Ear-wearable devices for control of other devices and related methods
Embodiments herein relate to ear-wearable devices that can be used to control other device and related methods. In a first aspect, an ear-wearable device is included having a control circuit, a wireless communications circuit, a microphone, and a motion sensor. The ear-wearable device is configured to receive an input from a wearer of the ear-wearable device, select a controllable device to be controlled based on factors including at least one of physical proximity between the ear-wearable device and the controllable device and a direction that the head of the wearer is pointing, and issue a control command to the controllable device. Other embodiments are also included herein.
1 . An ear-wearable device comprising:
a control circuit;
a wireless communications circuit, wherein the wireless communications circuit is in electronic communication with the control circuit; and
a microphone, wherein the microphone is in electronic communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to
receive an input from a wearer of the ear-wearable device;
select a controllable device to be controlled from a plurality of controllable devices based on factors including physical proximity between the ear-wearable device and the controllable device and a direction that the head of the wearer is pointing; and
issue a control command to the controllable device.
2 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the direction that the head of the wearer is pointing is determined based on the orientation of the ear-wearable device.
3 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the direction that the head of the wearer is pointing is determined based on the position of the ear-wearable device and a second ear-wearable device worn by the wearer.
4 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the physical proximity is determined by receiving a signal from the controllable device.
5 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to send a location request command to one or more controllable devices, the location request command configured to cause the controllable devices to emit a locating signal.
6 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to detect movement of the wearer of the ear-wearable device and include the detected movement as a factor for selection of a controllable device to be controlled.
7 . The ear-wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to not select a controllable device for control in a geospatial area if the detected movement indicates that the wearer is leaving that geospatial area.
8 . The ear-wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to select a controllable device for control in a geospatial area if the detected movement indicates that the wearer is entering that geospatial area.
9 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to detect a current time and include the current time as a factor for selection of a controllable device to be controlled.
10 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to record activity of the wearer and derive an activity pattern of the wearer based on the recorded activity.
11 . The ear-wearable device of claim 10 , wherein the ear-worn device is configured to include the derived activity pattern as a factor for selection of a controllable device to be controlled.
12 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controllable device to be controlled is selected from a plurality of controllable devices that are not held or worn by the wearer.
13 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , the plurality of controllable devices comprising any of a television, a thermostat, a light, and an oven.
14 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to select the controllable device to be controlled based on which of the plurality of controllable devices most closely matches the direction that the head of the wearer is pointing.
15 . The ear-wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the control command to the controllable device comprises any of:
adjusting the volume of the device;
turning the device on or off; and
adjusting the device to a pre-set operational parameter.
16 . A method of controlling a controllable device comprising:
receiving an input with an ear-wearable device;
classifying the input from the wearer into one of a plurality of classifications according to a type of command;
limiting a set of controllable devices to be controlled based on the classification
selecting the controllable device to be controlled based on factors including a physical proximity between the ear-worn device and the controllable device; and
issuing a control command to the controllable device with the ear-wearable device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising sending a location request command to one or more secondary devices, the location request command configured to cause the secondary devices to emit a locating signal.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting a current time and including the current time as a factor for selection of a secondary device to be controlled.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising recording activity of the wearer and deriving an activity pattern of the wearer based on the recorded activity, wherein the ear-worn device is configured to include the derived activity pattern as a factor for selection of a secondary device to be controlled.
20 . The method of claim 16 , the plurality of classifications comprising any of devices with a sound volume that can be controlled, devices with a temperature that can be controlled, devices with a timer, and devices with an alarm.