Apparatus and method for controlling built-in microphone of portable terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11233894-B2
Application number	US-202016876978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2020
Priority date	May 4, 2007
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a wireless communication device configured to connect with wireless external devices. The electronic device obtains information regarding the wireless external devices. Before and after a call connection event, it is determined whether each of the wireless external devices includes a microphone based on the information. In response to receiving the call connection event, when it is determined that only one of the wireless external devices includes a microphone, an audio input is obtained from the one of the wireless external devices that includes the microphone. In response to receiving the call connection event, when it is determined that at least two of the wireless external devices each include a respective microphone, an audio input is selectively obtained from a microphone of one of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a wireless communication device configured to operatively and wirelessly connect with a plurality of wireless external devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a speaker, with or without a microphone;
a manager configured to:
monitor, before and after a call connection event, operative and wireless connections of the plurality of wireless external devices, and
provide, to a controller, information on whether each of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone, before and after the call connection event; and

the controller configured to:
receive the information from the manager, before and after the call connection event, and,
in response to receiving the call connection event while the wireless communication device is operatively and wirelessly connected with the plurality of wireless external devices:
when the information indicates that only one of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone, obtain an audio input from the one of the plurality of wireless external devices that includes the microphone, and
when the information indicates that at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices each include a respective microphone, selectively obtain an audio input from a microphone of one of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, in response to receiving a call connection event while the electronic device is not operatively and wirelessly connected with any of the plurality of wireless external devices, the controller is further configured to:
obtain an audio input from a built-in microphone of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a built-in microphone and the controller is further configured to:
when the information indicates that none of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone, obtain an audio input from the built-in microphone of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the audio input is selectively obtained from one of the microphones of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices based on corresponding priorities of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices.

5. A non-transitory computer readable memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by a controller of an electronic device, performs the steps of:
monitoring, before and after a call connection event, operative and wireless connections of a plurality of wireless external devices with the electronic device;
updating, before and after the call connection event, information on whether each of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone;
in response to receiving the call connection event while the electronic device is operatively and wirelessly connected with the plurality of wireless external devices:
when the information indicates that only one of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone, obtaining an audio input from the one of the plurality of wireless external devices that includes the microphone, and
when the information indicates that at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices each include a respective microphone, selectively obtaining an audio input from a microphone of one of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices.

6. The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 5 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise the step of:
when the electronic device is not operatively and wirelessly connected with any of the plurality of wireless external devices, providing audio output using a built-in speaker of the electronic device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 5 , wherein the audio input is selectively obtained from one of the microphones of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices based on corresponding priorities of the at least two of the plurality of wireless external devices.

8. An electronic device capable of connecting to a wireless external device and a wired external device, the electronic device comprising:
a wireless communication device configured to operatively and wirelessly connect with a plurality of wireless external devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a speaker, with or without a microphone;
a socket configured to connect;
a manager configured to:
monitor, before and after a call connection event, operative and wireless connections of the plurality of wireless external devices and a connection of the wired external device via the socket,
provide, to a controller, before and after the call connection event, first information on whether each of the plurality of wireless external devices includes a microphone, and second information on whether the wired external device includes a microphone; and

the controller configured to:
receive the first information and the second information, from the manager, before and after the call connection event, and
in response to receiving the call connection event while the electronic device is wirelessly connected with the plurality of wireless external devices and while the socket is connected with the wired external device:
when the first information and the second information indicate that only one device, among the plurality of wireless external devices and the wired external device, includes a microphone, obtain an audio input from the one device of the plurality of wireless external devices and the wired external device that includes the microphone, and
when the first information and the second information indicate that at least two of devices, among the plurality of wireless external devices and the wired external device, each include a respective microphone, selectively obtain an audio input from a microphone of one of the at least two devices.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein, in response to receiving a connection event while the electronic device is not operatively and wirelessly connected with any of the plurality of wireless external devices and is not connected with the wired external device, the controller is further configured to:
provide audio output using a built-in speaker of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a built-in microphone and the controller is further configured to:
when the first information and the second information indicate that none of the plurality of wireless external devices and the wired external device includes a microphone, obtain an audio input from the built-in microphone of the electronic device.

11. A mobile phone capable of coupling to a wireless external device and a wired external device, the mobile phone comprising:
a built-in speaker;
a built-in microphone;
a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly couple with the wireless external device including a speaker and a microphone;
a socket configured to couple with the wired external device being a first device including a speaker, but not including a microphone, or a second device including both a speaker and a microphone;
a manager configured to:
monitor, before and after a call connection event, wirelessly coupling of the wireless external device and coupling of the wired external device, and
provide, to a controller, before and after the call connection event, first information on whether the wireless external device includes a microphone, and second information on whether the wired ext

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sang-Kyu
• Lee Seung-Yup
• Park Jung-Ho
• Song Soo-Ho

Classifications

• H04M1/6016 Primary

  in the receiver circuit · CPC title

• H04M1/72412 Primary

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

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04M1/725

  Cordless telephones (user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724) · CPC title

• H04M1/6066

  including a wireless connection · CPC title