COORDINATED HAND-OFF OF AUDIO DATA TRANSMISSION

• US 20170003931A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dvortsov, Eugene, Shoemaker, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,162,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention can facilitate a smooth listening experience, during which a user can enjoy continuous music play despite moving between settings or using a device with restricted playing capabilities. While a first player device is playing songs from an audio collection, one or more other devices can be evaluated to determine whether one should take over the play. This determination can be made by comparatively evaluating properties of the other devices, such as their power source, battery charge (if applicable), network connection, access to a song, and/or device type. When a determination is made to transfer the play between devices, a message can be sent to the new player device that indicates when to begin play and which song to play. The first player device can cease playing substantially at the same time that the new player device begins play.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, at a first device, an audio collection that includes one or more songs;

determining that the first device is a player device;

transmitting, from the first device, audio data from the audio collection to a speaker;

accessing, at the first device, a rule that indicates whether another device is to take over as the player device;

determining, by the first device, that a second device is to take over as the player device based on a property of the second device and the accessed rule;

transmitting, from the first device and to the second device, a characteristic of the transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker; and

ceasing transmission from the first device to the speaker of the audio data from the audio collection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the property is indicative of a current resource availability, a current connection accessibility, a location, a power source or a device type.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating the rule based on the property, wherein evaluating the rule includes assessing a property of the first device that corresponds to the property of the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting, by the first device, a plurality of second devices, wherein the plurality of second devices includes the second device; and

identifying, for each of the plurality of second devices, a property of the second device, and

wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device includes selecting the second device from amongst the plurality of second devices based on each of the properties of the second devices.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device includes a wearable device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the transmission of the audio data includes an identification of the audio collection or an identification of a song that includes the audio data.

7. A method comprising:

identifying, at a master device, a dynamic set of devices, wherein each of the dynamic set of devices is within a same area and has the capability to transmit audio data to a speaker;

identifying, at the master device, a first device of the dynamic set of devices that is a player device that is transmitting audio data from an audio collection to a speaker;

determining, at the master device, that a second device of the dynamic set of devices is to take over as the player device; and

transmitting, from the master device and to the second device, a characteristic of the transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dynamic set of devices includes the master device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising, upon determining that the second device is to take over as the player device:

transmitting, from the master device and to the first device, an indication to cease transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device is made based on a property of one or both of the first device and the second device, and wherein the property is indicative of a current resource availability, a current connection accessibility, a location, a power source or a device type.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device is made based on a property of the first device and a corresponding property of the second device.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying, for each device in the set of devices, a set of properties of the device; and

calculating, for each device in the set of devices and at the master device, a score based on the set of properties of the device,

wherein the determination that the second device of the dynamic set of devices is to take over as the player device is made based on a comparison of the calculated scores.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

repeatedly monitoring, at the master device, a property for at least one device in the set of devices; and

repeatedly determining, at the master device, which device in the set of devices is to be the player device.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the dynamic set of devices includes a wearable device.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the characteristic of the transmission of the audio data includes an identification of the audio collection or an identification of a song that includes the audio data.

16. An electronic device comprising:

an input component configured to receive inputs from a user;

an output component configured to transmit audio data;

one or more processors coupled to the input component and to the output component; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

identify an audio collection that includes one or more songs;

determine that the electronic device is a player device;

transmit audio data from the audio collection to a speaker;

access a rule that indicates whether another device is to take over as the player device;

determine that a second device is to take over as the player device based on a property of the second device and the accessed rule;

transmit, to the second device, a characteristic of the transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker; and

cause transmission of the audio data from the audio collection from the electronic device to the speaker to cease.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to evaluate the rule based on the property, and wherein evaluating the rule includes assessing a property of the first device that corresponds to the property of the second device.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to evaluate the rule based on the property, and wherein evaluating the rule includes assessing a property of the electronic device that corresponds to the property of the second device.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

detect a plurality of second devices, wherein the plurality of second devices includes the second device; and

identify, for each of the plurality of second devices, a property of the second device, and

wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device includes selecting the second device from amongst the plurality of second devices based on each of the properties of the second devices.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the electronic device includes a wearable device.

21. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the characteristic of the transmission of the audio data includes an identification of the audio collection or an identification of a song that includes the audio data.

22. A master electronic device comprising:

one or more processors coupled to the input component and to the output component; and

a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

identify a dynamic set of devices, wherein each of the dynamic set of devices is within a same area and has the capability to transmit audio data to a speaker;

identify a first device of the dynamic set of devices that is a player device that is transmitting audio data from an audio collection to a speaker;

determine that a second device of the dynamic set of devices is to take over as the player device; and

transmit, to the second device, a characteristic of the transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker.

23. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the dynamic set of devices includes the master electronic device.

24. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

upon determining that the second device is to take over as the player device, transmit, to the first device, an indication to cease transmission of the audio data from the audio collection to the speaker.

25. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device is made based on a property of one or both of the first device and the second device, and wherein the property is indicative of a current resource availability, a current connection accessibility, a location, a power source or a device type.

26. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the determination that the second device is to take over as the player device is made based on a property of the first device and a corresponding property of the second device.

27. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

identify, for each device in the set of devices, a set of properties of the device; and

calculate, for each device in the set of devices and at the master device, a score based on the set of properties of the device,

wherein the determination that the second device of the dynamic set of devices is to take over as the player device is made based on a comparison of the calculated scores.

28. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

repeatedly monitor a property for at least one device in the set of devices; and

repeatedly determine which device in the set of devices is to be the player device.

29. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the dynamic set of devices includes a wearable device.

30. The master electronic device of claim 22 wherein the characteristic of the transmission of the audio data includes an identification of the audio collection or an identification of a song that includes the audio data.