CN-116668571-B - Role exchange between untethered wireless connected devices

CN116668571BCN 116668571 BCN116668571 BCN 116668571BCN-116668571-B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to role exchange between untethered wireless connected devices. Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media are provided for performing role exchange operations between a pair of untethered wireless earplugs after detection of a triggering event. In addition, status information may be coordinated between devices, including in conjunction with role exchanges between earplugs in a pair of wireless, untethered earplugs, where one wireless earplug is in a primary role and responsible for connection with a companion device, and the other wireless earplug in the pair is in a secondary role.

Inventors

S. Hariri Haran
G - A - ganapathi Bart
T. J. Dreier
C. S. VBE
The AN Er Sibalai that continues
D.N.Pan
D.J. SHAW
R.D. Watson
A. Platts

Assignees

苹果公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20170421
Priority Date: 20160422

Claims (20)

1. A method for exchanging roles of wireless earplugs, the method comprising: A first wireless earpiece configured to operate in a primary role to receive data directly from a source device: Determining that the first wireless earpiece is not connected to a second wireless earpiece configured to operate in a secondary role, the first wireless earpiece previously connected to the second wireless earpiece; determining that the first wireless earplug is not connected to the source device to which the first wireless earplug was previously connected; receiving an error message in response to attempting to reconnect with the source device, the error message indicating that the source device is connected to another wireless earplug configured to operate in a primary role, and An uncoordinated role swap is performed, reconfiguring the first wireless earpiece to operate in a secondary role.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein attempting to reconnect with the source device comprises paging the source device by a first wireless earplug.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: a first wireless earpiece receives the error message from the source device in response to paging the source device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless earplug, when configured to operate in a primary role, is further configured to: remain in idle connectable mode until a predetermined timeout time, and Uncoordinated role exchanges are performed by reconfiguring the first wireless earpiece to operate in a secondary role after a predetermined timeout.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless earpiece, after being configured to operate in the secondary role, is configured to page the second wireless earpiece to attempt to establish the second wireless connection.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: Based on the status information stored in the first wireless earpiece, it is determined that the first wireless earpiece is configured to operate in a primary role.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the status information indicates that the first wireless earpiece was most recently connected to the source device using the assigned device media access control, MAC, address.
8. A wireless audio device, comprising: processor, and A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, are effective to cause the wireless audio device to: Determining, by the wireless audio device configured to operate in a primary role to directly receive data from a source device, that the wireless audio device is not connected to a second wireless audio device configured to operate in a secondary role, the wireless audio device previously connected to the second wireless audio device; determining that the wireless audio device is not connected to the source device to which the wireless audio device was previously connected; Receiving an error message in response to attempting to reconnect with the source device, the error message indicating that the source device is connected to another wireless audio device configured to operate in a primary role, and Non-coordinated role exchanges are performed, reconfiguring the wireless audio device to operate in a secondary role.
9. The wireless audio device of claim 8, wherein attempting to reconnect with the source device comprises paging the source device by the wireless audio device.
10. The wireless audio device of claim 9, wherein: the wireless audio device receives the error message from the source device in response to paging the source device.
11. The wireless audio device of claim 8, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless audio device, when configured to operate in a primary role: remain in idle connectable mode until a predetermined timeout time, and Uncoordinated role switching is performed by reconfiguring the wireless audio device to operate in a secondary role after a predetermined timeout.
12. The wireless audio device of claim 8, wherein the wireless audio device, after being configured to operate in a secondary role, is configured to page a second wireless audio device to attempt to establish a second wireless connection.
13. The wireless audio device of claim 8, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless audio device to determine that the wireless audio device is configured to operate in the primary role based on state information stored in the wireless audio device.
14. The wireless audio device of claim 13, wherein the status information indicates that the wireless audio device was most recently connected to the source device using an assigned device media access control, MAC, address.
15. A wireless earpiece configured to operate in a primary role to directly receive data from a source device, the wireless earpiece comprising: A communication interface; processor, and A memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless earbud to: determining that the wireless earpiece is not connected to a second wireless earpiece configured to operate in a secondary role, the wireless earpiece previously connected to the second wireless earpiece, Determining that the wireless earbud is not connected to a source device to which the wireless earbud was previously connected, Receiving an error message in response to attempting to reconnect with the source device, the error message indicating that the source device is connected to another wireless earplug configured to operate in a primary role, and An uncoordinated role swap is performed, reconfiguring the wireless earbud to operate with a secondary role.
16. The wireless earplug of claim 15, wherein attempting to reconnect with the source device comprises paging the source device by the wireless earplug.
17. The wireless earplug of claim 16, wherein: The wireless earbud receives the error message from the source device in response to paging the source device.
18. The wireless earplug of claim 15, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless earplug to, when configured to operate in a primary role: remain in idle connectable mode until a predetermined timeout time, and An uncoordinated role exchange is performed after a predetermined timeout by reconfiguring the wireless earbud to operate with a secondary role.
19. The wireless earpiece of claim 15, wherein the wireless earpiece, after being configured to operate in a secondary role, is configured to page a second wireless earpiece to attempt to establish a second wireless connection.
20. The wireless earplug of claim 15, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless earplug to: the wireless earbud is configured to operate in a primary role based on status information stored in the wireless earbud indicating that the wireless earbud was most recently connected to the source device using an assigned device media access control, MAC, address.

Description

Role exchange between untethered wireless connected devices The application is a divisional application of an application patent application with the application date of 2017, 4 and 21, the application number of 202110217033.1 and entitled "role exchange between wireless connection devices which are not tethered", wherein the aforesaid application patent application is a divisional application of an application patent application with the application date of 2017, 4 and 21, the application number of 201780002928.5 and entitled "role exchange between wireless connection devices which are not tethered". Technical Field The present technology relates to coordinating status information among devices, including exchanging roles among wireless audio devices. Background Personal audio playback devices are typically designed as a pair of speakers that are worn in or on the ears of a user and tethered to each other by wires. Speakers also typically have a wired connection to an audio device, such as a portable electronic device configured to play audio. Some personal audio playback devices are configured to wirelessly connect with portable electronic devices. These audio playback devices typically involve a pair of speakers tethered to each other by a wiring harness, the speakers having dedicated roles. Disclosure of Invention Features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the principles disclosed herein. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein. The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media for coordinating status information among devices, including performing role exchanges between each of a pair of untethered wireless earpieces, one of which is in a primary role and responsible for interfacing with a companion device (e.g., a smart phone, a watch, etc.), and the other of which is in a secondary role. In some implementations, the role exchange may be imperceptible to the companion device (i.e., the role exchange does not occur with the identification of the companion device). Such role exchange may be necessary or useful, for example, if it is determined that a wireless earpiece in a secondary role is to be used (e.g., in a user's ear) while it is determined that a wireless earpiece in a primary role is not to be used (e.g., outside the user's ear), or under other conditions, such as when the battery level of the wireless earpiece in the primary role is low and needs to be charged while the wireless earpiece in the secondary role has sufficient power. The method used to perform the exchange may depend on the wireless connection protocol (synchronous or asynchronous) between the wireless earbud in its primary role and the companion device. In an asynchronous connection, such as for music streaming, a wireless ear piece in a primary role (e.g., a right ear piece) may request that the companion device temporarily cease transmitting data over the connection between the wireless ear piece in the primary role and the companion device while maintaining a connection session between the wireless ear piece and the companion device. During a temporary stop of data transmission, the wireless ear bud in the primary role (right ear bud) and the wireless ear bud in the secondary role (left ear bud) may exchange status data and exchange roles such that the wireless ear bud previously in the secondary role (left ear bud) assumes the primary role. Once the wireless earpiece in the secondary role (left earpiece) takes over the primary role, the companion device resumes sending data and sends to the wireless earpiece taking over the primary role (left ear). The companion device may not know that the wireless earbud (left earbud) in the secondary role has assumed the primary role because the wireless earbud that has assumed the primary role has complete status information and has employed the necessary address(s) and/or identifier(s) previously used to identify the wireless earbud (right earbud) in the primary role earlier. In this way, the role exchange may be imperceptible to the companion device. In synchronous connections such as those used for voice communications, wireless earplugs in the primary role do not require the companion device to temporarily stop data transmission. In contrast, the wireless ear piece in the primary role and the wireless ear piece in the secondary role perform role exchange at the time of data transmission. The companion device may not be aware of the exchange since the data transfer is not interrupted. In s