Laptop Speaker Audio Switching via Embedded Controller for Remote Beeps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in outputting sounds from information processing devices like laptops remotely due to system constraints, such as occupied speakers, leading to increased costs when additional hardware is required.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that utilizes an embedded controller to switch audio processing between system-controlled sounds and remotely controlled sounds using existing speakers by short-distance wireless communication, allowing beep sounds to be output regardless of the system's operating state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated speaker for remote control beep sound is added, then the ability to output beep sound by remote control is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing speaker is made multi-functional by enabling it to output both system-controlled sounds and remotely controlled beep sounds through the audio processing device's switching capability, eliminating the need for a dedicated speaker and reducing costs
2Reliability
If the speaker is occupied by system sound output, then the system audio functionality is maintained, but the ability to output remote control beep sound is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The audio processing device dynamically switches between system sound output and remote control beep sound output based on received control signals, allowing the speaker to adapt its function in real-time without hardware changes
Solution Approach 2:
The audio processing device acts as an intermediary between the processor and the speaker, managing the switching of sound sources and enabling remote control beep sounds without interfering with normal system audio operations
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor which executes an OS; a speaker which outputs a sound; a short-distance wireless communication unit which outputs first information indicating that a specific signal is received by short-distance wireless communication; an EC which outputs first sound data to output a sound in response to acquiring the first information output from the short-distance wireless communication unit; and an audio processing device which exclusively switches between the sound based on the first sound data output from the EC and a sound based on second sound data output from the processor by processing based on the OS in order to output either one of the sounds from the speaker. When acquiring the first information output from the short-distance wireless communication unit, the EC causes the audio processing device to output the sound based on the first sound data from the speaker.