IP Library Granted Patent US 12712934
Granted Patent B2
US 12712934 · App. 18/710,016 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Intelligent content control for connecting to multiple sources

Inventors: Xuemei Ouyang (Redwood City, CA); Michael Scot Pate (Pleasanton, CA); Ethan Grabau (London, GB); Dennis Yee (San Francisco, CA); Daniel Fernandes Barros (Oporto, PT); Chi Kin Benjamin Leung (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
H04L65/613H04L65/70
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12712934
App. No.
18/710,016
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This document describes an accessory that may wirelessly connect to one or more host devices such that the accessory is able to receive content from two or more of the host devices at the same or substantially the same time. When each of the host devices is wirelessly coupled to the accessory, the accessory and each host device may determine a bit rate for the accessory to receive content from each host device. The accessory may receive content from a first host device at a first bit rate. Based on the content received, the accessory may determine a new bit rate for other host devices.

Claims (53)

1 . A method for adjusting bit rates by an electronic accessory, comprising:

determining a first bit rate for receiving a first content from a first host device coupled to the electronic accessory, the first bit rate being at or below a threshold bit rate;

determining a second bit rate for receiving a second content from a second host device wirelessly coupled to the electronic accessory, the second bit rate being at or below the threshold bit rate;

receiving the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate;

determining, based on the receiving of the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate, a third bit rate for receiving the second content from the second host device, the third bit rate being less than the second bit rate, wherein:

the determining of the first, the second, or the third bit rate includes determining a type of the first, second, or third content; and

the type of the first, second, or third content includes at least one of a music content, a short notification, a ringtone notification, or an audio associated with visual content; and

providing the first content for an output device for visual or audible media.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first content is an audio content; and

providing the first content comprises output of the audio content by a speaker.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the second content from the second host device using the third bit rate; and

providing the second content for the output device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second bit rates are both determined to be the threshold bit rate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and third bit rates added together equal a second threshold bit rate, the second threshold bit rate being greater than the first bit rate.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the first content no longer being provided, a restore bit rate for receiving the second content from the second host device, the restore bit rate being equal to the second bit rate.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second host devices are unicast devices.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the second content from the second host device at the second bit rate;

determining, based on receiving the second content from the second host device at the second bit rate, instead of the third bit rate, a fourth bit rate for receiving the first content from the first host device, the fourth bit rate being less than the first bit rate; and

providing the second content.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second and fourth bit rates added together equal a second threshold bit rate, the second threshold bit rate being greater than the second bit rate.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an airtime for the first or the second content based at least in part on the determined first, second, or third bit rate.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device is the electronic accessory.

12 . An electronic accessory, comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to receive content from one or more host devices;

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when accessed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

determine a first bit rate for receiving a first content from a first host device over the wireless communication interface, the first bit rate being at or below a threshold bit rate;

determine a second bit rate for receiving a second content from a second host device over the wireless communication interface, the second bit rate being at or below the threshold bit rate;

receive the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate;

determine, based on the receiving of the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate, a third bit rate for receiving the second content from the second host device, the third bit rate being less than the second bit rate;

determine an airtime for the first or the second content based at least in part on the determined first, second, or third bit rate; and

provide, based on the determined airtime, the first content for an output device for visual or audible media.

13 . The electronic accessory of claim 12 , wherein the determining of the first, the second, or the third bit rate includes determining a type of the content.

14 . The electronic accessory of claim 12 , wherein the output device is the electronic accessory.

15 . The electronic accessory of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive the second content from the second host device using the third bit rate; and

provide the second content for the output device.

16 . The electronic accessory of claim 12 , wherein the first and second bit rates are both determined to be the threshold bit rate.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic accessory cause the one or more processors to:

determine a first bit rate for receiving a first content from a first host device wirelessly coupled to the electronic accessory, the first bit rate being at or below a threshold bit rate;

determine a second bit rate for receiving a second content from a second host device wirelessly coupled to the electronic accessory, the second bit rate being at or below the threshold bit rate;

receive the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate;

determine, based on the receiving of the first content from the first host device using the first bit rate, a third bit rate for receiving the second content from the second host device, the third bit rate being less than the second bit rate;

determine an airtime for the first or the second content based at least in part on the determined first, second, or third bit rate; and

provide, based on the determined airtime, the first content for an output device for visual or audible media.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

receive the second content from the second host device using the third bit rate; and

provide the second content for the output device for visual or audible media.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 17 , wherein the first and second bit rates are both determined to be the threshold bit rate.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 17 , wherein the first and third bit rates added together equal a second threshold bit rate, the second threshold bit rate being greater than the first bit rate.