# US 11,310,599 B2 · Dummy head for electronic calls

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,310,599 B2
- Document ID: US11310599B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/120,220
- Filed: 2020-12-13
- Published: 2021-04-01
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-08
- Applicants: Glen A. Norris; Philip Scott Lyren
- Inventors: Glen A. Norris; Philip Scott Lyren
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310599B2

## CPC

- H04R 5/027: Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
- H04S 7/304: {For headphones}
- F21Y 2101/00: Point-like light sources
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04S 2400/01: Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
- H04S 2420/01: Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A method captures binaural sound of a voice of a first user with microphones located at left and rights ears of a dummy head. The dummy head transmits the voice of the first user to a portable electronic device with or near the first user. This portable electronic device transmits the binaural sound over one or more networks to another electronic device being used by a second user to communicate with the first user during the electronic call.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
capturing, with microphones in a dummy human head shaped like a human head, a voice of a first user in binaural sound;
transmitting, with a wireless transmitter in the dummy human head, the voice of the first user in the binaural sound to a portable electronic device (PED) of a second user;
receiving, with a receiver in the dummy head, a voice of the second user from the PED of the second user;
playing, with speakers in the dummy head, the voice of the second user to the first user; and
executing, by the dummy human head, a voice command from the first user to stop transmitting the voice of the first user in the binaural sound.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the microphones in the dummy head are spaced apart six inches, and the dummy head has a shape of an ovoid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
reducing processing of the voice by capturing, with the microphones in the dummy head, the voice with binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying, with a light of the dummy head, a visual indication that indicates when the dummy head is capturing the voice of the first user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
sensing, with a sensor of the dummy head, a proximity of the first user to the dummy head.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, with a user interface on the dummy head, a command from the first user to start capturing the voice of the first user.

### Claim 7

A dummy head comprising:
a body shaped like a human head;
microphones in ears that capture binaural sound;
a wireless receiver that receives a voice of a user; and
speakers that play the voice of the user, wherein the microphones receive a voice command that causes the dummy head to start capturing and transmitting the binaural sound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7 further comprising:
a wireless transmitter that transmits the binaural sound to a portable electronic device of the user during an electronic communication with the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7 further comprising:
a light that activates during an electronic communication with the user to indicate when the microphones are capturing the binaural sound.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7 further comprising:
a light that activates during an electronic communication with the user to indicate when the binaural sound is being transmitted to an electronic device of the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7 further comprising:
a sensor that senses a gesture command that causes the microphones to commence capturing the binaural sound.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7 further comprising:
a sensor that detects proximity of a person to the dummy head.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The dummy head of claim 7, wherein the dummy head captures the binaural sound as one of head-related impulse responses (HRIRs) and binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs).

### Claim 14

An electronic device, comprising:
a dummy head with ears having microphones that capture a voice of a first user as binaural sound with head-related impulse responses (HRIRs);
a receiver that receives a voice of a second user during an electronic communication between the first user and the second user;
a transmitter that transmits the voice of the first user as the binaural sound to an electronic device of the second user; and
a processor that processes a voice command from the first user to stop transmitting the voice of the first user to the second user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The electronic device of claim 14 further comprising:
speakers that play the voice of the second user to the first user during the electronic communication between the first user and the second user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the dummy head is shaped as a human head.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the dummy head includes a light that activates while the voice of the first user transmits to the electronic device of the second user.