Audio Device Routing for Automatic App-Based Output Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience poor user experience and complicated operations when switching audio devices on terminal devices due to the need to manually select suitable audio devices for different applications, as they often do not know which device is most suitable for the audio being played.

Innovation Solution

A method and terminal device that utilize an audio device switching routing table to automatically map attributes of audio applications to corresponding audio device IDs, allowing for intelligent activation of appropriate audio devices based on attributes such as package name and codec, and support simultaneous output of multiple applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual switching of audio devices is implemented, then users can select different audio devices for different applications, but the operation becomes complex and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio device selection capabilityVSAvoiddevice switching operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device automatically identifies the audio application attributes and selects the corresponding audio device based on the preset routing table, without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously matching application characteristics (package name, codec, sample rate) with appropriate audio devices, thereby eliminating complex manual operations while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The routing table is pre-configured with mapping relationships between audio application attributes and audio device IDs before runtime. When an audio application is launched, the system directly queries the pre-established routing table to determine the appropriate audio device, avoiding real-time complex decision-making and manual user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automatic audio device selection is implemented, then operation simplicity is improved, but the ability to handle multiple different audio applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice switching operationVSAvoidaudio application compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The routing table establishes specific mapping relationships for different audio application attributes (package name, codec, sample rate) with corresponding audio device IDs. Each audio application type is assigned appropriate audio devices based on its specific characteristics, ensuring that automatic selection maintains high adaptability across diverse audio applications while keeping operations simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple audio devices are connected simultaneously, then audio output options increase, but device management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio device connectivityVSAvoidaudio device management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The routing table is pre-configured with mapping relationships between audio application attributes and audio device IDs before runtime. When an audio application is launched, the system directly queries the pre-established routing table to determine the appropriate audio device, avoiding real-time complex decision-making and manual user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device automatically identifies the audio application attributes and selects the corresponding audio device based on the preset routing table, without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously matching application characteristics (package name, codec, sample rate) with appropriate audio devices, thereby eliminating complex manual operations while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4156661B1Method for activating audio device, and terminal and computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 ZTE CORP
  • EP4156661B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4156661B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4156661B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for activating an audio device, and a terminal and a computer-readable storage medium. The method comprises: acquiring an attribute of an audio application (S101); according to the attribute, acquiring an audio device ID, to which the attribute is mapped, from a pre-set audio device switching routing table (S102); and activating an audio device corresponding to the audio device ID (S103).