Methods, apparatus and systems for audio playback

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and systems for audio playback via a personal audio device following a biometric process. A personal audio device may be used to obtain ear model data for authenticating a user via an ear biometric authentication system. Owing to that successful authentication, the electronic device is informed of the person who is listening to audio playback from the device. Thus the device can implement one or more playback settings which are specific to that authorised user.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method in an electronic system, the electronic system comprising a personal audio device for playback of audio signals to a user, the personal audio device comprising first and second loudspeakers for separate playback of audio signals to each of the user's ears, wherein the audio signals comprise a left channel for playback to the user's left ear and a right channel for playback to the user's right ear, the method comprising:
 generating an acoustic stimulus using the first loudspeaker;   measuring a response of one of the user's ears to the acoustic stimulus;   identifying the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear based on the response; and   outputting the left or right channel to the first loudspeaker in accordance with the identification of the one of the user's ears.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 outputting the other of the left and right channels to the second loudspeaker.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measuring a response of one of the user's ears to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   identifying the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is performed responsive to a determination that the personal audio device is in proximity to an ear. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method is performed responsive to a determination that first loudspeaker has been applied to the user's ear. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measuring a response to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   determining that the second loudspeaker is applied to an ear of a different user.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measuring a response to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   determining that the second loudspeaker is not applied to an ear.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising applying a first volume to the first loudspeaker in accordance with the identification of the one of the user's ears. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising applying a second volume to the second loudspeaker. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein identifying the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear based on the response comprises comparing the response to at least one of: stored data which is characteristic of the user's left ear; and stored data which is characteristic of the user's right ear. 
     
     
         31 . An electronic apparatus for controlling playback of audio signals to a user by a personal audio device, the personal audio device comprising first and second loudspeakers for separate playback of audio signals to each of the user's ears, wherein the audio signals comprise a left channel for playback to the user's left ear and a right channel for playback to the user's right ear, the electronic apparatus comprising processing circuitry and a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the electronic apparatus to:
 generate an acoustic stimulus using the first loudspeaker;   measure a response of one of the user's ears to the acoustic stimulus;   identify the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear based on the response; and   output the left or right channel to the first loudspeaker in accordance with the identification of the one of the user's ears.   
     
     
         32 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to:
 output the other of the left and right channels to the second loudspeaker.   
     
     
         33 . The electronic apparatus to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to:
 generate a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measure a response of one of the user's ears to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   identify the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear.   
     
     
         34 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is caused to generate the acoustic stimulus using the first loudspeaker responsive to a determination that the personal audio device is in proximity to an ear. 
     
     
         35 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is caused to generate the acoustic stimulus using the first loudspeaker responsive to a determination that first loudspeaker has been applied to the user's ear. 
     
     
         36 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to:
 generate a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measure a response to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   determine that the second loudspeaker is applied to an ear of a different user.   
     
     
         37 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to:
 generate a second acoustic stimulus using the second loudspeaker;
 measure a response to the acoustic stimulus generated by the second loudspeaker; and 
   determine that the second loudspeaker is not applied to an ear.   
     
     
         38 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to apply a first volume to the first loudspeaker in accordance with the identification of the one of the user's ears. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to apply a second volume to the second loudspeaker. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the electronic apparatus is further caused to identify the one of the user's ears as the user's left or right ear based on the response comprises comparing the response to at least one of: stored data which is characteristic of the user's left ear; and stored data which is characteristic of the user's right ear.