Wireless Headphones WLAN Network Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless audio solutions face challenges in providing mobile access to personal data stored on Internet servers while ensuring copyright compliance, particularly in terms of data transmission rates and physical possession of audio data carriers.
Innovation Solution
A WLAN-based wireless headphone unit with a network identification unit and transmitting/receiving capabilities, allowing wireless data access from a server via a WLAN interface, enabling users to access their own music without physical carriers and integrating features like buffering and display units for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless transmission of audio files is used, then mobile access to music is enabled, but data transmission rate is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the data transmission path into two parts: bulk data transfer via wired connection (USB, FireWire, IEEE 1394) to a portable device, and then wireless streaming via low-bandwidth wireless connection to headphones. This segmentation allows high-speed data transfer to occur over the wired portion while the wireless portion only handles control signals and audio streaming.
Solution Approach 2:
A portable device (PDA, mobile phone, or computer) acts as an intermediary between the audio file storage system and the wireless headphones. This intermediary handles the heavy data transfer burden, allowing the wireless headphones to receive only the final audio stream at lower data rates, thus resolving the bandwidth limitation.
2Ease of operation
If audio files are downloaded from Internet servers, then access to music is enabled, but copyright compliance is problematic
Solution Approach 1:
Audio files are transferred to the portable device in advance through authorized channels (purchase, licensing, or personal library). This preliminary action ensures copyright compliance is established before wireless playback, allowing the headphones to simply reproduce already-authorized content without needing to verify copyright status during wireless transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless headphone unit is designed as active network element, then network integration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device serves multiple functions: it acts as a network interface for the headphones, a media player, a file manager, and a copyright licensing manager. By consolidating these functions in a universal device that users already possess, the system achieves high network adaptability without adding complex networking capabilities to the headphones themselves.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure, copyright-compliant access to personal audio data through wireless networks, allowing users to stream and manage their music collections using a device that functions as an active network element, supporting both public and private access points.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless headphone unit (K) having at least one electroacoustic transducer (W) and a transmitting/receiving unit (EE) for wirelessly receiving first signals (A, S/P, MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, AAC, APE, AC3, DTS, RA, AMR, GSM, EVRC, SMV, SVOX) which contain the audio signals to be reproduced on the electroacoustic transducer (W)
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a wireless headphone unit having at least one electroacoustic transducer and a transmitting/receiving unit for wirelessly receiving first signals which contain audio signals to be reproduced on the electroacoustic transducer and a network identification unit for storing the network identification of the wireless headphone unit, wherein the transmitting/receiving unit is adapted for wirelessly transmitting the network identification of the headphone unit.