FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wearable devices. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to ear pieces, wireless headphones and other devices.

BACKGROUND

Issues with the transmission and reception of Bluetooth signals remain challenging in many situations. Common areas of difficulty involve systems requiring proximity of the communicating entities. There are numerous reasons for such difficulties. Variables such as materials which are impervious to penetration by radio waves at the frequencies used by Bluetooth technology continue to remain problematic. One example of such difficulty involves the use of wireless Bluetooth earpieces.

Depending on the location of the source and the location of the antenna of the earpiece or headphone, a reliable and stable connection might be difficult or impossible, since the body itself of the person wearing the headphones acts as a shield. This is especially notable if the antenna is located on one side of the head, and the source is carried on the opposite side, for example in a trouser, or even a shirt pocket.

Outdoors the connection is made even more difficult due to lack of radio reflecting surfaces (ceiling, close vertical walls, solid floor), so a close to line of sight connection between the communication actors may be needed. What is needed are new systems and methods to address these issues.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve wireless connections in devices such as wearable devices such as ear pieces and head phones which connect wirelessly to other devices.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide for methods and systems maintaining connections even in significantly adverse environments.

Another object, feature, or advantage is to provide for methods and systems suitable to use for audio streaming.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to provide for lowering power utilization by creating optimal linkages.

A further object, feature, or advantage is to provide for addressing problems of weak transmissions at an underserved area.

A still further object, feature, or advantage is to provide a solution which allows devices to remain within Bluetooth standards while simultaneously delivering the required connection in the defined adverse environments.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims following. No single embodiment need provide every object, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to or by any objects, features, or advantages stated herein.

According to one aspect a system includes a first device having a transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the transceiver and a second device having a transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the transceiver, the first device in operative communication with the first device through a communications linkage separate from the transceiver of the first device and the transceiver of the second device. The first device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote device through the transceiver of the first device. The second device is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the remote device through the transceiver of the second device. The system is configured to evaluate the wireless connection between the first device and the remote device and to evaluate the wireless communication between the second device and the remote device and determine whether the first device or the second device has a better connection and if the first device has the better connection to use the wireless connection between the first device and the remote device and if the second device has the better connection to use the wireless connection between the second device and the remote device. The first device may be a left ear piece and the second device may be a right ear piece. The first device may be a left portion of a headphone set and the second device may be a right portion of the headphone system. The better connection may provide a stronger signal. The transceiver of the first device may be a Bluetooth transceiver and the transceiver of the second device may be a Bluetooth transceiver. The first device may be configured to receive streaming audio of the wireless connection between the first device and the remote device and the second device may be configured to receiving streaming audio of the wireless connection between the second device and the remote device. The communications linkage between the first device and the second device may be a wired linkage. The communications linkage between the first device and the second device may be a near field magnetic inductance (NFMI) wireless linkage. The communications linkage between the first device and the second device may be an ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless linkage. The transceiver of the first device and the transceiver of the second device may share connection data related to connection with the remote device. The transceiver of the first device and the transceiver of the second device may have synchronized protocol stacks. The first device and the second device may each perform signal measurements of signals from the remote device and share the signal measurements there between. The first device and the second device may be configured to coordinate handover of a connection with the remote device. The remote device may be a mobile device configured for communicating streaming audio.

According to another aspect, a system includes a first wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver and a second wearable device having a radio transceiver and an antenna operatively connected to the radio transceiver, the first device in operative communication with the first device through a communications linkage separate from the radio transceiver of the first device and the radio transceiver of the second device. The first wearable device may be adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote device through the radio transceiver of the first wearable device. The second wearable device may be adapted to wirelessly communicate with the remote device through the radio transceiver of the second wearable device. The first wearable device and the second wearable device may be adapted to perform signal measurements relative to the remote device and share measurement information and perform handovers there between. The first wearable device may be a left ear piece and the second wearable device may be a right ear piece. The first wearable device may be a left portion of a headphone set and the second wearable device may be a right portion of the headphone set.

According to another aspect, a method for improving signal communications is provided. The method includes providing a first wearable device and a second wearable device, monitoring at least one signal parameter associated with a signal communicated between a remote device and a radio transceiver of the first wearable device, monitoring at least one signal parameter between the remote device and a radio transceiver of the second wearable device. The method further includes communicating data between the first wearable device and the second wearable device over a communication channel separate than a communications channel between the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the radio transceiver of the second wearable device. The method further includes connecting one of the first wearable device and the second wearable device, the one receiving a better signal based on a comparison of the at least one signal parameter associated with the signal communication between the remote device and the radio transceiver of the first wearable device and the at least one signal parameter associated with the signal.

