Donned/doffed multimedia file playback control

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.

1 . A system comprising:
 a secondary earbud system comprising:
 a detector providing an output indicating a secondary earbud donned condition or a secondary earbud doffed condition; 
 a first speaker; and 
   a primary earbud system comprising:
 a memory storing an audio file output control application; 
 a second speaker; and 
 a processor for executing the audio file output control application, wherein the audio file output control application outputs a monaural audio signal to the second speaker responsive to detection of the secondary earbud doffed condition, and wherein the audio file output control application outputs a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to detection of the secondary earbud donned condition, the first channel output to the first speaker and the second channel output to the second speaker. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is selected from the group comprising an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, a skin resistance sensor, an acoustic seal detector, and a carbon dioxide sensor. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary earbud system comprises a communications headset capable of making and receiving telephone calls. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary earbud system further comprises a user controllable switch, wherein placement of the user controllable switch in a first position results in output of a monaural audio channel at the second speaker and placement of the user controllable switch in a second position results in output of the first channel at the first speaker and the second channel and the second speaker. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary earbud system and the primary earbud system are removably coupled with a cable. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary earbud system and the primary earbud system are wirelessly coupled with a wireless communication protocol. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary earbud system further comprises a donned and doffed determination circuit. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary earbud system further comprises a donned and doffed determination circuit. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary earbud system further comprises a mixer for combining the first channel and the second channel to output the monaural audio signal. 
   
   
       10 . A system comprising:
 a secondary earbud system comprising:
 a detector means for providing an output indicating a secondary earbud donned condition or a secondary earbud doffed condition; 
 a first speaker; and 
   a primary earbud system comprising:
 a memory means for storing an audio file output control application; 
 a second speaker; and 
 a processor means for executing the audio file output control application, wherein the audio file output control application outputs a monaural audio signal to the second speaker responsive to detection of the secondary earbud doffed condition, and wherein the audio file output control application outputs a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to detection of the secondary earbud donned condition, the first channel output to the first speaker and the second channel output to the second speaker. 
   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the detector means comprises a capacitance detecting means for detecting capacitance. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the primary earbud system further comprises a switching means for selecting output of the monaural audio signal or the stereo audio signal. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a wireless communication means for connecting the secondary earbud system with the primary earbud system. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a connection means for removably coupling the primary earbud system with the secondary earbud system. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a donned and doffed determination means for processing an output of the detector means to determine a secondary earbud system donned or doffed condition. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a mixing means for combining the first channel and the second channel to output the monaural audio signal. 
   
   
       17 . A method for listening to audio on a stereo headset comprising a secondary earbud system and a primary earbud system, the method comprising:
 detecting a secondary earbud system donned condition or a secondary earbud doffed condition;   outputting a monaural audio signal to the primary earbud system responsive to determination of the secondary earbud system doffed condition; and   outputting a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to determination of the secondary earbud system donned condition, wherein the first channel is output to the primary earbud system and the second channel is output to the secondary earbud system.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising mixing the first channel and the second channel to output the monaural audio signal. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising outputting the second channel to the secondary earbud system using a wireless communication protocol. 
   
   
       20 . A system comprising:
 a secondary earbud system comprising:
 a first connector; 
 a first speaker; and 
   a primary earbud system comprising:
 a second connector for removably coupling with the first connector; 
 a memory storing an audio file output control application; 
 a second speaker; and 
 a processor for executing the audio file output control application, 
   
     wherein the audio file output control application outputs a monaural audio signal to the second speaker responsive to detection of a de-coupled condition between the secondary earbud system and the primary earbud system, and 
     wherein the audio file output control application outputs a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to detection of a coupled condition between the secondary earbud system and the primary earbud system, the first channel output to the first speaker and the second channel output to the second speaker. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the primary earbud system further comprises a mixer for combining the first channel and the second channel to output the monaural audio signal. 
   
   
       22 . A method for listening to audio on a stereo headset comprising a secondary earbud system and a primary earbud system, the method comprising:
 detecting a coupled condition or a de-coupled condition between the secondary earbud system and the primary earbud system;   outputting a monaural audio signal to the primary earbud system responsive to detecting the de-coupled condition; and   outputting a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to determination of the coupled condition, wherein the first channel is output to the primary earbud system and the second channel is output to the secondary earbud system.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising mixing the first channel and the second channel to output the monaural audio signal. 
   
   
       24 . A method for listening to audio on a stereo headset comprising a secondary earbud system and a primary earbud system, the method comprising:
 detecting a secondary earbud system donned condition or a secondary earbud system doffed condition;   detecting a primary earbud system donned condition or a primary earbud system doffed condition;   pausing output of an audio signal responsive to determination of a secondary earbud system doffed condition and a primary earbud system doffed condition.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising outputting a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to determination of both a secondary earbud system donned condition and primary earbud system donned condition, wherein the first channel is output to the primary earbud system and the second channel is output to the secondary earbud system. 
   
   
       26 . A system comprising:
 a secondary earbud system comprising:
 a detector providing an output indicating a secondary earbud donned condition or a secondary earbud doffed condition; 
 a first speaker; and 
   a primary earbud system comprising:
 a memory storing an audio file output control application; 
 a second speaker; and 
 a processor for executing the audio file output control application, wherein the audio file output control application outputs a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel and a second channel responsive to detection of a secondary earbud donned condition, the first channel output to the first speaker and the second channel output to the second speaker, and wherein the audio file output control application pauses output of the stereo audio signal responsive to detection of a secondary earbud doffed condition. 
   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the detector are selected from the group comprising an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, a skin resistance sensor, an acoustic seal detector, and a carbon dioxide sensor. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the audio file output control application pauses the output stereo signal to the first speaker and outputs a monaural audio signal to the second speaker responsive to detection of a secondary earbud doffed condition.