US 11,985,464 B2
Wireless audio output devices
Robert D. Watson, Menlo Park, CA (US); David John Shaw, San Diego, CA (US); Ganesh Adkasthala Ganapathi Batta, San Jose, CA (US); Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, San Jose, CA (US); Gregory Robert Burns, San Francisco, CA (US); and Benjamin Huth Byer, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/445,188.
Application 17/445,188 is a continuation of application No. 16/285,023, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,095,967.
Application 16/285,023 is a continuation of application No. 15/171,310, filed on Jun. 2, 2016, granted, now 10,219,062, issued on Feb. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/171,376, filed on Jun. 5, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0030346 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04L 67/51 (2022.01); H04L 101/622 (2022.01); H04M 1/72406 (2021.01); H04R 5/033 (2006.01); H04W 4/70 (2018.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.01); H04W 12/04 (2021.01); H04W 12/50 (2021.01); H04W 74/06 (2009.01); H04W 84/18 (2009.01)
CPC H04R 1/1016 (2013.01) [H04L 67/51 (2022.05); H04M 1/72406 (2021.01); H04R 1/1041 (2013.01); H04R 1/1091 (2013.01); H04W 4/70 (2018.02); H04W 12/04 (2013.01); H04W 12/50 (2021.01); H04W 74/06 (2013.01); H04L 63/067 (2013.01); H04L 2101/622 (2022.05); H04R 1/1025 (2013.01); H04R 5/033 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01); H04R 2460/17 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02); H04W 84/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling a wireless ear bud, the method comprising:
responsive to an input to answer a connection request:
configuring the wireless ear bud to an active microphone state, when the wireless ear bud is in a muted microphone state;
when the wireless ear bud is connected indirectly to a companion communication device via a second wireless ear bud:
connecting the wireless ear bud directly to the companion communication device; and
causing the second wireless ear bud to be reconfigured to the muted microphone state, when the second wireless ear bud is in the active microphone state; and
answering the connection request via the wireless ear bud while in the active microphone state and via the companion communication device to which the wireless ear bud is directly connected.