Granted Patent B2

US 12,732,734 · App. 18/896,344 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: Chikan Kwan (San Diego, CA); Kuang-Ying Hsi (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited

H04R1/1041H04R2420/07

Abstract

Claims (69)

1 . A system comprising:

a primary earbud, the primary earbud configured to:

establish a first connection with a device, the first connection configured to convey audio data from the device to the primary earbud; and

establish a bridge connection with a shadow device, the bridge connection configured to communicate link characteristics comprising a timing window for the first connection; and

a shadow earbud, the shadow earbud configured to:

detect a failure to receive the audio data during the same timing window;

maintain, based at least on an indication of a status of the first connection, received via the bridge connection the timing window for a shadow connection to receive the audio data; and

receive, using the same timing window, subsequent audio data.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the shadow earbud is configured to:

extend, responsive to a detection of a first of a plurality of packets carrying the audio data via the shadow connection, a timer during which the shadow earbud is to receive the audio data via the shadow connection to maintain an active state;

detect an expiration of the timer without detection any further or subsequent one or more packets; and

transition to a lower power state or mode, responsive to the expiration of the timer.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the shadow earbud is configured to:

extend, responsive to a detection of a second of the plurality of packets via the bridge connection, the timer.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shadow earbud is configured to:

adjust the timing window based on data received via the bridge connection.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the data received via the bridge connection comprises a packet comprising a portion of the audio data.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first connection is a first Bluetooth link between the device and the primary earbud; and

the bridge connection is a second Bluetooth link between the primary earbud and the shadow earbud, wherein the second Bluetooth link is a lower power connection than the first Bluetooth link.

7 . A device comprising:

an audio output device configured to:

negotiate a role of a plurality of roles with a second audio output device, the plurality of roles corresponding to a primary mode and a shadow mode between the audio output device and the second audio output device;

during the primary mode:

establish a first connection with an audio source device, the first connection configured to convey audio data from the audio source device to the audio output device; and

establish a bridge connection with the second audio output device, the bridge connection configured to communicate link characteristics for the first connection; and

during the shadow mode:

detect, via a shadow connection using the link characteristics to monitor the first connection, a timing window for the audio data;

detect a failure to receive the audio data during the timing window on the shadow connection; and

extend a timer during which the audio output device is to receive the audio data via the shadow connection to maintain an active state, responsive to a receipt of a packet comprising the audio data via the bridge connection.

8 . The device of claim 7 , further configured to:

extend, in the shadow mode, the timer responsive to a receipt of a packet comprising the audio data via the shadow connection.

9 . The device of claim 7 , further configured to:

transmit, during the primary mode, the audio data received via the first connection to the second audio output device via the bridge connection; and

transitioning to an inactive state, during the shadow mode, responsive to an expiration of the timer without receipt of the audio data during the timing window.

10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein:

the first connection is a first Bluetooth link between the audio source device and the audio output device; and

the bridge connection is a second Bluetooth link between the audio output device and the second audio output device, wherein the second Bluetooth link is a lower power connection than the first Bluetooth link.

11 . A method comprising:

establishing, by a primary earbud of a pair of earbuds, a first connection with a device, the primary earbud receiving audio data from the device via the first connection;

establishing, between the primary earbud and a shadow earbud, a bridge connection, the shadow earbud receiving the audio data and link characteristics via the bridge connection to establish a shadow connection with the device to receive the audio data from the device;

maintaining, by the shadow earbud, a timing relationship between the bridge connection and the shadow connection;

detecting, by the shadow earbud, a failure to receive on the shadow connection; and

using, by the shadow earbud, the timing relationship to synchronize a timing window for which to communicate with the device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting, by the shadow earbud, a restoration of the audio data subsequent to the failure to receive; and

adjusting, by the shadow earbud, the timing relationship to resynchronize with the device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

detecting, by the shadow earbud, subsequent to the failure to receive and prior to the restoration of the audio data, an indication of a status of the first connection via the bridge connection; and

extending, by the shadow earbud, responsive to the detection of the indication, a timer during which the shadow earbud is to receive the audio data via the shadow connection to maintain an active state.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the primary earbud, the indication to the shadow earbud, the indication comprising the audio data.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting the audio data via at least one of the shadow connection or the bridge connection; and

extend a timer during which the shadow earbud is to receive the audio data via the shadow connection to maintain an active state, responsive to the detection of the audio data.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

transitioning to an inactive state, responsive to an expiration of a timer for at least one of the shadow connection or the bridge connection.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the shadow earbud is configured to:

receive, from the primary earbud over the bridge connection, a credential; and

using the credential to establish the shadow connection.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first connection is a first Bluetooth link between the device and the primary earbud; and

the bridge connection is a second Bluetooth link between the primary earbud and the shadow earbud.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second Bluetooth link is a lower power connection than the first Bluetooth link.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying between the pair of earbuds:

a first earbud of the pair of earbuds as the primary earbud; and

a second earbud of the pair of earbuds as the shadow earbud.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (56)