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US 2022/0030346 A1Published application
Wireless audio output devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert D. WATSON, David John SHAW, Ganesh Adkasthala GANAPATHI BATTA, Chandrahas Aralaguppe CHANDRAMOHAN, Gregory Robert BURNS, Benjamin Huth BYER
Life of this patent
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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 controlling a wireless ear bud, the method comprising:
- responsive to an input to answer a connection request:
- configuring the wireless ear bud to an active microphone state, when the wireless ear bud is in a muted microphone state;
- and
- connecting the wireless ear bud directly to a companion communication device, when the wireless ear bud is connected indirectly to the companion communication device via a second wireless ear bud;
- and
- answering the connection request via the wireless ear bud while in the active microphone state and via the companion communication device to which the wireless ear bud is directly connected.
3 more elements
A wireless ear bud comprising:
- a communications interface configured to communicate with a companion communication device and with a second wireless ear bud;
- a memory storing instructions for controlling operation of the wireless ear bud;
- and
- a processor that, in response to execution of the instructions, is configured to:
- responsive to an input to answer a connection request:
- configure the wireless ear bud to an active microphone state, when the wireless ear bud is in a muted microphone state;
- and
- connect the wireless ear bud directly to a companion communication device, when the wireless ear bud is connected indirectly to the companion communication device via a second wireless ear bud;
- and
- answer the connection request via the wireless ear bud while in the active microphone state and via the companion communication device to which the wireless ear bud is directly connected.
7 more elements
A companion communication device comprising:
- a communications interface configured to communicate with a first wireless ear bud and a second wireless ear bud;
- a memory storing instructions for controlling operation of the companion communication device;
- and
- a processor that, in response to execution of the instructions, is configured to:
- responsive to an indication to answer a connection request:
- configure the first wireless ear bud to an active microphone state, when the first wireless ear bud is in a muted microphone state;
- and connect the first wireless ear bud directly to the companion communication device, when the first wireless ear bud is connected indirectly to the companion communication device via the second wireless ear bud;
- and answer the connection request while the first wireless ear bud is in the active microphone state and connected directly to the companion communication device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.