Apple Patents Wireless Headset With Integrated Media Player

Apple has filed a patent application for a wireless headset which features an integrated media player.

The device will recover idle time by integrating a media player into the wireless headset. This will allow it to be used during times that the device with which it is wirelessly coupled is not being used.

-----
The media player may be an audio player, capable, e.g., of playing audio files such as MPEG-3 ("MP3") files. Optionally, the media player may include a recording function as well, so that a user can record voice notes. In addition, if the headset is being used with a telephone (mobile or landline), the availability of a recording function could make it possible for the user to record all or part of a conversation. Similarly, voicemail messages received on the user's telephone could be uploaded into the headset for later off-line playback.


The same connection that is used to charge the headset also could be used to load the media player, or to download any recording made using the recording function (if provided). Thus, where a USB connection is provided for charging from the USB port of a computer, that same connection could be used for uploading and downloading content files which, in addition to the aforementioned voicemail messages and recorded conversations, could be any other type of audio file--i.e., podcast, music, etc. Alternatively, a connection may be provided for a cable that could connect to any suitable port, including, but not limited to, a USB port, on a computer for uploading and downloading content. If that connection is not a USB connection or other connection that also can supply power, then a separate connection for a power cord to charge the headset/media player device may be provided. In a further alternative, the headset's wireless connection could be used for uploading and downloading content.

In addition, provision of a media player in the headset allows playback totally within the headset, without any active connection-wired or wireless--to the host device (e.g., telephone handset). This eliminates dependency on the host device for playback data and reduces power consumption of both the headset (because it does not need to use its wireless connection to receive the playback data) and the host device, which is important if the host device is itself a portable device such as a telephone handset.
-----

Read More [via MacNN]