Method and system for unified audio control on a personal computer

• US 7,624,259 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US11/685,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 381/101, 381/104, 381/105, 381/106, 381/107
• US Class Current: 713/1
• 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 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.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of powering down one or more components of the computer system to transition the computer system into a powered-down mode comprises an act of powering down a processor of the computer system to transition the computer system into a powered-down mode.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of powering down one or more components of the computer system comprises an act of powering down the computer system to a default extent.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of powering down one or more components of the computer system comprises an act of powering down the computer system to a user-configured extent.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the act of powering down the computer system a user-configured extent comprises an act of power down the computer system so that audio controls of the first audio device work as a conventional appliance.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of powering down one or more components of the computer system comprises an act of powering down the computer system to place at least one of an operating system and an application program in standby mode.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to playing voice mail.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to depressing a button on a peripheral device attached to the computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to detecting speech input at a microphone.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to receiving a telephone call; and

the act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination comprises an act of performing one of lowering the volume of an audio output device and muting the audio output device before establishing the incoming telephone call on an active receiver.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to disconnecting a telephone call; and

the act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination comprises an act of restoring an audio output device to a prior state after the telephone call is disconnected.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to plugging in a headset; and

the act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination comprises an act of muting the audio output device before connecting audio output on the headset.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the act of receiving an event indicating a change in the state of a first audio device at the computer system comprises an act of receiving an event corresponding to unplugging a headset; and

the act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination comprises an act of restoring an audio output device to a prior state after the headset is unplugged.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of determining a change in a setting of at least one other audio device from among the plurality of audio devices comprises an act of determining a change in a setting of at least one other audio device in accordance with user-configurable settings.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of changing the setting of the at least one other audio device as a result of the determination comprises an act of adjusting an attribute of an audio stream being delivered to an audio output device.