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: Methods and systems of acknowledgment of wireless data packets is provided. For example, such a method can include receiving, from a central device, such as a smartphone, at a first peripheral device, such as a left earbud, a first isochronous data stream intended to be received by the first peripheral device. The method further includes receiving, from a central device at a second peripheral device, such as a right earbud, a second isochronous data stream intended to be received by the second peripheral device. In some examples, the second peripheral device is a right earbud. The method further includes eavesdropping, via the second peripheral device, the first isochronous data stream in an attempt to receive a packet of the first isochronous data stream. The method further includes sending, from the second peripheral device, an acknowledgment after the packet has been received by the second peripheral 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: 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: Methods and systems for easily establishing or switching between wireless connections by sending a Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) command from a first BLE enabled device to a second BLE enabled device, where the BLE command causes the second BLE enabled device to attempt to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with one or more source devices from a list of source devices that have previously been paired with the second BLE device. The first BLE device is configured to obtain or receive the list from the second BLE device, and in response to one or more triggers, send the BLE command. The list of previously paired source devices may be presented to a user via a display screen with touch-screen functionality, and in some examples, may utilize one or more algorithms to intelligently order the available source devices based on a variety of factors.

Abstract: Processes, methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for pairing a target device with a source device and pairing the target device with a partner device. A user may choose between using the target device and the partner device without actively connecting the partner device to the source device. The target device and the partner device may each be a specialized device providing certain functions. For example, the source device may be a computing device, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer. The target device may be a sound bar dedicated for playing high definition surround sound that outperforms internal speakers of the source device. And the partner device may be a noise-canceling headset. The user may want to seamlessly switch between playing sounds on the sound bard and the headset from time to time under different circumstances, without needing to manually pair the headset to the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for easily establishing or switching between wireless connections by sending a Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) command from a first BLE enabled device to a second BLE enabled device, where the BLE command causes the second BLE enabled device to attempt to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with one or more source devices from a list of source devices that have previously been paired with the second BLE device. The first BLE device is configured to obtain or receive the list from the second BLE device, and in response to one or more triggers, send the BLE command. The list of previously paired source devices may be presented to a user via a display screen with touch-screen functionality, and in some examples, may utilize one or more algorithms to intelligently order the available source devices based on a variety of factors.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.