Granted Patent B2

US 10,616,693 · App. 15/413,403 · Granted Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. A wearable multifunction device, comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors;

a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the operations of:

sensing a remaining battery life of the wearable multifunction device;

prioritizing, based on the sensing of the remaining battery life, one or more functions of the wearable multifunction device, the functions comprising always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, and personal audio assistant functions, and prioritizing one or more additional functions comprising transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, and transmission of data to a cloud device;

adjusting, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a type of medium for communication to be utilized by the wearable multifunction device; and

switching, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a mode of a communication channel utilized for the communication.

2. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors comprises an ambient microphone, or an ear canal microphone, or both.

3. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise dynamically adjusting, based on the sensing of the remaining battery life of the wearable multifunction device, a protocol to be utilized for communication with the wearable multifunction device.

4. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , wherein the prioritizing is based on a hierarchy that is dynamically modified based on modified goals for communication latency, available power resources, quality voice communications, or robust data communications.

5. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors for measuring environmental conditions, physiological conditions, or neurological conditions.

6. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising a gesture control module.

7. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising an aural iris and wherein the one or more processors operate to prioritize a function of ambient sound pass through to an ear canal receiver.

8. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising an aural iris coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the aural iris is formed from a MEMs micro-actuator or micro-actuator or an end-effector.

9. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising an aural iris coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the aural iris is formed from a throttle valve tilt mirror configuration or zipping actuator, or a curling actuator, or a rotary vane configuration.

10. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning service unit (GPS) or motion sensor or accelerometer coupled to the one or more processors.

11. The wearable multifunction device of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver, an aural iris coupled to a servo system, or an ear canal microphone each of which are coupled to the one or more processors and wherein the one or more processors perform further operations comprising:

receiving confirmation of data being stored remotely on the cloud device or on the tethered phone; or

providing anticipatory services in almost real time; or

encrypting data, when stored on the wearable multifunction device, transmitted to the tethered phone, or transmitted to the cloud device, or when stored on the cloud device; or

detecting a sound pressure level to drive the aural iris to desired levels of opened and closed;

or

driving the servo system that opens and closes the aural iris; or

using the ear canal microphone to determine a level or quality level of sealing of an ear canal; or

using biometric sensors and measurements that fall outside of normal ranges that would require more immediate transmission of such biometric data or turning on of additional biometric sensors to determine criticality of a condition of a user.

12. An earpiece or a pair of earpieces, comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors;

one or more biometric sensors coupled to the one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the operations of:

sensing a remaining battery life for the earpiece or for the pair of earpieces;

prioritizing, based on the sensing of the remaining battery life, one or more functions of the earpiece or the pair of earpieces, the functions comprising always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, and personal audio assistant functions, and prioritizing one or more additional functions comprising transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, and transmission of data to a cloud device;

adjusting, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a type of medium for communication to be utilized by the earpiece or the pair of earpieces; and

switching, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a mode of a communication channel utilized for the communication.

13. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , wherein the at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors comprises an ambient microphone, or an ear canal microphone, or both.

14. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , wherein the prioritizing is based on a hierarchy that is dynamically modified based on modified goals for communication latency, available power resources, quality voice communications, or robust data communications.

15. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sensors for measuring environmental conditions, physiological conditions, or neurological conditions.

16. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , further comprising a gesture control module.

17. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , further comprising at least an aural iris for the earpiece or a pair of aural irises for the pair of earpieces and wherein the one or more processors operate to prioritize a function of ambient sound pass through to an ear canal receiver.

18. The earpiece or pair of earpieces of claim 12 , further comprising an aural iris coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the aural iris is formed from a MEMs micro-actuator or micro-actuator or an end-effector.

19. An earpiece, comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one microphone communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

one or more biometric sensors communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions which when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the operations of:

sensing a remaining battery life for the earpiece;

prioritizing, based on the sensing of the remaining battery life, functions of the earpiece, the functions comprising voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, biometric measuring, and biometric recording, and prioritizing one or more additional functions comprising transmission of data to a tethered phone, and transmission of data to a server or transmission of data to a cloud device;

adjusting, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a type of medium for communication to be utilized by the earpiece; and

switching, based on the sensed remaining battery life, a mode of a communication channel utilized for the communication.

20. The earpiece of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise prioritizing one or more of personal audio assistant functions, sound pressure level measuring, or always on recording.

Assignments (6)