IP Library Granted Patent US 12,632,213
Granted Patent B2
US 12,632,213 · App. 18/097,611 · Granted May 19, 2026

Audio connection selections based on audio drop predictions

Inventors: Michael E Russell (Lake Zurich, IL); Thomas Gitzinger (Libertyville, IL)
Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
G06F3/165
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,632,213
App. No.
18/097,611
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In implementations, audio data packets of an audio stream are received by an audio output device. An audio drop of the audio stream is predicted based on an increase in path loss of signals exchanged between the audio output device and an audio source device, a decrease in the number of the signals that travel via reflected signal paths, and a threshold number of the signals being lost. Based on the audio drop prediction, broadcast signals are exchanged via multiple audio connections between multiple audio source devices and multiple audio output components of the audio output device. Further, an audio connection is selected based on signal strength data, time of arrival data, and signal loss data for each of the audio connections. A transfer of the audio stream is initiated to provide the audio data packets of the audio stream to the audio output device via the selected audio connection.

Claims (49)

1 . An audio output device comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the audio output device to:

connect a first audio connection between the audio output device and a first audio source device to receive an audio stream from the first audio source device;

predict an audio drop of the audio stream; and

responsive to the audio drop being predicted:

disconnect the first audio connection; and

connect a second audio connection between the audio output device and a second audio source device to receive the audio stream from the second audio source device, the second audio connection selected based on:

the second audio connection being associated with decreased path loss measurements in comparison to other audio connections;

the second audio connection having an increased number of broadcast signals that are traveling via a direct signal path in comparison to the other audio connections; and/or

the second audio connection having a decreased number of lost broadcast signals in comparison to the other audio connections.

2 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to determine whether the broadcast signals travel via the direct signal path or reflected signal paths based on time of arrival data of the broadcast signals.

3 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the disconnection of the first audio connection occurs before the connection of the second audio connection.

4 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the second audio connection is connected before the first audio connection is disconnected.

5 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the second audio connection causes the audio stream to be transmitted from the first audio source device to the second audio source device, and relayed by the second audio source device to the audio output device.

6 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein to receive the audio stream from the first audio source device, the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to receive, by a first audio output component, the audio stream from the first audio source device and provide the audio stream to a second audio output component.

7 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein to connect the second audio connection, the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to select the second audio connection from among multiple audio connections between multiple audio source devices and the audio output device.

8 . A method comprising:

receiving, by an audio source device, information describing broadcast signals exchanged along each of multiple audio connections between multiple audio source devices and multiple audio output components of an audio output device;

selecting, by the audio source device, an audio connection of the multiple audio connections based on the information indicating:

the audio connection being associated with decreased path loss measurements in comparison to other audio connections;

the audio connection having an increased number of the broadcast signals that are traveling via a direct signal path in comparison to the other audio connections; and/or

the audio connection having a decreased number of lost broadcast signals in comparison to the other audio connections; and

transmitting, by the audio source device, audio data packets of an audio stream to the audio output device via the audio connection.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein selecting the audio connection includes generating a signal score for each of the multiple audio connections and selecting the audio connection having a highest signal score from among the multiple audio connections.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein selecting the audio connection includes selecting the audio source device from among the multiple audio source devices to transmit the audio stream for output by the audio output device.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein selecting the audio connection and transmitting the audio data packets of the audio stream are performed in response to predicting that an audio drop will occur in a previous audio stream output by the audio output device that is provided via a previous audio connection, the audio drop predicted based on path loss associated with audio signals exchanged via the previous audio connection, reflections of the audio signals of the previous audio stream, and a number of lost audio signals of the previous audio stream.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the audio stream includes causing the audio output device to switch from outputting the previous audio stream that is received via the previous audio connection to outputting the audio stream that is received via the audio connection.

13 . An audio source device comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the audio source device to:

connect a first audio connection between the audio source device and a first audio output component of an audio output device to transmit an audio stream to the first audio output component;

predict an audio drop of the audio stream; and

responsive to the audio drop being predicted:

disconnect the first audio connection; and

connect a second audio connection between the audio source device and a second audio output component of the audio output device to transmit the audio stream to the second audio output component, the second audio connection selected based on:

the second audio connection being associated with decreased path loss measurements in comparison to other audio connections;

the second audio connection having an increased number of broadcast signals that are traveling via a direct signal path in comparison to the other audio connections; and/or

the second audio connection having a decreased number of lost broadcast signals in comparison to the other audio connections.

14 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to predict the audio drop of the audio stream responsive to detecting an increase in path loss of audio signals exchanged between the audio output device and the first audio source device during the audio stream.

15 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to predict the audio drop of the audio stream responsive to detecting a decrease in a number of audio signals exchanged between the audio output device and the first audio source device that travel via reflected signal paths during the audio stream.

16 . The audio output device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio output device to predict the audio drop of the audio stream responsive to detecting a threshold number of audio signals exchanged between the audio output device and the first audio source device that are lost during the audio stream.

17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the information includes signal strength data indicating path loss measurements for the broadcast signals, time of arrival data strength data indicating whether the broadcast signals are traveling via the direct signal path, and signal loss data indicating lost broadcast signals.

18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the signal score of the audio connection increases when:

the audio connection is associated with the decreased path loss measurements in comparison to the other audio connections;

the audio connection has the increased number of the broadcast signals that are traveling via the direct signal path in comparison to the other audio connections; and

the audio connection has the decreased number of lost broadcast signals in comparison to the other audio connections.

19 . The audio source device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio source device to reduce a data transmission rate for the audio stream transmitted along the first audio connection responsive to the audio drop being predicted.

20 . The audio source device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the audio source device to display a notification in response to the audio drop being predicted, the notification prompting a user to move the audio source device to a different location.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2023
From: RUSSELL, MICHAEL E; GITZINGER, THOMAS
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
Reel/Frame 062392/0198 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240241688A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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