IP Library Granted Patent US 11,334,314
Granted Patent B2
US 11,334,314 · App. 14/477,480 · Granted May 17, 2022

Networked gaming headset with automatic social networking

Inventors: Richard Kulavik (San Jose, CA); Michael Jessup (San Jose, CA); Kevin Arthur Robertson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
G06F3/167G10L15/00G10L15/30H04L67/22H04L67/38A63F13/87
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,334,314
App. No.
14/477,480
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an audio setup comprising at least one audio headset configurable to process audio for a user (e.g., when participating in an online multiplayer game), input audio and/or output audio in the audio headset may be monitored, and when the audio matches triggering criteria, one or more update messages may be triggered via a social networking service. The triggering criteria may comprise (or be set based on) identity of the speaker, content of the audio, and/or conditions association with the audio. Different triggering criteria may be associated with different applications (e.g., different video games). The update messages may be made available to one or more other users, who may be selected based on matching particular user selection criteria and/or based on successful user validation. The user selection criteria may comprise participation in the same online multiplayer game.

Claims (30)

1. A method, comprising:

in an audio headset that is configurable to process audio for a player participating in an online multiplayer game:

setting one or more triggering criteria for the online multiplayer game based on an identity of a speaker, wherein the one or more triggering criteria are associated with a particular social networking service;

monitoring input audio and/or output audio handled in the audio headset during the online multiplayer game;

detecting when the audio matches the one or more triggering criteria; and

when there is a match, transmitting a signal to a multi-purpose device to trigger a post of an update message via the social networking service, wherein the audio headset comprises an interface operable to communicate with the multi-purpose device.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising setting the one or more triggering criteria based on content of the audio and/or conditions association with the audio.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising interacting with a remote audio database that is used for storing data relating to triggering update messages.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the remote audio database comprises data relating to triggering update messages based on audio associated with a plurality of different video games.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the remote audio database comprises a plurality of entries, with each entry comprising data specifying a particular set of triggering criteria and/or data relating to one or more corresponding update messages.

6. The method of claim 3 , comprising downloading from the remote audio database, based on the online multiplayer game, data for determining the one or more triggering criteria and/or the update message.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising making the update message available, via the social networking service, to one or more particular other users.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising selecting the one or more particular other users based on matching one or more user selection criteria and/or based on successful user validation.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more user selection criteria comprise participation in the online multiplayer game.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-purpose device is a smartphone.

11. A system, comprising:

an audio headset that is configurable to process audio for a first player participating in an online multiplayer game, wherein the audio headset comprises an interface operable to communicate with a multi-purpose device, and wherein the audio headset is operable to:

set one or more triggering criteria for the online multiplayer game based on an identity of a speaker, wherein the one or more triggering criteria are associated with a particular social networking service;

monitor input audio and/or output audio handled in the audio headset during the online multiplayer game;

detect when the audio matches the one or more triggering criteria; and

when there is a match, transmit a signal to the multi-purpose device to trigger a post of an update message via a social networking service.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more triggering criteria are set based on content of the audio and/or conditions association with the audio.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is operable to interact with a remote audio database that is used in storing data relating to triggering update messages.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote audio database comprises data relating to triggering update messages based on audio associated with a plurality of different video games.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote audio database comprises a plurality of entries, with each entry comprising data specifying a particular set of triggering criteria and/or data relating to one or more corresponding update messages.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is operable to from the remote audio database, based on the online multiplayer game, data for determining the one or more triggering criteria and/or the update message.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the update message is received or accessed by one or more particular other users.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more particular other users are selected based on matching one or more user selection criteria and/or based on successful user validation.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more user selection criteria comprise participation in the online multiplayer game.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the multi-purpose device is a smartphone.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0625 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072470/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Dec 19, 2018
From: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 047954/0394 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Dec 19, 2018
From: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 047954/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2018
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045776/0648 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2018
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045573/0653 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2015
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036189/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036159/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: KULAVIK, RICHARD; JESSUP, MICHAEL; ROBERTSON, KEVIN ARTHUR
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 033680/0389 →