Information processing apparatus, volume control method, recording medium, and program

• US 20050276426A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasabe, Yuichiro, Hasegawa, Kiyoshi, Takagi, Kenji, Ono, Kenichi, Koide, Keisuke
• Application Number:
  US11/116,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20050276426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is connected to a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data. The information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A first receiver receives setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a first program. A second receiver receives a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from a setting unit provided for the sound output device. A calculator calculates first volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal, the volume being controlled by a second computer executing a second program. A first output unit outputs the first volume control data to the sound output device.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus to which a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data is connected, comprising:

first receiving means for receiving setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a first program;

second receiving means for receiving a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from setting means provided for the sound output device;

calculation means for calculating first volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal, the volume being controlled by a second computer executing a second program; and

first output means for outputting the first volume control data to the sound output device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation means stores in advance first intermediate data corresponding to one of the setting data and the setting signal and converts the one of the setting data and the setting signal into the first intermediate data, thereby calculating the first volume control data based on the other one of the setting data and the setting signal and the first intermediate data.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first volume control data includes second volume control data and third volume control data, and

the calculation means stores in advance the plurality of different second volume control data to which a plurality of different second intermediate data are assigned, the one of the setting data and the setting signal is converted into the first intermediate data, the other one of the setting data and the setting signal and the first intermediate data are added, some bits of a resulting added value are used as the second intermediate data, the remaining bits of the added value are used as the third volume control data, and the second intermediate data is converted into the second volume control data to which the second intermediate data is assigned, thereby calculating the first volume control data.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving means receives a stop instruction signal indicating an instruction to stop outputting the sound from the sound output device, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

second output means for outputting, in response to the stop instruction signal, a mute signal indicating an instruction to stop outputting the sound from the sound output device to the sound output device and also for outputting mute changing information indicating a change in the output of the mute signal to the first computer executing the first program.

5. A volume control method for an information processing apparatus to which a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data is connected, the volume control method comprising the steps of:

performing a first receiving operation for receiving setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a first program;

performing a second receiving operation for receiving a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from setting means provided for the sound output device;

calculating volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal, the volume being controlled by a second computer executing a second program; and

outputting the volume control data to the sound output device.

6. A recording medium recording therein a computer-readable program, the computer-readable program being used for controlling a volume of a second computer of an information processing apparatus, a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data being connected to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including receiving means for receiving setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a volume setting program, the computer-readable program comprising the steps of:

receiving a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from setting means provided for the sound output device;

calculating volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal; and

outputting the volume control data to the sound output device.

7. A program allowing a second computer of an information processing apparatus to execute volume control processing for controlling a volume of the information processing apparatus, a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data being connected to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including receiving means for receiving setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a volume setting program, the program comprising the steps of:

receiving a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from setting means provided for the sound output device;

calculating volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal; and

outputting the volume control data to the sound output device.

8. An information processing apparatus to which a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data is connected, comprising:

a first receiver receiving setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a first program;

a second receiver receiving a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from a setting unit provided for the sound output device;

a calculator calculating first volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal, the volume being controlled by a second computer executing a second program; and

a first output unit outputting the first volume control data to the sound output device.