Seamless Role Switch for True Wireless Ear Buds
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsXuemei Ouyang, Jeffrey Kuramoto, Shijing Xian, Jiang Zhu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims20
A wireless accessory device, comprising:
- a wireless communication interface adapted for communication with a host device and a second wireless accessory device;
- a memory;
- and
- one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors configured to execute a first set of operations to perform a role switch from a slave mode to a master mode, the first set of operations comprising:
- negotiating a first anchor point for the role switch from the slave mode to the master mode;
- receiving, from the second wireless accessory device and over the wireless communications interface, logical link information for communicating with the host device;
- receiving, from the second wireless accessory device and over the wireless communications interface, bit processing information, the bit processing information comprising cyclic redundancy check and header error check states;
- and
- responsive to receiving the bit processing information, performing the role switch from the slave mode to the master mode at the first anchor point, the role switch from the slave mode to the master mode comprising:
- receiving packets directly from the host device after the first anchor point;
- and
- relaying the receiving packets to the second wireless accessory device.
A method for role switching from a slave role to a master role, comprising:
- negotiating, using one or more processors, an anchor point for the role switch;
- receiving logical link information from a wirelessly paired device in the master role, the logical link information for communicating with the host device;
- receiving, from the wirelessly paired device in the master role, bit processing information, the bit processing information comprising header error check states;
- establishing direct communication with the host device using the received logical link information, at or after the anchor point;
- and
- receiving packets directly from the host device after the anchor point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.