Audio content playback method and apparatus for portable terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11134355-B2
Application number	US-202017005497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2013
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

An audio content playback method for a portable terminal. The audio content playback method includes checking a channel that is supportable by audio content that is currently engaged in group's simultaneous playback, in group's simultaneous playback of the audio content. The method includes allocating a channel to each of devices included in a group based on position information of each device included in the group or based on an input state in a user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group, and transmitting the allocated channel information to each device included in the group to allow the device to select its allocated channel and play the audio content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio content playback method for a portable terminal, the audio content playback method comprising:
checking by a controller a group of devices engaged in simultaneous playback of the audio content;
allocating by the controller a channel of audio to each of devices included in the group; and
separately displaying the devices included in the group corresponding to the allocated channel.

2. The audio content playback method of claim 1 , wherein allocating by the controller the channel of audio to each of devices included in the group comprises:
allocating by the controller the channel of audio to each of devices included in the group based on a position information of each device included in the group or based on an input state in a user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group.

3. The audio content playback method of claim 1 , wherein separately displaying the devices included in the group corresponding to the allocated channel comprises:
displaying sub items for each channel; and
displaying information of the devices currently allocated for each channel in the sub items.

4. The audio content playback method of claim 2 , wherein the user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group comprises:
a plurality of menu selection items provided in advance to receive selection of a channel allocation scheme corresponding to a supportable channel of the audio content; and
sub-menu selection items for selecting a channel for each device included in the group based on the supportable channel of the audio content.

5. The audio content playback method of claim 4 , wherein information of the devices currently allocated for each channel is displayed on the sub-menu selection items.

6. The audio content playback method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying on a channel allocation main screen the menu selection items provided in advance to receive selection of the channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content are displayed, in which the channel allocation main screen that is provided in advance for each channel allocation scheme corresponds to the supportable channel of the audio content, and
additionally displaying on the channel allocation main screen:
a plurality of touch key input items provided in advance for each channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content; and
touch key input items for checking a list of the devices included in the group and channel allocation states of the devices included in the group.

7. The audio content playback method of claim 6 , wherein on the channel allocation main screen are additionally displayed touch key input items provided in advance for each channel as at least a part of the sub-menu selection items for selecting the channels for each device included in the group based on the supportable channel of the audio content.

8. The audio content playback method of claim 7 , wherein, as a sub-menu of the touch key input item provided in advance for each channel, the list of the devices included in the group and channel allocation states of the devices are displayed as touch key input items.

9. The audio content playback method of claim 7 , wherein additionally displaying on the channel allocation main screen a touch key input item provided in advance for automatic channel allocation.

10. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium having recorded thereon a program that is executed by the controller to operate the audio content playback method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a controller of the portable terminal.

11. A portable terminal comprising:
a controller;
a mobile communication unit configured to perform a wireless signal processing operation for a mobile communication function;
an auxiliary communication unit for short-range communication with a group of devices;
an audio input/output unit receives an audible input, or outputs audible sound; and
a storage unit comprising having recorded thereon machine executable code that is executed by the controller for controlling playback of audio content playback operation by each device of the group of devices simultaneously,
wherein the controller checks the group of devices engaged in simultaneous playback of the audio content, allocates a channel of audio to each of devices included in the group; and separately displays the devices included in the group corresponding to the allocated channel.

12. The portable terminal of claim 11 , wherein when the controller allocates a channel of audio to each of devices included in the group, the controller allocates the channel of audio to each of devices included in the group based on a position information of each device included in the group or based on an input state in a user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group.

13. The portable terminal of claim 11 , wherein when the controller separately displays the devices included in the group corresponding to the allocated channel, the controller displays sub items for each channel and displays information of the devices currently allocated for each channel in the sub items.

14. The portable terminal of claim 12 , wherein the user interface environment that is preset for channel allocation for each device included in the group comprises:
a plurality of menu selection items provided in advance to receive selection of a channel allocation scheme corresponding to a supportable channel of the audio content; and
sub-menu selection items for selecting a channel for each device included in the group based on the supportable channel of the audio content.

15. The portable terminal of claim 14 , wherein information of the devices currently allocated for each channel is displayed on the sub-menu selection items.

16. The portable terminal of claim 14 , the controller further displays on a channel allocation main screen the menu selection items provided in advance to receive selection of the channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content are displayed, in which the channel allocation main screen that is provided in advance for each channel allocation scheme corresponds to the supportable channel of the audio content, and
additionally displays on the channel allocation main screen:
a plurality of touch key input items provided in advance for each channel allocation scheme corresponding to the supportable channel of the audio content; and
touch key input items for checking a list of the devices included in the group and channel allocation states of the devices included in the group.

17. The portable terminal of claim 16 , wherein on the channel allocation main screen are additionally displayed touch key input items provided in advance for each channel as at least a part of the sub-menu selection items for selecting the channels for each device included in the group based on the supportable channel of the audio content.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17 , wherein a touch key input item provided in advance for automatic channel allocation is additionally displayed on the channel allocation main screen.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Jung-Mi
• Choi Kyu-Ok
• Um Ji-Hyun

Classifications

• H04N21/43076

  of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices · CPC title

• H04N21/4788 Primary

  communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title