TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to audio devices. More particularly, the disclosure relates to audio devices, such as wearable audio devices, including a location based audio module for providing location-specific audio to the user at the wearable audio device.

BACKGROUND

Various types of portable speaker devices such as headphones or other wearable acoustic devices are used for listening to music and other audio. These devices can be connected with a source device such as a smartphone, which provides geo-location information associated with the user.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, this document features a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device configured to provide an audio output. The method includes receiving data indicating the wearable audio device is proximate a geographic location associated with a localized audio message, and determining that the localized audio message has a higher priority compared to at least one other localized audio message associated with another geographical location proximate to the wearable audio device. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the localized audio message has the higher priority, providing a prompt to initiate playback of the localized audio message with the higher priority to a user of the wearable audio device, and initiating playback of the localized audio message with the higher priority at the wearable audio device in response to actuation of the prompt by the user.

In another aspect, this disclosure features a computing device that includes memory and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to receive data indicating the wearable audio device is proximate a geographic location associated with a localized audio message, and determine that the localized audio message has a higher priority compared to at least one other localized audio message associated with another geographical location proximate to the wearable audio device. The one or more processing devices are also configured to provide, responsive to determining that the localized audio message has the higher priority, a prompt to initiate playback of the higher prioritized localized audio message with the higher priority to a user of the wearable audio device, and initiate playback of the higher prioritized localized audio message with the higher priority at the wearable audio device in response to actuation of the prompt by the user.

Implementations of the above aspects can include one or more of the following features. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon user-preferences. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a geo-location of a user of the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon an effective operational radius. Determining the priority of the localized audio message can be repeated based upon movement of the user of the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a user interface provided the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a predefined limit of localized audio messages to be received by the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a direction of gaze of the user of the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a line of sight of the user of the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon a language spoken by the user of the wearable audio device. The localized audio message can be prioritized based upon one or more habits of the user of the wearable audio device as determined by a machine-learning process.

Two or more features described in this disclosure, including those described in this summary section, may be combined to form implementations not specifically described herein. The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

