Apple Inc.

Aarti Kumar

Robert D Watson

Natalia A Fornshell

Baptiste Pierre Paquier

Kurt R Stiehl

Jonathan Sarjeant Aase

Jahan C Minoo

Jerzy S Guterman

Esge Brandt Andersen

Arun Dhyaneshwar Chawan

Yacine Azmi

Augustin Prats

David John Shaw

Michael B Howes

Zachary C Rich

Axel Dominique Berny

Benjamin W Cook

Bob Bradley

Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa

Sarang S Ranade

Benjamin Adair Cousins

Ahmad Rahmati

Kang Sun

Taylor Gerard Carrigan

Sriram Hariharan

Marc Jason Krochmal

Michael Jason Giles

Benjamin A Cousins

Brian J Tucker

Deepak R Iyer

Astrid Yi

Ariane Cotte

Chen Ganir

Christiaan A Hartman

Anthony Joseph Guetta

Joakim Linde

Camille Chen

Jonathan Anderson Bennett

Joseph M Williams

Pierre B Vandwalle

Eric A Allamanche

Brian D Pietsch

Sarin Shreyas Mehta

Cesar De Camargo Barscevicius

Brian Chris Clark

Alexander Richter

Dhandapani Dharumalingam

Shehryar Lasi

Vladimir Trukhin

Suraj Sumangala

Ashraya Arya

Su Fu

Leijun Dong

Deepak C Iyer

Disclosed are systems and methods to modify the Bluetooth mono HFP protocol to support bi-directional stereo operation for high bandwidth audio including 12-KHz wide-band, 16-KHz super wide-band (SWB), and 24-KHz full band (FB) audio. The techniques leverage the larger packet size and longer duty cycle of the 2-EV5 transport packet and expand the block size of the audio frames generated by the AAC-ELD codec to increase the maximum data throughput from the 64 kbps of the mono HFP protocol to 192 kbps using a stereo HFP protocol. The increased throughput not only supports stereo operations, but allows the transport of redundant or FEC packets for increased robustness against packet loss. In one aspect, the AAC-ELD codec may be configured for dynamic bit rate switching to flexibly perform trade-offs between audio quality and robustness against packet loss. The stereo HFP may configure the maximum throughput based on the desired audio quality.

Method and system for encoding and wirelessly transmitting stereo audio content for audio communication

A method performed by a first electronic device that is communicatively coupled to a wireless headset, the method includes, while engaged in a call with a second electronic device, communicating with the wireless headset via a bi-directional wireless audio connection; determining that a joint media playback session has been initiated in which the first and second electronic devices are to independently stream media content for separate playback by both of the first and second electronic devices while engaging in the call; and switching to communicate with the wireless headset via a uni-directional wireless audio connection based on a determination of one or more capabilities of the wireless headset, wherein a mix of 1) one or more signals associated with the call and 2) an audio signal of the media content is transmitted to the wireless headset over the uni-directional wireless audio connection.

Method and system for switching wireless audio connections during a call

A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Wireless earphone

A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.

Temporary pairing for wireless devices

A system and method for routing communication to a common audio output device connected to each of two or more audio signal source devices. For each of the two or more audio signal source devices, a set of inputs are assessed. The set of inputs include: an operational state of the audio signal source device, an activity the audio signal source device, an audio-producing application being executed by the audio signal source device, and a degree of user activity with the audio-producing application being executed by the audio signal source. At a point in time, an audio routing score is generated for each of the two or more audio signal source devices according to a weighted calculation of the set of inputs based on the assessing. Finally, an audio signal routing decision is made, to route an audio signal from one of the two or more audio signal source devices to the audio output device, based on the audio routing score for each of the two or more audio signal source devices.

Smart routing for audio output devices

A method performed by an audio source device. The method receives a first audio signal and a second, different audio signal and encodes the first audio signal and the second audio signal, wherein the first audio signal is encoded differently than the second audio signal. The method generates a first data packet that comprises the first encoded audio signal and a first volume level and a second data packet that comprises the second encoded audio signal and a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is lower than the second volume level and transmits, over a wireless connection, the first and second data packets as a dual audio stream to an audio output device.

Method and system for performing audio ducking for headsets

A source device executing the application can transmit the streaming content to the playback device. The size of the buffer can be changed during the playback of streaming content. To perform the change seamlessly, embodiments can cause the application to provide the streaming content at an increased or decreased rate, depending on how the size of the playback buffer is to be changed. The new buffer size (i.e., smaller or larger amount) can provide improved playback of the streaming content, e.g., based on a latency-reliability tradeoff as determined using various factors (e.g., quality of connection between the devices). The changed rate for providing the streaming content can be achieved by slowing down or speeding up a clock signal that is provided to the application.

Adaptive and seamless playback buffer adjustment for streaming content

A device providing concurrent audio streaming to multiple wireless audio output devices may include at least one processor configured to receive a user selection of at least two paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to synchronize at least one audio output synchronization parameter across each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to concurrently stream a respective audio stream to each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices.

Concurrent audio streaming to multiple wireless audio output devices

A host device communicating with a plurality of accessory devices transmits audio data packets via a broadcast channel to the plurality of accessory devices. When one of the plurality of accessory devices determines an audio data packet has not been received, the accessory device sends a negative-acknowledgement signal (NACK) via a unicast channel. The NACK indicates that the at least one of the accessory devices did not receive at least one audio data packet. The host device retransmits the at least one audio data packet indicated as not being received via the broadcast channel to the plurality of accessory devices. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Wireless audio splitter

A source device can transmit initial streaming content to a playback device (e.g., wireless ear buds) using first settings and measure playback performance of the content at a plurality of times. The measured performance values can relate to a quality of communication of the initial streaming content between the source device and the playback device, e.g., relating to packet loss, retransmission rates and patterns, fluctuations in a playback (jitter) buffer, and/or other values. The measured performance values can be used to determine one or more second settings to be used for a playback of subsequent streaming content between the source device and the playback device. In this manner, each source device can account for variations in communication behavior specific to a user (e.g., due to differences in body type as electromagnetic waves travel through the body when a source device is in a pocket).

Individualized adaptive wireless parameter tuning for streaming content

The wireless earphone () comprises a housing () having a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet () at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver () is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry () inside the housing () includes a wireless communications interface () to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery () as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Aarti Kumar