Changing companion communication device behavior based on status of wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10067734-B2
Application number	US-201615172070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detecting a wearing status of a wearable device, the wearing status indicating whether a user is wearing the wearable device and sending wearing status data to a companion communication device to control a behavior of the companion communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
by a companion communication device:
determining, based on a first signal received from a primary wireless ear bud of a paired set of wireless ear buds, a first wearing status indicating that a user is wearing at least one of the primary wireless ear bud or a secondary wireless ear bud of the paired set of wireless ear buds;
selecting an audio route based on the first wearing status from at least two possible audio routes;
sending audio information of the companion communication device to a first output that is connected wirelessly to the primary wireless ear bud based on the audio route;
detecting, based on a second signal received from the primary wireless ear bud, a change in wearing status of the set of wireless ear buds to a second wearing status indicating that the user is wearing neither the primary wireless ear bud nor the secondary wireless ear bud;
selecting a second audio route from the at least two possible audio routes based on the second wearing status; and
sending the audio information of the companion communication device to a second output that is used for audio reproduction via a speaker of the companion communication device based on the second audio route.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wearing status further indicates that the user placed the primary wireless ear bud in an ear of the user.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second wearing status further indicates that the primary wireless ear bud is removed from the ear of the user.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the audio information of the companion communication device comprises audio information associated with a voice application for voice calls, and
the method further comprises when the first wearing status indicates that the user placed the primary wireless ear bud in the ear of the user:
answering an in-coming voice call; and
sending the audio information associated with the voice application for the in-coming voice call to the primary wireless ear bud via the audio route.

5. A wearable device comprising:
a processor;
a sensor configured to determine a first wearing status indicating that the wearable device is being worn; and
a communication interface configured to pair the wearable device to a companion communication device and to send a first signal to the companion communication device to cause the companion communication device to:
determine an audio route in the companion communication device based on the first wearing status, wherein the companion communication device includes at least two audio routes, and
send audio information of the companion communication device to a first output that is connected wirelessly to the wearable device based on the audio route,

wherein:
the sensor is further configured to detect a change in wearing status of the wearable device to a second wearing status indicating that the wearable device is not being worn; and
the communication interface is further configured to send a second signal to the companion communication device to cause the companion communication device to:
determine a second audio route of the at least two audio routes based on the second wearing status, and
send the audio information of the companion communication device to a second output that is used for audio reproduction via a speaker of the companion communication device based on the second audio route.

6. The wearable device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a speaker, wherein:
the communication interface is further configured to receive the audio information of the companion communication device, and
the processor is configured to play the audio information of the companion communication device via the speaker of the wearable device as the first output.

7. The wearable device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect when the wearable device is not worn by the user.

8. The wearable device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect when the wearable device is placed into an ear.

9. The wearable device of claim 8 , wherein:
the audio information of the companion communication device comprises audio information of a voice application for voice calls, and
the first signal causes the companion communication device to:
when the wearable device is placed into the ear:
answer an in-coming voice call; and
send the audio information of the voice application for the in-coming voice call to the audio route.

10. A method comprising:
by a companion communication device:
determining, based on a first signal received from a wireless ear bud that indicates whether a user is wearing the wireless ear bud, an audio route of at least two audio routes associated with the companion communication device;
receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device;
when a first wearing status indicates the user is wearing the wireless ear bud:
answering the voice call; and
sending audio information of the voice call to the wireless ear bud via the audio route; and

when the first wearing status indicates the user is not wearing the wireless ear bud:
responsive to receipt of an input via an on-screen call answering control of the companion communication device, answering the voice call and sending the audio information of the voice call to an alternate output specified by the user of the companion communication device via a second audio route of the at least two audio routes.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
when the first wearing status indicates the user is not wearing the wireless ear bud:
detecting, based on a second signal received from the wireless ear bud, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud to a second wearing status indicating that the user inserted the wireless ear bud into an ear of the user; and
responsive to detecting the change in the wearing status of the wireless ear bud to the second wearing status, sending the audio information of the voice call to the wireless ear bud via the audio route.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, based on a third signal received from the wireless ear bud, a further change in the wearing status of the wireless ear bud to a third wearing status indicating that the user removed the wireless ear bud from the ear of the user; and
responsive to detecting the change in the wearing status of the wireless ear bud to the third wearing status, sending the audio information of the voice call to a speaker of the companion communication device via the second audio route.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a text message at the companion communication device;
in response to receiving a third signal indicating a change in wearing status from the second wearing status to the first wearing status within a pre-determined threshold period of time of receiving the text message, converting the text message to audio data; and
sending the audio data to the primary wireless earbud based on the audio route.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving voice data obtained via a microphone of the primary wireless earbud; and
converting the voice data to a reply text message.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the first signal, publishing the audio route within an operating system of the companion communication device that enables user-selectable controls to route audio data from an application to the primary wireless ear bud based on the audio route; and
in response to receiving the second signal, revoking

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Watson Robert D
• Shaw David John
• Chawan Arun Dhyaneshwar
• Gillette Matthew
• Ganapathi Batta Ganesha Adkasthala
• Moore Jeffrey Chandler
• Bernhard Patrick Ian
• Chang Baek San
• Coffman Patrick Lee
• Bennett Jonathan Anderson
• Guetta Anthony
• Minoo Jahan Christian
• Rauenbuehler Keith Walter

Classifications

• H04R1/1041

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R29/001

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/162 Primary

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title