DIRECTING AUDIO OUTPUT BASED ON DEVICE SENSOR INPUT

• US 20150207912A1
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gulliksson, Johan, Sjolin, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A first device determines whether there is an incoming call to the first device or an outbound call from the first device; performs at least two different acts, among a set of acts for monitoring a set of devices that include the first device and a second device; redirecting audio input and output at a first one of input/output (I/O) devices to a second one of the I/O devices based on the monitoring. The I/O devices include the plurality of devices.

Claims

1. A first device comprising:

a memory to store instructions;

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

determine whether there is an incoming call to the first device or an outbound call from the first device;

perform at least two different acts, among a plurality of acts for monitoring a plurality of devices that include the first device and a second device; and

redirect audio input and output at a first one of input/output (I/O) devices to a second one of the I/O devices based on the monitoring,

wherein the I/O devices comprise the plurality of devices.

2. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first device includes one of:

a smart phone;

a tablet computer;

a computer;

a laptop computer, and wherein the second device includes one or more of;

a headset;

speakers;

a microphone;

or a head-mounted display.

3. The first device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of acts for monitoring the plurality of devices includes:

detecting motions of the first device and the second device; and

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a microphone to which speech is directed.

4. The first device of claim 3, wherein when the processor identifies the device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a microphone to which the speech is directed, the processor selects a device receiving speech input with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of acts for monitoring the plurality of devices includes:

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a touch screen being touched by a user; and

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a microphone to which speech is directed.

6. The first device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of acts includes:

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a volume control being operated; and

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that includes a touch screen being touched.

7. The first device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of acts includes:

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, that is proximate to a user of the devices; and

identifying a device, among the plurality of devices, whose power level is low.

8. The first device of claim 7, wherein when the processor identifies the device proximate to the user of the devices, the processor is to:

identify the device whose distance from the user is smaller than each of distances, of the other devices, from the user.

9. The first device of claim 1, further comprising a component that includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, a camera, a compass, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, touch sensors, and a microphone,

wherein when the processor performs the at least two different acts, the processor receives and processes output of the component.

10. The first device of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a component that includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, a camera, a compass, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, a microphone, and a sensor for determining whether the second device is being worn on a user'"'"'s head,

wherein when the processor performs the at least two different acts, the processor receives and processes output of the component.

11. The first device of claim 1, wherein the second device is coupled to the first device via one of:

a Bluetooth communication link;

or a communication link over a cable or a wire.

12. The first device of claim 1, wherein the devices further comprise a third device, among the devices, that is paired with the first device;

and

wherein when the processor redirects the audio input and output, the processor;

causes the first device to decouple from the third device; and

directs the audio input and output to the first device.

13. A method comprising:

determining whether there is an incoming call to a first device or an outbound call from the first device;

performing at least two different acts, among a plurality of acts for monitoring devices that include the first device and a second device; and

redirecting audio input and output at a first one of input/output (I/O) devices to a second one of the I/O devices based on the monitoring,

wherein the I/O devices comprise the devices.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of acts for monitoring the devices includes:

identifying a device, among the devices, that includes a touch screen is touched by a user; and

identifying a device, among the devices, that includes a microphone to which speech is directed.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of acts includes:

identifying a device, among the devices, that includes a volume control being operated; and

identifying a device, among the devices, that includes a touch screen being touched.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of acts includes:

identifying a device, among the devices, that is proximate to a user of the devices; and

identifying a device, among the devices, whose power level is low.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein identifying the device proximate to the user of the devices comprises:

identifying a device whose distance from the user is smaller than each of distances, of the other devices, from the user.

14. The method claim 14, wherein the plurality of acts for monitoring the devices includes:

detecting motions of the first device and the second device; and

identifying a device, among the devices, that includes a microphone to which speech is directed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying the device, among the devices, that includes the microphone to which the speech is directed comprises selecting a device receiving speech input with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.

20. A tangible computer-readable storage device, comprising one or more computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed by one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

determine whether there is an incoming call to the first device or an outbound call from the first device;

perform at least two different acts, among a plurality of acts for monitoring a plurality of devices that include the first device and a second device; and

redirect audio input and output at a first one of input/output (I/O) devices to a second one of the I/O devices based on the monitoring,

wherein the I/O devices comprise the plurality of devices.