Shared Volume Control Across Connected Audio Output Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic devices with external audio output, such as TWS earphones, face inconvenience when switching audio sources as they need to manually adjust volume controls on multiple devices to find the correct one, leading to confusion and frustration.
Innovation Solution
A first electronic device establishes an input sharing framework with a second electronic device to detect and adjust audio output volume signals across connected devices, allowing volume control through any input control regardless of the audio source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually adjust volume controls on multiple devices to find the correct audio source, then volume control functionality is available on each device, but user confusion and frustration increase due to the complexity of identifying the correct device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges volume control functionality across multiple electronic devices by establishing an input sharing framework. When a volume adjustment is made on one device, the system detects the audio output signal source and applies the volume control to that specific device, creating a unified control experience across the device ecosystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism that identifies which device is generating the audio output signal. This intermediary system acts as a mediator between the volume control input and the actual audio source, automatically routing the control signal to the correct device without requiring user intervention to identify it.
2Reliability
If each electronic device has independent volume controls, then each device can control its own audio output, but users must identify and manually control the correct device, increasing operation time and user frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection to identify the audio output signal source before the user attempts to control volume. By pre-establishing which device is actively outputting audio, the system eliminates the need for users to search through multiple devices, automatically preparing the correct control pathway in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors which device is generating the audio output signal. This feedback information is used to dynamically route volume control commands to the correct device, ensuring that control actions always reach the active audio source regardless of which device the user is currently interacting with.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically detects and routes volume control to the active audio source, then ease of operation improves, but the system complexity and detection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal input sharing framework that can handle volume control across multiple types of electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches). The system is designed to work with any device that can generate audio output signals, making the solution broadly applicable without requiring device-specific implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, a method, and a computer program product provide a single input volume control across connected devices. The electronic device connects, via the communications subsystem, to a second electronic device having a second input control to establish an input sharing framework. The electronic device detects, via the input sharing, an audio output adjustment signal received from the second input control to change a volume of an audio output signal. In response to determining that the audio output signal is originating from the first electronic device, the electronic device adjusts the volume of the audio output signal based on the audio output adjustment signal and communicates the audio output signal at the adjusted volume to a corresponding one of the first audio output device of the electronic device or an external audio output device that presents the audio output signal.