KR20120104756A - Wireless transmit module for audio and system and method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An audio wireless relay module and audio wireless output system using the same are provided to output audio signals reproduced by a portable electronic apparatus by wirelessly transmitting the audio signal to an audio output apparatus. CONSTITUTION: A near field communication unit(220) connects to a portable electronic apparatus using near field wireless communication. An audio signal processing unit(240) receives an audio signal for transmission from the portable electronic apparatus. The audio signal processing unit processes the received audio signal. An output terminal unit(260) outputs the audio signal processed by the audio signal processing unit to the outside. [Reference numerals] (220) Near field communication unit; (240) Audio signal processing unit; (260) Output terminal unit; (290) Signal conversion unit

Description

Audio wireless relay module, audio wireless output system and audio wireless output method using the same {WIRELESS TRANSMIT MODULE FOR AUDIO AND SYSTEM AND METHOD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an audio wireless output system, and more particularly, to an audio wireless relay module for remotely receiving an audio signal through a wireless communication method and outputting the audio signal to an audio output device to make music listening and the like more convenient. An audio wireless output system and an audio wireless output method.

In general, as a means for listening to the sound output from a mobile phone, a portable electronic device such as a portable mp3 player, built-in speakers, earphones, etc. provided in the device itself is mainly used.

In the case of the built-in speaker because the bandwidth of the output sound is extremely low, its listening feeling is not good, and in the case of earphone, there is inconvenience in use, such as inconvenience caused by wearing and multiple people can not hear at the same time.

Accordingly, an audio output device for outputting sound connected to a portable electronic device has been developed and used.

The audio output device outputs an audio signal transmitted from a portable electronic device to the outside through a high performance speaker.

In a conventional audio output device, an audio signal is transmitted from a portable electronic device only through a cradle in which a wired or portable electronic device is mounted.

Therefore, when a user listens to music from a place far away from the audio output device and attempts to manipulate the portable electronic device for selection, the user has to access and operate the audio output device every time, thereby lowering the convenience of use.

An object of the present invention is to provide an audio wireless relay module capable of wirelessly receiving an audio signal of a portable electronic device and transmitting it to an audio output device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio wireless relay module capable of selectively outputting audio signals to various audio output devices.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless audio output system using the above-described audio wireless relay module.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless audio output method using the above-described audio wireless output system.

An audio wireless relay module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a short range communication unit connected to a portable electronic device through short range wireless communication, an audio signal processor for receiving and processing a transmission audio signal from the portable electronic device, and the audio signal processor. It may include an output terminal unit for outputting the processed audio signal to the outside.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the output terminal unit may include a plurality of heterogeneous output terminals.

The present invention may further include a terminal selector configured to select a terminal to which the audio signal is output from among the plurality of output terminals and to transmit the audio signal to the selected output terminal.

Also, in the present embodiment, the terminal selector may convert the audio signal corresponding to the selected output terminal.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the terminal selector may analyze the audio signal and change the selection to another output terminal when the analysis result output terminal change request is requested.

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the terminal selecting unit may recognize the output terminal change request if a plurality of silences of the audio signal are included within a predetermined time.

In addition, the audio wireless output system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a portable electronic device for transmitting an audio signal being reproduced through short-range wireless communication to the outside, the audio wireless relay for receiving and outputting the audio signal through the short-range wireless communication to the output terminal And an audio output device connected to the output terminal via a wire and receiving the audio signal from the audio wireless relay module and outputting the audio signal to the outside.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the audio wireless relay module may include a short range communication unit connected to the portable electronic device through short range wireless communication, an audio signal processor for receiving and processing a transmission audio signal from the portable electronic device, and the audio signal processor. It may include an output terminal unit including a plurality of heterogeneous output terminals for outputting the audio signal processed in the outside.

The present invention may further include a terminal selector configured to select a terminal to which the audio signal is output from among the plurality of output terminals and to transmit the audio signal to the selected output terminal.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of audio output devices may be connected to a plurality of the output terminals, respectively.

In addition, the audio wireless output method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a communication connection process in which a portable electronic device and an audio wireless relay module are interconnected through a local area network, an audio signal from which the audio signal is transmitted from the portable electronic device to the audio wireless relay module. It may include a transmission process, and an audio output process for outputting the audio signal to the outside through an audio output device connected to the audio wireless relay module by wire.

In the present embodiment, the audio output process may include converting the audio signal transmitted from the portable electronic device into an audio signal of an output form and outputting the converted audio signal to an audio output device connected to an output terminal. It may include.

In the present embodiment, the outputting of the converted audio signal may include selecting at least one output terminal from which a plurality of the output terminals are to be output and outputting the audio signal to the selected output terminal. It may include the process of transmitting.

In the present embodiment, the selecting process may be a process of selecting an output terminal connected to the audio output device among a plurality of the output terminals.

In addition, in the present embodiment, after the transmission of the audio signal, when the analysis result output terminal change request may further include the step of changing the selection to the other output terminal.

In the present embodiment, the step of changing the selection may include a step of recognizing the output terminal change request if the silence of the audio signal is included a plurality of times within a predetermined time.

According to the audio wireless relay module according to the present invention, since the audio signal reproduced from the portable electronic device is wirelessly transmitted to the audio output device, the convenience is greatly improved in terms of the music listening function using the portable electronic device.

In addition, since a variety of wireless communication is available and various audio outputs are provided, there is an advantage that existing audio output devices and portable electronic devices can be used.

In addition, it can be connected to various audio output devices using various audio output methods, and can selectively output audio signals to a desired audio output device, so there is no need to connect an audio wireless relay module to a different audio output device every time. have.

1 schematically illustrates an audio wireless output system according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2a is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2b is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the audio wireless relay module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flow chart schematically showing an audio wireless output method of the present invention.

Prior to the detailed description of the present invention, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or preliminary meaning, and the inventor may designate his own invention in the best way It should be construed in accordance with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be appropriately defined as a concept of a term to describe it. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, various equivalents It should be understood that water and variations may be present.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by like reference numerals as much as possible. Further, the detailed description of known functions and configurations that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted. For the same reason, some of the elements in the accompanying drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown, and the size of each element does not entirely reflect the actual size.

1 is a view schematically showing an audio wireless output system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the audio wireless output system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a portable electronic device 100, an audio wireless relay module 200, and an audio output device 300.

The portable electronic device 100 may reproduce various sound sources stored therein, such as a mobile phone or an mp3 player, and output them to the outside, and may be widely used as an electronic device capable of short-range wireless communication.

The audio wireless relay module 200 receives an audio signal transmitted from the portable electronic device 100 through short range wireless communication, and outputs the audio signal to the audio output device 300 through an output terminal.

The audio output device 300 is connected to the audio wireless relay module 200 and outputs an audio signal transmitted from the audio wireless relay module 200 to the outside. As the audio output device 300 according to the present embodiment, a general audio device may be used. That is, any device having a speaker and capable of outputting an audio signal input from the outside to the speaker may be used in various ways.

Next, the portable electronic device 100 and the audio wireless relay module 200 of the audio wireless output system 10 according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

Figure 2a is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2b is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of an audio wireless relay module according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

First, referring to FIG. 2A, the portable electronic device 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment may include a short range communication unit 120, an audio processor 140, a key input unit 160, a display unit 150, a storage unit 170, and a controller. 190 may be included.

The short range communication unit 120 performs short range wireless communication. In the present embodiment, a case of performing short-range communication with the audio wireless relay module 200 using a Bluetooth module will be described as an example. Accordingly, the short range communication unit 120 according to the present embodiment may perform a series of operations for transmitting and receiving a control signal and a voice signal through a wireless interface with peripheral devices capable of Bluetooth communication.

Meanwhile, the short range communication according to the present invention is not limited to the Bluetooth communication, and various short range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, infrared (IrDA), Zigbee, etc. may be used. In addition, wired communication using USB may be used if necessary.

The key input unit 160 receives a user's manipulation signal for controlling the portable electronic device 100 and transmits it to the controller 190.

When reproducing the sound source, the audio processor 140 may convert the sound source file stored in the storage 170 into analog audio data and provide the same to the controller 190. In addition, the audio processor 140 according to the present exemplary embodiment converts the audio signal of the compressed and stored sound source file into an audio signal suitable for reproduction. The audio signal is converted into a transmission audio signal suitable for wireless transmission by encoding or compressing the audio signal. To this end, the audio processor 140 may include a coder (Coder / Decoder).

The display unit 150 displays various images on the screen. Herein, the liquid crystal display (LCD) may be applied to the display unit 150. In this case, the display unit 150 may include an LCD controller, a memory capable of storing data, and an LCD display device. In addition, when the LCD is implemented using a touch screen method, the screen of the display unit 150 may be operated as an input unit.

The storage unit 170 includes a program memory and data memories. The program memory stores programs for controlling general operations of the portable electronic device 100. Data generated during the execution of programs is stored in the data memory. In addition, various sound source files for audio output may be stored in the data memory according to the present embodiment.

The controller 190 performs an overall control operation of the portable electronic device 100. In addition, the controller 190 according to the present embodiment performs wireless communication with the audio wireless relay module 200 through the short range communication unit 120 and transmits an audio signal of a sound source file currently being played.

On the other hand, when the portable electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment is used as a communication terminal, it may further include a wireless communication unit (not shown) for performing wireless communication with the base station. In this case, the wireless communication unit may include an RF transmitter for upconverting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and downconverting a received signal.

Next, referring to FIG. 2B, the audio wireless relay module 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a short range communication unit 220, an audio signal processor 240, an output terminal unit 260, and a terminal selector 290. Can be.

The short range communication unit 220 performs wireless communication with the portable electronic device 100 using a short range wireless communication network. As described above, in the present embodiment, a case of performing short-range communication with the portable electronic device 100 using Bluetooth communication will be described as an example.

The audio signal processor 240 extracts only an audio signal from a signal (that is, a transmission audio signal) received through the short range communication unit 220 and provides it to the terminal selector 290. To this end, the audio signal processor 240 may include a coder (Coder / Decoder).

The output terminal unit 260 includes terminals connected to an external device, that is, the audio output device 300. Here, the output terminals according to the present embodiment may be provided with a wide variety of heterogeneous output terminals, not one.

For example, the output terminals according to the present embodiment may be provided with various types of terminals. In the case of FIG. 2A, the output terminal includes XLR, RCA, HDMI, and S / PDIF. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various output terminals such as a stereo jack, a binding post, a BNC, a TOSLINK, and a USB may be provided. It may optionally be provided.

In addition, such various output terminals may be connected to one or more audio output devices 300. That is, the plurality of output terminals may be connected to one audio output device 300, and each output terminal may be configured to be connected to different audio output devices 300.

The terminal selector 290 selects at least one output terminal to substantially output an audio signal among the plurality of output terminals. It also converts audio signals to suit the selected output terminal.

The terminal selector 290 according to the present exemplary embodiment may select an output terminal based on a connection state of each output terminal. This will be described in more detail as follows.

The terminal selector 290 detects an output terminal connected to the audio output device 300 among the output terminals of the output terminal unit 260. When the audio signal is input from the audio signal processor 240, the audio signal is output through an output terminal currently connected to the audio output device 300.

In this process, the terminal selector 290 checks whether the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 is an audio signal suitable for the currently selected output terminal, and converts the audio signal into a corresponding audio signal.

For example, if the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 is an analog audio signal, but the currently selected output terminal is a digital output terminal (eg, S / PDIF, etc.), the terminal selector 290 receives the analog audio signal. After converting into a digital audio signal, it is output to the corresponding output terminal. On the other hand, if the currently selected output terminal is an analog output terminal (for example, XLR, etc.), the terminal selector 290 outputs the audio signal to the corresponding output terminal without any additional conversion process.

Meanwhile, when a plurality of audio output devices 300 are connected to the audio wireless relay module 200, the user may select and listen to another audio output device 300 as needed.

Accordingly, the audio wireless relay module 200 according to the present embodiment analyzes the audio signal output in real time so that a user can select an output terminal more easily in consideration of the above case.

That is, the terminal selector 290 according to the present embodiment analyzes the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 in real time, and checks whether the user requests a change of the output terminal therefrom, and outputs the corresponding signal. Change the terminal.

More specifically, the terminal selector 290 analyzes the audio signal and detects a portion in which audio is discontinuously input from the audio signal. That is, the user checks whether a process of repeatedly pausing playback of the sound source is performed and recognizes it as an output terminal conversion signal.

Therefore, the user may manipulate the key input unit 160 of the portable electronic device 100 to pause and resume playback of the currently playing sound source within a predetermined time (for example, 2 to 3 seconds) several times (for example, 2 to 3). Times), the output terminal of the audio wireless relay module 200 can be selected remotely.

That is, the audio wireless relay module 200 according to the present embodiment outputs audio by remotely selecting a desired output terminal (ie, an audio output device) even if the user does not directly operate the audio wireless relay module 200. You can.

Next, a method of wirelessly outputting audio using the audio wireless relay module 200 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the following embodiments. The configuration of the audio wireless relay module 200 and the audio wireless output system 10 described above will also be clearer from the following description of the audio wireless output method.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an audio wireless output method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3, an S20 process in which a wireless communication connection request is received to the audio wireless relay module 200 in a standby state S10 is performed. Here, the standby wireless audio relay module 200 is a state in which at least one audio output device 300 is connected to the output terminal unit 260 and the power is applied to receive the audio signal through the local area communication unit 220. Means.

In addition, the wireless communication connection request is transmitted from the portable electronic device 100 in step S20. That is, when a user requests a wireless communication connection with the audio wireless relay module 200 by operating the portable electronic device 100, the controller of the portable electronic device 100 transmits a wireless communication connection request signal through the short range communication unit 220. Send to outside. Accordingly, the short range communication unit 220 of the audio wireless relay module 200 receives the wireless communication request signal.

Subsequently, an operation S30 is performed in which wireless communication between the audio wireless relay module 200 and the portable electronic device 100 is connected. The audio wireless relay module 200 receiving the wireless communication request signal communicates with the portable electronic device 100 and completes the wireless communication connection. At this time, as described above, the wireless communication connection may use various short-range wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth communication, infrared communication, and Wi-Fi.

When wireless communication between the audio wireless relay module 200 and the portable electronic device 100 is connected, the control unit 190 of the portable electronic device 100 is a sound source currently being reproduced by the portable electronic device 100 through wireless communication. Transmits an audio signal to the audio wireless relay module 200.

In this process, the audio processor 140 of the portable electronic device 100 converts the audio signal into a transmission audio signal through a process of encoding or compressing the audio signal. The controller 190 transmits the transmission audio signal converted through the short range communication unit 120 to the audio wireless relay module 200.

Accordingly, the short range communication unit 220 of the audio wireless relay module 200 performs an S40 process for receiving a transmission audio signal transmitted from the portable electronic device 100. The received transmission audio signal is transmitted to the audio signal processor 240, and the audio signal processor 240 performs an S50 process of converting the transmission audio signal into an outputable audio signal.

Subsequently, the terminal selector 290 performs an operation S60 of outputting the audio signal converted in operation S50 to an output terminal. In this process, the terminal selector 290 outputs an audio signal to a selected specific output terminal among a plurality of output terminals. In this case, the output terminal may basically be an output terminal connected to the audio output device 300. In addition, when a plurality of audio output devices 300 are connected to a plurality of output terminals, an output terminal may be selected according to a preset priority. The setting of the priority may be set by the user at the time of manufacture or after manufacture.

Meanwhile, in step S60, the terminal selector 290 checks whether the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 is an audio signal suitable for the currently selected output terminal, and converts the audio signal into a corresponding audio signal as necessary. Then, the audio signal can be output to the corresponding output terminal.

That is, as described above, when the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 is an analog audio signal and the currently selected output terminal is a digital output terminal (eg, S / PDIF, etc.), the terminal selector 290 is analog audio. The signal is converted into a digital audio signal and then output to the corresponding output terminal.

As the audio signal is output through the selected output terminal, the audio output device 300 connected to the corresponding output terminal outputs the audio signal input from the audio wireless relay module 200 to the outside through the speaker. Accordingly, the user can remotely listen to the sound source reproduced by the portable electronic device 100 through the audio output device 300.

On the other hand, if the user wants to output the audio signal using the other audio output device 300, or another output terminal, the audio wireless output system 10 according to the present embodiment is the user of the key of the portable electronic device 100 This can be done by manipulating the input unit 160.

More specifically, the audio wireless output system 10 according to the present embodiment is an output terminal only by repeating a process of resuming and reproducing a sound source currently being played by the portable electronic device 100 within a short time. Can be changed.

As described above, the terminal selector 290 according to the present embodiment analyzes the audio signal in real time. Therefore, as described above, when the user stops playing the sound source, it is easy to confirm that the audio signal is input silently.

Accordingly, in step S70, the terminal selector 290 analyzes the audio signal in real time, and if a plurality of silences are discontinuously inserted into the audio signal within a predetermined time range, the terminal selector 290 may request a change of the output terminal by a user's operation. Be aware.

Therefore, the terminal selector 290 performs an S80 process of selecting another output terminal (or an output terminal connected to another audio output device).

In operation S80, the terminal selector 290 may select an output terminal having a next rank according to the above-described preset priority. In this case, the terminal selector 290 may repeatedly select the output terminals according to the above-described priorities, targeting only output terminals currently connected to the audio output device 300.

When the new output terminal is selected, the process proceeds to step S60 and the terminal selector 290 outputs an audio signal through the newly selected output terminal. In this case, as described above, the terminal selector 290 checks whether the audio signal input from the audio signal processor 240 is an audio signal suitable for the currently selected output terminal, converts it into a corresponding audio signal as necessary, and then Can be output to the output terminal.

On the other hand, in the process of outputting the audio signal through the audio output device 300, if the termination request is input (S90) without changing the output terminal (S70 process), the audio wireless relay module 200 is a portable electronic device 100 Terminate the wireless communication connection.

The audio wireless output system 10 according to the present invention configured as described above may transmit the audio output of the portable electronic device 100 to the audio output device 300 wirelessly by using the audio radio relay module. Therefore, even if the user moves the portable electronic device 100, the audio output device 300 may listen to the sound source reproduced by the portable electronic device 100 smoothly.

In addition, the audio wireless output system 10 according to the present invention wirelessly outputs the audio signal of the portable electronic device 100 while using the conventional portable electronic device 100 and the conventional audio output device 300 as it is. It can be output to (300). Therefore, since the connection with the existing audio system 10 is possible, the existing devices can be utilized to the maximum.

In addition, the audio wireless relay module 200 according to the present invention has a plurality of output terminals, and may select and use a desired output terminal as needed. Therefore, the user can select the desired audio output device (or output terminal) only by the operation of the portable electronic device 100 without the user directly operating the audio output device 300 to provide high convenience.

On the other hand, the audio wireless output system according to the present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments, various applications are possible.

For example, in the above embodiments, the output terminal is selected by repeating playback and pause of the sound source, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, a variety of applications are possible, such as setting a separate signal (for example, a specific frequency), adding a corresponding signal to an audio signal when the user requests it, and changing the output terminal by detecting it in the audio wireless relay module.

In this case, the user may be configured to directly select the output terminal by setting a specific frequency to correspond to each output terminal.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a system for relaying only an audio signal wirelessly and a relay module have been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be widely applied to a system for wirelessly relaying a video signal or other various signals.

10: audio wireless output system
100: portable electronics
200: audio wireless relay module
300: audio output device

Claims (16)

A local area communication unit connected to the portable electronic device through local area wireless communication;
An audio signal processor configured to receive and process a transmission audio signal from the portable electronic device; And
An output terminal unit for outputting the audio signal processed by the audio signal processor to the outside;
Audio wireless relay module comprising a. The method of claim 1,
And the output terminal unit includes a plurality of heterogeneous output terminals. The method of claim 2,
And a terminal selector configured to select a terminal to which the audio signal is output from among the plurality of output terminals and to transmit the audio signal to the selected output terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal selector,
An audio wireless relay module for converting the audio signal corresponding to the selected output terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal selector,
And analyzing the audio signal and changing the selection to another output terminal when a result of the analysis is requested to change the output terminal. The method of claim 5, wherein the terminal selector,
And recognizing the output terminal change request when silence of the audio signal is included a plurality of times within a predetermined time. A portable electronic device configured to transmit an audio signal being reproduced to the outside through near field communication;
An audio wireless relay module which receives the audio signal through the short range wireless communication and outputs the audio signal to an output terminal; And
An audio output device connected to the output terminal by wire and receiving the audio signal from the audio wireless relay module and outputting the audio signal to the outside;
Audio wireless output system comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the audio wireless relay module,
A short range communication unit connected to the portable electronic device through short range wireless communication;
An audio signal processor configured to receive and process a transmission audio signal from the portable electronic device; And
An output terminal unit including a plurality of heterogeneous output terminals configured to output an audio signal processed by the audio signal processor to the outside;
Audio wireless output system comprising a. The method of claim 8,
And a terminal selector configured to select a terminal to which the audio signal is output from among the plurality of output terminals and to transmit the audio signal to the selected output terminal. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio output device,
A plurality of audio wireless output systems each connected to a plurality of said output terminals. A communication connection process in which the portable electronic device and the audio wireless relay module are interconnected through a local area network;
An audio signal transmission process of transmitting an audio signal from the portable electronic device to the audio wireless relay module; And
An audio output process of outputting the audio signal to an external device through an audio output device connected to the audio wireless relay module by wire;
Audio wireless output method comprising a The method of claim 11, wherein the audio output process,
Converting the audio signal transmitted from the portable electronic device into an audio signal of an output form; And
Outputting the converted audio signal to an audio output device connected to an output terminal;
Audio wireless output method comprising a. The method of claim 12, wherein the outputting the converted audio signal comprises:
Selecting at least one of the plurality of output terminals to output the audio signal; And
And transmitting the audio signal to the selected output terminal. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting process comprises:
And a step of selecting an output terminal connected to the audio output device among a plurality of the output terminals. The method of claim 13, wherein after transmitting the audio signal,
And changing the selection to another output terminal if the output terminal change request is determined as a result of the analysis. The method of claim 15, wherein changing the selection comprises:
And a step of recognizing the output terminal change request if the silence of the audio signal is included a plurality of times within a predetermined time.

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