Audio system with ear-worn device and remote audio stream management
Embodiments herein relate to audio systems including an ear-worn device and providing for remote audio stream management. In an embodiment, an audio system is included having an ear-worn device. The audio system can be configured to receive a notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream, query a wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream, receive an input from the wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream, selectively receive the remote audio stream, and selectively play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer. Other embodiments are also included herein.
1 . An audio system comprising:
an ear-worn device comprising
a control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer in electronic communication with the control circuit;
at least one microphone in electronic communication with the control circuit;
a wireless communications circuit in communication with the control circuit;
wherein the audio system is configured to:
receive a notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream, wherein the notification regarding availability of the remote audio stream is initiated by a trigger event sensed by a remote device, the trigger event comprising an audio signal that does not originate from a wearer of the ear-worn device;
query the wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
receive an input from the wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
selectively receive the remote audio stream; and
selectively play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer.
2 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device automatically begins to play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer when the remote audio stream originates from a designated priority location.
3 . The audio system of claim 2 , wherein the designated priority location is a home location of the ear-worn device wearer.
4 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to prioritize simultaneous audio streams by at least one of time and auditory volume.
5 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device automatically begins to play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer if the ear-worn device is streaming audio from a wireless source when the notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream is received.
6 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device switches from playing a preexisting audio stream to playing the remote audio stream at a first time point, then switches back to playing the preexisting audio stream starting at a time point in the preexisting audio stream that is prior to the first time point.
7 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device switches from providing corrective audio or an ambient sound output to playing the remote audio stream at a first time point, then switches back to providing corrective audio or an ambient sound output, and announces a name of a speaker at a time of switching back to providing corrective audio or an ambient sound output.
8 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the audio system is configured to combine the remote audio stream with a corrective audio or an ambient sound output generated by the ear-worn device and then play the combination through the electroacoustic transducer.
9 . The audio system of claim 1 , further comprising
a second ear-worn device,
wherein the audio system is configured to play a different audio channel in each ear.
10 . The audio system of claim 9 , wherein the audio system plays the remote audio stream through one of the ear-worn devices and a corrective audio or an ambient sound output through the other ear-worn device.
11 . The audio system of claim 10 , wherein the audio system determines which ear to play the remote audio stream through based on an orientation of the wearer of the ear-worn device with respect to a source of the remote audio stream.
12 . The audio system of claim 1 , the trigger event comprising sound indicative of emotional stress exceeding a threshold value.
13 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the remote device is not held or worn by the wearer.
14 . The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the ear-worn device is disposed in a first location, and the remote device is disposed in a second location, wherein the second location is out of normal audible range of the first location.
15 . The audio system of claim 14 , wherein the audio signal originates from the second location.
16 . An audio system comprising:
an ear-worn device comprising
a control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer in electronic communication with the control circuit;
at least one microphone in electronic communication with the control circuit;
a wireless communications circuit in communication with the control circuit;
wherein the audio system is configured to
receive a notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream;
query a wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
receive an input from the wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
selectively receive the remote audio stream; and
selectively play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer; and
at the control circuit, automatically classify the notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream for possible third-party conveyance and convey the remote audio stream to a third-party device if so classified.
17 . The audio system of claim 16 , wherein upon detecting any of a plurality of predetermined sounds in the remote audio stream, the control circuit is configured to automatically classify the remote audio stream for third-party conveyance and to convey the remote audio stream to the third-party device.
18 . An audio system comprising:
an ear-worn device comprising
a control circuit;
an electroacoustic transducer in electronic communication with the control circuit;
at least one microphone in electronic communication with the control circuit;
a wireless communications circuit in communication with the control circuit;
wherein the audio system is configured to
receive a notification regarding availability of a remote audio stream;
query a wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
receive an input from the wearer of the ear-worn device regarding the remote audio stream;
store a plurality of locations in a memory, each location having an associated priority level;
selectively receive the remote audio stream from one of the plurality of locations;
classify the notification based on the priority level associated with the location of the remote audio stream;
initiate receipt of the remote audio stream based on the classification; and
selectively play the remote audio stream through the electroacoustic transducer.
19 . The audio system of claim 18 , wherein the audio system is configured to:
upon receiving a plurality of simultaneous audio streams, selectively play the remote audio stream originating from the location with the highest associated priority level through the electroacoustic transducer.
20 . The audio system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of predetermined sounds comprise any of an infant crying, glass breakage, a request for help, a sound exceeding a threshold volume, running water, or an alarm.