Changing companion communication device behavior based on status of wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11630636-B2
Application number	US-202117222934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2021
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

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:
detecting, based on a signal received from a wearable audio output device, a change in wearing status from a first status to a second status; and
changing, based at least in part on the change in wearing status of the wearable audio output device:
an audio output operation of the companion communication device; and
display of a user-selectable control for routing audio information associated with one or more applications executing on the companion communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the audio output operation of the companion communication device comprises:
selecting an audio route from at least two possible audio routes based on the change in wearing status; and
sending audio information associated with the companion communication device to an audio output of the companion communication device when the change in wearing status indicates that the wearable audio output device is not being worn.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the audio information associated with the companion communication device comprises audio information corresponding to a voice call application.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the audio information associated with the companion communication device comprises audio information corresponding to a media application executing on the companion communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
changing the display of the user-selectable control for routing audio information comprises removing an option associated with the wearable audio output device as an audio route.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
changing the audio output operation of the companion communication device comprises pausing output of audio information by the companion communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
changing the audio output operation of the companion communication device comprises un-publishing, by an operating system component, availability of an audio route associated with the wearable audio output device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the wearable audio output device comprises at least one ear bud of a pair of ear buds; and
the wearing status indicates whether the at least one ear bud is being worn by a user.

9. A wearable device comprising:
a processor;
a speaker;
a sensor configured to determine a change in wearing status of the wearable device; and
a communication interface configured to pair the wearable device with a companion communication device and to send a first signal to the companion communication device to cause the companion communication device to:
detect, based on a signal received from the wearable device, a change in wearing status from a first wearing status that indicates the wearable device is being worn to a second wearing status that indicates the wearable device is not being worn; and
change, based at least in part on the change in wearing status of the wearable device, display of a user-selectable control for routing audio information associated with one or more applications executing on the companion communication device.

10. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein:
the communication interface is further configured to receive audio information associated with the companion communication device, and
the processor is configured to generate an audio output signal, for output by the speaker, based on the received audio information.

11. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the first signal to the companion communication device causes the companion communication device to:
select an audio route from at least two possible audio routes based on the change in wearing status; and
send, based on the audio route, audio information associated with the companion communication device to an audio output of the companion communication device instead of to the wearable device.

12. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein change display of the user-selectable control for routing audio information comprises:
removing an option for the wearable device as an audio route.

13. A companion communication device comprising:
a wireless communications interface configured to communicate with a wireless ear bud;
a speaker for outputting audio;
a processor coupled to the wireless communications interface; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the companion communication device to perform operations including:
detecting, based at least on a signal received from the wireless ear bud, a change in wearing status from a first wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is not being worn; and
changing, based at least in part on the change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud:
a behavior of the companion communication device; and
display of a user-selectable control to route audio information associated with one or more applications executing on the companion communication device.

14. The companion communication device of claim 13 , wherein changing the behavior of the companion communication device comprises:
selecting an audio route from at least two possible audio routes based on the change in the wearing status; and
sending, based on the audio route, audio information associated with the companion communication device to an audio output of the companion communication device.

15. The companion communication device of claim 13 , wherein:
changing the display of the user-selectable control to route audio information comprises removing an audio route option associated with the wireless ear bud.

16. The companion communication device of claim 13 , wherein:
changing the behavior of the companion communication device comprises pausing audio information of the companion communication device.

17. The companion communication device of claim 13 , wherein:
changing, based on the change in wearing status, the behavior of the companion communication device comprises un-publishing, by an operating system component, availability of an audio route associated with the wireless ear bud.

18. The companion communication device of claim 17 , wherein:
un-publishing the availability of the audio route associated with the wireless ear buds disallows selecting, on the companion communication device, the wireless ear bud for audio reproduction.

19. An apparatus for operation in a companion communication device, the apparatus comprising:
a processor communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the companion communication device to perform actions including:
detecting, based on a signal received from a wearable audio output device, a change in wearing status from a first status to a second status; and
changing, based at least in part on the change in wearing status of the wearable audio output device:
an audio output operation of the companion communication device; and
display of a user-selectable control for routing audio information associated with one or more applications executing on the companion communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein changing the audio output operation of the companion communication device comprises:
selecting an audio route from at least two possible audio routes based on the change in wearing status; and
sending audio information associated with the companion communication device to a

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

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

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

• H04R1/1025

  Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof · CPC title

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• G06F3/162 Primary

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