, details of the registered device-connection output sound correspondence table TBL2 stored in each of the ROMs 161A and 162A will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the registered device-connection output sound correspondence table TBL2. Note that the registered device-connection output sound correspondence table TBL2 may be registered (stored) not only in the ROMs 161A and 162A of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA, but also in the ROM 53 of the smartphone 50.

[0129] The registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 stores, for each registered device, data indicating a correspondence relationship between identification information (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark) ID) of a wireless terminal (hereinafter also referred to as a "registered device") such as a smartphone 50 with which each of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA has completed a wireless connection as a communication partner of wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), the name of the wireless terminal, and identification information (e.g., the number shown in FIG. 11) that identifies connection output audio data that is output when wirelessly connected to the wireless terminal. While FIG. 13 shows an example in which up to 10 wireless terminals can be registered, more than 10 wireless terminals may be registered.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 13, the registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 registers, for example, identification information (an example of wireless terminal information) of four registered devices, the names of the registered devices, and the numbers of the connected output audio data in association with each other.

[0131] For example, in the record on the first line (registered first), the registered device identification information "00-11-22-33-44-55" is registered in association with the registered device name "AAA Personal Computer" and the number "2" (see Figure 11) that identifies the audio data output at the time of connection.

[0132] Similarly, in the record on the second line (registered second), the identification information of the registered device, "66-77-88-99-AA-BB," is registered in association with the name of the registered device, "BBB Smartphone," and the number "1" (see Figure 11) that identifies the audio data output at the time of connection.

[0133] Similarly, in the record on the third line (registered third), the registered device identification information "CC-DD-EE-FF-00-11" is registered in association with the registered device name "CCC Music Player" and the number "3" (see Figure 11) that identifies the audio data output when connected.

[0134] Similarly, in the record on the fourth line (registered fourth), the registered device identification information "22-33-44-55-66-77" is registered in association with the registered device name "DDD Corporation XXX (Smartphone)" and the number "4" (see Figure 11) that identifies the audio data output at the time of connection. Note that XXX is the product name, such as the model name or logo, of the smartphone that corresponds to the registered device identification information "22-33-44-55-66-77."

[0135] Next, an example of an operation procedure for setting audio data to be output upon connection of the wireless communication system 100A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation procedure for setting audio data to be output upon connection of the wireless communication system 100A according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 14, of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA, the wireless earphone 10LA is used as an example for description, but the procedure is similarly applicable to the wireless earphone 10RA. As a premise for the description of FIG. 14, an application for setting audio data to be output upon connection is running on the smartphone 50. Note that this application is conveniently referred to as a "smartphone APP" in FIG. 14.

[0136] 14, the user operates the smartphone APP to call up a screen for setting audio data to be output during connection (St41). In response to the operation of step St41, the smartphone APP generates a connected device list screen WD1 (see FIG. 12) and displays it on the display / operation unit 52 (St42). However, at this time, the smartphone APP is unable to display the list LST1 portion of the connected device list screen WD1, and instead generates and displays a Wait screen (not shown) indicating that the list LST1 portion is waiting to be displayed (St42). This is because, at the time of step St42, the smartphone APP has not yet acquired from the wireless earphone 10LA a list of registered devices (in other words, connected devices that have been wirelessly connected in the past) and the identification number of the audio data to be output during connection for each connected device (see FIG. 11). The connected device list screen WD1 is displayed by the smartphone APP during the period PER1 shown in FIG.

[0137] The smartphone APP requests the wireless earphone 10LA to send a list of registered devices (in other words, connected devices that have been wirelessly connected in the past; the same applies below) and the identification number of the audio data to be output upon connection for each connected device (see FIG. 11) (St43). In response to the request in step St43, the wireless earphone 10LA returns (responds to) the list of registered devices and the identification number of the audio data to be output upon connection for each connected device (see FIG. 11) obtained by referring to the registered device-audio output upon connection correspondence table TBL2 registered (stored) in the ROM 161A to the smartphone 50 (St44). Upon receiving the list of registered devices and the identification number of the audio data to be output upon connection for each connected device (see FIG. 11) sent from the wireless earphone 10LA in step St44, the smartphone APP updates the display contents of the Wait screen of the connected device list screen WD1 currently displayed on the display / operation unit 52 to the list LST1 that lists the registered devices, and displays it (St45). For example, assume that the contents of the connected device list screen WD1 shown in FIG. 12 are displayed.

[0138] The user performs an operation to select a connected device for which the user wishes to set the audio output data during connection on the smartphone APP that has displayed the connected device list screen WD1 on which the list LST1 is displayed in step St45 (St46). For example, assume that the option icon Y1 (see FIG. 12) is selected. In response to the operation in step St46, the smartphone APP generates, from the connected device list screen WD1, an audio output during connection list screen WD2 for the connected device corresponding to the selected option icon Y1, and displays it on the display / operation unit 52 (St47). The audio output during connection list screen WD2 is displayed by the smartphone APP during the period PER2 shown in FIG. 14.

[0139] Next, the user performs an operation to select connection output audio data on the smartphone APP that displayed the connection output audio list screen WD2 in step St47 (St48). For example, assume that connection output audio data "Connected to PC" is selected. In response to the operation in step St48, the smartphone APP generates and displays a Wait screen (not shown) from the connection output audio list screen WD2 to notify the user that the connection output audio data is being set to the wireless earphone 10LA (St49). The smartphone APP generates and sends to the wireless earphone 10LA a setting instruction for connection output audio data (e.g., "Connected to PC") to be output when wireless connection with the connection device (e.g., AAA Personal Computer) selected in step St46 is completed (St50). This setting instruction includes at least, for example, wireless terminal information (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark) ID) of the smartphone 50 that has completed wireless connection with the wireless earphone 10LA and an identification number (an example of identification information) that identifies the connection output audio data "Connected to PC." Based on the setting instruction sent from the smartphone in step St50, the wireless earphone 10LA associates (associates) the connected device (e.g., a personal computer from AAA) with the connection output audio data (e.g., "Connected to PC") to be output when the wireless connection between the connected device and the wireless earphone 10LA is established. The wireless earphone 10LA then saves (registers) or updates the registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 in the ROM 161A of the wireless earphone 10LA (St51). The ROM 161A is configured using a non-transitory storage medium (semiconductor memory) such as a flash memory so that data is not erased even when the wireless earphone 10LA is powered off. The wireless earphone 10LA may output the connection output audio data from the speaker SPKL as a trial. The wireless earphone 10LA generates a setting completion response indicating that the setting in step St51 is complete and sends the response to the smartphone 50 (St52).

[0140] Based on the setting completion response sent from the wireless earphone 10LA in step St52, the smartphone APP erases (cancels) the display of the Wait screen (not shown) that was displayed in step St49 (St53), and updates the check mark Y5 indicating the correspondence (linking relationship) between the connected device and the audio data output at the time of connection (for example, by changing the color of the check mark Y5 or making it thicker) to indicate that the correspondence (linking relationship) between the connected device and the audio data output at the time of connection has been confirmed (St53).

[0141] Assume that the user visually checks the connected audio output list screen WD2 on which the check mark Y5 has been updated in step St53 and presses the OK button W2 on the connected audio output list screen WD2 (St54). In response to the operation in step St54, the smartphone APP completes the setting of the connected audio output data according to the connected device of the wireless earphone 10LA and updates the display screen to return to the screen (not shown) that was displayed before the connected device list screen WD1 was displayed at the time of step St42. This ends the processing of the sequence in FIG. 14.

[0142] Next, an example of an operational procedure when the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA according to the second embodiment are actually connected wirelessly will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of an operational procedure of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA according to the second embodiment. As with Fig. 14, Fig. 15 will also illustrate the wireless earphone 10LA of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA, but the procedure is similarly applicable to the wireless earphone 10RA. The processing of the flowchart in Fig. 15 is periodically executed in the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA.

[0143] 15, the earphone control unit 11 of the wireless earphone 10LA determines whether the number of connected devices to which wireless connections have currently been established is two based on the RAM 151 of the work memory (St61). If wireless connections with two connected devices have already been established at the time of step St61 (St61, YES), the processing of the wireless earphone 10LA shown in FIG. 15 ends.

[0144] If the earphone control unit 11 of the wireless earphone 10LA determines that the number of currently wirelessly connected connected devices is not two (i.e., it is either 0 or 1) (St61, NO), it performs wireless connection processing (pairing) with a connected device with which it has previously paired (for example, a wireless connection compliant with Bluetooth (registered trademark)) (St62). The pairing processing in step St62 is well known, so a detailed description will be omitted here. If pairing with the connected device is not possible (St63, NO), the processing of the wireless earphone 10LA shown in FIG. 15 ends.

[0145] On the other hand, if the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10LA determines that pairing with the connected device has been established (St63, YES), it determines whether or not a link has been set for the connected output audio data corresponding to the connected device based on wireless terminal information (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark) ID) of the wireless terminal (e.g., smartphone 50) acquired through pairing by referring to the registered device-connected output audio correspondence table TBL2 in the ROM 161A (St64). If it determines that a link has not been set for the connected output audio data corresponding to the connected device (St64, NO), the processing of the wireless earphone 10LA shown in FIG. 15 ends.

[0146] On the other hand, if the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10LA determines that the connection output audio data corresponding to the connected device has been linked (Step St64, YES), it refers to the registered device-connection output audio correspondence table TBL2 in the ROM 161A, identifies the connection output audio data linked to the current connected device (i.e., determined to be connected in Step St63) based on the wireless terminal information (e.g., Bluetooth® ID) of the wireless terminal (e.g., smartphone 50) acquired by pairing, and outputs the audio from the speaker SPKL (Step St65). After Step St65, the earphone control unit 11L of the wireless earphone 10LA determines that the wireless connection with the connected device has been completed and performs other processing (e.g., receiving and playing a music signal sent from the connected device). This ends the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 15.

[0147] As described above, the wireless communication system 100A according to the second embodiment includes at least one wireless headphone (e.g., wireless earphone 10LA, 10RA), each having a speaker and capable of being worn on the ear of a wearer (user), and a wireless terminal (e.g., smartphone 50) carried by the wearer and capable of wirelessly connecting to the wireless headphone. The wireless headphone has memory (e.g., ROM 161A, 162A), and can register in the memory data indicating a correspondence between wireless terminal information (e.g., identification information of a registered device such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) ID) of the wireless terminal to which the wireless headphone is wirelessly connected and audio data (e.g., audio data output upon connection 1611, 1621) capable of identifying the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal uses the identification information (for example, the numbers shown in FIG. 11) of the audio data (for example, audio data 1611, 1621 output upon connection) to set the audio data to be output by the wireless headphones when wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones, based on an operation by the wearer (for example, an operation on the connected audio output list screen WD2 shown in FIG. 12), and sends the identification information that identifies the set audio data to the wireless headphones. Based on the identification information sent from the wireless terminal, the wireless headphones register in memory data that indicates the correspondence between the wireless terminal information of the wireless terminal and audio data that can be identified by that identification information.

[0148] As a result, when the wireless communication system 100A outputs the name or terminal type of the communication device (e.g., smartphone 50) to which the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA are wirelessly connected, the name or terminal type can be set in a way that is easy for the user to understand, thereby improving usability for the user.

[0149] Furthermore, when the wireless headphones complete a wireless connection with a wireless terminal, based on the wireless terminal information sent from the wireless terminal, the wireless headphones output audio data corresponding to the wireless terminal information from the speakers (e.g., speakers SPKL and SPKR). This allows the user to easily understand the specific type of device (e.g., smartphone 50) that is actually wirelessly connected to the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA.

[0150] Furthermore, the audio data that can identify a wireless terminal (for example, audio data output upon connection) is pre-recorded audio data that pronounces a name that can identify the type of wireless terminal (for example, smartphone 50). This allows the user to easily understand what type of wireless terminal (for example, smartphone 50) is when wireless connection between wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA and the wireless terminal is completed, thereby improving user convenience.

[0151] Furthermore, the wireless headphones (e.g., wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA) can be wirelessly connected to each of a plurality of wireless terminals (e.g., external terminals including smartphone 50). The audio data that can identify the wireless terminal (e.g., audio data output upon connection) is audio data in the form of a beep with a different tone for each wireless terminal, or audio data in the form of a different melody for each wireless terminal. As a result, even if the name or type of a specific wireless terminal wirelessly connected to each of the wireless earphones 10LA and 10RA is not output as audio, the user can easily understand what kind of wireless terminal each wireless terminal is because a beep or melody unique to that wireless terminal is output as audio, improving user convenience.

[0152] Furthermore, the wireless headphones (e.g., wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA) can be wirelessly connected to each of a plurality of wireless terminals (e.g., smartphones 50), and register audio data set by the wireless terminal (e.g., audio data output upon connection) for each wireless terminal information of the wireless terminal. This allows the user to set the name or terminal type of the communication device to which the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA can be wirelessly connected in an easy-to-understand manner when outputting the name or terminal type of the communication device to which the wireless connection has been completed, for each of a plurality of communication devices (e.g., smartphones 50), which can be wirelessly connected, thereby improving usability for the user.

[0153] Furthermore, the wireless terminal (e.g., smartphone 50) has a display (e.g., display / operation unit 52) ​​that displays on the display a wireless terminal information list (e.g., list LST1) that can identify multiple wireless terminals (e.g., external terminals including smartphone 50) including wireless terminals to which the wireless headphones (e.g., wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA) have previously connected wirelessly. For each wireless terminal selected from the wireless terminal information list by the wearer's operation, the wireless terminal sets audio data to be output from the wireless headphones when a wireless connection is established between the wireless headphones and each of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA. This allows the user to easily check, on the screen displayed on the smartphone 50, the list LST1 of connected devices (communication devices) to which each of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA has previously connected wirelessly, and easily set the audio data to be output upon connection when the wireless connection between the connected device and each of the wireless earphones 10LA, 10RA is established.

[0154] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, alterations, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components of the various embodiments described above may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0155] The present disclosure is useful as a wireless headphone setting system and a wireless headphone setting method that, when a wireless headphone outputs the name or terminal type of a communication device with which the wireless headphone is wirelessly connected, enables the name or terminal type to be set in an easy-to-understand manner for the user, thereby improving usability for the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 10L, 10LA, 10R, 10RA wireless earphones 11L, 11R earphone control unit 12L, 12R operation input section 14L, 14R mounted sensor 17L, 17R, 55 Audio input / output control section 18L, 18R Charging case storage detector 19L, 19R Wireless communication department 20L, 20R power monitoring section 21L, 21R charging case communication unit 30 Charging Case 31 Charging case control unit 32 Charging case LED 33 Lid sensor 34 Lid 35 Charging case power monitoring unit 50 smartphones 51 Control section 52 Display / operation section 53, 161, 161A, 162, 162A ROM 54, 151, 152 RAM 56 Short-range wireless control unit 57 Earphone communication I / F section 58 Wireless LAN communication I / F section 59 Audio Bus 60 Public Line Protocol Control Unit 61 Public line communication I / F section 62 USB communication I / F section 100 Wireless Communication System 131, 132 LEDs 1611, 1621 Output audio data when connected ATL, ATR antenna BT1, BTL, BTR battery MGL, MGR magnets SPL, SPR earphone storage space

Claims

1. at least one wireless headphone having a speaker and adapted to be worn over a wearer's ear; a wireless terminal carried by the wearer and capable of wireless connection with the wireless headphones; The wireless headphones a memory is provided, and data indicating a correspondence between wireless terminal information of a registered device that can be wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones, including the wireless terminal, and identification information of audio data that can identify the registered device can be registered in the memory; The wireless headphones transmitting wireless terminal information of the registered devices and identification information of the voice data for each of the registered devices to the wireless terminal; The wireless terminal using the identification information of the audio data, based on an operation by the wearer, to set the audio data to be output by the wireless headphones when the registered device is wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones, and sending identification information that identifies the set audio data to the wireless headphones; The wireless headphones registering, in the memory, data indicating a correspondence between the wireless terminal information of the registered device and the voice data identifiable by the identification information, based on the identification information sent from the wireless terminal; Wireless headphone configuration system.

2. When the wireless headphone completes the wireless connection with the registered device, the wireless headphone outputs the audio data corresponding to the wireless terminal information from the speaker based on the wireless terminal information transmitted from the wireless terminal. The wireless headphone setting system according to claim 1 .

3. The voice data capable of identifying the registered device is pre-recorded voice data pronouncing a name capable of identifying a terminal type of the registered device. The wireless headphone setting system according to claim 1 .

4. the wireless headphones are capable of wirelessly connecting to each of the plurality of registered devices; The sound data capable of identifying the registered device is a beep sound with a different tone for each registered device, or sound data with a different melody for each registered device. The wireless headphone setting system according to claim 1 .

5. the wireless headphones are capable of wirelessly connecting to each of the plurality of registered devices, and register the audio data set by the wireless terminal for each of the wireless terminal information of the registered devices; The wireless headphone setting system according to claim 1 .

6. the wireless terminal has a display, and displays on the display a wireless terminal information list capable of identifying a plurality of registered devices including the wireless terminals to which the wireless headphones have previously connected wirelessly, and for each registered device selected from the wireless terminal information list by an operation of the wearer, sets the audio data to be output by the wireless headphones when a wireless connection is established between the wireless headphones and the registered device. The wireless headphone setting system according to claim 1 .

7. 1. A method for setting at least one wireless headphone having a speaker, capable of being worn on a wearer's ear, and capable of wirelessly connecting to a wireless terminal carried by the wearer, comprising: sending, to the wireless terminal, wireless terminal information of registered devices that can be wirelessly connected to the wireless headphones, including the wireless terminal, and identification information of audio data that can identify each registered device; setting, based on an operation by the wearer, the audio data to be output from the wireless headphones when the wireless headphones are wirelessly connected to the registered device using identification information of the audio data; sending identification information that identifies the set audio data to the wireless headphones; and registering data indicating a correspondence between the wireless terminal information of the registered device and the audio data identifiable by the identification information in a memory provided in the wireless headphones based on the identification information sent from the wireless terminal. How to set up wireless headphones.

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