Granted Patent B2

US 12,229,473 · App. 18/301,868 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Inventors: Robert D. Watson (Menlo Park, CA); David John Shaw (San Diego, CA); Arun Dhyaneshwar Chawan (San Francisco, CA); Matthew Gillette (San Ramon, CA); Ganesha Adkasthala Ganapathi Batta (San Jose, CA); Jeffrey Chandler Moore (San Francisco, CA); Patrick Ian Bernhard (San Jose, CA); Baek San Chang (San Francisco, CA); Patrick Lee Coffman (San Francisco, CA); Jonathan Anderson Bennett (San Francisco, CA); Anthony Guetta (San Carlos, CA); Jahan Christian Minoo (San Francisco, CA); Keith Walter Rauenbuehler (San Francisco, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

G06F3/165G06F3/162H04R1/1041H04R29/001H04R1/1016H04R2420/07

Abstract

Claims (95)

1. A method comprising:

by a companion communication device:

determining, based on a first signal received from a wireless ear bud, a first wearing status that indicates whether the wireless ear bud is being worn;

receiving a text message at the companion communication device; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

generating audio data corresponding to at least a part of the text message; and

sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and

subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call at the companion communication device, and when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn:

detecting, based on a second signal received from the wireless ear bud subsequent to the first signal, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn; and

responsive to detecting the change in the wearing status to the second wearing status, sending audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting, based on a third signal received from the wireless ear bud subsequent to the second signal, a further change in the wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is no longer being worn; and

responsive to detecting the further change in the wearing status, sending the audio information of the voice call to a speaker of the companion communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and

subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call:

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and responsive to receipt of an input via an on-screen call answering control of the companion communication device:

answering the voice call; and

sending the audio information associated with the voice call to an alternate audio output.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and responsive to detecting, within a threshold period of time of receiving the text message, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud from the first wearing status to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

generating the audio data corresponding to the at least a portion of the text message; and

sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving voice data obtained via a microphone of the wireless ear bud; and

converting the voice data to a reply text message.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is being worn:

publishing, within an operating system of the companion communication device, availability of an audio route that enables a user-selectable control for routing audio data from an application to the wireless ear bud.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

in response to receiving, subsequent to the first signal, a signal indicating the wireless ear bud is not being worn:

un-publishing, within the operating system of the companion communication device, availability of the audio route.

9. A companion communication device comprising:

a wireless communications interface configured to communicate with a wireless ear bud;

a speaker for outputting audio;

a processor coupled to the wireless communication interface; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the companion communication device to perform operations including:

determining, based on a first signal received from the wireless ear bud, a first wearing status that indicates whether the wireless ear bud is worn;

receiving a text message at the companion communication device; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

generating audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the text message; and

sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

10. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and

subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call at the companion communication device, and when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn:

detecting, based on a second signal subsequently received from the wireless ear bud, a change to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is being worn; and

responsive to detecting the change to the second wearing status, automatically sending audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud.

11. The companion communication device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:

detecting, based on a third signal received from the wireless ear bud, a further change to a third wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is no longer being worn; and

responsive to detecting the further change to the third wearing status, automatically sending audio information associated with the voice call to the speaker of the companion communication device.

12. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device; and

subsequent to receipt of the incoming voice call:

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is not being worn and responsive to receipt of an input via an on-screen call answering control of the companion communication device:

answering the voice call; and

sending the audio information associated with the voice call to an alternate audio output.

13. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn and responsive to detecting, within a threshold period of time of receiving the text message, a change in wearing status of the wireless ear bud from the first wearing status to a second wearing status indicating the wireless ear bud is being worn:

generating the audio data corresponding to the at least a portion of the text message; and

sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

14. The companion communication device of claim 2 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving voice data obtained via a microphone of the wireless ear bud; and

converting at least a portion of the received voice data to a reply text message.

15. The companion communication device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is worn:

publishing, within an operating system of the companion communication device, availability of an audio route that enables a user-selectable control for routing audio data from an application to the wireless ear bud.

16. The companion communication device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further include:

in response to receiving a signal indicating the wireless ear bud is no longer being worn:

un-publishing, within the operating system of the companion communication device, availability of the audio route.

17. An apparatus for operation in a companion communication device, the apparatus comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the companion communication device to perform actions including:

determining, based on a first signal received from a wireless ear bud, a first wearing status that indicates whether the wireless ear bud is worn;

receiving an incoming voice call at the companion communication device;

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is worn:

presenting, at the companion communication device, a user-selectable audio route that enables routing audio data from an application to the wireless ear bud; and

sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud; and

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn:

sending, upon answering the voice call, audio information associated with the voice call to an alternate output.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the actions further include:

when the first wearing status indicates the wireless ear bud is not worn:

detecting, based on a second signal subsequently received from the wireless ear bud, a change in the wearing status to a second wearing status indicating that the wireless ear bud is worn; and

responsive to detecting the change to the second wearing status, sending audio information associated with the voice call to the wireless ear bud.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the actions further include:

in response to receiving a subsequent signal indicating the wireless ear bud is not worn:

removing the user-selectable audio route.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the actions further include:

receiving a text message at the companion communication device; and

when the first wearing status indicates that the wireless ear bud is being worn:

generating audio data corresponding to at least a part of the text message; and

sending the generated audio data to the wireless ear bud.

Continuity (5)

References Cited (77)