Adaptive headphone system

1. A wearable audio device, comprising:

an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output;

at least one microphone configured to detect a characteristic of an ambient audio signal proximate the wearable audio device; and

a control system coupled with the acoustic transducer and the at least one microphone, the control system configured to:

receive data about the characteristic of the ambient audio signal from the at least one microphone; and

modify the audio output at the acoustic transducer in response to a change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between characteristics of the ambient audio signal and is configured to vary with the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal,

wherein the continuous audio output comprises playback at the acoustic transducer of a plurality of audio files or audio streams that transition between distinct audio files or audio streams.

2. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the ambient audio signal comprises a voice command from a user of the wearable audio device, and wherein the control system is configured to:

analyze the voice command from the user for a speech pattern; and

modify the continuous audio output based upon the speech pattern in the voice command from the user,

wherein the control system comprises environmental data processing logic for analyzing vocal patterns in the voice of the user of the wearable audio device, or voice-to-text pattern recognition for detecting the speech pattern in the voice of the user.

3. The wearable audio device of claim 2 , wherein modifying the continuous audio output based upon the speech pattern comprises modifying the continuous audio output to match the speech pattern in a voice of the user or provide a best-match for the speech pattern in the voice of the user.

4. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the continuous audio output transitions between the distinct audio files or audio streams in response to detecting the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal.

5. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the transition between distinct audio files or audio streams does not require a user interface command.

6. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal occurs at a same physical location.

7. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to determine that a conversation is ongoing in response to detecting at least one of: a) a voice of a user and a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal, or b) a close proximity or location of a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal.

8. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to modify a decibel level or an intensity of the continuous audio output in response to detecting a voice of a user of the wearable audio device or a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal.

9. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the continuous audio output is configured to vary in terms of at least one of: decibel level, intensity, echo cancellation, barge-in, ducking, or noise cancellation.

10. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the continuous audio output is at a decibel level ranging between approximately 50-70 decibels (dB), wherein the control system is coupled with a smart device having access to a user profile or biometric information about a user, wherein the control system is further configured to modify the continuous audio output based upon the user profile or the biometric information about the user.

11. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to detect a decibel level of the ambient audio signal and output the continuous audio output at a decibel level that permits a user of the wearable audio device to hear the ambient audio signal and the continuous audio output.

12. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

receive feedback from a user of the wearable audio device after transitioning between the audio files or audio streams in the audio output; and

in response to receiving negative feedback from the user about the transition between the audio files or audio streams, either: a) reverting back to an immediately preceding audio file or audio stream, or b) transitioning to an additional new audio file or audio stream.

13. A computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device configured to provide an audio output, the method comprising:

receiving data about a characteristic of an ambient audio signal proximate the wearable audio device as detected by at least one microphone; and

modifying the audio output at the wearable audio device in response to a change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between detected changes in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal and is configured to vary with the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal,

wherein the continuous audio output comprises playback at the wearable audio device of a plurality of audio files or audio streams that transition between distinct audio files or audio streams in response to detecting the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the ambient audio signal comprises a voice command from a user of the wearable audio device, and wherein the control system is configured to:

analyze the voice command from the user for a speech pattern; and

modify the continuous audio output based upon the speech pattern in the voice command from the user,

wherein modifying the continuous audio output based upon the speech pattern comprises modifying the continuous audio output to match the speech pattern in the voice of the user or provide a best-match for the speech pattern in the voice of the user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , further comprising analyzing vocal patterns in the voice of the user of the wearable audio device, or voice-to-text pattern recognition for detecting the speech pattern in the voice of the user.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the transition between distinct audio files or audio streams does not require a user interface command, and wherein the change in the characteristic of the ambient audio signal occurs at a same physical location.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising determining that a conversation is ongoing in response to detecting at least one of: a) a voice of a user and a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal, or b) a close proximity or location of a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to modify a decibel level or an intensity of the continuous audio output in response to detecting a voice of a user of the wearable audio device or a voice of another user in the ambient audio signal, and wherein modifying the decibel level or the intensity of the continuous audio output comprises reducing the decibel level or the intensity of the continuous audio output.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the continuous audio output is at a decibel level ranging between approximately 50-70 decibels (dB), wherein the method further includes:

detecting a decibel level of the ambient audio signal; and

outputting the continuous audio output at a decibel level that permits a user of the wearable audio device to hear the ambient audio signal and the continuous audio output.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving feedback from a user of the wearable audio device after transitioning between the audio files or audio streams in the audio output; and

in response to receiving negative feedback from the user about the transition between the audio files or audio streams, either: a) reverting back to an immediately preceding audio file or audio stream, or b) transitioning to an additional new audio file or audio stream.