# US 2011/0295397 A1 · Music headphones for manual control of ambient sound > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2011/0295397 A1 - Document ID: US20110295397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/208,394 - Filed: 2011-08-12 - Published: 2011-12-01 - Earliest claimed: 2002-05-06 - Assignees: SyncroNation, Inc. - Inventors: David Goldberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20110295397A1 ## CPC - G10H 1/0083: {using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared} - G10H 1/0025: {Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece (automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26)} - G10H 1/40: Rhythm - G10H 2210/076: for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection - G10H 2240/175: for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor - G10H 2240/251: Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS - G10H 2240/305: Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes - G10H 2240/325: Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings - H04H 60/58: of audio {(determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00)} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - 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) ## Abstract A headphone and method for allowing manually controlled reception of ambient sound by a user. More particularly, the invention relates to a headphone for listening to an audio signal while allowing varying amounts of ambient sound to the user. In one aspect, the headphone comprises a manually-controllable physical characteristic that controls the amount of ambient sound accessible to the user. The physical characteristic can be sound ports that can be opened or closed. In another aspect, the headphone can comprise a microphone receptive of ambient sound, wherein the user can control the proportion of sound that comes from the ambient sound or the audio signal. The microphone can be part of a noise cancellation system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operation of a first user device comprising: playing a media file at the first user device; and sending synchronization signals to a second user device to effect synchronous playback of the media file at the first and second user devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein sending the synchronization signals comprises sending a time stamp from a beginning of the media file to a current position of the media file being played at the first user device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein sending the synchronization signals comprises sending a sample number of the media file currently being played at the first user device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the media file from the first user device to the second user device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein transferring the media file comprises transferring the media file from the first user device to the second user device through a peer-to-peer transfer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 further comprising commencing the sending of the synchronization signals to the second user device once a sufficient amount of the media file has been transferred to the second user device to allow the synchronous playback of the media file at the first and second user devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the sufficient amount of the media file is less than all of the media file. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 further comprising commencing the sending of the synchronization signals to the second user device once the media file has been transferred to the second user device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the media file is a media file stored by both the first user device and the second user device. ### Claim 10 A user device comprising: a communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the user device to a second user device; and a controller associated with the communication interface adapted to: play a media file at the user device; and send synchronization signals to the second user device via the communication interface to effect synchronous playback of the media file at the user device and the second user device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The user device of claim 10 wherein the synchronization signals comprise a time stamp from a beginning of the media file to a current position of the media file being played at the user device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The user device of claim 10 wherein the synchronization signals comprises a sample number of the media file currently being played at the user device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The user device of claim 10 wherein the controller is further adapted to transfer the media file from the user device to the second user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The user device of claim 13 wherein the media file is transferred from the user device to the second user device through a peer-to-peer transfer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The user device of claim 13 wherein the controller is further adapted to commence sending of the synchronization signals to the second user device once a sufficient amount of the media file has been transferred to the second user device to allow the synchronous playback of the media file at the user device and the second user device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The user device of claim 15 wherein the sufficient amount of the media file is less than all of the media file. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The user device of claim 13 wherein the controller is further adapted to commence sending of the synchronization signals to the second user device once the media file has been transferred to the second user device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The user device of claim 10 wherein the media file is a media file stored by both the user device and the second user device.