Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting gestures using ultrasonic clicks are described. For example, some methods include playing an ultrasonic click using an audio driver, wherein the ultrasonic click is a modulated audio pulse with a duration less than one hundred periods of a modulation frequency waveform of the ultrasonic click; accessing a recording, captured using a microphone, of the ultrasonic click; applying an ultrasonic bandpass filter to the recording to obtain a filtered signal; determining a classification of a gesture based on the filtered signal; and transmitting, storing, or displaying an indication of the classification of the gesture.

Abstract: Processes, methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for synchronizing wirelessly transmitted captured audios to audio output. In an aspect, a user device transmits an audio output associated with the audio playback to a wireless audio device. The user device receives a feedback signal corresponding to the audio output played at the wireless audio device. The user device further receives a captured audio from the wireless audio device. The user device synchronizes the captured audio with the audio output based on the feedback signal. For example, the audio output may be an instrumental soundtrack and the captured audio may be a recording of the user's singing in response to the instrumental soundtrack. In other examples, the audio output may be a soundtrack from a video playback or live streaming. The captured audio may be a commentary or a response to the video playback or the live streaming.

Abstract: A method performed by a wearable audio output device worn by a user is provided for controlling external noise attenuated by wearable audio output device. A speech is detected from a user wearing the wearable audio output device, wherein the audio output device has active noise reduction turned on. It is determined, based on the detecting, that the user desires to speak to a subject in the vicinity of the user. In response to the determining, a level of noise reduction is reduced to enable the user to hear sounds external to the audio output device. It is determined that the user desires to speak to the subject by detecting at least one condition of a plurality of conditions.

Abstract: Processes, methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for synchronizing multiple wireless data streams captured in action by various sensors, with lost data recovery. For example, a source device may have multiple sensors acquiring data and sending the data streams (e.g., via Bluetooth connections) to a target device. Timing information may be appended for each of the data streams. Data packets of the multiple data streams may be formed with the timing information. The data packets may be transmitted to a target device that is configured to synchronize the multiple data streams using the timing information. The target device, applying the example processes or techniques of this disclosure, may accurately synchronize the multiple data streams. In some cases, the target device may capture additional data streams and the processor synchronizes all data streams of both the source and the target devices.

Abstract: An audio system and method for data management including establishing a first connection between a first wearable audio device and a first peripheral device, the first wearable device or the first peripheral device being operational in a critical listening state and a non-critical listening state; establishing, when the first wearable audio device or the first peripheral device is in the critical listening state, a first data stream within the first connection, the first data stream established using a first communication protocol, the first communication protocol having an audio-centric data slot template; and, establishing, when the first wearable device or the first peripheral device is in the non-critical listening state, the first data stream within the first connection, the first data stream established using the first communication protocol, the first communication protocol having a voice-centric data slot template.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling external noise in an audio output device. A speech signal is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device. The speech signal is transcribed into text. The transcribed text is compared with reference text. When at least a portion of the transcribed text matches with a portion of the reference text, it is determined to reduce at least one of a level of active noise reduction or a level of noise masking to enable a user of the audio output device to hear sounds external to the audio output device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selective image capture based on multi-modal sensor input for a wearable device. Systems comprise a first sensor, a second sensor, and a wearable device. The first sensor is configured to capture a first image, and the second sensor is configured to collect motion data, the motion data corresponding to a relative motion between the user and the wearable device, the relative motion of the wearable device in the environment, or the motion of a body part of the user. The wearable device comprises: a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit the first image to a receiving device; and a processor configured to detect a trigger event based on the motion data collected by the second sensor, the processor further configured to initiate capture of the first image by the first sensor or transmit the first image to the receiving device by the communication module upon detection of the trigger event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting gestures using ultrasonic clicks are described. For example, some methods include playing an ultrasonic click using an audio driver, wherein the ultrasonic click is a modulated audio pulse with a duration less than one hundred periods of a modulation frequency waveform of the ultrasonic click; accessing a recording, captured using a microphone, of the ultrasonic click; applying an ultrasonic bandpass filter to the recording to obtain a filtered signal; determining a classification of a gesture based on the filtered signal; and transmitting, storing, or displaying an indication of the classification of the gesture.

Abstract: A method performed by a wearable audio output device worn by a user is provided for controlling external noise attenuated by wearable audio output device. A speech is detected from a user wearing the wearable audio output device, wherein the audio output device has active noise reduction turned on. It is determined, based on the detecting, that the user desires to speak to a subject in the vicinity of the user. In response to the determining, a level of noise reduction is reduced to enable the user to hear sounds external to the audio output device. It is determined that the user desires to speak to the subject by detecting at least one condition of a plurality of conditions.

Abstract: An audio system and method for data management including establishing a first connection between a first wearable audio device and a first peripheral device, the first wearable device or the first peripheral device being operational in a critical listening state and a non-critical listening state; establishing, when the first wearable audio device or the first peripheral device is in the critical listening state, a first data stream within the first connection, the first data stream established using a first communication protocol, the first communication protocol having an audio-centric data slot template; and, establishing, when the first wearable device or the first peripheral device is in the non-critical listening state, the first data stream within the first connection, the first data stream established using the first communication protocol, the first communication protocol having a voice-centric data slot template.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling external noise in an audio output device. A speech signal is detected in the vicinity of the audio output device. The speech signal is transcribed into text. The transcribed text is compared with reference text. When at least a portion of the transcribed text matches with a portion of the reference text, it is determined to reduce at least one of a level of active noise reduction or a level of noise masking to enable a user of the audio output device to hear sounds external to the audio output device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for streaming audio and voice data, the method including: providing a first wearable audio device having a first speaker and a first communication module; establishing, via circuitry of a first device, a first connection over a first protocol between the first wearable audio device and the first device; receiving, via an audio-oriented profile or channel of the first protocol, a first audio stream from the first device over a first time interval; receiving, via a first microphone of the first wearable audio device, a first voice input during the first time interval; and, sending, via a data-oriented profile or channel of the first protocol, the first voice input to the first device during the first time interval.

Abstract: Methods and systems for streaming audio and voice data, the method including: providing a first wearable audio device having a first speaker and a first communication module; establishing, via circuitry of a first device, a first connection over a first protocol between the first wearable audio device and the first device; receiving, via an audio-oriented profile or channel of the first protocol, a first audio stream from the first device over a first time interval; receiving, via a first microphone of the first wearable audio device, a first voice input during the first time interval; and, sending, via a data-oriented profile or channel of the first protocol, the first voice input to the first device during the first time interval.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing a data connection, including a first device having a display screen to display a first image and a portable electronic device including a camera and circuitry to obtain a first characteristic of the first device or the first image via a communication; capture a captured image of the display screen of the first device; analyze the captured image to obtain a captured image characteristic; compare the captured image characteristic with the first characteristic; and, establish a connection between the first device and the portable electronic device if the captured image characteristic and the first characteristic are within a predetermined threshold. Once a connection is established, the portable electronic device is configured to continuously obtain the location, position, orientation, and/or movement of the first device and utilize this information in various applications used by the first device and/or portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method performed by a wearable audio output device worn by a user is provided for controlling external noise attenuated by wearable audio output device. A speech is detected from a user wearing the wearable audio output device, wherein the audio output device has active noise reduction turned on. It is determined, based on the detecting, that the user desires to speak to a subject in the vicinity of the user. In response to the determining, a level of noise reduction is reduced to enable the user to hear sounds external to the audio output device. It is determined that the user desires to speak to the subject by detecting at least one condition of a plurality of conditions.

Abstract: A first audio device exchanges first control signals with a source device and thereby receives first audio signals from the source device. A second audio device exchanges second control signals with the first audio device including information the second audio device needs to receive the first audio signals from the source device. The first control signals include communications using Bluetooth BR/EDR protocols and establish a first Bluetooth link for audio streaming from the source device to the first audio device. The second control signals include communications using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols and transfer to the second audio device parameters of the first Bluetooth link, such that the second audio device can receive and decode an audio stream transmitted from the source device to the first audio device over the first Bluetooth link.

Abstract: A first audio device exchanges first control signals with a source device and thereby receives first audio signals from the source device. A second audio device exchanges second control signals with the first audio device including information the second audio device needs to receive the first audio signals from the source device. The first control signals include communications using Bluetooth BR/EDR protocols and establish a first Bluetooth link for audio streaming from the source device to the first audio device. The second control signals include communications using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols and transfer to the second audio device parameters of the first Bluetooth link, such that the second audio device can receive and decode an audio stream transmitted from the source device to the first audio device over the first Bluetooth link.

Abstract: A method for automatically alerting, via an active noise reducing device having a sensor, a user to a predetermined or learned trigger in an external environment includes the steps of: (i) receiving, via the sensor while the active noise reducing device is in a first noise reduction mode, sensor data from the external environment; (ii) identifying, from the sensor data, the predetermined or learned trigger in the external environment; and (iii) automatically providing an alert to the user, in response to detection of the trigger, indicating the predetermined or learned trigger in the external environment, wherein the alert comprises entering a second operating mode of the active noise reducing device, the second operating mode characterized by providing hear-through of ambient sound in the external environment to the user.

Abstract: A wireless audio device tethering system is provided for including an intermediary device having at least one wireless transceiver that is configured to establish a first wireless connection with a first wireless audio device and a second wireless connection with a second wireless audio device. The intermediary device is also configured to receive a unique identifier from the second wireless audio device and to transmit the unique identifier to the first wireless audio device in order to initiate wireless tethering between the first and second wireless audio device. Once tethering has been initiated, wireless audio signals can be streamed to the first wireless audio device and then re-streamed to the second wireless audio device.