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GooglePatent applicationAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Google patents earbuds that share audio data with each other

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This filing describes a method where one wireless earbud sends missing audio data directly to the other earbud if the second one fails to receive it from the source device. By sharing only the specific audio channel the second earbud needs, the system helps maintain high-quality stereo sound without using extra bandwidth.

Why it mattersThis could improve the reliability of high-fidelity wireless audio by ensuring both ears receive the correct sound even if one connection is weak.

In the filing’s own words

Various arrangements are presented that can help preserve bandwidth, such as for audio communications involving high fidelity audio being transmitted to wireless earbuds. A first earbud can receive an audio packet from an audio source device that includes stereo audio separately encoded as a first monophonic channel and a second monophonic channel. The first earbud can determine that it successfully received the audio packet. The second earbud may not successfully receive the audio packet. Thus, the second earbud can make a request to the first earbud. The first earbud can then directly transmit to the second earbud, audio data for only the second monophonic channel from the audio packet. Each earbud can then output its respective monophonic audio channel.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method for audio communications, the method comprising: receiving, by a first earbud, an audio packet from an audio source device comprising audio separately encoded as a first channel and a second channel; determining, by the first earbud, that the audio packet was successfully received by the first earbud; determining, by a second earbud, that the audio packet was not successfully received by the second earbud; in response to determining that the audio packet was not successfully received by the second earbud, transmitting, by the second earbud, a request to the first earbud; in response to the request, transmitting, by the first earbud directly to the second earbud, audio data for only the second channel from the audio packet; outputting by the first earbud, audio for the first channel from the audio packet; and outputting, by the second earbud, audio for the second channel from the audio data received from the first earbud.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
High Bitrate Audio Wireless Communication
Publication number
US20260304086A1
Application number
19474983
Filed
Apr 15, 2024
Published
Oct 1, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 4/80 Electricity & electronicsG06F 3/162 Physics & computingG10L 19/008 Physics & computingH04M 1/6066 Electricity & electronicsH04R 5/033 Electricity & electronicsH04R 5/04 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.