Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, a memory operatively connected to the processor and disposed within the earpiece housing, and a plurality of software applications stored within the memory. The earpiece is configured to allow a user of the earpiece to select one of the plurality of software applications to run using the processor as a foreground application and allows for receiving user input into the foreground application.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone for detecting ambient environment sound, and a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, the processor configured to distinguish between two or more sources of sound within the ambient environment sound. The wireless earpiece further includes a user interface operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive user input through the user interface to select one of the sources of sound within the ambient environment sound and wherein the processor is configured to process the ambient environment sound to emphasize portions of the ambient environment sound generated by the one of the sources of the ambient environment sound selected by the user to produce a modified sound. The earpiece may further include a speaker operatively connected to the processor to reproduce the modified sound.

Abstract: A system includes a first earpiece having an earpiece housing configured to isolate an ambient environment from a tympanic membrane by physically blocking ambient sound, a microphone disposed within the housing and configured to receive a first ambient audio signal from the ambient environment, a processor operatively connected to the microphone wherein the processor is configured to receive the first ambient audio signal from the microphone and determine if the first ambient signal exceeds a threshold sound level, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. In a first mode of operation the processor determines the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal. In a second mode of operation the processor determines the first ambient audio signal does not exceed the threshold sound level and reproduces the first ambient audio signal at the speaker.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, wherein the earpiece housing is configured to substantially encompass an opening of an ear canal to physically block ambient sound from entering the ear canal. The earpiece further includes a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and configured to sense ambient sound, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to process the ambient sound from the microphone and add additional ambient sound to produce a modified ambient sound at the speaker.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing sized and shaped to block an external auditory canal of a user, at least one microphone positioned to sense ambient sound, a speaker, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to each of the at least one microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is configured to modify the ambient sound based on user preferences to produce modified ambient sound in a first mode of operation and to produce a second sound in response to a trigger condition. The second sound may be an unmodified version of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a modified version of the ambient sound which suppresses at least a portion of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a warning sound.

Abstract: A method of providing audiometric feedback from a network of distributed body sensors using one or more earpieces includes receiving signals from the network of distributed body sensors at the one or more wireless earpieces, processing the signals received at the one or more wireless earpieces to determine a location of individual body sensors within the network of distributed body sensors relative the one or more earpieces, and producing audiometric feedback at the one or more wireless earpieces at least partially based on the locations of the individual body sensors relative to the one or more earpieces.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a housing for fitting in an ear of a user, (b) a logic engine controlling functionality of the wireless earpiece, (c) a plurality of sensors reading user input from the user, and (d) a transceiver communicating with at least a wireless device, wherein the logic engine receives a selection of audio through the plurality of sensors, determines whether a tinnitus frequency associated with a user wearing the wireless earpiece is present in the audio, filters the tinnitus frequency from the audio to generate filtered audio, and plays the filtered audio to the user utilizing one or more speakers.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a mesh network utilizing wireless earpieces in an embodiment of the present invention may have one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving a communication to be sent through the wireless earpieces, (b) connecting to one or more devices representing a node in a mesh network, (c) sending the communication to the one more devices to reach a receiving party through the mesh network, (d) receiving a confirmation of receipt of the communication by the receiving party in response to the receiving party receiving the communication, (e) receiving communications through the mesh network at the wireless earpieces from the one or more devices, and (f) expanding the mesh network to include another device in response to the wireless earpieces or the one or more devices detecting another device is available for mesh communications.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a microphone operatively connected the processor, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the earpiece. A system may includes a first earpiece having a connector with earpiece charging contacts, a charging case for the first earpiece, the charging case having contacts for connecting with the earpiece charging contacts, and a glob& navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the charging case.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone for detecting ambient environment sound, and a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, the processor configured to distinguish between two or more sources of sound within the ambient environment sound. The wireless earpiece further includes a user interface operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive user input through the user interface to select one of the sources of sound within the ambient environment sound and wherein the processor is configured to process the ambient environment sound to emphasize portions of the ambient environment sound generated by the one of the sources of the ambient environment sound selected by the user to produce a modified sound. The earpiece may further include a speaker operatively connected to the processor to reproduce the modified sound.

Abstract: A method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece includes steps of identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by the earpiece, monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the earpiece, generating 3D sound cues at the earpiece to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, wherein the earpiece housing is configured to substantially encompass an opening of an ear canal to physically block ambient sound from entering the ear canal. The earpiece further includes a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and configured to sense ambient sound, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to process the ambient sound from the microphone and add additional ambient sound to produce a modified ambient sound at the speaker.

Abstract: A system includes a first earpiece having an earpiece housing configured to isolate an ambient environment from a tympanic membrane by physically blocking ambient sound, a microphone disposed within the housing and configured to receive a first ambient audio signal from the ambient environment, a processor operatively connected to the microphone wherein the processor is configured to receive the first ambient audio signal from the microphone and determine if the first ambient signal exceeds a threshold sound level, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. In a first mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal exceeds the threshold sound level and processes the first ambient audio signal to modify the first ambient audio signal. In a second mode of operation the processor determines that the first ambient audio signal does not exceed the threshold sound level and reproduces the first ambient audio signal at the speaker.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing sized and shaped to block an external auditory canal of a user, at least one microphone positioned to sense ambient sound, a speaker, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to each of the at least one microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is configured to modify the ambient sound based on user preferences to produce modified ambient sound in a first mode of operation and to produce a second sound in response to a trigger condition. The second sound may be an unmodified version of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a modified version of the ambient sound which suppresses at least a portion of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a warning sound.

Abstract: A method of providing audio feedback in response to a user performance using an earpiece includes steps of identifying a manual work operation to be performed by the user, wherein the identifying the manual work operation is performed by the earpiece, monitoring performance of the manual work operation by the user, wherein the monitoring the performance of the work operation is performed by the earpiece, generating 3D sound cues at the earpiece to assist in the performance of the manual work operation by the user, and outputting the 3D sound cues to the user at one or more speakers of the earpiece during the performance of the manual work operation by the user.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, wherein the earpiece housing is configured to substantially encompass an opening of an ear canal to physically block ambient sound from entering the ear canal. The earpiece further includes a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and configured to sense ambient sound, and a speaker operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to process the ambient sound from the microphone and add additional ambient sound to produce a modified ambient sound at the speaker.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing sized and shaped to block an external auditory canal of a user, at least one microphone positioned to sense ambient sound, a speaker, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to each of the at least one microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is configured to modify the ambient sound based on user preferences to produce modified ambient sound in a first mode of operation and to produce a second sound in response to a trigger condition. The second sound may be an unmodified version of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a modified version of the ambient sound which suppresses at least a portion of the ambient sound. The second sound may be a warning sound.

Abstract: A wireless earpiece includes a wireless earpiece housing, at least one microphone for detecting ambient environment sound, and a processor disposed within the wireless earpiece housing, the processor configured to distinguish between two or more sources of sound within the ambient environment sound. The wireless earpiece further includes a user interface operatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive user input through the user interface to select one of the sources of sound within the ambient environment sound and wherein the processor is configured to process the ambient environment sound to emphasize portions of the ambient environment sound generated by the one of the sources of the ambient environment sound selected by the user to produce a modified sound. The earpiece may further include a speaker operatively connected to the processor to reproduce the modified sound.

Abstract: A system includes an earpiece having an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, a microphone operatively connected to the processor, a speaker operatively disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the processor, a plurality of electrodes positioned on the earpiece housing to come in contact with skin of a user, and a charge storage device disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor and the plurality of electrodes. The earpiece is adapted to receive galvanically communicated signals from a remote body worn device at the plurality of electrodes and apply a charge to the charge storage device. The system may further include a sock including a smart material, a plurality of coils, and a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the plurality of coils, wherein the sock provides for generating the signals and galvanically communicating the signals to the earpiece.

Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing and a location receiver disposed within the ear piece housing. The earpiece is configured to determine location of the earpiece using the location receiver. The ear piece is configured to generate three-dimensional sounds based on the location of the earpiece relative to location of one or more sound sources. The location receiver may be configured to receive signals from one or more pseudo satellites and use the signals to determine the location. The earpiece may be configured to receive signals from one or more terrestrial or ground-based transmitters and use the signals to determine the location. The ear piece may further include an inertial sensor disposed within the earpiece housing.