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US 2017/0013342 A1Published application
Wireless audio output devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert D. WATSON, David John SHAW, Ganesha Adkasthala GANAPATHI BATTA, Chandrahas Aralaguppe CHANDRAMOHAN, Gregory Robert BURNS, Benjamin Huth BYER
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for determining when to wirelessly communicatively couple together a pair of untethered wireless audio output devices and for determining when to erase a connection history stored on one or both of the wireless audio output devices.
Claims20
A method for wirelessly pairing an audio output device with a companion communication device, the method comprising:
- detecting opening of a cover of a case that houses the audio output device;
- determining, responsive to detecting the opening of the cover of the case, whether the audio output device is wirelessly paired with the companion communication device;
- causing the audio output device to be discoverable by the companion communication device, when:
- the audio output device is not paired with the companion communication device;
- and
- the companion communication device is within a wireless personal area network pairing range of the audio output device;
- and
- pairing the audio output device with the companion communication device.
5 more elements
A case for storing audio output devices, the case comprising:
- a housing for storing one or more audio output devices, the housing including a cover;
- a sensor communicatively coupled to the cover, the sensor indicating opening of the cover;
- a network interface configurable for wireless communication with a companion communication device;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor cause a method to be performed, the method comprising:
- detecting opening of the cover;
- determining, responsive to detecting the opening of the cover, whether an audio output device stored in the housing is wirelessly paired with the companion communication device;
- causing the audio output device to be discoverable by the companion communication device, when:
- the audio output device is not paired with the companion communication device;
- and
- the companion communication device is within a wireless personal area network pairing range of the case that houses the audio output device;
- and
- pairing the audio output device with the companion communication device.
10 more elements
A wireless ear bud comprising:
- a communication interface configurable for wireless communication with a companion communication device;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled with a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor cause operations to be performed, the operations comprising:
- receiving a signal from a case housing the wireless ear bud, the signal indicating that a cover of the case has been opened;
- entering a pairing mode in which the wireless ear bud can be paired with the companion communication device;
- and
- pairing with the companion communication device.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.