Sound output control device

• US 8,548,617 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ochi, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELJAIEK, ALEXANDER L
• Application Number:
  US12/799,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

A sound output control device is disclosed. The sound output control device includes an application information acquisition section and a control section. The application information acquisition section is configured to acquire application information from an external device having multiple applications for sound output. The control section is configured to process audio data streamed from the external device through causing the external device to start one of the multiple applications. The control section has a predetermined selection criterion to select a start-candidate application from the plurality of applications. The control section is further configured to select the start-candidate application according to the application information acquired from the external device and the predetermined selection criterion, and cause the external device to start the selected start-candidate application.

Claims

1. A sound output controller in a subject device, the sound output controller comprising:

a control section that is equipped in the subject device, and configured to process audio data streamed from an external device through causing the external device to automatically start one of a plurality of applications for sound output, wherein the plurality of applications are applications installed in the external device, wherein the external device is external to the subject device; and

an application information acquisition section that is equipped in the subject device, and configured to automatically acquire application information from the external device, wherein the application information is information on the plurality of applications installed in the external device, wherein;

the control section of the subject device is provided with a predetermined selection criterion to automatically select a start-candidate application from the plurality of applications of the external device, the start-candidate application being the one of the plurality of applications that is to be automatically started in the external device;

according to the predetermined selection criterion and the application information acquired by the application information acquisition section from the external device, the control section of the subject device automatically selects the start-candidate application and causes the external device to automatically start the selected start candidate application;

when a default application, which is registered as a default in the external device among the plurality of applications, has an audio function and a browsing function, the control section automatically selects the default application as the start-candidate application and causes the external device to automatically start the selected default application; and

in response to establishment of a connection between the subject device and the external device, the sound output controller of the subject device automatically, without requiring a user manual operation,

(i) acquires the application information from the external device,

(ii) selects the start-candidate application from the plurality of applications of the external device according to the acquired application information and the predetermined selection criterion, and

(iii) causes the external device to start the selected start candidate application.

2. The sound output controller of claim 1, wherein:

when the default application registered as the default in the external device does not have at least one of the audio function and the browsing function, the control section selects a top level application as the start-candidate application and causes the external device to start the top level application;

the top level application is registered in the external device as a top level among a predetermined group of applications;

the predetermined group of applications is a part of the plurality of applications of the external device; and

each application in the predetermined group of applications has the audio function and the browsing function.

3. The sound output controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication link connection section that is connectable with the external device via a local wireless communication link, wherein;

when the communication link connection section is connected with the external device via the local wireless communication link, the application information acquisition section acquires the application information, which is the information on the plurality of applications of the external device, from the external device via the local wireless communication link.

4. The sound output controller of claim 1, wherein:

the browsing function is a function of transferring information on tracks, artist, album and play list.

5. The sound output controller of claim 1, wherein:

the subject device is an in-vehicle navigation apparatus in a vehicle; and

the external device is a cellular phone carried in the vehicle.

6. The sound output controller of claim 1, wherein the control section always automatically selects the default application as the start-candidate when the default application has the audio and the browsing function.

7. A sound output controller in a subject device, the sound output controller comprising:

a control section that is equipped in the subject device, and configured to process audio data streamed from an external device through causing the external device to automatically start one of a plurality of applications for sound output, wherein the plurality of applications are applications installed in the external device, wherein the external device is external to the subject device; and

an application information acquisition section that is equipped in the subject device, and configured to automatically acquire application information from the external device, wherein the application information is information on the plurality of applications installed in the external device, wherein;

the control section of the subject device is provided with a predetermined selection criterion to automatically select a start-candidate application from the plurality of applications of the external device, the start-candidate application being the one of the plurality of applications that is to be automatically started in the external device;

according to the predetermined selection criterion and the application information acquired by the application information acquisition section from the external device, the control section of the subject device automatically selects the start-candidate application from the plurality of applications of the external device and causes the external device to automatically start the selected start candidate application; and

in response to establishment of a connection between the subject device and the external device, the sound output controller of the subject device automatically, without requiring a user manual operation,

(i) acquires the application information from the external device,

(ii) selects the start-candidate application from the plurality of applications of the external device according to the acquired application information and the predetermined selection criterion, and

(iii) causes the external device to start the selected start candidate application.

8. The sound output controller of claim 7, wherein:

according to the predetermined selection criterion, the control section of the subject device selects one application having a browsing function and a music playback function as the start-candidate application from the plurality of applications, and thereafter, the control section causes the external device to start the start-candidate application having the browsing function and the music playback function.

9. The sound output controller of claim 8, wherein:

when a default application, which is registered as a default in the external device among the plurality of applications, has the browsing function and the music playback function, the control section of the subject device selects the default application as the start-candidate application and causes the external device to start the selected default application; and

when the default application, which is registered as the default in the external device, does not have at least one of the browsing function and the music playback function, the control section of the external device selects one application having the browsing function and the music playback function as the start-candidate application from the plurality of applications except the default application and causes the external device to start the selected start-candidate application.

10. The sound output controller of claim 7, wherein:

the browsing function is a function of transferring information on tracks, artist, album and play list.

11. The sound output controller of claim 7, wherein:

the subject device is an in-vehicle navigation apparatus in a vehicle; and

the external device is a cellular phone carried in the vehicle.

12. The sound output controller of claim 7, wherein the control section always automatically selects the default application as the start-candidate when the default application has the audio and the browsing function.