Wireless audio output device, wireless audio output system including the same and control method thereof

• US 8,320,832 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Il Dong, Masaki, Oguro, Akihiko, Hosaka, Choi, Young Gyoo, Kwak, Jung Hun, Kim, Sang Geun
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/210,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/41.3, 455/66.1, 455/344
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A wireless audio output device, a wireless audio output system including the same and a control method thereof are disclosed. When a user approaches the output device, while listening to music on a portable device, the output device automatically connects the wireless audio output system to the portable device, to reproduce the music of the portable device. The control method includes detecting the user, detecting the portable device if the user is sensed, and outputting an audio file being reproduced by the portable device using the wireless audio output system, if the portable device is detected.

Claims

1. A control method of a wireless audio output device, the control method comprising:

determining whether a user is detected within a proximity of the wireless audio output device;

searching for a portable device, only if the user is detected;

outputting an audio file being reproduced by the portable device, to be played through one or more speakers, if the portable device is detected by the searching;

determining whether an incoming call is made to the portable device; and

if the incoming call is made to the portable device, lowering a volume of the speakers.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the searching comprises:

sending a request signal to search for the portable device; and

if a response signal corresponding to the sent request signal is transmitted from the portable device, comparing identification information included in the response signal with identification information of the portable device, which is stored in the wireless audio output device.

3. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether an audio file is received through any one of a plurality of external connection terminals, if the portable device is not detected.

4. The control method according to claim 3, further comprising, if no audio file is received through any of the external connection terminals, determining which particular one of the external connection terminals most recently received an audio file, and waiting for an audio file to be received through the particular external connection terminal.

5. The control method according to claim 3, further comprising, if an audio file is received through one of the external connection terminals, outputting the received audio file to be played through the speakers.

6. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising driving one or more emitters to emit rhythmic sensory stimulation in a range of alpha wave brainwaves, when the audio file is outputted.

7. The control method according to claim 6, further comprising controlling an intensity of the emitters to flicker in accordance with amplitude information of a genre of the outputted audio file,

wherein the emitters comprise Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

8. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising, if an audio file control command is transmitted from a remote controller, delivering the audio file control command to the portable device, to control the output of the audio file.

9. The control method according to claim 8, wherein the controlling the output of the audio file comprises pausing, stopping, fast forwarding, or rewinding the audio file.

10. A wireless audio output device comprising:

one or more speakers;

a user sensor to sense a proximity of a user;

a wireless communication unit to search for a portable device, only if the user is sensed;

a controller to control an output of an audio file being reproduced by the portable device, to be played through the one or more speakers, if the portable device is detected by the search; and

a telephone circuit to receive an incoming call signal from a mobile communication base station,

wherein if the incoming call signal is received from the mobile communication base station, the controller lowers a volume of the speakers.

11. The wireless audio output device according to claim 10, wherein:

the controller outputs a request signal to detect the portable device; and

if a response signal corresponding to the request signal is transmitted from the portable device, the controller compares identification information included in the response signal with identification information of the portable device, which is pre-stored in the wireless audio output device, to determine whether the portable device is connectable to the wireless communication unit.

12. The wireless audio output device according to claim 10, wherein the controller determines whether an audio file is received through any one of a plurality of external connection terminals, if the portable device is not detected by the search.

13. The wireless audio output device according to claim 12, wherein:

if no audio file is received through any of the external connection terminals, the controller determines which particular one of the external connection terminals most recently received an audio file; and

then the controller waits for an audio file to be received through the particular external connection terminal.

14. The wireless audio output device according to claim 12, wherein if an audio file is received through any one of the external connection terminals, the controller controls the output of the received audio file through the speakers.

15. The wireless audio output device according to claim 10, further comprising one or more emitters,

wherein the controller drives the emitters to emit rhythmic sensory stimulation in a range of alpha wave brainwaves, when the audio file is outputted to be played through the speakers.

16. The wireless audio output device according to claim 15, wherein:

the controller controls an intensity of the emitters to flicker in accordance with amplitude information of a genre of the outputted audio file, and

the emitters comprise Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).