Audio device for processing audio data and operation method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12045540-B2
Application number	US-202217573829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2022
Priority date	Jan 13, 2021
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

An audio device and method are disclosed. The audio device includes a microphone, a communication circuit, and a processor. The processor implements the method, including: establishing a communication link with an electronic device via the communication circuit, transmitting information related to the communication link to an external audio device via the communication circuit, detecting a first level of noise included in a first audio data collected via the at least one microphone, identifying a second level of noise of the external audio device, when the first level of noise satisfies a predesignated first condition, and controlling the external audio device to transmit second audio data collected by the external audio device to the electronic device, when the second level of noise of the external audio device meets a predesignated second condition different from the predesignated first condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio device, comprising:
at least one microphone;
a communication circuit; and
at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one microphone and the communication circuit,
wherein the processor is configured to:
establish a communication link with an electronic device via the communication circuit,
transmit information related to the communication link to an external audio device via the communication circuit,
detect a first level of noise included in first audio data collected by the at least one microphone,
if the first level of noise satisfies a predesignated first condition, identify a second level of noise of the external audio device, and
control the external audio device to transmit second audio data collected by the external audio device to the electronic device, when the second level of noise of the external audio device meets a predesignated second condition different from the predesignated first condition.

2. The audio device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one speaker,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive output audio data from the electronic device via the communication link and output the output audio data using the at least one speaker when the audio device is configured as a primary device, and
transmit the first audio data to the electronic device via the communication link.

3. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the predesignated first condition includes, for a predesignated period, detecting that the first level of noise at least meets a first reference level continuously through a predesignated first time interval.

4. The audio device of claim 3 , wherein the first time interval is based at least on a state of a battery of the audio device, and the first level of noise.

5. The audio device of claim 3 , wherein the predesignated first condition includes detecting that the first level of noise exceeds the first reference level.

6. The audio device of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the second level of noise of the external audio device meets a second reference level, identify whether the second level of noise of the external audio device meets the second reference level continuously for a predesignated second time interval.

7. The audio device of claim 6 , wherein the second time interval is different from, or at least partially overlaps, the first time interval, and is based at least in part on a battery state of the external audio device and the second level of noise of the external audio device.

8. The audio device of claim 6 , wherein the second reference level includes a level of noise lower than the first reference level.

9. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
periodically transmit a noise level request signal to the external audio device, based on a noise detection period of the external audio device, when the first level of noise detected through via the at least one microphone satisfies meets the predesignated first condition, and
receive information related to the second level of noise from the external audio device based on the noise level request signal.

10. The audio device of claim 9 , wherein detecting the first level of noise via the at least one microphone is further based on the noise detection period of the external audio device, and
wherein the noise level request signal is periodically transmitted to the external audio device when the first level of noise meets a first reference level.

11. The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transmit a noise level request signal to the external audio device when the first level of noise detected via the at least one microphone meets the predesignated first condition, and
periodically receives information related to the second level of noise from the external audio device.

12. An operation method of an audio device, the method comprising:
establishing, via a communication circuit of the audio device, a communication link with an electronic device;
transmitting, via the communication circuit, information related to the communication link to an external audio device;
detecting, via at least one processor, a first level of noise included in first audio data collected by at least one microphone of the audio device;
if the first level of noise satisfies a predesignated first condition, identifying a second level of noise of the external audio device; and
controlling the external audio device to transmit second audio data collected by the external audio device to the electronic device when the second level of noise of the external audio device meets a predesignated second condition different from the predesignated first condition.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving output audio data from the electronic device and outputting the output audio data through a speaker of the audio device, when the audio device is configured as a primary device, and
transmitting the first audio data to the electronic device via the communication link.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predesignated first condition includes detecting, for a predesignated time period, that the first level of noise at least meets a first reference level continuously through a predesignated first time interval.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first time interval is based at least on a state of a battery of the audio device, and the first level of noise.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
when the second level of noise of the external audio device meets a second reference level, identifying whether the second level of noise of the external audio device meets the second reference level continuously for a predesignated second time interval.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second time interval is entirely different from, or at least partially overlaps, the first time interval, and is based at least in part on a battery state of the external audio device and the second level of noise.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying the second level of noise of the external audio device further includes:
when the first level of noise meets the predesignated first condition, periodically transmitting a noise level request signal to the external audio device, based on a noise detection period of the external audio device; and
receiving information related to the second level of noise from the external audio device based on the noise level request signal.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein identifying the second level of noise of the external audio device further includes transmitting a noise level request signal to the external audio device when the first level of noise of the audio device meets the predesignated first condition, and
periodically receiving transmission of information related to second level of noise of the external audio device from the external audio device.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
when the first level of noise satisfies the predesignated second condition, setting, by the at least one processor, a time point at which to execute a role switch,
transmitting a role switch request signal including information related to the set time point to the external audio device, and
switching, based on detecting arrival of the set time point, a configuration of the audio device from a primary device to a secondary device, and the external audio device from the secondary device to the

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Sanghyeok
• Kim Sangeun
• Bang Kyoungho
• Baek Soonho
• Son Beakkwon
• Yang Jaemo
• Lee Gunwoo
• Yi Dong
• Cheong Gupil

Classifications

• H04R29/004

  for microphones (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R2460/01

  Hearing devices using active noise cancellation · CPC title

• H04R2410/01

  Noise reduction using microphones having different directional characteristics · 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