Abstract: One example discloses a peripheral device, including: a radio receiver configured to, receive a first set of audio packets transmitted over a first wireless link from a first central device, and receive a second set of audio packets transmitted over a second wireless link by the second central device; and a processor configured to predict a collision between the first set of audio packets and the second set of audio packets based on a set of transmission scheduling parameters.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field interface device, including: a near-field antenna; a physical port configured to be coupled to a computer; a controller coupled to the antenna and the physical port; wherein the controller is configured to translate a near-field signal received from the near-field antenna into an input command generated by a user; and wherein the controller is configured to transmit the input command to the computer through the physical port.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field interface device, including: a near-field antenna; a physical port configured to be coupled to a computer; a controller coupled to the antenna and the physical port; wherein the controller is configured to translate a near-field signal received from the near-field antenna into an input command generated by a user; and wherein the controller is configured to transmit the input command to the computer through the physical port.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic device, including: a first input configured to receive a first ambient input signal from a first acoustic transducer; a second input configured to receive a second ambient input signal from a second acoustic transducer; a first output configured to transmit a first ambient output signal; a second output configured to transmit a second ambient output signal; an ambient signal characterization circuit configured to identify an undesired ambient signal within the first and/or second ambient input signals; and an ambient signal control circuit configured to control how the acoustic device generates the first and second ambient output signals from the first and second ambient input signals based on the undesired ambient signal.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic device, including: a first input configured to receive a first ambient input signal from a first acoustic transducer; a second input configured to receive a second ambient input signal from a second acoustic transducer; a first output configured to transmit a first ambient output signal; a second output configured to transmit a second ambient output signal; an ambient signal characterization circuit configured to identify an undesired ambient signal within the first and/or second ambient input signals; and an ambient signal control circuit configured to control how the acoustic device generates the first and second ambient output signals from the first and second ambient input signals based on the undesired ambient signal.

Abstract: One example discloses a first wireless device, including: a wireless device presence detection module configured to, generate a second wireless device presence signal if a second wireless device is within a preselected range; and generate a third wireless device presence signal if a third wireless device is within the preselected range; and a communications control module, configured to, enable communication between the first and second wireless devices in response to the second device presence signal; and disable communication between the first and third wireless devices in response to the third device presence signal.

Abstract: One example discloses a first wireless communication device, including: a first near-field transceiver and a first far-field transceiver; wherein the first wireless communication device is configured to communicate with a second wireless device having a second near-field transceiver and a second far-field transceiver; wherein the first near-field transceiver is configured to communicate with the second near-field transceiver; wherein the first far-field transceiver is configured to communicate with a third wireless device in a far-field frequency bandwidth; wherein the second far-field transceiver is configured to communicate with a fourth wireless device in the far-field frequency bandwidth; and wherein communications between the first wireless device and the third wireless device interfere beyond a threshold interference level with communications between the second wireless device and the fourth wireless device unless the first and second wireless devices are at least partially screened by a conductive host

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for wireless communication, including: a first wireless device configured to communicate with a second wireless device over a first wireless link, according to a first wireless link protocol; wherein the first wireless link protocol defines communications between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; wherein the first wireless device is configured to monitor communications on a second wireless link between the second wireless device and a third wireless device; wherein the second wireless link is configured according to a second wireless link protocol that defines communications between the second wireless device and the third wireless device; and wherein the first wireless device is configured to spoof the second wireless device in response to an error condition or signal degradation on the second wireless link.

Abstract: One example discloses a first wireless device, including: a wireless device presence detection module configured to, generate a second wireless device presence signal if a second wireless device is within a preselected range; and generate a third wireless device presence signal if a third wireless device is within the preselected range; and a communications control module, configured to, enable communication between the first and second wireless devices in response to the second device presence signal; and disable communication between the first and third wireless devices in response to the third device presence signal.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for wireless communication, including: a first wireless device configured to communicate with a second wireless device over a first wireless link, according to a first wireless link protocol; wherein the first wireless link protocol defines communications between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; wherein the first wireless device is configured to monitor communications on a second wireless link between the second wireless device and a third wireless device; wherein the second wireless link is configured according to a second wireless link protocol that defines communications between the second wireless device and the third wireless device; and wherein the first wireless device is configured to spoof the second wireless device in response to an error condition or signal degradation on the second wireless link.

Abstract: As may be consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and or method involves a switching power supply circuit and a control circuit therefor. The switching power supply circuit operates in high and low-power modes. In the high power mode, high and low power rails of a first circuit and of a second circuit are coupled to a power source circuit (e.g. a battery). In the low-power mode, the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain. The control circuit operates the switching circuit in the high-power mode and low-power mode (for power conservation) in response to a control signal.

Abstract: One example discloses a health monitoring device, including: a communications circuit configured to receive a set of health sensor data based on a body surface; and a near-field antenna, coupled to the circuit, and conformally coupled to the body surface.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for sound signal detection, comprising: a first wireless device including a first pressure sensor having a first acoustical profile and configured to capture a first set of acoustic energy within a time window; wherein the first wireless device includes a wireless signal input; wherein the first wireless device includes a processing element configured to: receive, through the wireless signal input, a second set of acoustic energy captured by a second pressure sensor, having a second acoustical profile, within a second wireless device and within the time window; apply a signal enhancement technique to the first and second sets of acoustic energy based on the first and second acoustical profiles; search for a predefined sound signal within the enhanced sets of acoustic energy; and initiate a subsequent set of sound signal detection actions if the search finds the sound signal.

Abstract: One example discloses an optical communication interface for a handheld device: wherein the handheld device, has an external surface; wherein the external surface includes an interior facing side and an exterior facing side; a first optical receiver, on the interior facing side of the handheld device, having an optical input and an electrical output; wherein the electrical output is coupled to circuitry; and wherein the optical input is configured to be optically coupled to a second optical transmitter on the exterior facing side of the handheld device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit for a near-field radio, including an inductive-capacitive (LC) tank antenna circuit designed to operate at a predetermined carrier frequency, the tank LC tank antenna circuit including a variable capacitor and an antenna element, a transmitter configured to output a channel sounding signal (CSS) to the LC tank antenna circuit, a receiver to receive the CSS and a tank response from the LC tank antenna circuit, a tank response estimator to extract the tank response of the LC tank antenna circuit by removing the CSS from the received signal and determining an oscillation frequency of the LC tank antenna circuit, and a controller to adjust a reactance of the LC tank antenna circuit to resonate the LC tank antenna circuit and change the oscillation frequency to the predetermined carrier frequency.

Abstract: As may be consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and or method involves a switching power supply circuit and a control circuit therefor. The switching power supply circuit operates in high and low-power modes. In the high power mode, high and low power rails of a first circuit and of a second circuit are coupled to a power source circuit (e.g. a battery). In the low-power mode, the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain. The control circuit operates the switching circuit in the high-power mode and low-power mode (for power conservation) in response to a control signal.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) based robustness, including: a first wireless device including a first wireless signal interface and a first NFMI signal interface; wherein the first wireless signal interface is configured to receive a data set from a third wireless device; wherein the first NFMI signal interface is configured to communicate with a second wireless device through a second NFMI signal interface; and wherein the first wireless device is configured to detect an error in the data set received from the third wireless device and in response to detecting the error configure the first NFMI signal interface to receive the data set from the second wireless device through the second NFMI signal interface.

Abstract: One example discloses an optical communication interface for a handheld device: wherein the handheld device, has an external surface; wherein the external surface includes an interior facing side and an exterior facing side; a first optical receiver, on the interior facing side of the handheld device, having an optical input and an electrical output; wherein the electrical output is coupled to circuitry; and wherein the optical input is configured to be optically coupled to a second optical transmitter on the exterior facing side of the handheld device.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for voice communication, including: a first wireless device including a first pressure sensor having a first acoustical profile and configured to capture a first set of acoustic energy within a time window; wherein the first wireless device includes a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal input; wherein the first wireless device includes a processing element configured to: receive, through the NFMI signal input, a second set of acoustic energy captured by a second pressure sensor, having a second acoustical profile, within a second wireless device and within the time window; apply a signal enhancement technique to the first and second sets of acoustic energy based on the first and second acoustical profiles; and output an enhanced voice signal based on applying the signal enhancement.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) based robustness, including: a first wireless device including a first wireless signal interface and a first NFMI signal interface; wherein the first wireless signal interface is configured to receive a data set from a third wireless device; wherein the first NFMI signal interface is configured to communicate with a second wireless device through a second NFMI signal interface; and wherein the first wireless device is configured to detect an error in the data set received from the third wireless device and in response to detecting the error configure the first NFMI signal interface to receive the data set from the second wireless device through the second NFMI signal interface.