WO2010133991A1 - Procédé d'exploitation d'un système acoustique et dispositif acoustique portable - Google Patents

Procédé d'exploitation d'un système acoustique et dispositif acoustique portable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010133991A1
WO2010133991A1 PCT/IB2010/051970 IB2010051970W WO2010133991A1 WO 2010133991 A1 WO2010133991 A1 WO 2010133991A1 IB 2010051970 W IB2010051970 W IB 2010051970W WO 2010133991 A1 WO2010133991 A1 WO 2010133991A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
audio
signal
recited
wearable acoustic
acoustic device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2010/051970
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Heribert Baldus
Antonios Argyriou
Karin Klabunde
Thomas Falck
Vincentius Buil
Lucas Geurts
Tim Schenk
Sotir Ouzounov
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication of WO2010133991A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010133991A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B13/00—Transmission systems characterised by the medium used for transmission, not provided for in groups H04B3/00 - H04B11/00
    • H04B13/005—Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the use of body-coupled communications for operating an acoustic system.
  • This invention is, for example, relevant for acoustic system comprising earpieces or headphones.
  • Conventional headphones or earpieces are generally wired to audio devices, like mp3 player.
  • wires disturb the user because he cannot move as freely as usual, wires do not allow to share music with another person, - moreover, there is a risk of breaking one of the wires, with the complete headset being unusable anymore.
  • Wireless headset solutions based on RF have the following drawbacks: - Limited operating time due to relatively high power consumption of RF transceiver
  • Body coupled communications or body-based communication, or near-body communication
  • RF radio frequency
  • BCC allows exchange of information between a plurality of devices which are at or in close proximity of a human or animal body. This can be achieved by capacitive or galvanic coupling of low-energy electrical fields onto the body surface. Signals are conveyed over the body instead of through the air. As such, the communication is confined to an area close to the body in contrast to RF communications, where a much larger area is covered. Therefore, communication is possible between devices situated on, connected to, or placed close to the body.
  • RF radio frequency
  • BANs body area networks
  • PANs personal area networks
  • BCC body area networks
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a wearable acoustic device that may be operated by a method according to the invention.
  • Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method for automatically switching on and off mobile devices, for example wearable acoustic devices, using body-coupled communication. This aspect will be herein described in combination with the other aspects of the invention, but it can be used independently.
  • a method for operating an acoustic system comprising an audio device, and at least one wearable acoustic device, the method comprising: the audio device exchanging an audio signal with a master device, via a short range wireless communication protocol, and the master device exchanging all or part of the audio signal with the wearable acoustic device, regarded as a slave device, via body-coupled communication.
  • the audio device is, in some examples, an audio source like a mobile phone, a smart phone, an mp3 player or any other electronic device able to transmit audio signals.
  • the audio device is a storage device.
  • the wearable acoustic device is, for example, an ear piece, a headphone, a headset, a microphone or any other electronic device that can broadcast sound and be worn by a user.
  • the short range wireless communication protocol is, advantageously, Bluetooth, but it can be any other protocol, including body-coupled communication.
  • body-coupled communication is a technology requiring low-power, thus it allows using small devices with a reduced battery size
  • body-coupled communication makes it possible to perform audio streaming towards several devices
  • transmission from the audio source is performed via Bluetooth or another conventional communication protocol, thus this method can be carried out with conventional handheld device without any modification.
  • the invention also relates to a wearable acoustic device comprising: - means for transmitting or receiving exchanging an audio signal to or from another device, via a short range wireless transmission protocol, means for transmitting or receiving, via body-coupled communication, all or part of the audio signal to or from a distinct wearable acoustic device.
  • another aspect of the invention relates to a method for automatically switching on and off mobile devices, using body-coupled communication.
  • the invention aims at allowing use of low power devices. Accordingly, these devices need to be switched off or put in standby mode when unused, in order to save energy and battery power.
  • buttons that have to be mechanically actuated by a user.
  • buttons are not convenient in case of small devices like ear phone.
  • movement sensor works only for mobile devices that the user carriers and not for stationary devices, - wrong detection may be performed, for example in case of a user resting, stationary, with earphones.
  • the invention provides, in one aspect, a method for switching on and off a device, comprising the following steps: determining whether a user is intending to use it or not, and based on this determination, automatically switching on or off.
  • This aspect of the invention is herein claimed in combination with other aspects, but it can be used independently for any device carrying out body-coupled communication, in any functionality. Indeed, this aspect can be used with any system comprising a receiver and/or a transmitter compatible with body-coupled communication protocol. In the following specification, such a system will be designated as an Active Digital Aura system, or ADA.
  • the determination of whether a user is intending to use the device or not is made by the device performing a regular polling, comprising one or several of the following steps: detecting interference: a receiver of ADA system is used to regularly measure environment interference; interference pattern changes when the device is touched by a user; this change is different to an interference change that we measure when the system is put somewhere in the environment, measuring signal reflection caused by human body:
  • the body-coupled transmitter sends signal probe; receiver running at the same time; the received signal is 'correlated' with the transmitted signal; the resulting signal (with some filtering) indicates the reflection: this is specific for the human body.
  • This feature is advantageously used with a high bandwidth transceiver.
  • ADA tag is used to detect on body bio signals. It only receives, and when there is correlation with patterns of a typical bio signal, it concludes / detects that it is located on the body.
  • the invention relates to an acoustic system comprising at least some of the following elements: an audio source, for example included in a handheld device, one or many wearable acoustic device(s) such as earpiece, earphone, or headphone, a dongle, acting as master device in some embodiments, used for transmitting signals from the audio source to the acoustic device.
  • an audio source for example included in a handheld device
  • one or many wearable acoustic device(s) such as earpiece, earphone, or headphone
  • a dongle acting as master device in some embodiments, used for transmitting signals from the audio source to the acoustic device.
  • the wearable acoustic devices and the dongle must be in contact with the user's body, in order to enable body-coupled communication.
  • the audio source such a contact is not required, for example in case where the short range wireless communication protocol used for transmitting audio signals is Bluetooth.
  • a handheld audio device 10 streams a mono or stereo (music) audio signals to an earpiece 11 via Bluetooth (BT).
  • the first transmission is performed via Bluetooth.
  • this transmission may be performed by any other short-distance wireless communication technology.
  • this first transmission can be performed using different protocols, as follows : the first transmission is performed via body-coupled communication if body contact is available both at the audio source and at the earpiece, and via bluetooth is not contact is available at one side.
  • stereo signals represent music
  • a stereo signal comprises two audio channels, a right one and a left one, who are ideally transmitted respectively with louders situated on the right and the left of a user.
  • Earpiece 11 receiving this Bluetooth signal considered as the master earpiece in the present embodiment, then transmits a signal to the slave earpiece 12 via body-coupled or near-body communication, also called Active Digital Aurea (ADA).
  • ADA Active Digital Aurea
  • the signal transmitted from the master earpiece to the salve earpiece depends on the initial signal received from the handheld device : - in case the handheld device transmits a mono signal, then this signal is entirely transmitted to the slave earpiece 12, in case the handheld device tranmists a stereo signal, then only data corresponding to one of the audio channels is transmitted to the slave earpiece.
  • the master earpiece 11 comprises means for discovering the salve earpiece 12 via near-body communication. In case no earpiece is discovered, then the master earpiece does not transmit any signal, in order to save battery power.
  • the discovering means can be carried out by the discovering means: measuring the reflection of tone from ear, since the biometrics of ears are different, or measuring changes of capacity, in transmission and reception of signals.
  • An extension of this first embodiment is shown on figure 2.
  • the master earpiece 11 not only transmits audio signals to one slave earpiece 12, but also to another slave earpiece 13.
  • This slave earpiece 13 itself comprises means for transmitting audio signal to a slave earpiece 14.
  • the audio signal initially transmitted from the handheld device 10 is a stereo signal
  • the master earpiece transmits content of one audio channel to the slave earpiece 12
  • the master earpiece transmits the complete audio signals to the slave earpiece 13
  • the salve earpiece 13 transmits one audio channel to the slave earpiece 14.
  • earpieces 11 and 12 represent a first pair worn by a first user
  • earpieces 13 and 14 represent a second pair worn by a second user. Accordingly, this embodiment makes it possible to share audio stream between several users, i.e. between a first user wearing the audio source and a second user without any audio source. The only requirement for correct operation of this embodiment is that a physical contact exists between the first and second user to allow propagation of the audio signals from earpiece 11 to earpiece 13.
  • the master device is not an earpiece but a separate dongle 23 or clip.
  • the handheld device 20 transmits, via Bluetooth (BT), an audio signal to the dongle 23.
  • This dongle or clip generally worn on the body of a user, transmits audio signals to slave earpieces 21 and 22.
  • the dongle 23 transmits entirely this audio signal to both slave earpieces 21 and 22, who then receive the same signal.
  • the dongle 23 transmits data corresponding to the right channel to slave earpiece 21, situated in the right ear of the user, and transmits data corresponding to the left channel to slave earpiece 22, situated in the left ear of the user.
  • the slave earpieces 21 and 22 comprise means for determining in which ear they are situated, for example by comparison with the position of the dongle, and for indicating it to the dongle.
  • the dongle 23 comprises means for discovering the slave earpieces 21 and 22 via near-body communication. In case no earpiece is discovered, then the dongle does not transmit any signal, in order to save battery power. In case only one earpiece is detected, then the dongle transmits a signal only to this earpiece.
  • slave earpiece 21 comprises a touch sensor for determining whether the user holds the earpiece in the hand
  • audio streaming from the dongle 23 to the slave earpiece 21 is started only when the following process has been completed, step by step, by the earpiece: - step 1 : the touch sensor area is touched and the earpiece is not in the ear, which means that the user holds the earpiece, and the dongle is not detected yet by earpiece, step 2: the touch sensor area is touched and the earpiece is in the ear, which means that the user has just placed the earpiece, and the dongle is detected by earpiece)
  • step 3 touch sensor area is released and earpiece is in the ear, and the dongle is still detected by earpiece.
  • the process is such that the audio stream is automatically paused as soon as the dongle does not detect earpiece anymore.
  • the third embodiment is a variant of the second embodiment.
  • the master device is a separate adapter 33 receiving the audio signal via a connector from the handheld device.
  • This adapter for example implemented in a pouch, is being worn on the body and transmits the audio signal as in the second embodiment.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé d'exploitation d'un système acoustique comprenant une source audio et au moins un dispositif acoustique portable. Le procédé comprend : la source audio émet un signal audio à un dispositif maître, par le biais d'un protocole de communication sans fil à faible portée, et le dispositif maître émet tout ou partie du signal audio au dispositif acoustique portable, considéré comme un dispositif esclave, par une communication couplée au corps. La présente invention concerne également un procédé d'activation/désactivation automatique d'un dispositif mobile effectuant une communication couplée au corps. La présente invention concerne enfin un dispositif acoustique portable.
PCT/IB2010/051970 2009-05-19 2010-05-05 Procédé d'exploitation d'un système acoustique et dispositif acoustique portable WO2010133991A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09305455.9 2009-05-19
EP09305455 2009-05-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010133991A1 true WO2010133991A1 (fr) 2010-11-25

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Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2010133991A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017068003A1 (fr) * 2015-10-20 2017-04-27 Bragi GmbH Système et procédé de charge galvanique et de transfert de données de dispositifs distants dans un réseau personnel
WO2017088526A1 (fr) * 2015-11-25 2017-06-01 惠州Tcl移动通信有限公司 Casque bluetooth, et procédé de mise en œuvre automatique de mise en marche/arrêt du casque bluetooth au moyen d'un dispositif tactile portable intelligent
US11038965B2 (en) * 2013-02-07 2021-06-15 MyFitnessPal, Inc. Method and arrangement for monitoring physiological data
US11977617B2 (en) * 2016-08-19 2024-05-07 Nec Corporation Detection of attachment problem of apparatus being worn by user

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1100218A2 (fr) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-16 Sony Corporation Appareil audio portable
WO2008015591A1 (fr) * 2006-07-31 2008-02-07 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé d'établiseement et de contrôle des commnunications entre deux dispositifs de communication et système d'échange de données
WO2008062955A1 (fr) * 2006-11-20 2008-05-29 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Terminal portatif recevant les diffusions multimédia numériques directement par le corps humain, procédé de transmission dmn de ce terminal et réception dmn par le corps humain

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1100218A2 (fr) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-16 Sony Corporation Appareil audio portable
WO2008015591A1 (fr) * 2006-07-31 2008-02-07 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé d'établiseement et de contrôle des commnunications entre deux dispositifs de communication et système d'échange de données
WO2008062955A1 (fr) * 2006-11-20 2008-05-29 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Terminal portatif recevant les diffusions multimédia numériques directement par le corps humain, procédé de transmission dmn de ce terminal et réception dmn par le corps humain

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11038965B2 (en) * 2013-02-07 2021-06-15 MyFitnessPal, Inc. Method and arrangement for monitoring physiological data
WO2017068003A1 (fr) * 2015-10-20 2017-04-27 Bragi GmbH Système et procédé de charge galvanique et de transfert de données de dispositifs distants dans un réseau personnel
WO2017088526A1 (fr) * 2015-11-25 2017-06-01 惠州Tcl移动通信有限公司 Casque bluetooth, et procédé de mise en œuvre automatique de mise en marche/arrêt du casque bluetooth au moyen d'un dispositif tactile portable intelligent
US11977617B2 (en) * 2016-08-19 2024-05-07 Nec Corporation Detection of attachment problem of apparatus being worn by user

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