Method and system for unified audio control on a personal computer

• US 20050071626A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ledbetter, Carl, Adams, Aditha May, Crosier, Dale C., Kaneko, Steve, Magendanz, Chad, Bear, Eric Gould
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

A system and method for improved audio controls on a personal computer is provided. The system and method provide a unified architecture for audio controls across hardware and software interfaces of the personal computer. An intelligent facility may automatically change audio controls for users to simply interact with various communications and media applications. To this end, a configurable audio controller intelligently handles various aspects of the system'"'"'s audio devices by following various rules that may be based at least in part on user-configurable settings and a current operating state. The present invention also provides audio controls so that a user may easily change audio settings such as the volume of an audio output device. There are many applications that may use the present invention for automatic control of audio devices based upon the user'"'"'s context.

Claims

1. A computer system for unified audio control, comprising:

an audio controller having configurable control logic for changing a setting of an audio output device in response to an event; and

an operating system operably coupled to the audio controller, the operating system having event handling logic for receiving the event and communicating the event to the audio controller.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an audio control operably coupled to the operating system for inputting a command to change a setting of an audio output device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the audio control comprises a speaker mute button for muting an audio output device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the audio output device comprises the system default audio output device.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the audio control comprises a volume control for adjusting the volume of an audio output device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the audio output device comprises the system default audio output device.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the audio control further comprises an indicator that uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer housing.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer keyboard.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer monitor.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a communications panel.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a remote control.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the configurable audio controller comprises a component with configuration settings.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the configuration settings comprise user configuration settings.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the configuration settings comprise default system configuration settings.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the configurable audio controller comprises a component with rules for changing a setting of an audio output device in response to an event.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the rules comprise user selected rules.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the rules comprise default system rules.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the operating system comprises a component with control handling logic for receiving input commands from an audio control.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the operating system comprises a component with logic for controlling an indicator of an audio control button.

21. A method for controlling audio devices in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving an event;

communicating the event to a configurable audio controller;

determining a change in a setting of a plurality of audio devices from the event; and

changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices as a result of the determination.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises receiving an event generated by an application.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises receiving an event generated by a system component.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises receiving an event generated by an audio control.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises receiving an incoming telephone call.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises muting the audio output device before establishing the incoming telephone call on an active receiver.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises lowering the volume of the audio output device before establishing the incoming telephone call on an active receiver.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises disconnecting a telephone call.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises restoring the audio output device settings to their prior state after the telephone call is disconnected.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises plugging in a headset.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises muting the default audio output device before connecting audio output on the headset.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving an event comprises unplugging a headset.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises restoring the audio output device settings to their prior state after the headset is unplugged.

34. The method of claim 21 wherein determining a change in a setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises using rules for changing a setting of an audio device based upon one or more events.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein determining a change in a setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises using configuration settings.

36. The method of claim 21 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises changing the setting of an input audio device.

37. The method of claim 21 wherein the changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises changing the setting of an output audio device.

38. The method of claim 21 wherein changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises changing an indicator that uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein changing a visual indicator comprises changing the amount of light displayed for a volume setting.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein changing a visual indicator comprises changing the indicator to the color amber while muted.

41. The method of claim 21 wherein changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises muting the audio output device.

42. The method of claim 21 wherein changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises restoring the audio output device settings to a prior state.

43. The method of claim 21 wherein changing the setting of a plurality of audio devices comprises adjusting the volume of an audio output device.

44. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 21.

45. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components, comprising:

an audio controller having configurable control logic for changing a setting of an audio output device in response to an event; and

an operating system operably coupled to the audio controller, the operating system having event handling logic for receiving the event and communicating the event to the audio controller.

46. A system for controlling audio devices, comprising:

means for communicating an event to a configurable audio controller;

means for determining a change in an audio device setting from the event; and

means for changing the setting of an audio device as a result of the determination.

47. A computer system for unified audio control, comprising:

an audio controller for adjusting an attribute of a plurality of audio streams; and

an operating system operably coupled to the audio controller, the operating system having at least one audio device driver communicating with at least one audio device for transferring at least one of the plurality of audio streams.

48. The system of claim 47 further comprising an audio control operably coupled to the operating system for inputting a command to change the attribute of the plurality of audio stream.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the audio device is an audio input device.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein the audio device is an audio output device.

51. The system of claim 48 wherein the audio control comprises a volume control for adjusting the volume of an audio output device.

52. The system of claim 48 wherein the audio control comprises a speaker mute button for muting an audio output device.

53. The system of claim 48 wherein the audio control further comprises an indicator that uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

54. The system of claim 48 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer housing.

55. The system of claim 48 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer keyboard.

56. The system of claim 48 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a computer monitor.

57. The system of claim 48 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a communications panel.

58. The system of claim 48 wherein a button of the audio control resides on a remote control.

59. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components, comprising:

an audio controller for adjusting an attribute of a plurality of audio streams; and

an operating system operably coupled to the audio controller, the operating system having at least one audio driver for handling the plurality of audio streams.

60. A system for controlling audio devices, comprising:

means for handling a plurality of audio streams;

means for inputting a command to adjust an attribute of the plurality of audio stream; and

means for adjusting the attribute for the plurality of audio streams.

61. A method for controlling audio devices in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input command from an audio control to adjust an attribute of a plurality of audio streams;

adjusting the attribute for the plurality of audio streams; and

outputting at least one of the plurality of audio streams having the attribute adjusted.

62. A method in a computer system, comprising:

launching a first application handling an audio stream;

adjusting an attribute of the audio stream;

launching a second application handling a different audio stream;

adjusting an attribute of the different audio stream;

terminating execution of the second application; and

restoring the attributes of the audio stream of the first application.