US 11,240,586 B1 · Method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio

Abstract

A method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio are provided. The method includes: acquiring status information of a Bluetooth controller in the first audio playing device, and determining native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information; estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing device or native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the second audio playing device or absolute time of the audio providing device; and playing an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing device based on the estimated absolute time.

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Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for synchronously playing audio, being applied to a first audio playing device, the method comprising:

acquiring status information of a Bluetooth controller in the first audio playing device, and determining native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information;
estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing device, absolute time of the second audio playing device;
or estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device, and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the audio providing device;
the second audio playing device and the first audio playing device being paired and being Bluetoothed with the audio providing device;
and
playing an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing device based on the estimated absolute time;
wherein the determining the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information comprises:
determining, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in an operating state, Bluetooth time sampled from the Bluetooth controller as the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device;
and
determining, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in a dormant state, the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on a low-energy duration of the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time sampled last time from the Bluetooth controller, wherein the low-energy duration is a duration during which the Bluetooth controller is in the dormant state.

7 more elements

An apparatus for synchronously playing audio, comprising:

a timer communicatively connected to a Bluetooth controller, and a first audio playing module communicatively connected to the timer,
the timer being configured to:
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in an operating state, Bluetooth time sampled from the Bluetooth controller as the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device;
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in a dormant state, the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on a low-energy duration of the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time sampled last time from the Bluetooth controller, wherein the low-energy duration is a duration during which the Bluetooth controller is in the dormant state;
and
estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing module, absolute time of the second audio playing module;
or estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module, and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the audio providing device;
the first audio playing module and the second audio playing module being Bluetoothed with the audio providing device;
and
the first audio playing module being configured to play an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing module based on the estimated absolute time;
or
the timer being configured to:
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in an operating state, Bluetooth time sampled from the Bluetooth controller as the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device;
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in a dormant state, the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on a low-energy duration of the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time sampled last time from the Bluetooth controller, wherein the low-energy duration is a duration during which the Bluetooth controller is in the dormant state;
estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing module, absolute time of the second audio playing module;
or estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module, and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the audio providing device;
the first audio playing module and the second audio playing module being Bluetoothed with the audio providing device;
and
generate an audio playing synchronous signal based on the estimated absolute time;
and
the first audio playing module being configured to play an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing module based on the audio playing synchronous signal.

18 more elements

An electronic device, comprising an apparatus for synchronously playing audio, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a timer communicatively connected to a Bluetooth controller, and a first audio playing module communicatively connected to the timer,
the timer being configured to:
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in an operating state, Bluetooth time sampled from the Bluetooth controller as the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device;
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in a dormant state, the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on a low-energy duration of the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time sampled last time from the Bluetooth controller, wherein the low-energy duration is a duration during which the Bluetooth controller is in the dormant state;
and
estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing module, absolute time of the second audio playing module;
or estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module, and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the audio providing device;
the first audio playing module and the second audio playing module being Bluetoothed with the audio providing device;
and
the first audio playing module being configured to play an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing module based on the estimated absolute time;
or
the timer being configured to:
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in an operating state, Bluetooth time sampled from the Bluetooth controller as the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device;
determine, when the status information is information indicating that the Bluetooth controller is in a dormant state, the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on a low-energy duration of the first audio playing device and Bluetooth time sampled last time from the Bluetooth controller, wherein the low-energy duration is a duration during which the Bluetooth controller is in the dormant state;
estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing module, absolute time of the second audio playing module;
or estimate, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module, and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing module relative to native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the audio providing device;
the first audio playing module and the second audio playing module being Bluetoothed with the audio providing device;
and
generate an audio playing synchronous signal based on the estimated absolute time;
and
the first audio playing module being configured to play an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing module based on the audio playing synchronous signal.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description15,805 words

Summary1,262 words

#Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of data processing, and specifically to a method, apparatus and electronic device for synchronously playing audio.

#With the development of multimedia technology, in more and more application scenarios, a plurality of devices is required to form a synchronous playing system for synchronously playing audio, such that the plurality of devices synchronously makes a sound, thereby achieving the functions and effects unachievable by a single device. For example, a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Bluetooth earphone synchronously plays audio, thereby achieving the surround sound effect of two sound channels. In addition, the True Wireless Stereo Bluetooth earphone can further avoid the entanglement and pulling of earphone cords, and has the echometer effects, thereby effectively improving the user experience of using the earphone. For another example, two Bluetooth speakers synchronously play audio, which can also achieve the surround sound effect of two sound channels.

#The TWS Bluetooth earphone includes a master Bluetooth earphone and a slave Bluetooth earphone that are not physically connected, thereby completely eliminating the troubles of earphone cords, and facilitating people's life. The master Bluetooth earphone and the slave Bluetooth earphone run independently of each other and fail to achieve synchronous playing of audio through a wired connection. Therefore, how to achieve synchronous playing of audio by the master Bluetooth earphone and the slave Bluetooth earphone has become a technical problem to be solved urgently. In existing technologies, software compensation is often used to achieve synchronous playing of audio by the master Bluetooth earphone and the slave Bluetooth earphone. However, software compensation lacks hardware support, and the synchronous playing of audio is greatly delayed, thereby failing to effectively improve the precision of synchronous playing of audio. Similar to the TWS Bluetooth earphone, the Bluetooth speaker also has a technical problem of failing to effectively improve the precision of synchronous playing of audio. Thus, it can be seen that how to effectively improve the precision of synchronous playing of audio has become a technical problem to be solved urgently at present.

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#Some specific embodiments of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in an example manner, instead of a limiting manner. Identical reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent identical or similar components or parts. Those skilled in the art should understand that these accompanying drawings may not be drawn to scale. In the figures:

#FIG. 1A is a flowchart of a method for synchronously playing audio provided in Embodiment I of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 1B is a first schematic diagram of a first audio playing device and a second audio playing device provided in Embodiment I of the present disclosure being in a forwarding mode of classic Bluetooth protocol;

Detailed description14,105 words

#Specific implementations of embodiments of the present disclosure will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

#Referring to FIG. 1A, a flowchart of a method for synchronously playing audio in Embodiment I of the present disclosure is shown.

#The method for synchronously playing audio provided in this embodiment may be applied to a forwarding mode and a listening mode of classic Bluetooth protocol, and a synchronous mode of Bluetooth low energy protocol. In this embodiment, the method for synchronously playing audio provided in this embodiment is described in detail from the perspective of a first audio playing device. Specifically, the method for synchronously playing audio provided in this embodiment includes the following steps:

Facts

Application

17/184,391Filed 24 Feb 2021 · continuation

Priority

5 Nov 2020

Granted

1 Feb 2022

Term ends

5 Nov 2040

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

H04R 1/1041
Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones: mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements
G06F 3/162
Sound input; Sound output: interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
H04R 1/1016
Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones: earpieces of the intra-aural type

Timeline

5 Nov 2020Priority claimedParent application PCT/CN2,020/126,675
24 Feb 2021Application filedUS 17/184,391
24 Feb 2021Assigned to Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.assignment of assignor's interest
1 Feb 2022GrantedUS 11,240,586 B1
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
5 Nov 2040Term endsEstimated

Method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio

Life of this patent

Method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims19

Description15,805 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description15,805 words