Data-driven media management within an electronic device

• US 8,111,837 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Guetta, Anthony J., Rostaing, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Faulk, Devona
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US12/106,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381 80- 83, 381/85, 700/94, 710/113, 710/116
• US Class Current: 381/85
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.

Claims

1. A method for routing audio in a device, comprising:

detecting, within the device, an event that indicates a need to route audio within the device;

based on the event, selecting a particular set of routing information to read;

reading the particular set of routing information;

wherein the particular set of routing information includes route data for each route of one or more routes;

wherein the route data for each of the one or more routes includes connection data for each connection of one or more connections;

wherein the connection data for each connection of the one or more connections includes node data that identifies two or more nodes involved in said each connection;

wherein the two or more nodes that are identified in the node data for each connection correspond to device components through which audio is routed when said each connection is used to route audio;

wherein the particular set of routing information includes property information specified for at least one of;

a particular route identified in the routing information;

a particular connection that belongs to the particular route;

or

a particular node identified in the particular connection, wherein the particular node corresponds to a component of the device that is involved in routing audio when the particular connection is used to route audio in the device;

based on the property information, performing at least one of;

determining whether to use the particular route to route audio in response to the event;

or

determining an effect to apply to the audio that is routed in response to the event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies a property for said particular connection; and

the property information indicates whether use of the particular connection is optional or mandatory when the particular route is used to route audio.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies performing per-connection mix leveling.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies a volume cap for at least one of said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the property information specifies volume curve specifications for at least one of said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies a digital signal processing (DSP) effect for at least one of said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the DSP effect is equalization (EQ).

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the DSP effect is dynamic range compression (DRC).

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the DSP effect is automatic gain control (AGC).

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies per-connection optionality for broadcast routes.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies hints about what to do when encountering specifically identified audio processors for at least one of said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising indexing an audio processor'"'"'s properties within one or more data tables to determine the audio processor'"'"'s behavior within code.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting input directly from a user, and modifying the property information based on the input.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies echo cancellation or noise reduction settings for at least one of said particular route or said particular connection.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies a precondition or a postcondition for at least one of said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the property information specifies per-category prevention of screen dimming or auto lock.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling per-category aliasing of route lists.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling per-category route list fallback logic.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a surround sound audio/video processor.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a digital media receiver.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is an audio card.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a pro-audio console.

23. A device, comprising:

one or more data tables that contain routing information, wherein the routing information includes route data for each of a plurality of routes;

wherein the route data for each of the plurality of routes includes connection data for each connection of one or more connections;

wherein the connection data for each connection of the one or more connections includes node data that identifies two or more nodes involved in said each connection;

wherein the one or more data tables further include property information for at least one of;

a particular route identified in the routing information;

a particular connection that belongs to the particular route;

or

a particular node identified in the particular connection, wherein the particular node corresponds to a component of the device that is involved in routing audio when the particular connection is used to route audio in the device;

an audio routing system that is configured to route audio within the device based on the routing information;

wherein the audio routing system is configured to read the property information and, based on the property information, performing at least one of;

determining whether to use the particular route to route audio in response to an event;

or

determining an effect to apply to the audio that is routed in response to the event.

24. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

detecting, within the device, an event that indicates a need to route audio within the device;

based on the event, selecting a particular set of routing information to read;

reading the particular set of routing information;

wherein the particular set of routing information includes route data for each route of one or more routes;

wherein the route data for each of the one or more routes includes connection data for each connection of one or more connections;

wherein the connection data for each connection of the one or more connections includes node data that identifies two or more nodes involved in said each connection;

wherein the two or more nodes that are identified in the node data for each connection correspond to device components through which audio is routed when said each connection is used to route audio;

wherein the particular set of routing information includes property information specified for at least one of;

a particular route identified in the routing information;

a particular connection that belongs to the particular route;

or

a particular node identified in the particular connection, wherein the particular node corresponds to a component of the device that is involved in routing audio when the particular connection is used to route audio in the device;

based on the property information, performing at least one of;

determining whether to use the particular route to route audio in response to the event;

or

determining an effect to apply to the audio that is routed in response to the event.

25. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies a property for said particular connection; and

the property information indicates whether use of the particular connection is optional or mandatory when the particular route is used to route audio.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies performing per-connection mix leveling.

27. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies a volume cap for at least one said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 26, wherein:

the property information specifies volume curve specifications for at least one said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies a digital signal processing (DSP) effect for at least one said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 29, wherein the DSP effect is equalization (EQ).

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 29, wherein the DSP effect is dynamic range compression (DRC).

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 29, wherein the DSP effect is automatic gain control (AGC).

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies per-connection optionality for broadcast routes.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies hints about what to do when encountering specifically identified audio processors for at least one said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the instructions include instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause indexing an audio processor'"'"'s properties within one or more data tables to determine the audio processor'"'"'s behavior within code.

36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the instructions include instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause accepting input directly from a user, and modifying the property information based on the input.

37. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies echo cancellation or noise reduction settings for at least one said particular route or said particular connection.

38. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies a precondition or a postcondition for at least one said particular route, said particular connection, or said particular node.

39. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein:

the property information specifies per-category prevention of screen dimming or auto lock.

40. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the instructions include instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

enabling per-category aliasing of route lists.

41. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the instructions include instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

enabling per-category route list fallback logic.

42. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the device is a surround sound audio/video processor.

43. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the device is a digital media receiver.

44. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the device is an audio card.

45. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the device is a pro-audio console.