Managing audio output through an intermediary
First Claim
1. A method for modifying audio content being transferred through an audio controller, comprising:
- sending, via the audio controller, a pairing request to an output device, the pairing request including audio controller pairing information;
pairing the audio controller with the output device upon the output device accepting the pairing request, wherein the output device stores the controller pairing information upon accepting the pairing request;
upon losing the pairing between the audio controller, using the stored controller pairing information to reestablish the pairing between the audio controller and the output device, wherein the output device does not respond to pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information;
wirelessly transferring, via the audio controller, the audio content from a source device to the output device for real-time output, the audio content comprising data in a digital audio format representing music;
receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device, the indication received at a time when the audio controller is in the process of wirelessly transferring the audio content to the output device for audio output; and
in response to receiving the indication of the external event;
determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the audio output device;
modifying one or more of the audio content and the transfer timing of the audio content in order to accommodate the additional audio content; and
combining the additional audio content with the audio content sent to the output device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller. The lock survives power cycling and soft resets of the audio output device. A special hard reset can be used to release the audio output device.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for modifying audio content being transferred through an audio controller, comprising:
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sending, via the audio controller, a pairing request to an output device, the pairing request including audio controller pairing information; pairing the audio controller with the output device upon the output device accepting the pairing request, wherein the output device stores the controller pairing information upon accepting the pairing request; upon losing the pairing between the audio controller, using the stored controller pairing information to reestablish the pairing between the audio controller and the output device, wherein the output device does not respond to pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information; wirelessly transferring, via the audio controller, the audio content from a source device to the output device for real-time output, the audio content comprising data in a digital audio format representing music; receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device, the indication received at a time when the audio controller is in the process of wirelessly transferring the audio content to the output device for audio output; and in response to receiving the indication of the external event; determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the audio output device; modifying one or more of the audio content and the transfer timing of the audio content in order to accommodate the additional audio content; and combining the additional audio content with the audio content sent to the output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification