CN-122027941-A - Synchronous mode switching

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer readable media, devices, and apparatuses for synchronous mode conversion are presented. A first device configured to be worn at an ear includes a processor configured to generate an audio signal based on audio data in a first contextual mode. The processor is further configured to exchange a time indication of the first time with the second device in the first context mode. The processor is further configured to transition from the first context mode to the second context mode at a first time based on the time indication.

Inventors

• K. Lakshminarayayanan
• ROBERTS MATTHEW A.
• BEAN JEREMY JOHN
• W. A. Suluaga
• R. G. Alves

Assignees

• 高通股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20210616

Priority Date

20210615

Claims (20)

1. 1. A first device configured to be worn at an ear, the first device comprising a processor configured to: in a first context mode, generating an audio signal based on the audio data; exchanging, in the first context mode, a time indication of a first time with a second device, wherein the time indication is based on detection of a first condition of a microphone signal, and Based on the time indication, transitioning from the first context mode to a second context mode at the first time.
2. 2. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first contextual mode corresponds to a first mode of operation of an active noise reduction (ANC) filter that is different from a second mode of operation of the ANC filter that corresponds to the second contextual mode.
3. 3. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first condition is detected based on detecting that the microphone signal corresponds to user speech captured by an external microphone.
4. 4. The first device of claim 1, wherein active noise reduction is enabled in the first context mode, and wherein the second context mode corresponds to a transparent mode.
5. 5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first condition is detected based on detecting that the microphone signal corresponds to greater than a threshold wind noise.
6. 6. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first contextual mode corresponds to a mode that enables active noise reduction (ANC), and wherein the second contextual mode corresponds to a mode that disables ANC.
7. 7. The first device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: Based on detecting the first condition of the microphone signal, causing transmission of a change indication to change from the first contextual mode to the second contextual mode, and Receiving a reply to the change indication, wherein the transition from the first contextual mode to the second contextual mode is further based on receiving the reply.
8. 8. The first device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to cause transmission of the time indication concurrently with transmission of the change indication.
9. 9. The first device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to receive the time indication concurrently with receiving the reply.
10. 10. The first device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to detect the first condition based on a determination that ambient noise indicated by the microphone signal remains below a first noise threshold for at least a first threshold time.
11. 11. The first device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to: based on detecting a second condition of the microphone signal, causing transmission of a second change indication to change from the second contextual mode to the first contextual mode, and At a second time, transitioning from the second contextual mode to the first contextual mode.
12. 12. The first device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to detect the second condition based on a determination that ambient noise indicated by the microphone signal remains above a second noise threshold for at least a second threshold time.
13. 13. The first device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive a second response to the second change indication, wherein the transition from the second context mode to the first context mode is based on receiving the second response.
14. 14. The first device of claim 11, wherein the transition from the second context mode to the first context mode is independent of receiving any response to the second change indication.
15. 15. The first device of claim 1, further comprising one or more antennas configured to transmit modulation data to or receive modulation data from the second device based on the time indication.
16. 16. The first device of claim 15, further comprising one or more modems coupled to the one or more antennas, the one or more modems configured to demodulate the modulated data to determine the time indication or to generate the modulated data based on the time indication.
17. 17. The first device of claim 1, further comprising one or more speakers configured to present an anti-noise signal in the first contextual mode.
18. 18. A method, comprising: generating, at a first device, an audio signal based on the audio data in a first context mode; exchanging, in the first context mode, a time indication of a first time with a second device, wherein the time indication is based on detection of a first condition of a microphone signal, and At the first device, transitioning from the first contextual mode to a second contextual mode at the first time, the transitioning based on the time indication.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first contextual mode corresponds to a first mode of operation of an active noise reduction (ANC) filter that is different from a second mode of operation of the ANC filter that corresponds to the second contextual mode.
20. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein active noise reduction is enabled in the first context mode, and wherein the second context mode corresponds to a transparent mode.

Description

Synchronous mode switching The application relates to a divisional application of a Chinese patent application with 2021, 6-month and 16-day application number 202180034714.2 and the name of synchronous mode conversion. Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims enjoying the benefit of the commonly owned priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/039,709, filed on 16 months of 2020, and U.S. non-provisional patent application No. 17/348,646, filed on 15 months of 2021, the entire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to audio signal processing. Background Audible devices or "headphones (hearables)" (also known as "smart headphones", "smart headsets" or "smart earplugs") are becoming increasingly popular. Such devices are designed to be worn on or in the ear, which have been used for a variety of purposes including wireless transmission and fitness tracking. Headphones typically include a speaker that reproduces sound to the user's ear and a microphone for perceiving the user's voice and/or ambient sound. In some cases, the user may change the mode of operation of the headset (e.g., enable or disable noise reduction). Having the headset dynamically change operating mode independent of user input may be more user friendly. For example, headphones may automatically enable the noise reduction function in a noisy environment. However, if the user wears multiple headphones, the lack of synchronization between the headphones when changing modes can adversely affect the user experience. For example, if a user wears one earpiece on each ear and only one of the earpieces has noise reduction enabled, the user may have an unbalanced auditory experience. Disclosure of Invention According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a first device is configured to be worn at an ear. The first device includes a processor configured to generate an audio signal based on audio data in a first contextual mode. The processor is further configured to exchange a time indication of the first time with the second device in the first context mode. The processor is further configured to transition from the first context mode to the second context mode at a first time based on the time indication. According to another implementation of the present disclosure, a method includes, at a first device, generating an audio signal based on audio data in a first contextual mode. The method also includes exchanging, in a first context mode, a time indication of a first time with the second device. The method also includes, at the first device, transitioning from the first context mode to the second context mode at a first time. The conversion is based on the time indication. According to another implementation of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate an audio signal based on audio data in a first context mode. The non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to exchange a time indication of a first time with a device in a first context mode. The non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transition from a first context mode to a second context mode at a first time. The conversion is based on the time indication. According to another implementation of the present disclosure, an apparatus includes a generation unit to generate an audio signal based on audio data. The audio signal is generated in a first context mode. The apparatus further comprises a switching unit for switching with the device a time indication of the first time, the time indication being switched in the first context mode. The apparatus further comprises a switching unit for switching from the first context mode to the second context mode at a first time. The conversion is based on the time indication. Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections, detailed description, and claims. Drawings By way of example, aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. Fig. 1A is a block diagram of illustrative aspects of a headset, according to some examples of the present disclosure. Fig. 1B is a diagram of illustrative aspects of communication between a pair of headphones, according to some examples of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a diagram of an illustrative aspect of an earphone configured to be worn on a user's right ear, in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. FIG. 3A is a flow chart of illustrative aspects of a method of performing synchronous mode conversi