Wireless Earphone Network Handoff for Uninterrupted Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless headphones are either cumbersome due to cords or large in size, lacking the portability and in-ear type design that users desire, especially when transitioning between ad hoc and infrastructure wireless networks for audio streaming.
Innovation Solution
A wireless earphone with a transceiver circuit that seamlessly transitions between ad hoc and infrastructure wireless networks, allowing for continuous audio streaming by automatically connecting to a host server or infrastructure network when out of range, and featuring a compact, in-ear or on-ear design with adjustable shape options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless headphones use a docking port to connect directly to a digital audio player, then wireless audio streaming is enabled, but the headphones become quite large and cannot be in-ear type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transceiver circuit from a separate docking device and integrates it directly into the headphone unit itself. This allows the headphones to maintain wireless audio streaming capability while eliminating the need for an external docking station, thereby reducing the overall system size and enabling compact in-ear designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The headphone unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the audio output device and the wireless communication device. The transceiver circuit integrated into the headphone enables it to function as both a speaker and a wireless communication node, eliminating the need for separate docking hardware and enabling compact design.
2Ease of operation
If wireless headphones use IEEE 802.11 to connect to a WLAN-ready laptop or PC, then wireless audio streaming is enabled, but the headphones are quite large and not in-ear type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wireless communication functionality from large external devices and concentrates it into the compact headphone unit. By integrating the transceiver circuit directly into the headphone, the system achieves wireless audio streaming without requiring large external docking hardware or WLAN adapters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical scale parameter by integrating all necessary wireless communication components into a miniaturized form factor suitable for in-ear headphones. This parameter change from macro-scale external devices to micro-scale integrated circuits enables compact design while maintaining full wireless functionality.
3Reliability
If the data source and earphone transition to a common infrastructure wireless network when out of range via ad hoc network, then connectivity is maintained, but network transition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network switching capability that automatically transitions between ad hoc and infrastructure wireless networks based on availability and range conditions. This dynamic adaptation maintains continuous connectivity while the system autonomously manages the complexity of network transitions without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system performs self-service by automatically detecting network conditions and executing transitions between different network modes (ad hoc and infrastructure) without requiring user input. The system autonomously manages its own connectivity, handling the complexity of network transitions internally while maintaining simple user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player. Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable processor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter, and processes digital audio content from personal digital audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the received audio content from the personal digital audio player. In second operational mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, processor circuit processes the digital audio content received from remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.