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GooglePatent applicationAudio & voiceInterest 4/10

Google patents earbuds that confirm audio receipt to each other

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This filing describes a method for true wireless earbuds to share audio data between themselves. If one earbud receives an audio packet meant for its partner, it sends a confirmation signal to that partner before forwarding the audio data.

Why it mattersThis technique aims to improve the reliability of audio transmission in wireless earbuds by allowing the devices to verify data receipt directly with each other.

In the filing’s own words

Various arrangements for short-range wireless communication are presented herein. An earbud of a pair of true wireless earbuds can receive an audio packet addressed to the other earbud of the pair. A single connected isochronous stream (CIS) within a connected isochronous group (CIG) may be present between the pair of true wireless earbuds and an audio source which transmitted the audio packet. The earbud can transmit a cross-acknowledgement indicating receipt of the audio packet to the other earbud. The earbud can also transmit audio data from the audio packet to the other earbud after the cross acknowledgement.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A pair of wireless earbuds, comprising: a first earbud, comprising a first speaker, a first processing system, and a first wireless communication interface, that communicates with an audio source device using short-range wireless communications; and a second earbud, comprising a second speaker, a second processing system, and a second wireless communication interface, that communicates with the audio source device using short-range wireless communications, the second earbud configured to receive an audio packet addressed to only the first earbud; wherein the first earbud is configured to: receive the audio packet addressed to only the first earbud; determine that the audio packet was successfully received by the first earbud; and cause a negative acknowledgement to be transmitted by the first wireless communication interface to the audio source after determining that the audio packet was successfully received by the first earbud.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Joint Connected Isochronous Stream Communication with Cross Acknowledgement
Publication number
US20260303302A1
Application number
19705190
Filed
Jun 11, 2026
Published
Oct 1, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

H04L 5/0055 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/15 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/03 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.