# US 9,439,011 B2 · Wearable speaker user detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,011 B2 - Document ID: US9439011B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/060,909 - Filed: 2013-10-23 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-23 - Assignees: Plantronics, Inc. - Applicants: Plantronics, Inc. - Inventors: Glenn Wardle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439011B2 ## CPC - H04R 29/00: Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements {(for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308)} - H04M 1/6058: {involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone} - H04M 3/42365: {Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity} - H04M 3/5175: {Call or contact centers supervision arrangements} - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - 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) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a speaker interface configured to provide audio to a wearable speaker of a headset and to receive speaker return signals generated by from the wearable speaker of the headset; and a user detection module configured to determine a user-related parameter based on the speaker return signals received by the speaker interface from the wearable speaker of the headset. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a speaker interface configured to provide audio to a wearable speaker and to receive speaker return signals generated by the wearable speaker; a user detection module configured to determine a user-related parameter based on the speaker return signals received by the speaker interface from the wearable speaker, wherein the user-related parameter indicates whether or not the wearable speaker is being worn by a user; and a user present module configured to provide a user present indication responsive to the user detection module determining that the wearable speaker is being worn. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an audio switch configured to provide the audio to the speaker interface responsive to the user present indication. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user detection module comprises: a heartbeat module configured to detect a heartbeat of the user based on the speaker return signals received by the speaker interface from the wearable speaker; wherein the user detection module determines the user-related parameter based on the heartbeat detected by the heartbeat module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a heart rate module configured to determine a heart rate of the user based on the heartbeat of the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a user stress module configured to determine a stress level of the user based on the heart rate of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a call module configured to provide i) an indication of the stress level of the user, and ii) identification information for a call handled by the user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a call management system configured to monitor a health of the user based on a plurality of the heart rates of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a headset, wherein the headset comprises the wearable speaker, and the user detection module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the audio is first audio, and wherein the headset further comprises: a microphone configured to provide second audio to the speaker interface. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: providing, by a processor, audio to a wearable speaker; receiving, by the processor, speaker return signals generated by the wearable speaker; determining, by the processor, a user-related parameter based on the speaker return signals generated by the wearable speaker, wherein the user-related parameter indicates whether or not the wearable speaker is being worn by a user; and providing, by the processor, a user present indication responsive to determining that the wearable speaker is being worn by the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing the audio to the speaker interface responsive to the user present indication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: detecting a heartbeat of the user based on the speaker return signals generated by the wearable speaker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining a heart rate of the user based on the heartbeat of the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining a stress level of the user based on the heart rate of the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing an indication of the stress level of the user; and providing identification information for a call handled by the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: monitoring a health of the user based on a plurality of the heart rates of the user. ### Claim 17 Computer-readable non-transitory media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform functions comprising: determining a user-related parameter based on speaker return signals generated by a wearable speaker, wherein the user-related parameter indicates whether or not the wearable speaker is being worn by a user, and providing a user present indication responsive to determining that the wearable speaker is being worn by the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 17, wherein the functions further comprise: providing the audio to the speaker interface responsive to the user present indication. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 17, wherein the functions further comprise: detecting a heartbeat of the user based on the speaker return signals generated by the wearable speaker. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 19, wherein the functions further comprise: determining a heart rate of the user based on the heartbeat of the user. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 20, wherein the functions further comprise: determining a stress level of the user based on the heart rate of the user. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 21, wherein the functions further comprise: providing an indication of the stress level of the user; and providing identification information for a call handled by the user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 22, wherein the functions further comprise: monitoring a health of the user based on a plurality of the heart rates of the user.