METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UNIFIED AUDIO CONTROL ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER
First Claim
1. A method for controlling audio devices in a computer system, the method comprising:
- an act of powering down one or more components of the computer system to transition the computer system into a powered-down mode;
subsequent to transitioning the computer system into the powered-down mode and while the computer system remains in the powered-down mode;
an act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system;
an act of communicating the event to a configurable audio controller;
an act of determining a change in a setting of at least one other audio device from among the plurality of audio devices in response to the indicated changed state of the first audio device; and
an act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling audio devices in a computer system, the method comprising:
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an act of powering down one or more components of the computer system to transition the computer system into a powered-down mode;
subsequent to transitioning the computer system into the powered-down mode and while the computer system remains in the powered-down mode;
an act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system;
an act of communicating the event to a configurable audio controller;
an act of determining a change in a setting of at least one other audio device from among the plurality of audio devices in response to the indicated changed state of the first audio device; and
an act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product for use at computer system, the computer program product for implementing a method for controlling audio devices in a computer system, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored there one computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to perform the method, including the following:
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power down one or more components of the computer system to transition the computer system into a powered-down mode;
subsequent to transitioning the computer system into the powered-down mode and while the computer system remains in the powered-down mode;
receive an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system;
communicate the event to a configurable audio controller;
determine a change in a setting of at least one other audio device from among the plurality of audio devices in response to the indicated changed state of the first audio device; and
change the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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17. A computer system, the computer system comprising:
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one or more processors including at least a main processor, the main processor configured to be powered down when the computer system is powered down;
system memory;
one or more audio devices;
one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer-executable instructions representing an audio controller and handling logic, that are executable even when the computer system is transitioned into a powered-down mode, wherein the handling logic is configured to;
receive events indicating a change in the state of audio devices;
send received events to the audio controller;
receive instructions from the audio controller for changing the settings of audio devices; and
changing the settings of audio devices in accordance with the received instructions; and
wherein the audio controller is configured to;
receive events from the handling logic indicating a change in the state of audio devices;
determine changes in settings of other audio devices in response to the indicated changed state of the audio devices in the received events; and
sending instructions to the handling logic for implementing the determined changed settings of the other audio devices.
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Specification