Granted Patent B2

US 12,323,758 · App. 17/899,897 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Inventors: Jaejoon Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Donghyeon Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sanghyeok Sim (Suwon-si, KR)

Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

H04R1/1041G06F3/165H04W76/15H04W76/25H04R2420/05H04R2420/07H04R2460/03

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A first earpiece device, comprising:

a communication circuit;

a processor configured to be operatively connected to the communication circuit; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to: generate a first communication link with a second earpiece device via the communication circuit;

store first audio data obtained from an external electronic device via the communication circuit in a buffer;

change a master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying a buffer level corresponding to the first audio data to be output via the first earpiece device, identifying a remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device being smaller than a remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device, a difference between the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device and the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device being greater than or equal to a threshold value, and identifying that a cover of a charging case device into which the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device are inserted is open when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

2. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

change the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device when a predetermined time elapses after identifying the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device being smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

3. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

identify that the second earpiece device is worn on a user's body when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device;

change the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device when the buffer level is greater than or equal to a threshold level; and

control to output the first audio data stored to correspond to the buffer level in each of the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device while changing the master role from first earpiece device to the second earpiece device.

4. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

change the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that the second earpiece device is worn on a user's body when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

5. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

change the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that both the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device are not worn on a user's body when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

6. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

generate a second communication link with the external electronic device via the communication circuit when the first earpiece device is in the master role.

7. The first earpiece device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first earpiece device to:

change the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that a second communication link configured between the first earpiece device and the external electronic device is released when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

8. A power management method for a first earpiece device, the method comprising:

generating a first communication link with a second earpiece device via a communication circuit;

storing first audio data obtained from an external electronic device via the communication circuit in a buffer, and

changing a master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying a buffer level corresponding to the first audio data to be output via the first earpiece device, identifying a remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device being smaller than a remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device, a difference between the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device and the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device being greater than or equal to a threshold value, and identifying that a cover of a charging case device into which the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device are inserted is open when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying that the second earpiece device is worn on a user's body when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device;

comparing the buffer level with a threshold level;

changing the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on the buffer level being greater than or equal to the threshold level, and

controlling to output the first audio data stored to correspond to the buffer level in each of the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device while changing the master role from first earpiece device to the second earpiece device.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying wearing state of the second earpiece device when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device; and

changing the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that the second earpiece device is worn on a user's body.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying wearing state of the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device when the remaining battery capacity of the first earpiece device is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the second earpiece device; and

changing the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that both the first earpiece device and the second earpiece device are not worn on a user's body.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating a second communication link with the external electronic device via the communication circuit when the first earpiece device is in the master role.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying whether a second communication link configured between the first earpiece device and the external electronic device is released; and

changing the master role from the first earpiece device to the second earpiece device based at least on identifying that the second communication link configured between the first earpiece device and the external electronic device is released.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (31)