Wireless Earphone Network Handover for Uninterrupted Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless headphones are either cumbersome with cords or large and not in-ear type, lacking seamless transition between ad hoc and infrastructure wireless networks for uninterrupted audio streaming.
Innovation Solution
A wireless earphone system that automatically transitions between ad hoc and infrastructure wireless networks, using a transceiver circuit to maintain audio streaming by connecting to a host server if the direct network is lost, allowing for in-ear, on-ear, or over-ear configurations with adjustable ear canal portions and integrated transceiver circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cordless headphones use a docking port for direct connection, then wireless connectivity is achieved, but the headphones become quite large and are not in-ear type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the docking port component from the headphone structure, extracting the direct physical connection requirement. Instead, it implements a wireless transceiver circuit that enables wireless communication without requiring a physical docking interface, thereby reducing headphone size while maintaining wireless connectivity functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless transceiver circuit as an intermediary between the data source and headphones, replacing the direct docking port connection. This intermediary enables wireless communication through radio frequency signals, eliminating the need for a physical docking structure and allowing for compact in-ear design
2Ease of operation
If cordless headphones use IEEE 802.11 wireless connection, then wireless connectivity is achieved, but the headphones become quite large and not in-ear type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication capability from a full wireless network interface and implements a simplified transceiver circuit optimized for audio streaming. This reduced-functionality wireless solution requires fewer components and less processing power, enabling compact in-ear design while maintaining wireless audio connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wireless communication parameters by implementing a custom audio streaming protocol over wireless radio frequency rather than full IEEE 802.11 network protocol. This parameter optimization reduces the complexity and size of the wireless circuitry required, enabling in-ear form factor while maintaining wireless audio functionality
3Productivity
If the earphone uses ad hoc wireless network for direct connection, then audio streaming is achieved, but connectivity is lost when out of range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the earphone continuously scan for and connect to available infrastructure wireless networks in advance before ad hoc connection is lost. The system proactively maintains connection to infrastructure networks as a backup, ensuring seamless transition and uninterrupted audio streaming when direct ad hoc connection becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the earphone continuously monitors the status of ad hoc wireless connection and automatically triggers connection to infrastructure networks when ad hoc connection quality degrades or is lost. This feedback loop ensures automatic reconnection and maintains audio streaming continuity without user intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client computing device, both of which are communicable with a host server via the Internet. The host server stores configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet, and that are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set. The updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet.