Changing companion communication device behavior based on status of wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12229473-B2
Application number	US-202318301868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

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 wireless ear bud, a first wearing status that indicates whether the wireless ear bud is being worn;
receiving a text message at the companion communication device; and
when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:
generating audio data corresponding to at least a part of the text message; and
sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and
subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call at the companion communication device, and when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn:
detecting, based on a second signal received from the wireless ear bud subsequent to the first signal, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn; and
responsive to detecting the change in the wearing status to the second wearing status, sending audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
detecting, based on a third signal received from the wireless ear bud subsequent to the second signal, a further change in the wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is no longer being worn; and
responsive to detecting the further change in the wearing status, sending the audio information of the voice call to a speaker of the companion communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and
subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call:
when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:
sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and 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 associated with the voice call to an alternate audio output.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and responsive to detecting, within a threshold period of time of receiving the text message, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud from the first wearing status to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn:
generating the audio data corresponding to the at least a portion of the text message; and
sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving voice data obtained via a microphone of the wireless ear bud; and
converting the voice data to a reply text message.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is being worn:
publishing, within an operating system of the companion communication device, availability of an audio route that enables a user-selectable control for routing audio data from an application to the wireless ear bud.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
in response to receiving, subsequent to the first signal, a signal indicating the wireless ear bud is not being worn:
un-publishing, within the operating system of the companion communication device, availability of the audio route.

9. 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 communication interface; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the companion communication device to perform operations including:
determining, based on a first signal received from the wireless ear bud, a first wearing status that indicates whether the wireless ear bud is worn;
receiving a text message at the companion communication device; and
when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:
generating audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the text message; and
sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

10. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and
subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call at the companion communication device, and when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn:
detecting, based on a second signal subsequently received from the wireless ear bud, a change to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn; and
responsive to detecting the change to the second wearing status, automatically sending audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud.

11. The companion communication device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:
detecting, based on a third signal received from the wireless ear bud, a further change to a third wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is no longer being worn; and
responsive to detecting the further change to the third wearing status, automatically sending audio information associated with the voice call to the speaker of the companion communication device.

12. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and
subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call:
when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:
sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and 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 associated with the voice call to an alternate audio output.

13. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn and responsive to detecting, within a threshold period of time of receiving the text message, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud from the first wearing status to a second wearing status indicating the wireless ear bud is being worn:
generating the audio data corresponding to the at least a portion of the text message; and
sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

14. The companion communication device of claim 2 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving voice data obtained via a microphone of the wireless ear bud; and
converting at least a portion of the received voice data to a reply text message.

15. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is worn:
publishing, within an operating system of the companion communication device, availability of an audio route that enables a user-selectable control for routing audio data from an application to the wireless ear bud

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

• G06F3/162 Primary

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

• H04R29/001

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

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title