Wearable audio accessories for computing devices

Abstract

Wearable audio accessories for computing devices are described. In one embodiment the wearable audio accessory provides a speech based interface between the user and a nearby computing device for the performance of user-initiated or computing device initiated microtasks. Information is provided to the user via a loudspeaker and the user can provide input via a microphone. An audio sensing channel within the accessory continuously monitors the audio signal as detected by the microphone and in various embodiments will trigger more complex audio processing based on this monitoring. A wireless communication link is provided between the accessory and the nearby computing device. To mitigate any delay caused by the switching between audio processing techniques, the audio accessory may include a rolling buffer which continuously stores the audio signal and outputs a delayed audio signal to the audio processing engines.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an audio accessory arranged to provide a speech-based interface between a user and a host computing device for both user-initiated microtasks and host computing device initiated microtasks and wherein the audio accessory is operative to provide notifications for the host computing device initiated microtasks;   an always-on audio sensing channel and a speech detection module arranged to work together to continuously monitor an audio signal detected by the audio accessory and to trigger a first higher level of audio processing based on a detected level of the audio signal and to trigger a second higher level of audio processing based on detection of a predefined keyword;   the always-on audio sensing channel and the speech detection module being further arranged to work together to control notifications to the user based at least in part on a determination that the user is having a conversation;   a wireless interface arranged to provide a communication link between the audio accessory and the host computing device; and   a sensor arrangement arranged to detect whether the accessory is attached, via an attachment mechanism, to an object or to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power control mechanism arranged to control operation of the always-on audio sensing channel based on the output of the sensor arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement is further arranged to trigger a requirement for re authentication between the audio accessory and the host computing device following detection of detachment of the audio accessory from the object. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio buffer arranged to provide a recording loop for the audio signal detected via the microphone to accommodate any latency associated with keyword detection. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speech based interface comprises an audio processing hierarchy comprising at least three levels. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microphone is arranged to output a delayed audio signal to a speech detection module located in the host computing device via the wireless interface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio accessory comprises two modes of operation, a first mode for performing microtasks and a second mode for extended tasks 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speech based interface is arranged to provide audible notifications to the user and wherein a notification is triggered by software running on the host computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a physical control and wherein a user input received via the physical control is arranged to trigger provision of additional information relating to a notification to the user via the speech based interface or to initiate a speech-based interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the speech detection module is at least partially implemented using hardware logic selected from any one or more of: a field-programmable gate array, a program specific integrated circuit, a program-specific standard product, a system-on-a-chip, and a complex programmable logic device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling operation of an audio accessory for a host computing device, the method comprising:
 arranging an audio accessory to provide a speech-based interface between a user and the host computing device for both user initiated microtasks and host computing device initiated microtasks and wherein the audio accessory is operative for providing notifications for the host computing device initiated microtasks;   arranging an always-on audio sensing channel and a speech detection module to continuously monitor an audio signal detected by the directional microphone and to trigger a first higher level of audio processing based on a detected level of the audio signal and to trigger a second higher level of audio processing based on detection of a predefined keyword;   arranging the always-on audio sensing channel and the speech detection module to control notifications to the user based at least in part on a determination that the user is having a conversation;   providing, via a wireless interface, a communication link between the audio accessory and the host computing device; and   detecting, via a sensor arrangement, whether the accessory is attached to an object or to the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 canceling authentication between the host computing device and the audio accessory in response to detecting detachment of the audio accessory from an object.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a signal from a microphone or other sensor in the audio accessory to context sensing software in the host computing device via the wireless interface in the audio accessory.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing, in an audio buffer providing a recording loop, an audio signal detected via the microphone in the audio accessory; and   outputting a delayed audio signal to audio processing elements in the audio accessory or the host computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether to provide an alert based on a pre-determined length of time without any speech detected by the speech detection module;   determining whether to delay the alert based on whether the alert is appropriate;   determining a type of the alert to provide based on whether the alert is delayed; and   displaying status information on a wireless interface, the wireless interface including a display and light emitting diodes (LEDs).   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising controlling operation of the always-on audio sensing channel based on output of the sensor arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising triggering a requirement for re-authentication between the audio accessory and the host computing device following detection of detachment of the audio accessory from the object. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a recording loop for the audio signal detected via the microphone to accommodate any latency associated with keyword detection. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the speech-based interface comprises an audio processing hierarchy comprising at least three levels. 
     
     
         20 . One or more computer-storage memory devices embodied with executable instructions executable by one or more processors for operating an audio accessory for a host computing device, comprising:
 arranging an audio accessory to provide a speech-based interface between a user and the host computing device for both user initiated microtasks and host computing device initiated microtasks and wherein the audio accessory is operative for providing notifications for the host computing device initiated microtasks;   arranging an always-on audio sensing channel and a speech detection module to continuously monitor an audio signal detected by the directional microphone and to trigger a first higher level of audio processing based on a detected level of the audio signal and to trigger a second higher level of audio processing based on detection of a predefined keyword;   arranging the always-on audio sensing channel and the speech detection module to control notifications to the user based at least in part on a determination that the user is having a conversation;   providing, via a wireless interface, a communication link between the audio accessory and the host computing device; and   detecting, via a sensor arrangement, whether the accessory is attached to an object or to the user.