Patents by Inventor Aarti Kumar

Aarti Kumar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250150741
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 12294842
    Abstract: A method performed by a first electronic device that is communicatively coupled to a wireless headset, the method includes, while engaged in a call with a second electronic device, communicating with the wireless headset via a bi-directional wireless audio connection; determining that a joint media playback session has been initiated in which the first and second electronic devices are to independently stream media content for separate playback by both of the first and second electronic devices while engaging in the call; and switching to communicate with the wireless headset via a uni-directional wireless audio connection based on a determination of one or more capabilities of the wireless headset, wherein a mix of 1) one or more signals associated with the call and 2) an audio signal of the media content is transmitted to the wireless headset over the uni-directional wireless audio connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Joseph M. Williams, Dhandapani Dharumalingam, Taylor G. Carrigan
  • Publication number: 20250106636
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Natalia A. FORNSHELL, Aarti KUMAR, Robert D. WATSON, Ariane COTTE, Bob BRADLEY, Marc J. KROCHMAL, Kang SUN, Chen GANIR, Sarang S. RANADE, Akshay MANGALAM SRIVATSA
  • Patent number: 12256186
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20250039606
    Abstract: Techniques for routing communication to a common audio output device connected multiple audio signal source devices are disclosed. For each of audio signal source devices, a set of inputs are assessed. The set of inputs can include: an operational state of the audio signal source device, an interaction with the audio signal source device, an audio-producing application being executed by the audio signal source device, or a degree of user interaction with the audio-producing application. At a point in time, an audio routing score is generated for each of the audio signal source devices according to a weighted calculation of the set of inputs based on the assessing. Finally, an audio signal routing decision is made, to route an audio signal from one of the audio signal source devices to the audio output device, based on the audio routing score for each of the audio signal source devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Bob Bradley, Natalia A. Fornshell, Deepak Iyer, Astrid Yi, Michael J. Giles, Sriram Hariharan, Kang Sun, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa, Jonathan A. Bennett, Taylor G. Carrigan, Anthony J. Guetta
  • Patent number: 12185112
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Natalia A. Fornshell, Aarti Kumar, Robert D. Watson, Ariane Cotte, Bob Bradley, Marc J. Krochmal, Kang Sun, Chen Ganir, Sarang S. Ranade, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa
  • Publication number: 20240388917
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Natalia A. FORNSHELL, Aarti KUMAR, Akshay MANGALAM SRIVATSA, Ariane COTTE, Bob BRADLEY, Chen GANIR, Kang SUN, Marc J. KROCHMAL, Robert D. WATSON, Sarang S. RANADE
  • Publication number: 20240388918
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Natalia A. FORNSHELL, Aarti KUMAR, Akshay MANGALAM SRIVATSA, Ariane COTTE, Bob BRADLEY, Chen GANIR, Kang SUN, Marc J. KROCHMAL, Robert D. WATSON, Sarang S. RANADE
  • Patent number: 12075220
    Abstract: A system and method for routing communication to a common audio output device connected to each of two or more audio signal source devices. For each of the two or more audio signal source devices, a set of inputs are assessed. The set of inputs include: an operational state of the audio signal source device, an activity the audio signal source device, an audio-producing application being executed by the audio signal source device, and a degree of user activity with the audio-producing application being executed by the audio signal source. At a point in time, an audio routing score is generated for each of the two or more audio signal source devices according to a weighted calculation of the set of inputs based on the assessing. Finally, an audio signal routing decision is made, to route an audio signal from one of the two or more audio signal source devices to the audio output device, based on the audio routing score for each of the two or more audio signal source devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Bob Bradley, Natalia A. Fornshell, Deepak Iyer, Astrid Yi, Michael J. Giles, Sriram Hariharan, Kang Sun, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa, Jonathan A. Bennett, Taylor G. Carrigan, Anthony J. Guetta
  • Publication number: 20240259721
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 12010496
    Abstract: A method performed by an audio source device. The method receives a first audio signal and a second, different audio signal and encodes the first audio signal and the second audio signal, wherein the first audio signal is encoded differently than the second audio signal. The method generates a first data packet that comprises the first encoded audio signal and a first volume level and a second data packet that comprises the second encoded audio signal and a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is lower than the second volume level and transmits, over a wireless connection, the first and second data packets as a dual audio stream to an audio output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Shehryar Lasi, Baptiste P. Paquier, Brian Clark
  • Patent number: 11997496
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Natalia A Fornshell, Aarti Kumar, Robert D. Watson, Ariane Cotte, Bob Bradley, Marc J. Krochmal, Kang Sun, Chen Ganir, Sarang S. Ranade, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 11937037
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20240007863
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Natalia A. FORNSHELL, Aarti KUMAR, Robert D. WATSON, Ariane COTTE, Bob BRADLEY, Marc J. KROCHMAL, Kang SUN, Chen GANIR, Sarang S. RANADE, Akshay MANGALAM SRIVATSA
  • Patent number: 11595316
    Abstract: A source device executing the application can transmit the streaming content to the playback device. The size of the buffer can be changed during the playback of streaming content. To perform the change seamlessly, embodiments can cause the application to provide the streaming content at an increased or decreased rate, depending on how the size of the playback buffer is to be changed. The new buffer size (i.e., smaller or larger amount) can provide improved playback of the streaming content, e.g., based on a latency-reliability tradeoff as determined using various factors (e.g., quality of connection between the devices). The changed rate for providing the streaming content can be achieved by slowing down or speeding up a clock signal that is provided to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Natalia A. Fornshell, Suraj Sumangala, Ahmad Rahmati
  • Publication number: 20220392460
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to modify the Bluetooth mono HFP protocol to support bi-directional stereo operation for high bandwidth audio including 12-KHz wide-band, 16-KHz super wide-band (SWB), and 24-KHz full band (FB) audio. The techniques leverage the larger packet size and longer duty cycle of the 2-EV5 transport packet and expand the block size of the audio frames generated by the AAC-ELD codec to increase the maximum data throughput from the 64 kbps of the mono HFP protocol to 192 kbps using a stereo HFP protocol. The increased throughput not only supports stereo operations, but allows the transport of redundant or FEC packets for increased robustness against packet loss. In one aspect, the AAC-ELD codec may be configured for dynamic bit rate switching to flexibly perform trade-offs between audio quality and robustness against packet loss. The stereo HFP may configure the maximum throughput based on the desired audio quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Eric A. Allamanche, Su Fu, Leijun Dong
  • Publication number: 20220369034
    Abstract: A method performed by a first electronic device that is communicatively coupled to a wireless headset, the method includes, while engaged in a call with a second electronic device, communicating with the wireless headset via a bi-directional wireless audio connection; determining that a joint media playback session has been initiated in which the first and second electronic devices are to independently stream media content for separate playback by both of the first and second electronic devices while engaging in the call; and switching to communicate with the wireless headset via a uni-directional wireless audio connection based on a determination of one or more capabilities of the wireless headset, wherein a mix of 1) one or more signals associated with the call and 2) an audio signal of the media content is transmitted to the wireless headset over the uni-directional wireless audio connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Joseph M. Williams, Dhandapani Dharumalingam, Taylor G. Carrigan
  • Publication number: 20220295169
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 11363363
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20220103948
    Abstract: A method performed by an audio source device. The method receives a first audio signal and a second, different audio signal and encodes the first audio signal and the second audio signal, wherein the first audio signal is encoded differently than the second audio signal. The method generates a first data packet that comprises the first encoded audio signal and a first volume level and a second data packet that comprises the second encoded audio signal and a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is lower than the second volume level and transmits, over a wireless connection, the first and second data packets as a dual audio stream to an audio output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Aarti Kumar, Shehryar Lasi, Baptiste P. Paquier, Brian Clark