# US 10,312,874 B2 · Volume control methods and devices, and multimedia playback control methods and devices

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- Number: US 10,312,874 B2
- Document ID: US10312874B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/300,789
- Filed: 2015-03-12
- Published: 2017-02-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-04
- Assignees: Beijing Zhigu Rui Tuo Tech Co., Ltd
- Applicants: Beijing Zhigu Rui Tuo Tech Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Jia Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312874B2

## CPC

- H03G 3/3005: {in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers (H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence)}
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone}
- H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)}
- H04N 21/439: Processing of audio elementary streams
- H04N 21/44218: {Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV programme (methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45)}
- H04N 21/47217: {for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312)}
- H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Volume control methods and control devices, and multimedia playback control methods and control devices are provided. The volume control method comprises: acquiring volume information of a first device; in response to that the acquired volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition, determining at least one second device; and controlling volume of the at least one second device. When a user goes away from a multimedia playback device, multimedia playback of another device can be controlled, to cause that multimedia playback that the user watches/listens to is not affected obviously.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
acquiring, by a system comprising a processor, volume information of a first device; and
in response to determining, by the system, that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
receiving, by the system, device signals sent by one or more other devices, wherein the device signals contain related information of the one or more other devices that send the device signals,
determining, by the system, at least one second device from the one or more other devices according to the related information,
at least one of sending, by the system, device-related information of the at least one second device to the first device, or receiving, by the system, device-related information of the first device from the first device and sending, by the system, the device-related information of the first device to the at least one second device,
establishing, by the system, a data connection between the first device and the at least one second device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the at least one second device via the established data connection so as to cause the at least one second device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling, by the system, a volume of the at least one second device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the at least one second device comprises:
sending a query signal in a wireless manner;
receiving at least one response signal in response to the query signal; and
determining the at least one second device according to the at least one response signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the at least one second device comprises:
receiving a device signal of at least one device; and
determining the at least one second device according to the device signal of the at least one device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the volume of the at least one second device comprises:
acquiring other volume information of the at least one second device; and
controlling the volume of at least one of the at least one second device according to at least one of the volume information of the first device or the other volume information of the at least one second device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the controlling the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device according to the at least one of the volume information of the first device or the other volume information of the at least one second device comprises:
comparing a sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device with a preset value; and
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being greater than the preset value, decreasing the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device; or
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being less than the preset value, increasing the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device.

### Claim 6

A method, comprising:
acquiring, by a control device comprising a processor, volume information of a first device; and
in response to that the volume information of the first device being determined to satisfy a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
at least one of sending, by the control device, device-related information of the control device to the first device or acquiring, by the control device, device-related information of the first device,
establishing, by the control device, a data connection between the first device and the control device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the control device via the established data connection so as to cause the control device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling, by the control device, a volume of the control device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
receiving, by the control device, the sound information played by the first device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the volume information of the first device is first volume information, and wherein the controlling the volume of the control device comprises:
acquiring second volume information of the control device; and
controlling the volume of the control device according to the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling the volume of the control device according to the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device comprises:
comparing a sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device with a preset value, and
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being greater than the preset value, decreasing the volume of the control device, or
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being less than the preset value, increasing the volume of the control device.

### Claim 10

A device, comprising:
a processor, coupled to a memory, that executes or facilitates execution of executable modules, comprising:
an acquisition module configured to acquire volume information of a first device; and
a control module configured to, in response to a determination that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
receive device signals sent by one or more other devices, wherein the device signals contain related information of the one or more other devices that send the device signals,
determine at least one second device from the one or more other devices according to the related information,
at least one of send device-related information of the at least one second device to the first device, or receive device-related information of the first device from the first device and send the device-related information of the first device to the at least one second device,
establish a data connection between the first device and the at least one second device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the at least one second device via the established data connection so as to cause the at least one second device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
control a volume of the at least one second device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to:
send a query signal wirelessly,
receive at least one response signal in response to the query signal, and
determine the at least one second device according to the at least one response signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive a device signal of at least one device, and
determine the at least one second device according to the device signal of the at least one device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the volume information of the first device is first volume information, and wherein the acquisition unit is further configured to:
acquire second volume information of the at least one second device, and
the control module is further configured to control the volume of at least one of the at least one second device according to the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the at least one second device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured to:
compare a sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the at least one second device with a preset value, and
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the at least one second device being greater than the preset value, decrease the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device, or
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the at least one second device being less than the preset value, increase the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device.

### Claim 15

A control device, comprising:
a processor, coupled to a memory, that executes or facilitates execution of executable modules, comprising:
an acquisition module configured to acquire volume information of a first device; and
a control module configured to, in response to a determination that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
at least one of send device-related information of the control device to the first device or acquire device-related information of the first device,
establish a data connection between the first device and the control device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the control device via the established data connection so as to cause the control device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
control a volume of the control device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The control device of claim 15, wherein
the control module is further configured to receive, from the first device, the sound information played by the first device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The control device of claim 15, wherein the acquisition unit is further configured to:
acquire other volume information of the control device; and
the control module is further configured to:
control the volume information of the control device according to the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the control device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The control device of claim 17, wherein the control module is configured to:
compare a sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the control device with a preset value, and
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the control device being greater than the preset value, decrease the volume of the control device, or
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the control device being less than the preset value, increase the volume of the control device.

### Claim 19

A method, comprising:
acquiring, by a system comprising a processor, volume information of a first device; and
in response to that the volume information of the first device being determined to satisfy a defined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
receiving, by the system, device signals sent by one or more other devices, wherein the device signals contain related information of the one or more other devices that send the device signals,
determining a second device from the one or more other devices according to the related information,
at least one of sending, by the system, device-related information of the second device to the first device, or receiving, by the system, device-related information of the first device from the first device and sending, by the system, the device-related information of the first device to the second device,
establishing, by the system, a data connection between the first device and the second device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the second device via the established data connection so as to cause the second device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling, by the system, multimedia playback, comprising playback of the sound information, of the second device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the second device comprises:
sending a query signal wirelessly;
receiving a response signal in response to the query signal; and
determining the second device according to the response signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the second device comprises:
receiving a device signal of another device; and
determining the second device according to the device signal of the other device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the controlling the multimedia playback of the second device comprises:
controlling the second device to play the sound information or video information played by the first device.

### Claim 23

A method, comprising:
acquiring, by a system comprising a processor, volume information of a first device; and
in response to determining that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
at least one of sending, by the system, device-related information of a control device to the first device or acquiring, by the system, device-related information of the first device,
establishing, by the system, a data connection between the first device and the control device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the control device via the established data connection so as to cause the control device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling, by the system, multimedia playback, comprising playback of the sound information, of the control device.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the controlling the multimedia playback of the control device comprises:
acquiring the sound information or video information played by the first device; and
controlling the control device to render the sound information or the video information.

### Claim 25

A control device, comprising:
a processor, coupled to a memory, that executes or facilitates execution of executable modules, comprising:
an acquisition module configured to acquire volume information of a first device; and
a control module configured to, in response to a determination that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
receive device signals sent by one or more other devices, wherein the device signals contain related information of the one or more other devices that send the device signals,
determine at least one second device from the one or more other devices according to the related information;
at least one of send device-related information of the at least one second device to the first device, or receive device-related information of the first device from the first device and send the device-related information of the first device to the at least one second device;
establish a data connection between the first device and the at least one second device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the at least one second device via the established data connection so as to cause the at least one second device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device; and
control multimedia playback, comprising playback of the sound information, of the at least one second device.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The control device of claim 25, wherein the control module is further configured to:
send a query signal in a wireless manner;
receive at least one response signal in response to the query signal; and
determine the at least one second device according to the at least one response signal.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The control device of claim 25, wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive a device signal of at least one device; and
determine the at least one second device according to the device signal of the at least one device.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The control device of claim 25, wherein the control module is further configured to:
control the at least one second device to play the sound information or video information played by the first device.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The control device of claim 25, wherein the control module is further configured to:
acquire other volume information of the at least one second device; and
control the volume of at least one of the at least one second device according to at least one of the volume information of the first device or the other volume information of the at least one second device.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The control device of claim 29, wherein the control module is further configured to:
compare a sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device with a preset value; and
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being greater than the preset value, decrease the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device; or
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being less than the preset value, increase the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device.

### Claim 31

A control device, comprising:
a processor, coupled to a memory, that executes or facilitates execution of executable modules, comprising:
an acquisition module configured to acquire volume information of a first device; and
a control module configured to, in response to the volume information of the first device satisfying a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
at least one of send device-related information of the control device to the first device or acquire device-related information of the first device,
establish a data connection between the first device and the control device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the control device via the established data connection so as to cause the control device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
control multimedia playback, comprising playback of the sound information, of the control device.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The control device of claim 31, wherein the control module is further configured to:
acquire the sound information or video information played by the first device; and
control the control device to play the sound information or the video information.

### Claim 33

The control device of cham 31, wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive the sound information played by the first device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The control device of claim 32, wherein the control module is further configured to:
compare a sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device with a preset value, and
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being greater than the preset value, decrease the volume of the control device, or
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being less than the preset value, increase the volume of the control device.

### Claim 35

A computer readable storage device, comprising at least one executable instruction, which, in response to execution, causes a control device comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:
acquiring volume information of a first device; and
in response to determining that the volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
receiving device signals sent by one or more other devices, wherein the device signals contain related information of the one or more other devices that send the device signals,
determining a second device from the one or more other devices according to the related information,
at least one of sending device-related information of the second device to the first device, or receiving device-related information of the first device from the first device and sending, by the system, the device-related information of the first device to the device,
establishing a data connection between the first device and the second device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the second device via the established data connection so as to cause the second device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling a volume of the second device.

### Claim 36

A computer readable storage device, comprising at least one executable instruction, which, in response to execution, causes a control device comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:
acquiring volume information of a first device resulting in acquired volume information; and
in response to that the acquired volume information of the first device satisfies a predetermined condition that includes the volume information being less than a threshold:
at least one of sending device-related information of the control device to the first device or acquiring, by the control device, device-related information of the first device,
establishing a data connection between the first device and the control device such that the first device sends sound information that is being played currently by the first device to the control device via the established data connection so as to cause the control device to play the sound information in synchronization with the first device, and
controlling volume of the control device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The computer readable storage device of claim 36, the operations further comprising:
receiving the sound information played by the first device.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The computer readable storage device of claim 36, wherein the acquired volume information is first volume information, and wherein the controlling the volume of the control device comprises:
acquiring second volume information of the control device, and
controlling the volume of the control device according to the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The computer readable storage device of claim 35, wherein the determining the second device comprises:
sending a query signal in a wireless manner,
receiving at least one response signal in response to the query signal, and
determining the second device according to the at least one response signal.

### Claim 40 (depends on 35)

The computer readable storage device of claim 35, wherein the determining the second device comprises:
receiving a device signal of at least one device, and
determining the second device according to the device signal of the at least one device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 35)

The computer readable storage device of claim 35, wherein the controlling the volume of the at least one second device comprises:
acquiring other volume information of the at least one second device; and
controlling the volume of at least one of the at least one second device according to at least one of the volume information of the first device or the other volume information of the at least one second device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The computer readable storage device of claim 41, wherein the controlling the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device according to the at least one of the volume information of the first device or the other volume information of the at least one second device comprises:
comparing a sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device with a preset value; and
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being greater than the preset value, decreasing the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device; or
in response to the sum of the volume information of the first device and the other volume information of the at least one second device being less than the preset value, increasing the volume of the at least one of the at least one second device.

### Claim 43 (depends on 38)

The control device of claim 38, wherein the controlling the volume of the control device according to the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device comprises:
comparing a sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device with a preset value, and
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being greater than the preset value, decreasing the volume of the control device, or
in response to the sum of the first volume information of the first device and the second volume information of the control device being less than the preset value, increasing the volume of the control device.