Google Inc.

Jeffrey Kuramoto

Shijing Xian

Jiang Zhu

Xuemei Ouyang

Guang Xie

Adam Champy

Maksim Shmukler

Dmitry Svetlov

Seang Yong Chau

Ke Dong

Wenjing Su

Vitali Lovich

Smriti Narang

Daniel Barros

Chi Fai Yip

Yongkang Jia

An auxiliary device charging case is used to facilitate translation features of a mobile computing device or auxiliary device. A first user, who may be a foreign language speaker, holds the charging case and speaks into the charging case. The charging case communicates the received speech to the mobile computing device, either directly or through the auxiliary device, which translates the received speech into a second language for a second user, who is the owner of the mobile computing device and auxiliary device. The second user may provide input in the second language, such as by speaking or typing into the auxiliary or mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may translate this second input to the first language, and transmit the translated input to the charging case either directly or through the auxiliary device. The charging case may output the translated second input to the first user, such as through a speaker or display screen.

Using auxiliary device case for translation

Role switch between wirelessly paired master/slave devices may be performed without perceived glitches in audio. The devices negotiate an anchor point, such as a point in time or a point in relation to other events, for performing the role switch. To prepare for the role switch prior to the anchor point, the devices communicate a variety of information, such as information for communicating with the host device after the role switch and information for bit processing after the role switch. The slave device may use such information to serve in the master role, without the host knowing that a role switch occurred.

Seamless role switch for true wireless ear buds

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for adjusting the playback speed of accessories based on the buffer level of the received content. The accessories may receive content from a host device at a certain speed. The incoming speed of the content may be different than the playback speed of the content. Therefore, a buffer level of the received content may be determined using a linear least square ('LLS') fit of the buffer level, the average of the buffer level, or a phased locked loop (“PLL”) approach. Based on a difference between the buffer level and the playback speed, a speed adjustment may be determined. Instructions may be transmitted from a primary accessory to a secondary accessory to adjust the playback speed by a certain amount at a certain time. This may ensure that the accessories remain in sync. The accessories may then adjust their respective playback speeds.

Bluetooth earphone adaptive audio playback speed

A system and method is provided for improving signal quality in communications among fully wireless systems including a host device in wireless communication with a primary accessory which further wirelessly communicates with a secondary accessory. The host device generates information for use by the primary accessory in determining which channels have interference and should be avoided. The information may include an adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) channel map for communications between the host and the primary device, from which the primary device can infer which frequency bands have interference and generate a second AFH map for communications between the primary accessory and the secondary accessory accordingly. In other examples the information includes the second AFH map generated by the host, for example, based on an out-of-band scan. In further examples, the information includes an indication of channels used by recognized nearby access points.

External information assistant channel assessment for bluetooth adaptive frequency hopping

The present disclosure provides for role switch with perceptible continuity of audio streaming during the role switch. The role switch occurs in two stages, with a first stage including a host link role switch and a second stage including a relay link role switch. For example, the host link role switch concerns the relationship of each audio receiver device to the host device, where the master device receives audio directly from the host for relay to the slave. The relay link role switch concerns a relationship between the audio receiver devices. For example, the communication master controls timing, such as when to send packets between the master and slave devices. Each stage of the two stage procedure may take approximately 100 ms or less. Between each stage, the audio buffers of the master and slave devices have an opportunity to refill.

Two stage role switch for fully wireless earbuds

The present disclosure provides for detection of conditions, and triggering role switch between wirelessly paired devices in response to detection of particular conditions. In response to detection of particular conditions, a primary device may switch roles with a secondary device. Such conditions may include battery level of each device, signal strength of each device, audio buffer levels, whether the devices are being worn by a user, whether a microphone is active, historic data, or any combination of these or other conditions.

Detecting conditions to trigger role switch

An audio playback system may be adaptable to various situations for improved user experience and audio playback quality. For example, earbuds may be both worn by a same user, worn by two different users within audio range of one another, worn by two different users outside of audio range of one another, etc. A second earbud with a secondary microphone operates in a second mode in which it captures audio and encodes it for transmission to the first earbud having a primary microphone. The first earbud with the primary microphone operates in a first mode in which it mixes the audio received from the second earbud with audio received through its own microphone for playback. The first earbud in the first mode may also delay its own microphone stream to compensate for wireless transmission delay and correlate the two audio streams to improve audio quality in case there are sounds that can be picked up by both microphones.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey Kuramoto