On June 18, 2012, the U.S. Patent Office issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,730,048 to Microsoft Corporation. The patent relates to a “earphone-based game controller and health monitor” that consists of two earbuds, a speaker, and “an accelerometer to receive an input of motion imparted by a user.” It appears that Microsoft had some interest in mapping health data and voice input to video game experiences. The patent even contained language concerning “a thermometer … [that] may gather health data by measuring the temperature of the user.”
Illustrative Claim:
1. A system, comprising: an audio jack, having two audio conductors and a microphone conductor, adapted for connection to a mobile device;
a power converter to input a signal on a first of the two audio conductors and to provide a power output;
two I/O devices, each I/O device comprising: a speaker to output sound based on input from a second of the two audio conductors;
and an accelerometer, powered by the power output and configured to output a signal;
a processing unit, powered by the power output, and configured for: receiving signals output from each of the accelerometers associated with each of the two I/O devices;processing the received signals to provide a complex output of accelerometer data;
and providing data representing the complex output on the microphone conductor.
