Patent Description:
Within the wireless PANs, certain applications may be considered to have "low energy" application profiles based on their operations. For instance, low energy application profiles generally send and receive short pieces of data over a low energy link. These profiles may provide standards, which manufacturers follow to allow devices to use specific technologies, such as Bluetooth, in the intended manner. Accordingly, Bluetooth low energy ("Bluetooth LE") or "Bluetooth Smart" is a wireless PAN technology designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group aimed at applications in the healthcare, fitness, location, beacons, security, and home entertainment industries. Compared to Classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth Smart is intended to provide considerably reduced power consumption and cost while maintaining a similar communication range. <CIT> relates to a system for monitoring the location of individuals, such as parolees, which includes a wearable device worn by the individual and a portable device operatively coupled to the wearable device. The portable device is operatively coupled to a monitoring system through a wireless telephone network. The portable device transmits periodically encrypted location information as well as status information across the wireless network to the monitoring system. The monitoring system tracks the location of the individual and alerts the appropriate authorities when the individual violates a rule, such as a condition for parole. The portable device increases the time between transmissions when the individual is within a specified home location and reduces the time between transmissions when outside the specified location. <CIT> relates to a method, software tool, computer program product and low power radio device for transponder aided wake-up and connection set-up by detecting a wake up event in a sleep mode of the low power radio device, putting the radio device into an operative state, transmitting at least one advert message by radio transmission, wherein the low power radio devices put into a passive mode for a predetermined period of time in case no answer is received in response to the at least one transmitted advert message.

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe an apparatus, system and method for broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network. It should be noted that while the exemplary embodiments described herein refer to broadcasting and advertising in a Bluetooth network, any type of wireless network may implement the systems and methods described herein. Thus, the various embodiments are not limited to a Bluetooth network in general. Furthermore, while exemplary embodiments described herein may relate to a network for use with wireless audio headphones (e.g., wireless earbuds) in communication with a mobile device, the exemplary systems and methods may be applied to connecting any wireless device and are not limited to wireless audio headphones nor any particular mobile device.

Within a wireless network of devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, an exemplary wireless device may operate in a variety of modes depending on required functionality. These modes of operation may include an advertising mode, a scanning mode, a master device mode, a slave device mode, etc. While in advertising mode, the wireless device may periodically transmit advertising information (e.g., advertising beacons or advertising messages) and may subsequently respond with more information upon request from one or more other devices within the network.

During the scanning mode of operation, the wireless device may listen for advertising information transmitted by one or more other devices and may subsequently request additional information if an active scan mode is enabled. Furthermore, while operating in master device mode, the master device may communicate with a plurality of devices within a piconet (e.g., an ad-hoc computer network using Bluetooth technology). Additionally, the wireless device may switch roles wherein the master device becomes the slave device, and vice versa. For example, a headset initiating a connection to a mobile telephone necessarily begins as master by initiating the connection, and then may subsequently operate as the slave device during standard usage.

Through the usage of advertising, short-ranged low-power wireless technologies such as Bluetooth LE allow for the exemplary wireless device to broadcast packets to every device in its local area. The exemplary receiving devices may then act on this information or connect to receive more information. Accordingly, the advertising mode can be used to create a connection between multiple devices. Furthermore, the advertisement sent from the initiating device may be used to transmit specific information in a predefined data format at a predefined transmission rate. Advertising packets may be periodically transmitted on one or more advertising channels, wherein a time interval between packets may be a fixed interval and/or a random delay. In some instances, using a random delay may reduce the possibility of collisions between advertisements transmitted by different wireless devices.

A connection interval defines how often one wirelessly connected device communicates (e.g., broadcasts advertisements) with another device in the network. For instance, an allowable range for a connection interval may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. Accordingly, the connection interval may be the parameter that most affects data rate. Additionally, there may be a predetermined maximum number of packets (e.g., four) sent per connection interval, and each packet may have a predetermined maximum payload size (e.g., up to <NUM> bits).

As will be described in greater detail below, the information included in the advertisement packets, as well as the transmission rate of the advertisements, may be adjusted based on the state of the exemplary wireless device. The state of the device may include (or be based on) any number of possible factors, such as, but not limited to, a location of the device relative to other equipment (e.g., ear buds in proximity to one another, an ear bud in proximity of a user device, ear buds in a case, ear buds out of a case, a case (e.g., containing ear buds) opening/closing, etc.), a location of the device relative to a user (e.g., in a user's ear(s), out of a user's ears, etc.), a geographical location of the device (e.g., at a user's home/work, in a user's living room, kitchen, etc.) an application running on the device or on a connected device (e.g., a music/video player, a telephone operation, a fitness tracking mode, etc.), a connection state in relation to one or more network devices (e.g., active mode, sleep mode, fitness mode, paired, etc.), etc. It is noted that the location of any device within the network may be determined based on any number of methods, such as but not limited to, relative strength of signal measurements (e.g., received signal strength indicator ("RSSI") data), geographical measurements (e.g., global positioning systems ("GPS") data), etc.), wireless ranging (e.g., based on time of flight), position information broadcast by other devices (e.g., beacons, GPS data from other devices), or combinations thereof.

In the example of the wireless earbuds, sensors such as optical sensors, accelerometers or any other type of sensor may be included in the wireless earbuds to detect a current state of the wireless earbuds. For example, the optical sensor(s) or accelerometer(s) may detect when a wireless earbud is placed in a user's ear or removed from the user's ear. Similarly, these sensors may also be used to detect when the wireless earbuds are placed in their case, removed from the case or a change in the state of the case, e.g., lid open or closed.

<FIG> shows an exemplary embodiment of a short-range low-power network <NUM> including a pair of wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., ear buds or wireless headphones) in communication with a user device <NUM> (e.g., a mobile telephone, a tablet computer, wearable, etc.). It is noted that the use of the pair of wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> is only an example of a type of device connected to the network <NUM>. Additional devices may include, for example, Bluetooth-enabled hands-free headsets, wireless speakers, intercoms, fitness tracking devices, sensors, automobile sound systems, desktop and laptop computers, tablet computers, etc. Furthermore, in devices that have multiple ear buds, such as the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, the broadcasting functionality may be shared and/or transferred between each of the ear buds. For instance, one bud (e.g., wireless audio bud <NUM>) may be in active connection with a wirelessly paired device (e.g., user device <NUM>) while another bud (e.g., wireless audio bud <NUM>) may be in an advertising state.

According to the exemplary embodiments described herein, the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may broadcast advertising packets that include status information, such as a device state of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. While the user device <NUM> is within range (e.g., in proximity) of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, the user device <NUM> may receive the advertising packets and act based on the status information in the advertising broadcast payload. For instance, the user device <NUM> may inform a user that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are nearby. Further, the user device <NUM> may provide userdirected functionality based on the status information in the advertising broadcast payload. For example, the user device <NUM> may perform a function, such as answering an incoming call or starting audio playback when one or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are placed in the user's ear. In a further example, the user device <NUM> may terminate a telephone call or pause audio playback when one or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are removed from the user's ear. From these examples, it can be seen that based on the status information associated with either or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> as indicated in an advertising broadcast payload (e.g., indicated through a connection between the user device <NUM> and the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>), the functionality of a device such as user device <NUM> may be controlled.

Accordingly, the information in the broadcast advertising packets may be specific to the type of device broadcasting, e.g., the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, the information in the broadcast advertising packets may be specific to a current device state, e.g., of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. It should be noted that the user device <NUM> may be configured to perform any functionality based on a current state or a change of state of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, an individual user of the user device <NUM> may, through a configuration application, define the operations or functionalities that should be performed by the user device <NUM> when detecting a state or change of state of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> as indicated by the advertising packets.

The exemplary wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may also broadcast additional information that is encrypted to ensure that only paired devices (e.g., the user device <NUM>) may decrypt and process the information. For instance, this information may include, but is not limited to, accurate battery level information, a current audio state of a device (e.g., the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>), identification information related to any currently connected paired devices (e.g., the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>), etc..

The exemplary wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may also be in communication with a peripheral component, such as a storage case <NUM>. In addition to storing the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, the storage case <NUM> also may be capable of charging the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. Furthermore, as a peripheral component, this storage case <NUM> may also be characterized by any number of device states, such as but not limited to, an open case state (e.g., wherein a lid on the case <NUM> is open), a closed case state (e.g., wherein a lid on the case <NUM> is closed), a bud charging state (e.g., wherein batteries of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are being charged while stored in the case <NUM>), an idle state (e.g., wherein the wireless audio buds are simply being stored in the case <NUM>), a case charging state (e.g., where a battery included in the case <NUM> is being charged), etc. Any of these case device states may be communicated from the case <NUM> to any of the network devices (e.g., the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>). Additionally, or alternatively, the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may be capable of detecting the device state of the case <NUM> and/or the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may feature a corresponding device state for one or more of those of the case <NUM> (e.g., a state of being charged or stored in the case <NUM>, etc.).

According to some embodiments, a change in the device state (e.g., from case closed to case open) may trigger any number of actions, e.g., from either or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>. For instance, the change in state of the case <NUM> may trigger a broadcast from either or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, a change in the payload of a broadcast packet, a change in an advertising broadcast rate of the transmission, a change in an advertising broadcast duration of the transmission, etc. By changing the broadcast rate, such as increasing the rate, the user device <NUM>, as well as any other nearby network-enabled devices, may receive and act quickly upon the change in device state. Furthermore, by changing the broadcast duration (such as increasing the duration upon the change in device state), the user device <NUM>, as well as any other nearby devices configured to receive the advertisements, may be provided with a longer time frame during which advertisements may be detected and a connection with either or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> can be made.

In addition to a change in device state triggering a change in the advertising broadcast rate and/or broadcast duration, the broadcast rate and/or duration may be modified by the type of device state. For instance, the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> may be stored in the case <NUM> while not in use (e.g., for storage, for charging, for configuration, for software updating, etc.). One type of device state may indicate that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are "in the case" or "the storage case is closed. " Another device state may indicate that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are "out of the case" or "the storage case is open. " Therefore, the payload of the broadcast packet may change to indicate that state, e.g., that the case <NUM> has been opened. This updated information may be included in a packet that is then advertised more aggressively (e.g., increasing the advertising broadcast rate from <NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, increasing the advertising broadcast duration from <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds, etc.).

As a result of the change in advertising parameters and/or change in advertisement payload, a device such as the user device <NUM>, can more quickly become aware that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are about to be put into use and/or to connect with either or both of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>. Alternatively, the broadcast packet may change to indicate that the case <NUM> has been closed. This updated information packet may be advertised less aggressively (e.g., decreasing the advertising broadcast rate, etc.) or not advertised at all for a period of time. This can allow any/all of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, the case <NUM>, and the user device <NUM> to conserve resources (e.g., battery life, etc.) while the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are stored in the case <NUM> and, thus inactive or no longer in use.

Additional device states may include further location indications from the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>, such as "in the user's ears" and "out of the user's ears. " Upon a change in the in-ear status, the broadcast packet may change to indicate that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are in or out of the user's ears, using an increased advertising broadcast rate to notify the user device <NUM> and/or any other nearby network devices. As a result, a connected device such as the user device <NUM> can more quickly identify the change in state (e.g., in-ear status) and execute one or more functions triggered by the state change. Further device states may be related to applications and operations of either the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>, such as playing music, making a telephone call, listening to voice mail, using an external speaker, etc. Moreover, these applications and/or operations may be controlled, at least in part, by a device state or device state change. For example, an in-ear/out-of-ear state change or a connected/stored state change (or any other state change) may serve as a trigger for an application and/or operation state change (e.g., starting an application, displaying a graphical user interface ("GUI") on the user device <NUM> such as a GUI "pop-up" notification, answering/hanging up a telephone call, pausing/resuming media playback, etc.).

<FIG> shows an exemplary method <NUM> for broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments described herein. The method <NUM> will be described with reference to the network <NUM> including the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> and the user device <NUM>. Each of the wireless audio buds <NUM> and <NUM> may perform the operations of method <NUM>. In some implementations, the case <NUM> also may perform some or all of the operations of method <NUM>. According to an exemplary embodiment, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may serve as a primary audio bud in an advertising state with the user device <NUM>. Thus, the method <NUM> will be described as being performed by the wireless audio bud <NUM>, but as described above, any of the devices of the network <NUM> may perform the method <NUM>.

In <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may determine a state of a network device. The network device may be itself (e.g., a state of the wireless audio bud <NUM>) or a state of another network device (e.g., a state of the wireless audio bud <NUM>, the user device <NUM>, or the case <NUM>). As discussed above, the state of the network devices may be related to any number of possible scenarios, such as an in-use or active state, an idle or sleep state, a paired state, an application specific state (e.g., in media player mode, in fitness tracking mode, in voice call mode, etc.), etc. The state of the device may also include peripheral states, such as the storage case <NUM> in an open state or a closed state. The state of the device may further include a location-based state, such as a proximity to another device, a geographical location of the device, a location relative to a user (e.g., in ear, out of ear, etc.), etc..

This determination of the network device states may be performed in a variety of manners. For example, when determining its own state, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may include sensors (e.g., optical sensors, accelerometers, etc.) that can detect a current state of the wireless audio bud. When determining a state of a further device, such as the user device <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may receive a Bluetooth broadcast that includes the current state of the user device. In a further example, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect the state of another device using the sensors, e.g., an optical sensor indicating the lid of the case <NUM> is closed with the wireless audio bud <NUM> inside. Those skilled in the art will understand that there may be other manners of determining network device states and the above are only exemplary.

It should be noted that the term network device is not limited to devices which are actually connected to a network. For example, the case <NUM> may not have the capability of wirelessly communicating with other devices. However, the case <NUM> may still be considered to be a network device because the other devices (e.g., the wireless audio bud <NUM>) may determine a state and/or a change of state for the case <NUM> (e.g., lid open or closed) even without the case <NUM> having the ability to communicate wirelessly. In addition, there may be no current active network connection between the user device <NUM> and the wireless audio bud <NUM>, but both these devices may be considered network devices. Thus, the term network device may include any devices that are capable of communicating with other devices or any device for which another device may determine a state.

In <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect a change in its own state or in the state of another network device. For example, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect an activation of either of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> or the user device <NUM>. Additionally, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect an opening of the storage case <NUM>, a change in the proximity between devices or a specific location of the device(s) relative to the user and/or geography. The wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect a start to a specific application, such as the user of the user device <NUM> operating a voice call application, a fitness tracking application, a media player application, etc..

In <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may adjust a rate and/or duration of transmission for a broadcasted advertisement transmission based on the detected change in the state. Furthermore, the change in detected device state may also adjust a payload size or content for the broadcasted advertisement transmission. Any of the detected changes in the state of the network device may be related to an immediate change in the usage of a network device. For example, the opening of the audio bud storage case <NUM> may indicate that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are about to be put into use by the user. Thus, it would be advantageous to aggressively advertise the change in device state within the network <NUM>. Conversely, the closing of the audio bud storage case <NUM> may indicate that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> are about to be put out of use. Thus, it would be advantageous to reduce or cease any advertisement broadcasting by either of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to these examples, an action such as the opening of the storage case <NUM> may increase the rate and duration of the advertisement broadcast from, e.g., a <NUM> connection interval every <NUM> seconds to, e.g., a <NUM> connection interval every <NUM>. Accordingly, whenever there is a detected change in the state of a network device, such as an activation or a presumed activation of a device, the rate of an advertisement broadcast transmission may increase (or decease for deactivation) for a predetermined period of time. As a result, there can be more and/or longer opportunities for another device to detect and act on (or in accordance with) the advertised state information. Additionally, the rate and/or content of advertisement broadcast transmissions can once again be modified when a further change in a network device state is detected.

In <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast the transmission for reception by the second wireless device, including information related to the detected change in the state of the network device. As described above, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast advertisement information to be received by another device in the network <NUM>, such as the user device <NUM>. This advertisement information may include information related to the type and identity of any of the devices within the network <NUM> as well as current state information of these various devices. For instance, the broadcast information may advertise that the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> have been removed from their storage case <NUM> (e.g., the case <NUM> has been opened) and placed in to the user's ears. Accordingly, the transmission of the advertisement broadcast may incorporate any number of alterations as discussed above in <NUM>, such as changes to the transmission rate, changes to the transmission duration, changes to the payload size of the transmission, etc..

<FIG> shows an exemplary device <NUM> (e.g., a wireless audio bud) for broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments described herein. The device <NUM> may represent any electronic device (e.g., wireless audio bud <NUM>) that is configured to perform wireless functionalities, such as but not limited to communicating with a master device (e.g., the source device <NUM>) as well as a slave device (e.g., the other wireless audio bud <NUM>). However, it is noted that the device <NUM> may also represent any of the other components of the exemplary network <NUM>, such as the user device <NUM>, a peripheral device (e.g., the case <NUM>) and/or the other audio bud <NUM>.

Furthermore, it is noted that the device <NUM> is not limited to audio buds and may represent any portable wireless device, such as, but not limited to a wearable computing device, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, a VolP telephone, a wearable, an ioT device, etc. The device <NUM> may also be a stationary client device, such as a desktop computer.

The exemplary device <NUM> may include a transceiver <NUM> connected (directly or indirectly) to an antenna <NUM>, a baseband processor <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>, as well as other components. The other components may include, for example, a memory, a battery, ports to electrically connect the device <NUM> to other electronic devices, etc. The controller <NUM> may control the communication functions of the transceiver <NUM> and the baseband processor <NUM>. In addition, the controller <NUM> may also control noncommunication functions related to the other components, such as the memory, the battery, etc. It is noted that the controller <NUM> may also be implemented and/or perform operations associated with an applications processor. The transceiver <NUM> may include a hardware transmitter, such as a Bluetooth beacon or other Bluetooth LE-enabled device capable of broadcasting advertisements to other nearby electronic devices (e.g., the user device <NUM>).

According to some embodiments, the baseband processor <NUM> may be a chip compatible with a wireless communication standard, such as Bluetooth. The baseband processor <NUM> also may be implemented as a combination chip (or system on a chip) that can support two or more wireless communication standards, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The baseband processor <NUM> may be configured to execute a plurality of applications of the device <NUM>. For example, the applications may include the above-referenced methods related to the exemplary embodiments, such as but not limited to, broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network as described in method <NUM> of <FIG>. Additionally, the transceiver <NUM> may also be configured to execute a plurality of applications of the device <NUM>. For example, the applications may include the above-referenced methods related to the exemplary embodiments, such as but not limited to, broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network as described in method <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows an exemplary state diagram <NUM> related to a device (e.g., the wireless audio bud <NUM>) for broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments described herein. The state diagram <NUM> will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, wherein a device such as the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be stored in the exemplary case <NUM> with another wireless audio bud <NUM>.

Examples of the device state for the wireless audio bud <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, a steady state <NUM> (e.g., standard operating state), an aggressive state <NUM> (e.g., an in-use state or aboutto-be-used state) and a limited or inactive state <NUM> (e.g., an out-of-use state). Although presented with respect to a wireless audio bud, similar states can be implemented by other devices, such as the case <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>. Each of the states may impact the broadcast advertising operations (e.g., the rate at which advertisements are transmitted and/or the type/content of advertisements transmitted) of the wireless audio bud <NUM>. For instance, the steady state <NUM> may allow the wireless audio bud <NUM> to broadcast advertisement packets according to regular operations.

The aggressive state <NUM> may allow the wireless audio bud <NUM> to broadcast advertising packets more aggressively (as compared to the steady state <NUM>), such as any/all of: at a higher rate, for a longer duration, with an increased payload size, with a different payload, etc. The limited or inactive state <NUM> may allow less aggressive broadcasting (as compared to the steady state <NUM>), including by any/all of decreasing the broadcasting rate, decreasing the broadcasting duration, decreasing the payload size, including a different payload, etc. It is noted that the inactive state <NUM> may refer to the wireless audio bud <NUM> being inactive (e.g., not in-use) and does not necessarily refer to an inactive transmission state of the wireless audio bud <NUM>. In other words, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may continue to broadcast advertisement packets while in the limited/inactive state <NUM>, just at a reduced rate, duration, packet size, etc. It should be noted that exemplary rates and durations for the various states have been provided above. The exemplary embodiments are not limited to these rates and/or durations, but these are merely provided to illustrate exemplary relative differences between the various states.

While operating in the steady state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition to either the aggressive state <NUM> or the limited/inactive state <NUM> based on a detected change at any or all of the wireless audio bud <NUM>, the other wireless audio bud <NUM>, the user device <NUM>, the storage case <NUM>, or another network or peripheral device in communication with the wireless audio bud <NUM>. For instance, as discussed above, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may detect a state change, such as that one of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> is in an in-ear state when a user places either of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, <NUM> in the user's ear(s). It is noted that the placement and location of the wireless audio buds <NUM> is merely one example of a detectable state of the wireless audio bud <NUM> and that the techniques can be applied in relation to any state change. Additional states may include opening/closing the storage case <NUM>, crossing a battery threshold of the wireless audio buds <NUM> or the user device <NUM>, a charging state of the wireless audio buds <NUM>, user input (e.g., sensory input, such as a double tap) at either the wireless audio buds <NUM> or the user device <NUM>, etc..

In one example, a change from an out-of-ear state to an in-ear state may transition the wireless audio bud <NUM> from the steady state <NUM> to the aggressive state <NUM>. Such a transition to the aggressive state <NUM> may change one or more operations, such as increasing the broadcasting rate and/or duration for advertisement packets. As a result of transitioning to the aggressive state <NUM>, an associated device (e.g., the user device <NUM>) may quickly detect the change, enabling one or more corresponding functions or operations, such as, but not limited to, answering a telephone call, starting a media player/file, starting an application, displaying a notification GUI on the user device <NUM>, unlocking a home screen of the user device <NUM>, switching from a speaker audio mode to an in-ear audio mode, etc. It is noted that after a duration in the aggressive state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition back to the steady state <NUM> (e.g., while remaining in the in-ear state) or directly to the inactive/limited state <NUM> in some circumstances (e.g., after advertising a shut down or other such inactivity).

Further, another state change may cause the wireless audio bud <NUM> to enter a different state or to continue operating in the aggressive state <NUM> with one or more modified parameters. For example, if wireless audio bud <NUM> is removed and placed into the case <NUM>, it may enter the limited/inactive state <NUM>. As another example, while in the aggressive state <NUM>, a change from an in-ear state to an out-of-ear state may cause the wireless audio bud <NUM> to remain in the aggressive state <NUM>, but with one or more modified parameters (e.g., a different payload). After the duration of the aggressive state <NUM> passes, a transition to the steady state <NUM> may decrease one or more advertising parameters (e.g., the broadcasting rate) for the advertisement packets. The wireless audio bud <NUM> can remain in the steady state <NUM> until another state change is detected.

From either of the steady state <NUM> or the aggressive state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition to the limited/inactive state <NUM>. For instance, the user may transfer the wireless audio bud <NUM> into the storage case <NUM> (e.g., an in-case state), which may cause the wireless audio bud <NUM> to enter the aggressive state <NUM> to broadcast (or advertise) that it has entered an in-case state or to transition from the steady state <NUM> to the inactive/limited state <NUM> directly. Once the wireless audio bud <NUM> enters the inactive/limited state <NUM> (e.g., is stored within the case <NUM>), the advertisement broadcasting rate may decrease (or cease). Furthermore, activating the limited/inactive state <NUM> may trigger one or more operations (e.g., by an associated device), such as, but not limited to, terminating a telephone call, stopping/pausing a media player/file, closing an application, displaying a notification GUI on the user device <NUM>, locking a home screen of the user device <NUM>, switching from an in-ear audio mode to a speaker audio mode, etc..

<FIG> shows an exemplary timeline <NUM> related to a device (e.g., the wireless audio bud <NUM>) for broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments described herein. The timeline <NUM> will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, wherein a device such as the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be stored in the exemplary case <NUM> with another wireless audio bud <NUM>. Furthermore, the operation of the wireless audio bud <NUM> may include a plurality of operating states, such as, but not limited to a steady state <NUM>, an aggressive state <NUM> and a limited/inactive state <NUM>. As discussed above, each of these states <NUM>-<NUM> may relate to an advertisement broadcasting characteristic, such as a broadcasting rate, broadcasting duration, a payload size, etc..

According to the exemplary timeline <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may initially be stored in the closed case <NUM> at <NUM>. During this time, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be in the limited/inactive state <NUM> and may broadcast advertisement packets at a limited transmission rate and/or at a limited transmission duration. Since the wireless audio bud <NUM> is stored in the closed case <NUM>, it may be presumed that the wireless audio bud <NUM> is inactive. While <FIG> is primarily described with respect to representative wireless audio bud <NUM>, the techniques also can be implemented by other devices, such as the bud <NUM>, the user device <NUM>, and/or the case <NUM>.

At <NUM>, the case <NUM> may be opened (representing a state change) and the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition from the limited/inactive state <NUM> to the aggressive state <NUM>. In the aggressive state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast advertisement packets at a greater transmission rate and/or for a greater transmission duration. Since the case <NUM> for the wireless audio bud <NUM> has been opened, it may be presumed that the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be put into use.

After advertising in the aggressive state <NUM> for a duration (e.g., a predetermined period), at <NUM> the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition from the aggressive state <NUM> to the steady state <NUM> (e.g., if there is no other state change). In the steady state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast advertisement packets at a moderate or standard transmission rate and/or for a standard transmission duration. Further, the wireless audio bud <NUM> can continue to monitor its state (and optionally the state of one or more other devices) to determine whether a state change has occurred.

At <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be placed in the user's ear (e.g., a change in the in-ear state/status) and the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition from the steady state <NUM> to the aggressive state <NUM>. The wireless audio bud <NUM> can enter the aggressive state <NUM> to increase the chance of and/or reduce the time required for another device to receive notice of the state change, e.g., so the other device can perform a function or operation. Once again, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast advertisement packets at a greater transmission rate and/or for a greater transmission duration. After the duration of the aggressive state <NUM> expires at <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> can return to the steady state <NUM>. During the steady state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may once again broadcast advertisement packets at a moderate or standard transmission rate and/or for a standard transmission duration.

At <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be removed from the user's ear while remaining outside of the case <NUM>. Accordingly, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition from the aggressive state <NUM> to the steady state <NUM>. The wireless audio bud <NUM> may once again broadcast advertisement packets at a moderate or standard transmission rate and/or for a standard transmission duration. Since the wireless audio bud <NUM> are out of the case <NUM>, it may be presumed that the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be put back into use or may be returned to the case <NUM> for storage and/or charging.

At <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may be removed from the ear (e.g., a change in the in-ear state/status) and returned to the case <NUM>. Accordingly, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition from the steady state <NUM> to the aggressive state <NUM>. In the aggressive state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may broadcast advertisement packets at a greater transmission rate and/or for a greater transmission duration to advertise the changed state.

At <NUM>, after the duration of the aggressive state <NUM>, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition to the limited/inactive state <NUM> and may broadcast advertisement packets at a limited transmission rate and/or at a limited transmission duration (or cease advertising). Alternatively, in some implementations, the wireless audio bud <NUM> may transition to the steady state <NUM> before entering the limited state <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) performed by a wireless audio output device (<NUM>), comprising:
detecting (<NUM>) a state change of a storage case (<NUM>) configured to store the wireless audio output device (<NUM>), wherein the state change of the storage case (<NUM>) is related to at least one of (i) a lid of the storage case (<NUM>) being open, (ii) the lid of the storage case (<NUM>) being closed, (iii) the wireless audio output device (<NUM>) being in a charging state within the storage case (<NUM>), (iv) the wireless audio output device (<NUM>) being in the storage case (<NUM>) and not being charged, or (v) the storage case (<NUM>) being charged;
selecting (<NUM>), responsive to the state change, an advertising mode for the wireless audio output device (<NUM>), wherein the advertising mode comprises at least one of an advertising rate or an advertising duration; and
advertising (<NUM>) in accordance with the selected advertising mode.