Dynamic routing of audio among multiple audio devices

• US 8,068,925 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Santamaria, Justin Edward, McKillop, Christopher, Borghei, Hooman, Ryan, Chris, Ganatra, Nitin, Christie, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr.; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/770,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20090003620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/77, 715/717, 715/718
• US Class Current: 700/94
• 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 3/165 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: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A routing screen is presented on an electronic device by a user interface application in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device. The routing screen displays representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device. In one aspect, the representations are buttons. In another aspect, the representations are entries in a list. If a user selects one of representations, the user interface application causes the audio signals to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection. An application control screen having a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application may also be displayed. One of the objects on the application control screen is modified in response status changes in the external audio device. A user may select this object to access the routing screen when the external audio device is connected.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing executable program cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

presenting a routing screen on an electronic device in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device, the routing screen displaying representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device;

presenting an application control screen on the electronic device as a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application executing on the electronic device;

modifying one of the objects on the application control screen in response to connecting the external audio device; and

replacing the routing screen with the application control screen having the modified object.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a selection of one of the representations on the routing screen; and

causing audio signals from the audio application to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the application control screen having the modified object with the routing screen in response to receiving a selection of the modified object.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

modifying the one of the objects on the application control screen in response to disconnecting all external audio devices.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting the application control screen on the electronic device in response to an audio device initiating an audio application.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise buttons.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the representations comprise buttons.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the representations comprise entries in a list of connected devices if the connected devices exceed a maximum number of buttons on the routing screen.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting the routing screen in response to an audio application if any external audio devices are connected to the electronic device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

presenting a routing screen on an electronic device in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device, the routing screen displaying representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device;

presenting an application control screen on the electronic device as a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application executing on the electronic device;

modifying one of the objects on the application control screen in response to connecting the external audio device; and

replacing the routing screen with the application control screen having the modified object.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of the representations on the routing screen; and

causing audio signals from the audio application to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

replacing the application control screen having the modified object with the routing screen in response to receiving a selection of the modified object.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

modifying the one of the objects on the application control screen in response to disconnecting all external audio devices.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

presenting the application control screen on the electronic device in response to an audio device initiating an audio application.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the objects comprise buttons.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the representations comprise buttons.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the representations comprise entries in a list of connected devices if the connected devices exceed a maximum number of buttons on the routing screen.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:

presenting the routing screen in response to initiation of an audio application if any external audio devices are connected to the electronic device.

20. The compute implemented method of claim 11, wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device.

21. A system comprising:

means for routing audio signals between an electronic device and a plurality of audio devices; and

means for interfacing to the electronic device, wherein the means for interfacing presents a routing screen in response to receiving a notification from the means for routing that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device, the routing screen displaying representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device, wherein the means for interfacing further presents an application control screen on the electronic device as a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application executing on the electronic device, modifies one of the objects on the application control screen in response receiving a notification that the external audio device is connected and replaces the routing screen with the application control screen having the modified object.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for interfacing further receives a selection of one of the representations on the routing screen and sends a notification to the means for routing to cause audio signals from the audio application to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for interfacing further replaces the application control screen having the modified object with the routing screen in response to receiving a selection of the modified object.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for interfacing further modifies the one of the objects on the application control screen in response receiving a notification from the means for routing that a last external audio device is disconnected.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for interfacing further presents the application control screen in response to an audio device initiating an audio application.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for interfacing further presents the routing screen in response to initiation of an audio application if any external audio devices are connected to the electronic device.

27. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

means for managing connections to the electronic device by external audio devices.