JP2009284249A - Radio communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication device capable of switching audio data which are transmitted in accordance with connection destinations, in consideration of convenience of a user. <P>SOLUTION: The radio communication device has a radio communication means 112 which carries out radio communications with external devices, a recognition means 111 which recognizes the types of the external devices which carry out radio communications with the radio communication means 112, a message sound generating means 103 which generates a message sound of at least either one of a key operating sound and an alert sound, and a message sound control means 106. When the type of the external device is recognized to be a speaker by the recognition means 111, the message sound control means 106 reduces the output sound volume of the message sound generated by the message sound generating means 103 so that the sound volume is smaller than the output sound volume of the case in which the type of the external device is recognized to be a headphone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless communication devices equipped with a wireless communication function in mobile devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and digital cameras have become widespread due to advances in wireless communication technology. These wireless communication apparatuses can transmit and receive audio data by connecting a personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like without using a cable.

Among these wireless communication devices, there is a wireless communication device that selects connection means according to position information of the wireless communication device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic network switching system that can automatically select and set an optimal network connection means even when moving or at a moving destination.
JP 2001-309445 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider changing audio data to be transmitted according to a connection destination. Therefore, when there are a plurality of wireless communication connection partner devices, the user needs to select the audio data to be transmitted according to each connection partner device.

  For example, when the connection destination device that transmits audio data is headphones, there is a high possibility that the user who is listening to the audio is a single operator, so message sounds such as key operation sounds and alert sounds are used as audio contents. It is considered that it is effective for the operator to superimpose and output.

  However, if the connected device that transmits audio data is a speaker, there may be multiple users listening to the audio, including the operator, and message sounds that interfere with the desired audio content are not necessarily effective. Not always. For this reason, the user who is an operator needs to select the audio data to be transmitted according to the connection destination apparatus, which is not convenient.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication apparatus that can change audio data to be transmitted according to a connection destination in consideration of user convenience.

  The wireless communication device of the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates with an external device, a recognition unit that recognizes a type of the external device wirelessly communicated with the wireless communication unit, and a message of at least one of a key operation sound and an alert sound When the type of the external device is recognized as a speaker by the message sound generation unit that generates sound and the recognition unit, the output volume of the message sound generated by the message sound generation unit is set as the type of the external device as headphones. And a message sound control means for making the volume lower than the output volume when recognized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless communication apparatus that can change audio data to be transmitted according to a connection destination in consideration of user convenience.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a wireless system in which a wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the mobile terminal 100 configuring the wireless communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The present embodiment is realized by a portable terminal 100 (wireless communication device) that transmits audio data handled by an application such as music playback to a plurality of external devices 200 to 600, for example.

  In addition, the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment has a function of changing audio data to be transmitted according to an external device wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal 100. For example, in portable terminal 100 in the present embodiment, when the external device to be wirelessly connected is a headphone, a headset, or the like, message sound data is superimposed and transmitted when transmitting audio content data. When the external device connected wirelessly is a speaker, a car audio, or the like, the message sound data whose output volume is suppressed from the normal volume is superimposed on the audio content data, or the message sound data is not superimposed. Send audio content data.

  With the above-described function of changing the audio data to be transmitted according to the external device, in this embodiment, the audio data to be transmitted can be suitably changed according to the change of the external output device accompanying the movement of the mobile terminal 100 or the like. , To improve the convenience of the user. The message sound is a sound other than the audio content such as a key operation sound and an alarm sound output to the user who is an operator.

  In addition, for example, the user selects an application provided on the portable terminal 100 using the operation unit 108 and the display unit 109, and wirelessly connects data handled by the application to each external device from the antenna 113. To send.

  In FIG. 2, speakers 200 and 400, headphones 300, car audio 500, and headphones 600 are taken as examples of external devices that are wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal 100.

  The mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment includes an audio data generation unit including, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 101, a codec unit 102, a message sound generation unit 103, a message sound control unit 104, a mixing unit 105, a stream control unit 106, and the like. 107, an interface unit 110 including an operation unit 108, a display unit 109, a connection destination recognition unit 111, a wireless communication unit 112, an antenna 113, and the like.

  The codec unit 102 decodes the audio content data stored in the HDD 101 and outputs it to the mixing unit 105. The message sound generation unit 103 generates message sound data such as key operation sound data and alarm sound data under the instruction of the message sound control unit 104 and outputs the message sound data to the mixing unit 105. The message sound control unit 104 executes output control of message sound data based on information from the connection destination recognition unit 111.

  The mixing unit 105 superimposes the message sound data generated by the message sound generation unit 103 on the audio content data generated by the codec unit 102 and outputs the superimposed data to the stream control unit 106.

  The stream control unit 106 performs stream control of audio data with respect to an external apparatus that supports streams. For example, the stream control unit 106 secures a link with each external device capable of wireless communication connection with the mobile terminal 100, for example, and controls the start / end of the stream in accordance with the playback / stop of the audio content data. Execute and make effective use of radio bandwidth. The stream control unit 106 also has a function of encoding the audio output from the mixing unit 105.

  The operation unit 108 includes, for example, a cross key as an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user. Further, the operation unit 108 receives a new registration of an external device and a setting operation input of audio data to be transmitted to each external device.

  The display unit 109 assists operation input in the operation unit 108 by displaying an application provided in the mobile terminal 100, a selection screen (not shown) of audio content data stored in the HDD 101, and the like. For example, the display unit 109 shows information for selecting an external device to the user.

  The connection destination recognition unit 111 recognizes an external device that can be wirelessly connected from information related to peripheral devices of the mobile terminal 100 obtained by using, for example, the Bluetooth inquiry function. The inquiry function and the method for recognizing the external device will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The wireless communication unit 112 performs wireless communication with an external device using the antenna 113 by, for example, Bluetooth. The wireless communication unit 112 transmits audio data handled by an application provided in the mobile terminal 100 to an external device by a method defined by Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) or the like. Note that A2DP is a profile for realizing a function of distributing advanced voice, and is used when voice data is transmitted from a transmission apparatus to a reception apparatus.

  Next, an external device recognition method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the inquiry function of the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, the vicinity of the mobile terminal 100 is searched using a Bluetooth inquiry function or the service provided by the external device by a method defined in Bluetooth's SDAP (Service Discovery Application Profile). Or an external input device that can be connected to the portable terminal 100 is recognized, and information related to the device is acquired. Here, a case where an external device is recognized using the inquiry function will be described.

  Normally, when transmitting a device search signal as an inquiry function, since the unique ID (unique address) of the external devices 200 to 600 to be connected is unknown, as shown in FIG. The search signal is transmitted as a broadcast message independent of the device ID. At this time, the device search signal is transmitted while changing the frequency channel every predetermined time according to an appropriate frequency hopping sequence so as to cover all the frequency channels. On the other hand, the external devices 200 to 600 in the standby state are in a standby state for this broadcast message.

  In such a situation, when the transmission frequency from the mobile terminal 100 matches the standby frequency in each external device, each external device can receive a device search signal from the mobile terminal 100, and A response signal can be returned. This response signal includes information related to the unique ID of the external device, which allows the portable terminal 100 to designate a unique external output device in the subsequent processing.

  FIG. 4 shows information related to the device of the external device included in the response signal to the device search signal. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the type (CoD: Class of Device) of the external device can be determined from information related to the unique ID of the external device. This CoD includes an 11-bit service class (Service Class) indicating the type of service provided by a Bluetooth-compatible device, a 5-bit major device class (Measor Device Class) indicating an approximate class type of the Bluetooth device, and a major This is 24-bit data composed of a 6-bit minor device class indicating the detailed class type for each device class and a 2-bit format type indicating the CoD data format.

  In the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, the type of the external device is determined using information on the minor device class. For example, if the type of the external device is a loudspeaker, the minor device class is 00101, and if the type of the external device is headphones, the minor device class is 00110.

  Next, the information regarding the external device registered in the portable terminal 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information regarding the external devices 200 to 600 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, for example, the external device name of the connection destination in each of the external devices 200 to 600, the BD (Bluetooth Device) address of the external device, the message sound setting, and the message volume are shown. Note that the table shown in FIG. 5 is stored in, for example, the HDD 101 or the like.

  In the portable terminal 100 of this embodiment, the message sound setting is basically set to ON and the message volume is set to the normal volume for the headphones 300 and the headset 500 that are considered to be one operator. In addition, the message sound setting is basically set to OFF for the speakers 200 and 400 and the car audio 600 that the user may be other than the operator. Note that the normal volume is an output volume that can be heard even if the message sound and the audio content are simultaneously output.

  Here, the external device name of the connection destination is the name of a device such as the speaker 200 or the headphone 300, and is displayed on the display unit 109 when the user directly designates the external device. The BD address of the external device is a value unique to the Bluetooth device, and is used when the mobile terminal 100 identifies the external device.

  The message sound setting indicates whether to output a message sound such as a key operation sound or an alarm sound in each external device. If the message sound setting is ON, a message sound is output, and if it is OFF, no message sound is output. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the message sound is output from the headphones 300, the speaker 400, and the headset 500. That is, the speaker 400 indicates that the message sound setting has been changed by the user.

  The message volume indicates the output volume of the message sound in each external device. The message volume is set for each external device whose message sound setting is ON, and the volume of the message sound output from each device can be adjusted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the message volume is set to a normal volume in the headphones 300 and the headset 500. In the speaker 400, the volume is set to “low”. Here, the “small” volume indicates a volume that is lower than the normal volume including mute.

  Further, here, for example, the case where a message sound whose volume is controlled is transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a command for controlling the volume of the message sound is transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 to each external device. By doing so, the message sound may be controlled.

  Next, referring to FIG. 6, the flow of the external device selection and wireless connection procedure in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of an external device selection and wireless connection procedure in this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the selected external device is a speaker or headphones.

  First, the connection destination recognition unit 111 of the mobile terminal 100 recognizes an external device to be connected using an inquiry function or the like (S101), and determines an external device to which audio data is transmitted (S102). Note that the stream control unit 106 of the portable terminal 100 establishes a link for transmitting audio data with all external devices capable of wireless communication connection after searching for peripheral external devices.

  Next, the message sound control unit 104 checks whether or not the setting of the message sound has been changed by the user (S103). When the setting of the message sound has not been changed by the user (No in S103), the message sound control unit 104 refers to the information from the connection destination recognition unit 111, and the external device that outputs the sound data is a headphone or a speaker. Is determined (S104).

  In S104, when the external device that outputs the audio content data is a headphone, the message sound control unit 104 sets the message sound to a normal volume (S105). Then, the stream control unit 106 starts stream transmission of audio data in which the message sound data is superimposed on the audio content data to the headphones (S106).

  In S104, when the external device that outputs the audio content data is a speaker, the stream control unit 106 starts stream transmission of audio data in which the message sound data is not superimposed on the audio content data to the speaker. (S108).

  Here, when the setting of the message sound is changed by the user in S103 (Yes in S103), the message sound control unit 104 refers to the table of FIG. 5 and determines whether or not the message sound setting is set to ON. Confirm (S107).

  If the message sound setting is set to ON in S107 (Yes in S107), the message sound control unit 104 sets the volume of the message sound with reference to the table of FIG. 5 (S105). Then, the stream control unit 106 starts stream transmission of audio data in which the message sound data is superimposed on the audio content data to the external device determined in S102 (S106).

  If the message sound setting is set to OFF in S107 (No in S107), the stream control unit 106 does not superimpose the message sound data on the audio content data for the external device determined in S102. Data stream transmission is started (S108).

  Also, in the portable terminal 100 of this embodiment, when an output device switching request is received during transmission of audio content data, the output of the message sound is switched together with the switching of the output destination external device.

  Next, the flow of the message sound output switching process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the message sound output switching process associated with the switching of the output destination external device in the present embodiment.

  First, the interface unit 110 of the mobile terminal 100 periodically checks whether an external device switching request has been received (S201). If an external device switching request has not been received (No in S201), the processing in S201 is repeated.

  When an external device switching request is received in S201 (Yes in S201), the message sound control unit 104 checks whether or not the message sound data is superimposed on the currently transmitted audio data (S202).

  If the message sound data is superimposed on the currently transmitted voice data in S202 (Yes in S202), then the message sound control unit 104 refers to the information from the connection destination recognition unit 111 and the table in FIG. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the message sound setting of the external device to be switched to is ON (S203). Here, when the message sound setting of the external device that is the switching destination is ON (Yes in S203), the stream control unit 106 transmits the audio in which the message sound data is superimposed on the audio content data to the external device that is the switching destination. Data stream transmission is started (S204).

  If the message sound setting of the external device that is the switching destination is OFF in S203 (No in S203), the message sound control unit 104 turns off the output of the message sound data (S204). Then, the stream control unit 106 starts the stream transmission of the audio data in which the message sound data is not superimposed on the audio content data to the switching destination external device (S208).

  If the message sound data is not superimposed on the currently transmitted voice data in S202 (No in S202), the message sound control unit 104 next refers to the information from the connection destination recognition unit 111 and the table in FIG. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the message sound setting of the external device to be switched to is ON (S206). If the message sound setting of the external device to be switched is ON (Yes in S206), the message sound control unit 104 turns on the output of the message sound data (S207). Then, the stream control unit 106 starts the stream transmission of the audio data in which the message sound data is superimposed on the audio content data to the switching destination external device (S204).

  When the message sound setting of the external device that is the switching destination is OFF in S203 (No in S203), the stream control unit 106 superimposes the message sound data on the audio content data for the external device that is the switching destination. The audio data stream transmission is started (S208).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the audio content data at the destination can be obtained without selecting the connection partner device or performing the change setting operation that the user has performed by the movement of the mobile terminal 100 or the like. Therefore, it is possible to select an external device that can appropriately process and output the information, and to improve user convenience.

  In the present embodiment, when the external device to be wirelessly connected is a headphone, a headset, or the like, audio content data including message sound data is transmitted, and when the external device to be wirelessly connected is a speaker, a car audio, or the like, Audio content data on which message sound data whose output volume is suppressed is superimposed, or audio content data on which message sound data is not superimposed can be transmitted.

  According to the present embodiment, when recognizing a peripheral external device with an inquiry function or the like, a start or end of a stream is performed in accordance with playback / stop of audio content data in order to secure a link for transmitting audio content data. To effectively use the radio band.

  In this embodiment, when the selected external device cannot be wirelessly connected or used, the next candidate capable of processing and outputting the data handled by the selected application is searched for wireless connection. Can start.

  In the present embodiment, when the external device to be wirelessly connected is a speaker, a car audio, or the like, audio content data on which message sound data whose output volume is suppressed is superimposed, or audio content on which message sound data is not superimposed Data can be selected and transmitted.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine a component suitably in different embodiment.

It is an example of the external appearance of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the system configuration | structure of the portable terminal 100 which comprises the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the inquiry function of the portable terminal 100 in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the information regarding the device around the portable terminal 100 obtained using the inquiry function in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the information regarding the external devices 200-600 in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the selection of the external apparatus in this Embodiment, and the flow of a wireless connection procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the output switching process of the message sound accompanying the switching of the output destination external apparatus in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Mobile terminal 101 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Codec part 103 Message sound generation part 104 Message sound control part 105 Mixing part 106 Stream control part 107 Audio | voice data generation part 108 Operation part 109 Display part 110 Interface part 111 Connection destination recognition part 112 Radio | wireless communication part 113 Antenna 200, 400 Speaker 300 Headphone 500 Car audio 600 Headphone

Claims (7)

Wireless communication means for wireless communication with an external device;
Recognizing means for recognizing the type of the external device wirelessly communicating with the wireless communication means;
Message sound generating means for generating a message sound of at least one of a key operation sound and an alert sound;
When the recognition unit recognizes the type of the external device as a speaker, the output volume of the message sound generated by the message sound generation unit is made smaller than the output volume when the type of the external device is recognized as headphones. Message sound control means;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising:   The message sound control means responds to an output switching request from a first external device recognized as headphones by the recognition means to a second external device recognized as a speaker by the recognition means. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output volume of the message sound generated in step 1 is reduced.   The message sound control means increases the output volume of the message sound generated by the message sound generation means in response to an output switching request from the second external device to the first external device. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2.   The message sound control means stops outputting the message sound to the external device in response to an output switching request from the first external device to the second external device. The wireless communication device described.   2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message sound control means transmits a command for controlling an output volume of the message sound to the external apparatus by the wireless communication means. The wireless communication means transmits a peripheral device search signal for discovering a device for wireless communication connection, and receives a response signal from the external device transmitted in response to the peripheral device search signal,
6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recognizing unit recognizes the type of the external device to be wirelessly connected from the response signal received by the wireless communication unit. Recognizing means for recognizing the type of external device for wireless communication;
Message sound data generating means for generating message sound data of at least one of key operation sound data or alert sound data;
With
If the type of the external device recognized by the recognizing unit is headphones, the voice data including the message sound data is transmitted to the external device, and if the type of the external device recognized by the recognizing unit is a speaker, Wireless communication means for transmitting voice data not including message sound data to the external device;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

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